The Search (6 page)

His gaze went back to Sarah and Monty waiting on the porch. Too bad. He had no more time. He took out his phone again and quickly dialed a number.

"Take care of yourself." Logan brushed a kiss on Eve's forehead before he got into the car. "If you need me for anything, give me a call."

"I'm fine." She looked at Sarah, who was sitting in the passenger seat. "I'll let you know about Jane."

"I have to fly straight from here to Washington, but that should take only a couple of days. After that I'll be at the cabin."

Eve waved and stepped back as Logan started the car.

Sarah turned her head and saw Eve still standing there, watching them as they started down the gravel road. For a moment she looked very lonely, but then Joe came out of the cottage and stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders. No, Eve wasn't lonely. She had Joe and her mother and Jane. She would never have to be lonely again unless she wanted to be. But wasn't that true of everyone? You made choices, and to be alone was one of them.

What was she thinking? She wasn't alone. As she had told Eve, she had Monty and a job that fulfilled her. She didn't want anything or anyone else.

"What did she mean about letting you know about Jane?" Logan asked.

"I may have Jane visit me for a few weeks."

"When?"

"As soon as possible."

"No."

She turned to stare at him. "What?"

"Not now."

"What the hell are you talking about? Now is when Eve needs my help. The sooner the-- Why am I even talking to you about it? It's none of your business."

"It's my business. I need your help. And I need it now."

The arrogance of the bastard. "Go jump in the lake, Logan."

"I'll pay you anything you want. Name your price."

"You don't have enough money."

His lips tightened. "I was afraid you'd say that. Sorry. I can't let you walk away from this job, Sarah. It's too important."

"To you. I don't give a damn about what you need, Logan."

"I know. That's why I called Todd Madden and asked him to arrange for ATF to lend you to me."

She stared at him, stunned. "What?"

"You heard me."

"My God, you're doing it again."

"I tried to avoid it." He shrugged. "But I couldn't get through to you. You're still holding a grudge."

"And you wouldn't? I can't see you being railroaded and then forgiving and forgetting."

"I'm not saying I don't understand, I'm just explaining why I had to call Madden. He told me to tell you to forget about that press conference for the time being. You and Monty belong to me for as long as I need you."

Her surprise was turning to fury. "The hell we do."

"Madden assured me you'd do whatever I asked."

"And what did you promise him?"

"My gratitude. And all the influence that goes with it. Your Senator Madden is very ambitious, isn't he? Is he eyeing a cabinet post?"

"I can't believe he canceled the press conference. He likes to see his face in the newspapers too much."

"Oh, I had to be very persuasive."

"You son of a bitch."

"I was worried that you'd turn me down in spite of Madden's orders, but he said there was no way you'd refuse him." His gaze narrowed on her face. "He has something on you, doesn't he? Some kind of hold?"

"What do you care? It was nothing to you how Madden got me to do what you wanted the last time. All you wanted was results. That's all you care about now." She was shaking with anger. "Is that why you came here?"

"I came here because Eve wanted me to be here. The same reason you came."

"But you knew I'd be here. Two birds with one stone."

"Yes, I knew you'd be here."

"And what do you want me to do? Find another corpse for you?"

"I don't think he's dead." He smiled crookedly. "I know how you hate using Monty as a cadaver dog. You should be pleased that I'm asking you and Monty to work on rescuing a real live person."

"Pleased?"

"Wrong word. I'm trying to put a tolerable light on a bad situation."

"It's not tolerable."

"It will have to be."

"Screw you." She took out her phone and dialed Madden's number. "What the devil are you doing to me?" she asked as soon as he answered.

"Now, Sarah, it's for the best."

"Whose best, damn you?"

"Logan tells me the job is very important and it may not be all that long."

"Did it occur to you that Monty and I just came back from a job that wore us down to the bone? We need to rest."

"You need to do what I tell you to do. I'm sure Logan will take care of you. Let me know when you're available again." He hung up.

Her hand clenched the phone so tightly, her knuckles turned white. Bastards. They were both bastards.

"Satisfied?" Logan asked.

"I'd like to castrate him." She glared at him. "And you too."

He flinched. "I gather he verified what I told you. Now, shall I tell you about the job?"

She tried to control herself. A long time ago she had accepted the fact that she couldn't beat Madden. The card he was holding was too high. But, dear God, she hated the idea of being under Logan's thumb. She wanted to pound someone. No, not someone. Logan.

Monty whimpered in the backseat and she reached over to stroke him. "It's okay, boy. It's okay."

"It's not okay, but you'll do it," Logan said. "Right?"

"Damn you."

Monty whimpered again.

"Shh."

"He senses that you're upset." Logan smiled. "I remember how close you are. He's a good dog."

"I should have him go for your throat. Do you know how tired he is?"

"Monty doesn't impress me as being a very vicious guard dog."

"He makes an exception when he thinks I'm in danger."

"But you're not in danger yet."

Her gaze flew to his face. "Yet?"

His smile faded. "There are a few problems with this job, but I'll try to keep you both safe."

"Just what do you want me to do?"

"I need you and Monty to find one of my employees who has been kidnapped. One of my research facilities in Colombia was attacked and four of my employees killed. Tom Bassett was taken hostage."

"Do you know who kidnapped him?"

"Martin Rudzak. He's a very nasty fellow."

"How nasty?"

"About as nasty as they get. He dabbles in everything from drug running to terrorism."

"Terrorism? Why is he targeting you?"

"We had a run-in several years ago when I was in Japan. He doesn't like me very much."

"Then he should have kidnapped you."

"I'm sure you'd prefer that, but there are reasons why he picked Bassett."

"And you're not going to tell me."

"Not at the moment."

"I don't track criminals, Logan."

"You work for ATF."

"These days my primary job is search and rescue."

"You'd be rescuing Bassett."

"Just pay the ransom. You've got plenty of money."

"The percentages are high that after I pay it, Bassett will be killed anyway. I need to find him and get him away."

"And how am I supposed to find him? Do you know the specific locality?"

"Not yet. Somewhere in the jungle near Santo Camaro, Colombia."

Her eyes widened. "South America?"

"Last time I checked."

"You want me to go to South America? You want me to wander around the jungle until I find--"

"I have someone working on pinpointing Rudzak's location. I'm hoping to have more information by the time we reach Colombia."

"And when will that be?"

"My plane is waiting at the Atlanta airport now."

"And you think I'll hop on the plane and go meekly with you."

"Not meekly. Never meekly."

She drew a deep breath. "You're not only risking my neck, you're risking Monty. If those scumbags see Monty trying to track them, the first thing they'll do is shoot him."

"I'll be very careful with both of you. I'll do everything I can to keep you safe."

"And you expect me to trust you?"

He shook his head. "No, but it doesn't make it less true."

"I'll never trust you. You're a user, just like Madden. I'm the one who'll keep Monty safe. You don't care about anyone or--" She broke off. Why was she arguing? She knew she didn't have a choice. He and Madden had backed her into a corner. "How long?"

"I don't know."

She closed her eyes as the anger and frustration poured through her. "I'll do the job. I'll find your man." Her eyes opened and she added with soft venom, "But then I'll find a way to get you. And if you get my dog killed, you'll wish you'd never been born."

"I believe you." He pulled off the freeway into the lane leading to the airport. "You know, even using Madden as a lever, I wasn't sure you'd go with me. Whatever Madden has on you must be pretty powerful stuff. You wouldn't care to tell me what it is?"

"Go to hell, Logan."

Chapter 3.

"It's been over an hour since we took off," Logan said. "It would be nice if you said a word or two. Maybe even three."

"We've said everything that needed to be said and I don't feel like being nice."

"Would you like something to eat?" Logan asked.

"No."

"What about Monty? Do you suppose he might be hungry?"

"Monty eats only twice a day. I fed him at the cottage." Sarah curled up in the wide leather chair and stared out the window. "And you don't have to be concerned about Monty. I always take care of him."

"That's obvious. I just thought I'd play the gracious host and offer."

"Offer us food and then put our lives on the line?"

"I can do only what I can," he said wearily. "I told you I'd try to keep you safe."

"Trying isn't good enough." She reached down and stroked Monty's head, then said through gritted teeth, "Do you know how this makes me feel? It's not only you who's responsible for putting Monty in danger. He's my dog. The bottom line is always me. He never says no, so if I make the wrong decision, I have to bear the blame."