Stalemate

"I imagine Joe's a little uncomfortable himself."

"Not my fault." Galen's voice was suddenly sober. "I couldn't do anything with him. I tried to stop him. I wanted to be the one to rush into the dragon's lair but he wasn't having any of it. He said it was more logical that he do it. Actually, he was right. Diaz wouldn't have much use for me except to use my handsome head to decorate his fireplace. Qui

"Killing Diaz? For God's sake, Miguel said Joe was still unconscious while he was there. He'll be lucky not to bleed to death."

"He may be waking up about now. I've been using the audio spy equipment to monitor the castle and it's weird he's not come around yet. I'd bet he's playing possum. And he won't bleed to death unless Diaz opens his wounds. It's not likely. Diaz enjoys live entertainment. He'll ignore Qui

"What?"

"Qui

"That's what Miguel said."

"Anyway we were cornered and Qui

"You don't have to tell me that."

"I couldn't blow the castle. That's where they took Qui

"Tell me where you are. Tell me how I can help."

"I'll fill you in on the important agendas first. I don't know how long I can stay in this blind. They've been searching for me since they got their hands on Qui

"Then talk, dammit."

He laughed. "Okay, then it's time that I started shorthand. One, I'm going strictly against Qui

Excitement was surging through Eve as she hung up the phone fifteen minutes later. Excitement? Or hope? For the first time since she'd found out Joe was gone she felt as if she might see a way through this fog of ugliness generated by Diaz.

She threw back the covers and jumped out of bed. Get dressed. Galen was on-site and ready to help. She had to make plans of her own.

She glanced at the phone. It had been hours since Diaz had called. Was he trying to make her apprehensive? A psychological ploy? Perhaps. How the hell did she know?

Go on. Call, Diaz. I'm ready for you.

"I'm not going," Miguel said. "If you put me on that helicopter to Bogota, I'll hijack it and come back."

"You won't try that kind of stupidity," Montalvo said. "I've taught you better."

"You've taught me loyalty and teamwork. I was stupid enough to get caught. I'm definitely stupid enough to force myself on you at a time like this."

"With two broken ribs and those hands?"

"Only the hands would bother me. I can get around the rest." He frowned. "And my fingers work. You could rig up something."

"Miguel…" Montalvo shrugged. "Let me think about it."

"She's not going to give you much time to think about anything," Miguel said. "When she was here, I could feel the impatience in her. She was hurting for me but she wants her man back."

He frowned. "He's not her man. Neither of them is that dependent on the other. It's not in their characters."

Miguel smiled. "You don't want it to be true. Interesting."

"Why should I care what-" Montalvo stopped. "No, I don't want it to be true, you perceptive rascal. You'd do well to concentrate on recovery and forget about my concerns."

"But your concerns are my concerns. I can't help being involved. It's your fault for saving me from having my head blown off."

Montalvo sighed. "I'm begi

Miguel shook his head. "It's no good you telling me that. I saw your face when you were taking me off that cross. You were as tender as Mary with Christ at Calvary."

"I believe I'm going to be ill. You're not Christ. I'm not Mary. You can't even get the sex right."

"Well, something like that."

"I can see you're going to hold that Jesus image up to me for the rest of your life."

"Possibly." His smile faded. "I told you what I had to do. Now set it up so that my mission paves the way for your mission."

"You've had your answer."

Miguel stared him in the eye. "And you've had your answer. I won't back down. I don't care if it complicates everything. Work it out."

Montalvo got to his feet. "Maybe. It all depends on Eve. I don't know what the hell is happening right now." He moved toward the door. "In the meantime go to sleep and stop thinking up things to torment me."

"It's my duty." Miguel closed his eyes. "I must keep you humble, Colonel. I embrace the task gladly."

"I'm sure you do," he said as he left the bedroom.

Blast the boy, he thought with exasperation. He was relieved that Miguel was progressing so rapidly but not that his will was gaining determination on a pace with his physical strength. He'd always had a power and mental ability far beyond his years but that episode at the castle had changed him. No, not changed, just made his character deepen, harden.

And why the hell shouldn't it have done that? An experience of that nature was enough to drive some men mad. He was lucky that it had only caused Miguel to toughen. The boy was totally remarkable.

And it was time Montalvo started to move against that slimeball of an informer who had betrayed Miguel, he thought grimly.

He headed downstairs to go pay a visit to Destando.

The call from Diaz to Eve came four hours later.

"Very well," he said. "I'll arrange a meeting in a place other than the castle to receive the skull if my informants tell me that Armandariz is not going to be a problem."

Eve felt a surge of relief. "He won't be a problem. Where?"

"The woods on the other side of the village."

"Where you could have thirty sharpshooters ready to pick us off after you have the skull? I don't think so."

"Take it or leave it."

"I'll leave it. I won't die for an affair that's run its course. I told you I wanted to live. You've given me no chance at all."

"Then I kill Qui

"If that's what you have to do. Call me back if you change your mind."

"Wait." Diaz hesitated before saying sourly, "Perhaps we can come to an agreement. What do you consider a safe exchange?"

"A helicopter pickup for Joe and me immediately after the exchange to whisk us both back to Bogota. I'm going to ask Venable with the CIA to send a copter to get us out. Where's your helicopter pad?"

"On the grounds in back of the castle."

"Too dangerous for me. Where else can he land?"

"There's a pad on the outskirts of the village near the cemetery."

She was silent. "The cemetery is too out in the open. I'd be a target. Anywhere else?"