Hunting Eve

Now she had Venable’s full attention. “‘Positive’ is a strong word.”

“As positive as I can be without actually seeing the machine in the trunk. Pass this photo along to the forensic team going over Doane’s car in Atlanta right now. They’ll back me up if they compare it to the impressions and scratches on the trunk and backseat. This thing was disassembled into three major parts and moved. That’s why there was gold dust on the scene. It had probably been caught in the press’s i

“Okay, good. I’ll see what we can find out about it. I’m not sure what it will do for us, though.”

“I’m not sure either, but we’re not exactly swimming in leads. I’m excited that we managed to find this one.”

“I’m a little excited myself.” He paused. “So are you coming in? We have a lot to talk about.”

Kendra eyed the tattered journal protruding from the oversized pocket of Margaret’s jacket. “Not quite yet.”

“Why not?” His voice held a trace of urgency. Or was she just imagining it?

“The amount of gold dust we saw in Doane’s car leads me to think maybe the press had never been moved before. It may have come from an old bank or mint around here. While your people are researching this, we’ll do some looking around ourselves.”

“Kendra, I’m really not sure that’s the best—”

“Will you call Jane and tell her what Margaret and I found out? How is she doing?”

“Very well. The doctors gave her a pass out of the hospital, and I imagine you might see her before I do.”

“That’s great. But a surprise. She was pretty sick.”

“They wouldn’t have released her if she wasn’t much better.”

“Yeah, I guess so. I’m transmitting the photo now. Thanks, Venable.”

She cut the co

“I’ll be glad to see her,” Margaret said. “She needs to be here helping to find Eve. It was hurting her to feel that helpless.”

“If she’s back on her feet, then she’ll probably be trying to forge ahead like a bulldozer.”

Margaret smiled faintly. “Like you, Kendra?”

“Maybe. But we’d go at problems from different directions.”

“Will Venable cooperate?” Margaret asked. “He sounded a little surly.”

“He’ll cooperate.” She thought about it. She was becoming slightly uneasy about Venable. “He wants to find Eve. He just likes his own way.”

“Don’t we all.” She wrinkled her nose. “And my way is to get to a motel where I can take a shower. I desperately need it after what we’ve gone through since we landed in Colorado.”

“I’ll second the motion,” Kendra said. “We’ve had enough sleep in the car, but I feel filthy, too.” She headed for the car. “Then we’ll get on the move and see what we can find out about antique coin presses.”

CHAPTER

14

KENDRA’S PHONE RANGAS SHE was getting dressed after her shower.

Jane.

She picked up. “I heard that you were released from the hospital. How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” Jane said curtly. “I’d feel better if you and Margaret hadn’t decided to go incommunicado on me. You could have called me back.”

“You were ill. We didn’t want to upset you. If there had been anything definite that you should know, we’d have called you.”

“I’d say almost getting blown up in Doane’s house would qualify as something I should know.” She sighed wearily. “I’m sorry. I’m just so damn frustrated. Everyone was just trying to protect me, but I had no right to be protected when everyone else was in danger.”

“No one is in danger now. We haven’t seen Blick since Goldfork. And I did tell Venable to call you and tell you everything we’d found out. He said you were probably on your way out here by now. Where are you?”

“We’re at the Atlanta airport. We’ll get to Denver around midnight. So after we rent a car and drive down, it’ll probably be sunrise by the time we get to you.”

“We?”

“I’m with Seth Caleb and Mark Trevor. What about this coin press? You think Doane got it from somewhere around there?”

“I think it’s a decent possibility. It’s gold-rush country. They had coin presses. His radio was set on this listening area.”

“Why would he want a gold press?”

“The more I consider it, I’m leaning toward wondering why he might want to get rid of a coin press.” She paused. “And where he got rid of it from.”

Silence. “Eve,” Jane whispered. “He wanted to prepare a place for her. Maybe it was in his way.”

“That’s my guess. Margaret and I are going to be driving around the area and talking to locals and trying to find out about any known coin presses. I asked Venable to try to find out anything he could about them and let me know. Maybe you could help cover a couple of the mining tourist spots when you get here.”

“Fine. We’re going to stop before we leave Denver and talk to a friend of Trevor’s who works in the forestry department of the university. He says he’s more familiar with the forests in this area than anyone else in the world. What else can I do?”

“I have no idea. The same thing we’re doing? Playing it by ear. You’re on your own, Jane.”

“Did you access photos of that sketch of mountain country I sent you?”

“Yes, none of it looks familiar. I’ll keep it in mind if I run across anything like it.”

“I know it sounded bizarre, but don’t discard it because of that. We can’t afford to discard anything that might help.”

“Look, I’m traveling around with your friend, Margaret, who evidently communicates with sundry creatures from field and stream, and I hardly question it anymore. What’s more bizarre than that?”

“Where can we reach you?”

“We’ll be traveling, as I said, but we’ll answer the phone. I promise.” She added, “I have a feeling we’re close, Jane.”

“I hope you’re right. You’ve got to be right. And you’re damn right you’ll answer the phone. We’ve got to work together from now on. No one protects anyone but Eve. I’ll call you if I learn anything.” She hung up.

Kendra pressed the disco

And there would be no way anyone would succeed in trying to keep her from the battle.

Vancouver

“THE INFORMATION,” JOE SAID softly. “I won’t ask you again, Weiner. I want that tower area.”

“I can’t tell you.” Weiner moistened his lips and glanced nervously at Stang. “Why did you bring him here? You know I can’t talk to him. You know what Zander will do to me.”

“Yes, but I thought it worthwhile,” Stang said. “Tell him.” He smiled. “And then get the hell out of here and hope Zander doesn’t decide to make an example of you. He may not think chasing you down is worth his time.”

“What about you?” Weiner said viciously. “Do you think he won’t go after you?”

“No, because I’m not going anywhere.” He grimaced. “I decided that it was time I stopped operating in a holding pattern where Zander was concerned.” He glanced at Joe. “I’m not sure if Qui

“Step away from him, Stang,” Joe said impatiently. “I don’t have time for this. He has to talk now.”

“Just trying to facilitate the matter.” Stang took a step back. “I’ve never liked violence. It makes me—” He broke off as his cell phone rang. He gave a low whistle as he glanced down at the ID. “Zander. Remarkable.” He turned and moved toward the door. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll take this call. Feel free to carry on without me.”

“The hell I will.” He gave Weiner a cold glance. “Don’t move from this room. You don’t want to a