Hunting Eve

“Just a ghost town called Drakebury Springs. I went there first when I was searching for Doane. When I was in the saloon, I found fresh boot tracks in the dust, and I thought it possible Doane had been there scouting out a place but decided against it. Then when I found the coin factory, I knew I’d struck gold.” He shrugged. “But maybe Doane had second thoughts. Even with these foothills and ridges between that town and us, he might have had a clear enough signal so that he could feel safe down there even if we found this place.”

“And any smartphone could be set up to signal him that the camera had turned on.” He turned to Zander. “How certain are you that Doane could be down there?”

“Not certain at all. But it’s a possibility.” He started down the trail that led to the valley. “And it’s also a distinct probability that if I’m right, Doane knows we’re here and that the ghost town might be our next stop. I suggest we get down there before he takes off with Eve.” He added over his shoulder, “My car is parked in the trees about a hundred yards from here. You and Stang are welcome to come along.”

“Shit.” Qui

“I don’t want Venable.”

“Screw you. I want everyone I can get.” He spoke into the cell phone. “Venable, I need you to head for a ghost town, Drakebury Springs. It’s near the coin factory you and Kendra were searching for. You can track my cell phone for the coordinates. We’re heading there now.”

“I have the coordinates for the coin factory. That’s the target.”

“We’ve been there. Doane has left. Zander believes he may be down in the ghost town. How fast can you get there?”

“Soon. Wait for me.”

“Can’t wait. Doane may know we’re here. Get going!” He hung up and got in the car. Stang jumped into the backseat, and Zander took off.

Joe’s phone rang. Kendra. “Qui

Joe glanced at the ridge. He could see a dark gray sedan on the winding road around the mountain that would cross their path in the five minutes Kendra had designated … maybe.

“Stay back. Venable’s coming.”

“Yeah, I know. He’s not too far behind us,” Kendra said grimly. “And he’s coming on a little too strong. I don’t—There’s a tree or something in the road ahead. I didn’t need this, dammit. It looks like some kind of—”

The road in front of Kendra exploded into a fiery inferno.

“My God.”

Kendra’s car careened to the side of the road, and she was clearly struggling for control. The smoke was so thick that it was impossible to see if she’d actually plunged into the flames.

Then the smoke cleared, and they could see that she was hanging half-off the road, over the valley below.

“Get out!” Joe shouted.

“I doubt if she can hear you,” Zander said. “She would have to have nerves of steel not to have dropped the phone.” He glanced at the flaming plume in front of Kendra’s car. “And I think the passenger door is opening. They may be okay.”

The next moment, the two women emerged out of the passenger door onto the road.

“Run, dammit. Run, Kendra.” Joe said through his teeth as he saw the flames licking backward from the blast to envelop the car.

They were already ru

The next minute, the gas tank of the car blew, knocking Kendra and Margaret to the ground.

“I’d say that Doane expected visitors,” Zander said. “And decided to put out the DO NOT DISTURB sign.” He glanced at Kendra and Margaret, who were getting to their knees. “I’m not stopping, Qui

“I’m not asking you to stop.” He glanced at the twin fiery plumes that were clawing at the sky. Then he looked back at the ghost town in the valley below. “He’s down there. Eve’s down there. Let’s go get them.”

*   *   *

THE SECOND EXPLOSION SHOOK the floor of the saloon, causing Eve to lose her balance and fall to her knees.

What was happening? What was Doane doing?

She had just managed to slide her handcuffed hands through the broken wood and manipulate the bolt to free herself when the first explosion had gone off.

She had been on her way across the room toward the bar when the second explosion had happened.

Was it Doane? Or maybe Zander had shown up and set off both explosions. How the hell did she know? Her job was to take advantage of what might be a diversion and get out of here.

And find Zander’s weapon and phone to protect herself before she did it.

She hurriedly crawled the additional few yards around the back of the bar. Zander had said he’d pushed it far back out of sight on a shelf beneath the bar …

She could see a shelf, but there was no weapon. Did you lie to me, Zander?

Don’t give up. It could be at the other end of the bar.

She twisted around and quickly started crawling.

She suddenly stopped, frozen.

“Dear God,” she whispered.

She could go no farther—the way was blocked.

By three kegs that were marked: DANGER. EXPLOSIVE. Several sticks of dynamite were fastened to each keg, neatly arranged in evenly spaced rows. On top was what appeared to be a triggering mechanism, with a red LED display glowing in the darkness.

“Bitch!” Doane was standing at the open end of the bar behind her. “How did you—” He was striding toward her. “Come out and join the party.”

She had been so shocked that she had not heard his footsteps crossing the wood floor. She was cornered, huddled against the kegs of explosives. “What were you blowing up, Doane? I assume it was you.”

“I’ll take you to see for yourself.” He grabbed the handcuffs on her wrists and jerked her to her feet. “And let them see you.” His gaze raked her face and body. “Look at you, all bloody and scratched as if you’d been crawling through barbed wire. I couldn’t be more pleased. You did me a favor by breaking out of that cupboard. You almost made it, didn’t you?”

“I did make it. I would have been out of here in another few minutes.”

“No, you wouldn’t. I wouldn’t have let you get away.” He was jerking her toward the front door. “And now they’ll see how determined I am to keep you.”

“Who is ‘they’? What was that explos—” She broke off as she saw the flaming wreckage on the ridge road. Through the smoke and flames she could barely make out the figures of two women moving some distance in the rear. Then a Jeep drew up beside the women, and another woman jumped out.

Eve would have known the identity of that woman no matter what the conditions.

“Jane.”

“Yes, Jane MacGuire to the rescue,” Doane said. “So clever. All the people who care about you were so smart about tracking you down. And you’ll notice another car on the road coming down from our former home at the coinery.”

“Who is it?” She moistened her lips. “Tell me.”

“Why, Joe Qui

“How do you know?”

“The miracle of technology.” He pushed her out into the street. “But now we have to make sure that everyone sees you … and me. Yes, you’re in full view.” He lifted his gun and fired one shot in the air. “That should do it. Jane MacGuire is coming to the edge of the road and looking down at us. I’m sure that Qui

He lifted his hand and struck her so hard that she fell to the ground.

She could taste the blood from her cut lip as she struggled to sit up. “Did you enjoy that, Doane?”

“Extremely. That hurt you, but I’d bet it hurt those people rushing to your rescue more. Get up.”