Silencing Eve

nodded. “For a little while. Until I know if you’re in trouble.”
    Jane hurried to join Trevor and Caleb as they moved through the tall grass at the roadside.
    Caleb’s eyes were narrowed, darting like those of an animal on the hunt. The sleek panther had returned. “Stay low. We want to see them before they see us.”
    They crouched and moved through the grass. Only now did Jane realize just how close to the beach they were. She heard the crashing of waves and felt sand beneath her feet. She peered through the grass to see that a tall dune was all that separated her from the narrow beach. She started to move toward it when Caleb grabbed her arm. “Stop.”
    Jane pulled away. “Like hell. What if there’s a boat beyond that dune? Or maybe Doane’s cottage? If they’re over there, I—”
    “They could see you, and it would ruin everything. Let me run back to the road and come back from the other side of their car.”
    Trevor nodded. “Good idea. I’ll circle around this dune and approach from the other side.”
    Jane looked between them with exasperation. “What am I supposed to do? Sit here and do nothing?”
    Trevor smiled. “I wish I could talk you into that, but I know better.”
    “Damn right, I’ll go straight up and over and see if I can spot them on the beach.”
    Caleb stepped toward her and handed her his revolver. “Stay low. There’s a good stand of grass on this side of the dune. Use it for cover. And if you see them, wait for us before you try to follow.”
    She looked at the weapon in her hand. “I can’t take your gun, Caleb.”
    He pulled a seven-inch LHR combat knife from his ankle sheath. “I prefer this. Messy, but quieter. I’ve never been one to attract attention to myself.”
    “We both know that’s not true.”
    “We’ll discuss it later.” He nodded to Trevor and sprinted back in the direction from which they’d come.
    Jane put the gun in her waistband and turned back to Trevor. “Be careful,” she whispered.
    He hesitated. For an instant, she wasn’t sure he would leave her. Then he gave her a quick kiss. “You, too.”
    She watched as he ran down the length of the long sand dune. She dropped to her hands and knees and started her climb to the top.
    She suddenly cocked her head, listening. Had she heard a woman’s voice?
    Hard to tell over the sound of the pounding surf.
    She continued slowly up the dune, an inch at a time.
    She reached the top and drew a deep breath, listening.
    No sound but the surf.
    She raised her head to peer down at the beach.
    A gun was leveled at her face from only a foot away!
    “Welcome.” The man crouching there was one of the men who had met Harriet at her plane. “She’s been waiting for you. Now be very quiet, and you might live for another few minutes.”
    Shit. If she tried to jerk her gun out of her waistband, he’d pull the trigger.
    “That’s right, freeze.” He rose unsteadily to his feet, slipping on the loose sand. He turned to signal someone below.
    Use the distraction. Move.
    She hurled herself over the dune and toppled the man who was already precariously balanced on its face. She heard him cursing as they both tumbled down the other side toward the beach.
    Rolling, twisting, turning …
    She was struggling to grasp the revolver in her waistband. She grabbed the handle just as she hit the beach and rolled over to her feet. She leveled the gun at the man who was still flat on his back but struggling to sit up. He’d lost his gun on the way down, and it was several feet away. Don’t let him get near that gun again.
    A shot rang out.
    Pain seared the flesh of Jane’s lower arm and her own gun dropped from her hand. What the hell? Jane spun around.
    “In the end, a woman always has to take care of things herself if she wants them done well.” Harriet was walking toward her. “Look what you’ve done to poor Craig. Of course, he deserved it for letting you take him by surprise.”
    “She didn’t do anything. I … slipped.” The man Harriet had called Craig was scowling.
    “Shut up, Craig. I should have known Cartland would send me two bunglers.” Harriet moved forward, her gun extended before her. “I’ll take care of this from now on.” She glanced at Jane’s arm and smiled with satisfaction. “Good shot. Just a flesh wound, as I intended. Hardly bleeding at all. Kevin taught me, you know. I didn’t want you to die before I could talk to you.”
    “So talk to me.” The gun she’d dropped