Silencing Eve

“But I’m not pleased he was less than discreet about taking you or anyone else into his confidence.”
    “He didn’t think that I’d go knocking on your door.”
    “Then he has bad judgment, and I’m even less pleased.”
    She changed the subject. “How did you know who I was?”
    “A matter of elimination.” He turned to Stang. “Why don’t we get the lady a cup of coffee?” He looked at Catherine. “Or do you prefer tea? Since you grew up in Hong Kong, I’m sure that’s your preference.”
    “Either will do.” She shut the door behind her as Stang went to the phone. “Elimination?”
    “You’re bold, smart, and you have a certain dash. You had to have a CIA connection, or you would never have been able to locate me. Eve mentioned her friend, Catherine Ling, who was with the CIA.” He waved his hand. “Elimination.”
    “Joe mentioned that you’d talked to Eve in the mountains. I didn’t think I’d be the topic of conversation.”
    “You weren’t, actually; she didn’t bring you up until right before she took off into the woods. That’s why I felt I had to check you out while I had nothing better to do here in Denver.”
    “And that’s how you knew I grew up in Hong Kong?”
    “Yes. And that you’d have been the first to try to find Eve if you’d known what had happened to her. No one told you, did they? Venable kept you in the dark.”
    Sharp. Very sharp.
    She studied Zander. Ice-cold. Completely in control. Dangerous.
    And challenging.
    “And Venable heard about it from me,” she said grimly. “I just found out when I got back to Miami yesterday morning.”
    “And you were angry, and you wanted to kill him.”
    “Yes, but I didn’t. Because he thinks he was right, and he can help me find Eve.” She looked him in the eye. “And he told me where you were even though he didn’t know that I might blow your cozy little relationship.”
    He chuckled. “You make us sound like lovers. I assure you that I’m not of the gay persuasion, and there’s nothing cozy about anything between Venable and me. We’re both very wary of what the other might do.” He gestured to a chair. “Won’t you sit down? I’m finding your visit very entertaining. I’ve been extremely bored lately.”
    “I’ve not been bored,” she said bluntly as she sat down in the chair. “I’ve been scared and sick and angry. I wanted to kill Doane. I wanted to strangle Venable.” She looked up at him. “And I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do to you, but it wasn’t going to be pretty. I was told you had a chance to help Eve when she was free in those mountains, and you didn’t do it. Why?”
    “Doane was my target. Eve would have been in the way.”
    “They told me that Eve’s your daughter. That had no impact on your decision?”
    He shook his head. “Does that put me beyond the pale in your eyes?”
    “No, my father was an American soldier who deserted my mother before I was born. My mother was a whore, who was hooked on drugs and let me fend for myself on the streets. I don’t have any faith in family or obligation. But some people do. I hoped that you might be one of them. Because that would mean Eve has a better chance of surviving.”
    He nodded mockingly. “My regrets.”
    “Not accepted. Because even if you don’t give a damn that Eve is your daughter, if you talked to her for any time at all, you know what kind of person she is. She deserves to live.” She met his eyes. “And you seem to be in the best position to keep her alive. That’s why I’m here.”
    “Really? Interesting.” He sat down opposite her. “And what is your purpose, Agent Ling? Do you intend to try to intimidate me into doing as you wish?”
    “Catherine. I’m not CIA right now, I’m Eve’s friend,” she said. “And if you can’t act like a father, you should try to be her friend, too.” She added, “And stop being sarcastic. You can’t be intimidated. I don’t even know if you’d care if you lived or died.” She tilted her head. “I’m curious. Would you?”
    “Sometimes. It depends on the moment. How about you?”
    “Most of my moments are pretty damn good now. I have my son back.”
    His brows rose. “If you’re not here to force me to your will, why did you come here, Catherine?”
    “Venable said that you might be able to locate Doane by hacking security and traffic cameras and that he might still be in the area. I wanted to be on the spot if that happened.” She paused. “And