Silencing Eve

repeated after a moment as he drew her back into his arms. “Then we’ll assess the situation.”
    Driftwood Cottage
    “OPEN YOUR EYES, BITCH. There’s nothing wrong with you. Wake up.”
    Doane’s hand stung Eve’s cheek, and her head jerked back.
    Bonnie was gone, Eve realized hazily. She’d been here only seconds ago, but now she was gone.
    Her eyes slowly opened to see Doane’s face in front of her. His cheeks were flushed, and he was glaring at her with anger … and fear.
    Fear? What was he afraid—
    Doane struck her again. “Stop pretending. Talk to me.”
    “Why are you hitting me?” Her voice was a little slurred. She shook her head to clear it. “Unless it’s just for sheer pleasure.” Then she understood as she saw his relief. “You thought you’d killed me. You were scared that all your great plans were going to be destroyed by a little carelessness on your part.” She grimaced. “Actually, a big carelessness. Evidently, you should monitor the quantity of drugs you give me if you want me alive for the grand finale. Kevin would never have been that clumsy.”
    “You seem to be recovering very quickly. You were probably just pretending as I said. I knew it.” He was untying the ropes binding her. “And you appear to be cheerful enough.”
    “Not cheerful.” But Eve realized she was more steady and serene than she had been for days. The hours with Bonnie had given her the joy and hope that she usually brought to Eve. “But judging from your expression, I probably had a more enjoyable experience tied up and unconscious than you did. No luck finding Kevin’s nuke? What a pity he didn’t trust you. How could he expect you to do his bidding if you were—”
    “He did trust me,” he said through set teeth. “I won’t tolerate your sarcasm, Eve. I told you that he died before he could tell me what I needed to know. And I wasn’t out looking for those nuclear devices. I had to see Cartland, one of Kevin’s cell members, to make sure he’d be ready to send someone to activate them when I was ready.”
    “When you found out where they were,” she corrected softly. “Aren’t you afraid this Cartland will laugh at you when he finds out that you’re just a puppet trying to be a big, bad terrorist?”
    “All I have to do is make one phone call, and I’ll know where they are.”
    “Then why didn’t you make the call?”
    “There are difficulties.” He cuffed her left wrist to the arm of the chair. “But I’m going to make it right away. Kevin always meant me to have the information. I just have to convince—” He stopped. “But difficulties are meant to be overcome.”
    “And is Cartland ready to go when you give the nod?”
    He nodded curtly. “I never doubted his eagerness. Just that he had a team still able to function quickly.”
    She was tempted to give him another verbal jab, but that would have only given her satisfaction. She had found Doane liked to talk about his plans and machinations to her because he regarded her as no threat. In his eyes, she was already a dead woman, but she was never sure when that information might possibly be a lifesaver. So keep him talking and store up facts and impressions. “Who do you have to call? Who did Kevin trust more than he did you?”
    He didn’t answer.
    She tilted her head. “Someone he knew in the service? Maybe one of his al-Qaeda buddies?”
    “Of course not,” he said shortly. He turned and headed for the door. “I’m tired of listening to you. Damn you to hell. You’re always clawing, biting at me. You’re just like her. I’m going outside to make my call.”
    He slammed the door behind him.
    Eve frowned speculatively at the door as she thought about both his response and his words. What had he meant?
    You’re just like her  …
    Lakeside Marriott
Chicago, Illinois
    PERHAPS SHE’D HAVE TO HAVE plastic surgery after all, Harriet thought as she gazed regretfully into the bathroom mirror of her hotel room. Too bad. She liked her face. It had strength, and she could still see the fine features she had passed on to Kevin. She had considered the possibility before Kevin was killed and even investigated the safest place to have it done. She’d have to refresh that research, but it was still probably South America. She wouldn’t trust anyone in the Middle East to do a good job even though she might count on them to hide her. They had no respect for the strength or rights of women, and they might be careless