gently, “I think you’re already holding back on Quinn. But I want answers, Venable.”
“You’ve had answers.”
“No, you were playing footsie with Lee Zander for five years when you stuck Doane in a damn safe house. Everyone thinks Zander disappeared into the sunset after he was told Doane and Eve were still alive. But it would be unreasonable for you not to have tried to keep him in your pocket when you knew he could be a key player. I think you probably told him everything you told me, then arranged to stay in contact with him. I’d bet you’re sharing information with him about what you’re learning about the search. And Zander might have been lost to everyone else, but not to you. You can pick up your phone and contact him, and I’ll bet you know where he is right now.”
He was silent, then he said, “I can pick up my phone, but that’s no guarantee he’ll answer. Though he might since I’ve been feeding him what little information I have about the movement of any vehicles I’ve been able to find that use those tires. He’s probably not been equally open with me, but I take what I can get.”
“And you told him about that tan Toyota? I don’t think so.”
“Well, I was going to tell him … if I couldn’t locate the car on my own.” He chuckled. “And that’s why I had to keep you a thousand miles distant when Eve disappeared. You’re too sharp, Catherine.”
“I know you. I watched you grow and change from the time you hired me when I was a kid on the streets of Hong Kong. Some of the changes I liked, some made me wary.”
“I feel the same about you.” He smiled. “But you’re always interesting, Catherine.”
“I want you to e-mail me the Zander info. Where he is, what he’s working on.” She started to turn away. “And the file on the cell members who might be contacted by Doane.”
“Okay. No problem. Though there’s not much on record and most of it is undoubtedly phony.”
“Whatever you’ve got.”
“Catherine.”
She looked over her shoulder.
“I believe Kendra found something in Doane’s house in Goldfork. She doesn’t trust me, but she might trust you. Did she say anything about it to you before she left?”
“That mysterious disk that you told everyone Doane was holding?”
“Did she say anything?”
“You’re right, she said she didn’t trust you.”
“Did she find anything?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me. But after the way you practically served Eve up as a sacrifice, I don’t think you’ll get it from her unless you can convince her that you’d never do it again.” She looked him directly in the eye. “And, since you haven’t convinced me, I doubt if you could convince her.” She turned away. “Of course, you could come clean about what you expect to find on that ‘disk,’ and you might have a breakthrough. Think about it, Venable.”
CHAPTER
6
Hyatt Airport Hotel
Atlanta, Georgia
“NICE HOTEL,” MARGARET SAID as she took her room key from Jane. “This will be a great change. I’ve traveled a lot during my life, but I’m more used to Motel 6.” She entered the elevator and punched the button for the fourth floor. “I think we should go over the journal tonight. Suppose I meet you guys in twenty minutes. I’ve got to change out of this dress and high heels and get comfortable.” She smiled. “Your room, Jane?”
“Fine,” Jane said dryly. “I suppose I should be happy you asked since you seem to have taken charge.” She glanced at Trevor and Caleb. “Yes?”
Trevor nodded.
“By all means,” Caleb said. He got out of the elevator as the doors opened and turned left. “Margaret’s viewpoints are always interesting. Twenty minutes.”
Trevor got out of the elevator and took Jane’s bag. “I’ll see you to your room.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need—” He was already going down the corridor, and she had to rush to catch up.
He took her key and opened the door. “I know you don’t need
“You’ve had answers.”
“No, you were playing footsie with Lee Zander for five years when you stuck Doane in a damn safe house. Everyone thinks Zander disappeared into the sunset after he was told Doane and Eve were still alive. But it would be unreasonable for you not to have tried to keep him in your pocket when you knew he could be a key player. I think you probably told him everything you told me, then arranged to stay in contact with him. I’d bet you’re sharing information with him about what you’re learning about the search. And Zander might have been lost to everyone else, but not to you. You can pick up your phone and contact him, and I’ll bet you know where he is right now.”
He was silent, then he said, “I can pick up my phone, but that’s no guarantee he’ll answer. Though he might since I’ve been feeding him what little information I have about the movement of any vehicles I’ve been able to find that use those tires. He’s probably not been equally open with me, but I take what I can get.”
“And you told him about that tan Toyota? I don’t think so.”
“Well, I was going to tell him … if I couldn’t locate the car on my own.” He chuckled. “And that’s why I had to keep you a thousand miles distant when Eve disappeared. You’re too sharp, Catherine.”
“I know you. I watched you grow and change from the time you hired me when I was a kid on the streets of Hong Kong. Some of the changes I liked, some made me wary.”
“I feel the same about you.” He smiled. “But you’re always interesting, Catherine.”
“I want you to e-mail me the Zander info. Where he is, what he’s working on.” She started to turn away. “And the file on the cell members who might be contacted by Doane.”
“Okay. No problem. Though there’s not much on record and most of it is undoubtedly phony.”
“Whatever you’ve got.”
“Catherine.”
She looked over her shoulder.
“I believe Kendra found something in Doane’s house in Goldfork. She doesn’t trust me, but she might trust you. Did she say anything about it to you before she left?”
“That mysterious disk that you told everyone Doane was holding?”
“Did she say anything?”
“You’re right, she said she didn’t trust you.”
“Did she find anything?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me. But after the way you practically served Eve up as a sacrifice, I don’t think you’ll get it from her unless you can convince her that you’d never do it again.” She looked him directly in the eye. “And, since you haven’t convinced me, I doubt if you could convince her.” She turned away. “Of course, you could come clean about what you expect to find on that ‘disk,’ and you might have a breakthrough. Think about it, Venable.”
CHAPTER
6
Hyatt Airport Hotel
Atlanta, Georgia
“NICE HOTEL,” MARGARET SAID as she took her room key from Jane. “This will be a great change. I’ve traveled a lot during my life, but I’m more used to Motel 6.” She entered the elevator and punched the button for the fourth floor. “I think we should go over the journal tonight. Suppose I meet you guys in twenty minutes. I’ve got to change out of this dress and high heels and get comfortable.” She smiled. “Your room, Jane?”
“Fine,” Jane said dryly. “I suppose I should be happy you asked since you seem to have taken charge.” She glanced at Trevor and Caleb. “Yes?”
Trevor nodded.
“By all means,” Caleb said. He got out of the elevator as the doors opened and turned left. “Margaret’s viewpoints are always interesting. Twenty minutes.”
Trevor got out of the elevator and took Jane’s bag. “I’ll see you to your room.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need—” He was already going down the corridor, and she had to rush to catch up.
He took her key and opened the door. “I know you don’t need
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