“You look pleased,” Dorgal said as he dropped down in a chair beside Santos. “You enjoyed the girl last night?”
“She was adequate.” Not like Delores. But no one was like Delores. But he’d had a bittersweet enjoyment of screwing the girl and remembering how amused Delores had been when he brought another woman to his bed. She would sit and watch them, then stroll over to the bed and caress the woman with gentle, loving hands. Then she would give her a lingering kiss while drawing her dagger from the pocket of her silk robe.
He remembered the anticipation he always felt as Delores glanced at him.
She would purse her lips in a mock kiss and blow it to him.
And stab the woman in the heart.
Dorgal shrugged. “I thought you might enjoy her more than the last one. Do you want me to dispose of her, or are you going to try her again?”
“I’ll try her again.” He glanced at Dorgal. “But you didn’t come down to the beach from the house to ask me about that little slut. What’s wrong?”
“Maybe nothing.” He paused. “You told me to tell you if there were any inquiries about Montez. I received word that there was a computer inquiry yesterday and one very recently.”
He went still. “From what source?”
“We couldn’t break the code. We’re still trying.”
“Ling.”
“Possibly.”
Santos muttered a curse. “Probably. Nagoles must have talked.”
“He didn’t know that much. We gave him only the name of the kill and where he could find him.”
“But Ling would be able to take that information and run with it. She’d dig and dig until she found out something she could use.”
“Then the logical solution would be to make sure the place where she dug would be barren. It shouldn’t be difficult. After we killed his brother, Montez got the message. He swore we’d have no trouble with him if we left his family alone.” He smiled. “He was scared shitless and took off running for the hills. Should I order he be taken out?”
“No,” Santos said sharply. “I’ve told you before. I may need him. Can you locate him?”
“He has a mother and a sister in Guatemala City. I’ll find him. What then?”
“Make sure no one else finds him.”
“Then I’d better start moving on it.” Dorgal got to his feet. “And Montez?”
“Bring him here. I’ve been uneasy lately about leaving him free out there on his own. I don’t want to have to go looking for him when she needs him. And I don’t want to risk having Ling find him and ask awkward questions. I don’t like her knowing as much as she does.” His lips tightened. “I wasn’t expecting her to be able to reel in Nagoles and question him. Any more information about who took down the helicopter? CIA?”
Dorgal shook his head. “Not according to the priests in the villages. From what we’ve been able to gather, it was someone they call the Guardian.” He shrugged. “But that could be religious mumbo jumbo.”
“Mumbo jumbo doesn’t blow up helicopters. Get me a name.” He added, “And a connection with Ling or Erin Sullivan.”
“Right.” He moved down the beach toward the path that led to the mansion on the hill. “But first things first. You can’t expect me to zero in on Montez while I—”
“I expect you to do what I tell you,” Santos said softly. “Whatever I say, whatever irons you have in the fire at the time. Have you forgotten that? Perhaps this island living has lulled you into being a little too comfortable.”
Dorgal tensed. “I haven’t forgotten.” He moistened his lips. “Of course, I’ll see to it.” He turned and strode quickly up the path.
Santos watched him scurry up the hill. Dorgal had been with him a long time and grown too comfortable with him. Delores had always told him it was necessary to occasionally keep Dorgal in order and apply the verbal whip. She was right, and most of the time he enjoyed the sensation of power it gave him.
But not this time. The news Dorgal had brought had destroyed the satisfaction he had been feeling after he had talked to Catherine Ling. He wanted that satisfaction back. He didn’t want to sit here by the sea. He wanted to move on that bitch.
No. Control and patience. He would not destroy the master plan he’d created because he was impatient. It would be a disservice to Delores.
Yet would Delores really want him to delay that final revenge?
She had always opted for bloodletting—swift, cruel, painful.
And was this doubt he was feeling her message to tell him that she was getting impatient, too?
It’s so hard, my love. I need you here to help me.
He could almost hear her scornful laughter drifting to him from her tomb on the hill. He could never expect softness or sympathy from Delores. It was part of her appeal for him that she was as sleek and dangerous as he. She was a glorious, shimmering mirror of everything he was or wanted to be.
Nothing was as good without her. Even that little whore he’d had last night had only brought back painful memories. He had told Dorgal he wasn’t finished with her yet, but there was only one last act to perform.
He got to his feet and moved toward the path.
You know it won’t be as exciting as when we finished it together. I have to play both roles. But I’ll be thinking of you every minute when I do it.
And then I’ll bring her to you, and she’ll belong to you forever.
ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Eve stared dully down at the caller ID on her phone. “It’s Catherine.”
“Do you want me to talk to her?” Joe asked gently.
She shook her head. “No. I promised her I’d let her know. I just haven’t been able to pull myself together yet.” She punched the access. “Hello, Catherine. It’s not good news.”
“Shit.”
“Dr. Basle just left. He was very thorough, very kind.” She tried to steady her voice. “And told us exactly what the other doctors had already told us. A week to ten days.”
Silence. “God, I didn’t want to hear that. Can you find another specialist?”
“I could. Basle is supposed to be the best.”