CHAPTER 1 #3
“I don’t know. Yes, I do. Did I mention that Sarah Patrick was one of those rescue workers at Oklahoma City? Maybe this is my try at giving her my firstborn child.”
“She doesn’t need it. She has her dog.”
“And you’re not going to listen to me.”
“I’m listening. I wouldn’t dare do anything else.”
“Bull. I’m not asking you to give her a medal. Just give her an out.”
“Where is she now?”
“On her way home from Barat. She’s been there five days. Earthquake.”
“I’ve not been totally in my own world, Margaret. I heard about the earthquake before I left Monterey.”
“But it didn’t rock you like the news about Bassett. So what do I do? Do you want me to phone her? Set up a meeting?”
“She’d tell you to go to hell. Since I’m a true gentleman and want to spare you that indignity, I’ll take care of it myself.”
“You’re afraid I’ll bond with her and we’d gang up on you.”
“You guessed it.”
“Okay, then where can I reach you? Are you flying direct to Phoenix?”
“No, I’m going to Atlanta.”
Silence. “Eve?”
“Who else?”
“Oh.”
“I believe I have you speechless. What an accomplishment. I’ll take pity on you. No, I’m not going in sentimental pursuit of a lost love. Eve and I are friends now.”
“Heaven forbid anyone would mistake you for being sentimental. You don’t have to explain to me about—”
“No, but you’d die of curiosity and then I’d have to break in a new personal assistant. Such a bore.”
“I’m not nosy. Anyone would be curious,” she said tartly. “After all, you spent a year with her. I thought you might—”
“You can reach me in Atlanta at the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead.”
“If you’re not going directly to see Sarah Patrick, I’ll keep tabs on her.”
“That’s not necessary. I’ll see her in Atlanta.”
“No, she’s booked back to Phoenix.”
“She’ll change her plans. By the way, I’m calling Sean Galen after I hang up. If he needs funds, give him—”
“Carte blanche,” Margaret finished for him. “As usual. I thought you’d pull him into any rescue attempt. Is he to go directly to Santo Camaro?”
“No, I’m sending him to Bogotá on a fact-finding mission.”
Margaret made a distinctly skeptical sound. “Pretty words. Who’s he going to beat up?”
“Maybe no one. I just need him to find someone and ask a few questions.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“If Castleton calls, I want to hear from him immediately. He has my digital phone number, but he’s too cautious for my taste. He may try to reach me on it only in case of emergencies. But as far as I’m concerned, everything is an emergency at this point.”
“No problem.”
“Wrong. I see nothing but problems looming. I’ll keep in touch.” He hung up.
He should have known Margaret would champion Sarah Patrick.
Margaret was an ardent feminist who admired tough, smart women who boldly ran their own lives and careers.
She had liked Eve Duncan for that same reason.
Eve was a top forensic sculptor who had overcome tremendous odds in both her personal and professional life. A very special woman . . .
He hadn’t seen her in almost six months.
Had he made the transition from lover to friend as he’d told Margaret?
Who knew? He had felt something for Eve he’d never felt for any other woman, and he’d tried to analyze it in these last months.
Respect, pity, passion . . . Hell, maybe all those emotions had been present.
She had certainly caught his imagination from the moment he had met her.
No, he wasn’t being honest. He had loved Eve.
What was love but respect, pity, passion, and a hundred other emotions?
Joe Quinn had said Logan didn’t love her enough and deserved to lose her.
Well, he had lost her, so maybe the bastard was right.
Maybe he’d never make a total commitment to a woman.
Totality was for the young and the daring.
Christ, that sounded like a soap opera.
Okay, forget personal problems. Eve was going to marry Joe Quinn, a fact that he’d accepted months ago. His commitment now was to Bassett, and he had to concentrate all his efforts on bringing him back.
That’s where Sarah Patrick came in.
He could force her to help him as he’d done the last time, but he’d prefer not to do that. Was there anything else in her background he could use to manipulate her?
He had time to think about it. He should have at least a day to decide what to say to her.
It might take every minute of that time, he thought ruefully. Sarah was tough as nails and Margaret was probably right. This time when he tried to get her to jump when he whistled, there was every chance the situation would explode.
And the situation was explosive enough without Sarah. He had been uneasy ever since he had left Santo Camaro. His instincts told him that something was not as it should be, and he trusted his instincts. What the hell was bothering him?
He was filled with anger and sadness and the usual adrenaline-charged eagerness to jump into the fray— emotions that were getting in the way.
So put those emotions on hold. He had to clear his head and analyze Rudzak’s opening move.
Why had Rudzak taken Bassett? Ransom or revenge was the obvious answer, but Rudzak was seldom obvious.