“Yes.”
“And do you remember what I did after I tracked that son of a bitch down and caught him?”
Leary swallowed. “Yes.”
“I was very angry then, but that's not a patch on what I'm feeling toward you right now. Do you understand?”
“You can't get away with this. Cordoba will have all the Matanza searching for me. I'm valuable to them.”
“Not when Salazar arranges to have them find out that you went off with your latest conquest for a weekend in the country.”
“He'll contact Danley. Danley will send—” He screamed as Morgan applied pressure. “Damn you. I told them you should have been killed right after Fairfax. But that prick Danley didn't want to risk any suspicion within the Company.” He shrieked in agony. “Screw you. I'm not talking.”
“You will,” Morgan said softly. “Believe me, you will, Leary.”
10:15 P.M.
Alex drove thirty miles south of Huntington before she phoned Runne. “I thought it over, and I've decided I'll let you lead me to Z-3.”
“I said I'd take you, not lead you.”
“But that would put me entirely in your power. I'd be foolish to even think about doing that. Will I be able to identify this place as the Kettle when I see it?”
“Definitely.”
“Then when we reach there, I'll take off and you can try to catch me. If you do, then you'll have your bait for Morgan. I know it's him you want to hunt, but I may not be as easy prey as you think. I'm at the gas station at the intersection of Highways 5 and 22. What kind of car are you driving?”
“A tan Toyota 4Runner.”
“Then when I see you, I'll leave the station and follow you. I'm sure you'll reconnoiter to make sure no one but me is around to trail you. But I have a gun, and if you try to lead me down a wrong road, either literally or figuratively, I won't hesitate to shoot you.”
“Then the odds seem to be in your favor. Why should I go along with it?”
“Because I'm not a professional. I don't know how to hunt down and kill anyone. Morgan told me that you were an expert. Once we reach the Kettle, don't you believe that you can turn the tables on an amateur like me?”
“Oh, yes. With great certainty.”
She felt a chill at the absolute confidence in his tone. “And after you catch me, do you think you'll be able to force me to call Morgan and beg him to come?”
“It will take no time at all.”
“Then come and get me.”
“There's a problem. I only have one day to track Morgan before I have to commit to my other duty. This small charade with you is going to eat into my time.”
“But you're so sure that you'll get me in a heartbeat, and you said Morgan was the only thing that was important to you.”
There was a silence. “And what do you hope to accomplish by this?”
“I hope to kill you.”
He chuckled. “The hunted turned hunter?”
“Or I hope to remain free long enough to give Morgan a chance to kill you.”
“A slightly greater chance.”
“I'll call Morgan when we reach the Kettle and tell him where I am. He won't tell anyone else, because he'll be afraid that you'll kill me.” She paused. “And he'll come after me. Isn't that what you want?”
“It's very tempting.” He thought about it. “On one condition. Give me Morgan's phone number so that I can communicate with him. I'll be the one to call him from the Kettle and tell him where to come. You call Morgan right now and tell him what a tender sacrifice you're making for his sake. Don't think I'm fool enough to trust that you haven't had your car bugged so that you can be traced. There's a very simple device that will detect the signal and I'll use it.”
“I've hardly had time to arrange anything that elaborate.”
“And then I want to see you throw your phone and that gun you mentioned out the window of your car as you drive out of the gas station. I won't risk you calling someone else and giving them your location once you reach Z-3. I'll circle around and see if there's a gun with the phone. If there's no gun, I'll disappear and you can find Z-3 by yourself.”
No phone. No gun. If she did that, she would be totally alone and isolated, with no way to call for help.
What was she quibbling about? It was only one more hazard in an almost suicidal situation.
“I'll call Morgan now.” She hung up and drew a deep breath before she dialed Morgan.
No answer.
Then she got his voice mail.
No!
She hung up and leaned her head on the steering wheel in despair.
Okay, keep cool. He was meeting with Leary tonight. Naturally he wouldn't want his phone going off. He'd access his voice mail eventually.