Taking Eve(102)

“And then he took off?” Joe said. “Where the hell was his surveillance?”

“Too complacent. For five years, he’d watched Doane being the great guy next door. I’m sure Doane knew my agent’s schedule and worked around it.”

“So he was lulling everyone into thinking he was something he wasn’t,” Jane said. “Five years is a long time to waste building up a false image. Or did he just suddenly, impulsively break out?”

“He wasn’t wasting time,” Venable said. “I think he must have been very busy.”

“Doing what?”

“Getting ready to go after the men he blamed for killing his son.”

“Five years? Why didn’t he go after General Tarther right away?”

“I’d bet he wanted the whole package. He might be able to kill Tarther, but what about the hired gun who actually pulled the trigger? He didn’t even know his name.” He grimaced. “Though Doane did ask me if I knew who did it when we started negotiating his protection.”

“And that didn’t set off any alarms?”

“I told you, he was very good. There was no anger, tears were running down his cheeks. A bewildered father trying to find answers.”

“And do you know who killed Kevin Relling?”

“Yes. Tarther told me.” He was silent a moment. “Though I made a deal with him that I wouldn’t reveal his name to anyone in exchange for his not going after Doane to tie up loose ends. I tried to keep my word, dammit.”

“You told Doane?”

“Hell, no. But I’m going to tell you. I have to do it. It’s too dangerous not to do it now.” He paused. “Lee Zander.”

Joe frowned, going over the name in his memory for any reference. “I’m familiar with the names of a lot of professional hit men. I’ve never heard of him.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. That’s why Zander’s lasted all these decades without being killed or captured. He’s very particular about his targets, and he’s as close to being the perfect killing machine as I’ve ever come across. He’s also incredibly expensive, and he only has to emerge from seclusion occasionally. You might say he’s unique.”

“I might say he’s a murderer. You shouldn’t have worried about keeping your word to him.”

“I was more worried about keeping myself alive,” he said dryly. “Zander was hard to persuade not to go after Doane, and he doesn’t like people who don’t keep their word. As it was, he thought he was running a risk, and Doane was going to cause him trouble.”

“And he was right?” Jane asked. “But he’s causing more trouble for Eve than Zander. Why?”

“He spent a long time finding out who killed his son and making his plans. She’s evidently part of the entire picture.”

“The reconstruction?”

He was silent a moment. “I’m sure that’s one of the pieces.” He went on quickly, “And since he went to a good deal of trouble to get her, we have to include her in any long-range plot Doane concocted. We have to assume she’ll be on his list.”

“List?”

“Kill list,” he said simply. “Tarther. Zander.” He paused. “Eve.”

“No,” Jane said hoarsely. “He had reason to kill Tarther and Zander. Not Eve.” She shook off Caleb’s hand as he reached out to touch her shoulder. “But since when do maniacs have to have reasons?” she asked unevenly. “He killed Dukes and probably that farmer. Okay, I’ll accept that it’s only a matter of time before he decides to kill her. Now we have to keep him from doing it. If he’s going after Tarther and Zander, then we have a chance to capture him when he shows up.” She rubbed her temple. “If he keeps Eve alive that long. We’d be much safer trying to find out where he’s keeping her. You have no idea, Venable? Something you haven’t told us? If you had an agent watching him all those years, he should have been able to report where he went when he left the property.”

“He did, and we checked them all out. That doesn’t mean that he couldn’t have slipped away from him some nights.” He made a face. “Complacency, again. He wasn’t considered a danger. He also had a computer that he’d wiped clean. We’re digging into that memory.”

“And Blick,” Joe said. “He had Kevin’s friend, Blick, on the outside, doing his research and dirty work.”

“Doane drove his car into the lake,” Margaret said suddenly. “Was he worried that you might find something on or in the car? He could have gotten rid of the body of the farmer anywhere.”