Taking Eve(39)
“We’re nothing alike,” he said as he headed for the door. “There’s no one on earth like Seth Caleb. He’s a throwback.”
She couldn’t deny that when she had often seen that streak of barbarism in Caleb. “He’s also a hunter, and you wouldn’t be a cop if that weren’t in your makeup. And you’re not that tame yourself, Joe.”
He didn’t answer, and she realized that he had left the room.
Keep calm. Relax. She was so damn weak. Emotional and physical tension would make the healing process slower, and she must get well. She had to get to Eve.
Eve …
* * *
DAMMIT, THE BASTARD HAD GOTTEN away.
Caleb felt the anger tear through him as he looked out to sea. It was too late. He probably hadn’t had a chance to get the son of a bitch. He’d made his choice to either go after the shooter or try to save Jane.
There hadn’t really been a choice. He would not give up Jane.
But it didn’t stop the rage. The blood was pounding through his body, and he could feel the throbbing of the vein in his temple.
Not good.
He had to regain control before he saw Jane again. She was wary of the savage thread that was an integral part of his character. Even if that savagery had been instigated by the attack on her.
Caleb lifted his head as he heard the sound of the plane coming in from the south.
The air ambulance, he thought as he whirled away from the small inlet. It was about time. It had been less than forty-five minutes since he’d left Jane, but it had seemed longer.
He started to run toward the airfield. No use going back to the animal hospital. He’d meet them at the airfield. Maybe by that time, he’d be under control.
Run.
Use every muscle, every breath.
Block out the bloodlust …
CHAPTER
6
THE SMALL AIR AMBULANCE WAS taxiing toward the hangar when Caleb came over the hill.
No sign of a vehicle or van yet.
Good.
He was almost calm enough to act civilized. Just a little more time, and he would—
“Where have you been?”
Caleb stopped and slowly turned toward the man who had come out of the rain forest.
Quinn.
He stiffened and felt the familiar wariness sweep through him that any encounter with Joe Quinn ignited. Quinn was always a threat both because of his basic character and his position in Jane’s life. He drew a deep breath. “I’ve been looking for the shooter. What do you think I’ve been doing?”
“There’s never any way of knowing. And did you find him?”
“No.” He started down the road toward the aircraft. “He had a speedboat drawn up onshore in an inlet a couple miles from the airfield. I saw where he pushed off. He didn’t waste any time after he shot Jane.”
“How did you know about the inlet?”
He shrugged. “I went to the hangar where he took his shot and started tracking him.”
“On these hard dirt roads and the rain forest? Impressive.”
“Not really. But I am good at it.”
“I bet you are,” Joe murmured.
“Yes, you can bet on it.” He met Joe’s eyes. “Just as I can bet that you chose to come here for the same reason I did. You needed a start, and you thought that the hangar would furnish you with something to go on.”
“I was actually hoping to use your ‘talent’ to help me track him. I thought it would save time.”
“Use me?”
“You don’t like the word? Yes, I’ll use you, Caleb. I don’t like the idea of you with Jane. You’re not only unstable, you’re uncanny as hell. It’s her choice, but I might as well get something out of this.” He smiled without mirth. “Now, did you find anything at that inlet that I can use to get to the bottom of this?”
“No.”
“Are you lying to me?”
He glanced back over his shoulder. “It’s always a possibility, but as it happens I’m telling the truth.” He suddenly smiled. “But you made the question too specific. It gave me an out.”
“Specific.”
“I didn’t find anything at the inlet. But I found something at the hangar. They have security cameras, Quinn.”
“What?”
“I thought that would interest you.” He pulled out a security video disk from his jacket pocket. “We just might get a break.”
Joe took at step closer and held out his hand. “Give it to me.”
Caleb stepped back. “I don’t think so. You don’t like to share.”
“Give it to me, Caleb.” Joe’s voice was soft but laden with menace.
“Don’t push me, Quinn.” Caleb said. “You don’t want to do that.”
“The hell I don’t. I’m mad and I’m scared and the two women I love may be targets of some creep who doesn’t give a damn how wonderful they are. I’ll push the world off its axis if I need to do it.”