“He wasn’t very helpful,” Venable said as he followed him down the corridor. “But it’s good that he managed to survive the attack.”
“He did the best he could to give us what we wanted. It wasn’t that he has a few problems. He has a concussion and suffered from—”
“You don’t have to be defensive to me,” Venable said. “I’m just commenting. As a witness, he did as well as 70 percent of the people I’ve questioned over the years.”
“And he may be able to help more when I get an artist to give him something to prod his memory.” He paused. “But is it necessary? Did you recognize the description? And if you did, are you going to tell me?”
Venable didn’t answer directly. “It was a very vague description. It could be almost any pleasant-faced middle-age man. Of course, you could get a photo of that Mr. Drury he’s supposed to resemble. However, that wouldn’t be very scientific, would it?”
“No, and according to Ben there isn’t any real resemblance, just an impression … mainly the expression.” He zeroed in again. “You’re not answering me, Venable.”
“No, I’m not. I told you, I made a promise.”
“Ben could have died,” he said harshly. He tried to rein in his temper. “Screw your promise.” His pace increased as he headed across the parking lot toward his car. “Your time is running out. After that, I’ll ram that promise down your throat and make you choke on it.”
CHAPTER
8
“BUT BEN IS GOING TO be all right?” Jane’s hand tightened on her cell phone. “He didn’t kill him, Joe. He dropped him near that clinic. At least that’s one good thing to come out of this nightmare. I was afraid that he would be—” She stopped to steady her voice. “It’s a good sign, isn’t it? Maybe the man who took Eve isn’t—Perhaps we can reason with him.”
“Providing we can find him,” he added bluntly. “And don’t be too encouraged. He dropped Ben in the woods a good half mile from the clinic. If Ben hadn’t roused and begun to crawl toward it, he might not have been found.”
That was true, but Jane had been trying desperately to cling to anything that would give her hope. “You said Venable might know something?”
“I think Venable knows a hell of a lot,” he said grimly. “And soon I’ll know everything he knows. One way or the other.”
“Fine,” she said bitterly. “All we need is for the CIA to find a way to make you disappear. Then I’d have to find you, too.” She drew a shaky breath. “Venable likes Eve. I don’t believe he’d use her as a pawn in one of his games. There must be some reason why he’s stonewalling. We have to get him to work with us.”
“I gave him his chance.”
His tone was totally relentless, Jane thought. She wasn’t going to be able to persuade him.
At least, not long-distance.
“What are you doing now?” she asked.
“We’re on our way to see a farmer near the lake cottage who reported a truck stolen. After I hang up from you, I’m going to call headquarters and see when they can send out a sketch artist to see Ben in the hospital.”
“No.”
“What?”
“I’ll go see Ben. I can do the sketch.”
“The hell you will.”
“Yes, the hell I will. You know I’ve worked with the police as a sketch artist when I was in college. I can do this.”
“Maybe when you’re not recovering from a bullet in San Juan. I need someone out here right away.”
“You’ll have someone right away. I’m a lot stronger than I was yesterday.” But still damnably shaky. Forget it. She could rest whenever she got an opportunity. “And stop cursing. I’m going to do it, Joe.”
“I’ll tell the hospital staff not to let you in his room.”
“No, you won’t. I’m probably a lot better than your sketch artist. You need the best for Eve.” She added, “We need the best.”
Silence. “God help me, I’m going to let you do it.”
“Let? You have no choice. Now let me get off the phone and call Caleb. I’ll need some help getting out of here.” She hung up.
She sat up and swung her legs to the side of the bed.
Dizzy …
Ignore it.
Her shoulder was throbbing painfully.
Ignore it.
Call Caleb.
She dialed the number.
“Jane?”
“Come and get me. I need to be in Georgia in the next few hours.”
Silence. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Am I going to have to bust you out of there?”