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N o, I haven’t heard from Caldwell yet,” Eve told Joe when she picked up his call.

“The bastard is probably trying to insert a little more tension to torture me with. As if I haven’t been going through enough.

” She added through set teeth, “But I mustn’t let him see that he’s getting to me.

The weaker I appear, the more powerful he thinks he is.

Dominic said that we have to stall him at all costs, and I think he’s right. ”

“So do I,” Joe said. “And I was grateful when he called me and said he was doing everything he could to locate him. But I’m trying to arrange to trace your call and get another possible address in case Dominic is wrong about where Caldwell is keeping Michael.

I wish to hell it wasn’t so risky to try to get him to call me instead. ”

“No,” she said quickly. “He has to think I’m only a weak woman trying desperately to negotiate for my son.

Everyone knows your reputation as a detective.

He’d probably bristle or balk if he had to talk to you when it’s me he’s trying to pressure.

The best I can do is to record the call and let you hear it later. ”

“That’s not good enough.”

She was suddenly hearing another call come in. “Wait, that might be him. I’ll include you on the call, but you need to just listen, okay?”

“Got it.”

She took a deep breath, pressed the CONNECT button twice, and then took the new call. “Eve Duncan.”

“You sound a little upset, Eve.” The voice of the man on the line was mocking. “Ezra Caldwell here. Did I keep you waiting? What a pity.”

“Isn’t that what you meant to do?” Eve asked bitterly. “There was no need for you to put me through all this worry if you didn’t hope I’d get a little hysterical and easier for you to manipulate.”

“Yes, that was my intention. But you disappoint me. You don’t seem at all hysterical. You’re even stronger than I thought when I chose you to do the mask.”

“No, I’m not hysterical. But I’m angry as hell that you took my son and let me go through this hell of not knowing if he’s alive or dead.”

“Oh, he’s alive. It would be very stupid of me to kill him after all the trouble I had acquiring your services.”

Incredible relief soared through Eve. But she couldn’t let it be revealed in her voice. “I don’t know if I should believe you. Perhaps you’re bluffing. I want to see him. Talk to him. My husband said there was blood at the school.”

“And so there was. He did a very good job of fighting off my men before they were able to give him the hypodermic. But they knew I would be most displeased if they did anything fatal to him. They had their orders. Now, shall we discuss the terms of his return to you?”

“Not until I see him and talk to him.”

“You are stubborn.” His voice was impatient. “You do realize that I’m in charge here? I would have no problem disposing of the boy.”

“I’ve been told that’s true, and it sickens me.

” She let him hear the fear in her tone.

“But I won’t give you something for nothing.

There has to be a strong reason why you went to all this trouble to get me to create that mask.

Probably because you realize I can do it better than anyone else.

But it takes dedication and intensity as well as skill, and it won’t turn out the way you want it if I have to worry about my son when I’m working on it.

Every time you hurt him or threaten him, you’ll see the difference in my work on the mask. ”

Silence. “Now you could be the one bluffing,” he said softly.

“No,” Eve said. “I’m just fighting with every weapon I possess. You said you chose me. That must mean you studied my work. I could be bluffing, but it’s more likely I’m telling you the truth, isn’t it?”

Another silence. “Damn you, yes, it is.” He looked over his shoulder at someone and barked, “Bring in the kid.”

The next moment, Michael’s face appeared on the screen. He had a bruise on his lip, and his eyes were wide with concern. “Mom? They want something from you? Don’t let him do this to you. I’ll be okay.”

“Yes, you will,” she said. “We’ll both be fine, but I’m going to have to go along with these people for a little while. Have they hurt you?”

“Only a little. I’ll find a way to make sure they don’t.”

“No!” she said sharply. “Don’t fight them. We’ll both be okay when we can be together. I have to go now. I’ll see you soon, Michael.”

“Satisfied?” Caldwell came back on the line. “You gave him good advice. If he takes it, it may keep him safe.”

“No, I’m not satisfied. He had bruises. But I can probably keep him from getting any more if I’m there to talk to him.

” She drew a deep breath. Don’t hesitate.

You knew it was probably going to come down to this from the beginning.

She said a swift prayer as she tossed the dice.

“Because even if I agree to do your death mask, you won’t let him go, will you? ”

“Perhaps… when it’s finished.”

“I can’t count on that. I can’t count on anything to do with Michael unless I have him with me where I can see what you’re doing to him and negotiate his safety along with every step I take in the creation of the mask.

That way we’ll both get what we want. You’ll get the high quality you want for the mask, and I’ll get the opportunity to make sure no harm comes to my son while I’m doing it.

” She added caustically, “Perhaps I can even find a way to persuade you to let us both go after I’ve turned that mask over to you. I’ll take whatever I can get.”

He chuckled. “Because you’re a very clever woman.

You can never tell what I’ll do in any situation.

I detest being thought predictable. But what you’ve asked isn’t unreasonable from my point of view.

And it happens I have a partner in this project, and Zakira is becoming very impatient to get you started on the mask.

There’s a celebration coming to commemorate the anniversary of his arrival here.

I tried to get him to just pay someone else to do it, but he insisted on you and only you.

You’ve had such good luck on your projects in the past, and he’s a superstitious man. ”

“As superstitious as his gullible followers?” Eve said.

Caldwell chuckled. “He can be very bad-tempered, so I try to accommodate him. I found it convenient to stash the boy in his village when I took him from his school in Scotland. I’m sure he won’t mind keeping your son in his village for a little while longer if it means that we get you to work on the mask sooner. ”

“All I want to know is how do I get to Michael? My husband is a remarkable man, but he wouldn’t approve of my taking this risk. He’d want to try anything else first. I know you realize there are guards here on the property, and you won’t be able to get to me.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t have taken that into consideration?

That’s why we had to take the boy instead.

You had to be the one to come to me, so I gave you a reason to do it.

I’ve taken care of that problem. We can’t come to you, but those guards won’t stop you leaving the safety of your home in your own Toyota that you use all the time.

As it happens, I’ve had one of my men slip onto your property and make some GPS adjustments to your Toyota; once you get on the highway, it will take you straight to the field where my helicopter is waiting for you. It should work beautifully.”

“Maybe not so beautiful. Those guards will still notify Joe that I’ve left the property.”

“Too late. Unless you let them know what you’ve done.

But you won’t do that, because you’ll know that your Michael would be the one to pay.

And you think perhaps you’ll find a way to save him.

Who knows? Maybe you will. Anyway, we’ll be over the Atlantic before Quinn catches up to the fact of what you’ve actually done. ”

Eve knew he was right. And dear God, Joe might never forgive her for the deception even if everything went well in this hideous scenario.

They had always been together in every endeavor all these years, and now she was risking Michael’s life because she couldn’t see any other way he could survive.

She hadn’t even been able to tell Joe what she’d planned because she’d known he’d try to stop her.

“Second thoughts?” Caldwell asked. She could hear the mockery again.

“No second thoughts. I just want it over.”

“Your wish is my command. All you have to do is go and get in the Toyota right now and I’ll see you very soon, Eve.” He was still chuckling as he hung up.

And Eve sat there for a moment more as she tried to recover from all the painful emotions that had bombarded her as she had talked to Caldwell.

Joe…

No, she couldn’t think about Joe now. It was Michael who was still threatened. She had to do what was necessary to save him. But she could only do that if she made sure that she was where he was being held captive.

However, there was one thing she could do before she devoted herself totally to their son.

She got to her feet and tapped out a text to Joe.

Joe,

It had to be this way. Forget about me. I’ll be safe as long as I can give them something they want. Michael is well enough and being held by Zakira somewhere near his village. I’ll do everything I can to send him to you. Be ready.

Then she tossed a few items of clothing in a knapsack and was leaving the Lake Cottage and heading down the steps toward the Toyota in the driveway.

BON JAKA, AFRICA

Dominic received a call from Joe Quinn four hours later. His voice was harsh and explosive the instant Dominic picked up the phone. “Tell me that you’ve already sent that exploratory team up that damn mountain to find Shafira.”