Hunting Eve Read Online Free PDF Page B

that led to the detached building that housed the gym. “I’m a bit restless tonight.”
    Stang had been aware of that restlessness, and it had caused his uneasiness to heighten. Zander was usually in full control, and volatility was rare. “What if Venable calls again?”
    “He won’t. I won’t need you for the rest of the evening. Set the alarm and go to bed, Stang.”
    “You told Venable you’d think about going after Doane.”
    “My, you’re persistent.” He paused. “And I will. There are reasons why it’s not a bad idea.”
    “Eve Duncan?”
    “No, the general. His death might tarnish my reputation. I mustn’t have potential clients thinking that their lives could be in danger because of the aftereffects of the termination. If I’d followed my gut instincts in the beginning, none of this would have happened. I might have to show that I actively sought to correct the problem. Duncan has nothing to do with it.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “Unless I have to use her to get to Doane.”
    “You are going to do it.”
    “Stop pushing me, Stang. I’m going to think about it.” He smiled coldly. “And whatever I decide, it probably won’t make an iota of difference to whether Duncan lives or dies.”
    “If you throw a different number into an equation, the answer is bound to change,” Stang said. “And sometimes the answer is better than you hope. If you decide to do it, will you team with Venable?”
    “No, why would I do that? He has his own agenda, and he’d get in my way.”
    “Just wondering.” He turned toward the door. “Good night, sir. There’s a jacket on the patio chair if you need it. It’s cold outside.”
    Rio Grande Forest
Colorado
    LORD, IT WAS COLD, Eve thought.
    The temperature had plummeted in the last hour, and the cotton tunic she was wearing was no protection against the cutting wind. Her teeth were chattering, and her muscles were knotting with the effort to withstand the chill.
    She didn’t have much farther to go until she got to the place where she’d discarded her duffel. She would have been there sooner, but she’d lost the trail twice in the darkness and become disoriented. But now she was close, she knew it. The moon was up, and she’d recognized a few distinctive boulders.
    It should be just around this turn of the trail.
    And so might Doane.
    She stopped and stared at the trail ahead.
    Had he seen her discard the duffel? There was no way of knowing.
    If he had, he could be up ahead waiting for her. If he hadn’t, then she might be safe.
    She moved off the trail into the shrubs.
    Move quietly.
    Listen.
    Is he there?
    No sound.
    The wind was sharper, taking her breath.
    Are you tucked under a warm blanket on your couch down there in the house, you bastard?
    Stay there. Sleep. While I try to even things out.
    She stopped again and listened.
    Still nothing but the wind through the trees.
    The duffel should be right before her …
    No duffel! Dammit, no duffel.
    Don’t panic. Look for it.
    She hadn’t realized that the trail had skirted this close to the cliff edge at this point. What if the duffel had rolled down and gone off the cliff?
    And what if it hadn’t?
    Look for it.
    She might get lucky.
    She slid farther down the slope toward the cliff edge.
    There it was! She grabbed the black duffel and turned back to go up the slope.
    And then she stopped on the cliff edge.
    From this vantage point, she could see the house and the mine. The lamplight was pouring from the windows. That was a good sign that he wasn’t out here looking for her.
    But she wouldn’t take that small sign to the bank. He could still be out here.
    Get away. She couldn’t even stop to pull warmer clothes from the duffel until she was miles down the road. She started to climb the slope.
    “You can’t get away. I won’t let you. Kill you. Throw you into the fire.”
    She went rigid at the gravelly whisper. Doane?
    Oh God, she’d been wrong. He was here, waiting.
    She whirled