Page 120 of The Search

“I don’t think that’s likely. I’ve had two security guards watching your cottage since Rudzak surfaced, but it was only a precaution.” His lips twisted in a wry smile. “He’s not interested in past history.”

“You’ll always be my friend, Logan.”

“I know, and that’s enough for me.” He paused. “Call Quinn and tell him to come. Sarah will feel better about it.”

“What about you?”

“You’d probably all be safer here. You’re under surveillance from the foothills and it’s a clear view to the cabin. It’s hard to guard that cottage in the woods. You found that out when you were dealing with that murderer who stalked you.”

She shivered. “Rudzak couldn’t be as clever as Dom.”

“Don’t bet on it. He fooled Sarah, and she’s pretty canny.”

“Yes.” She frowned. “I’ll think about it.” She got out of the jeep and reached for her suitcase. “Don’t get out. I’ll introduce myself to Galen. I know you want to get back to Sarah. You seem worried about her.”

“I am. All the time.”

“But the guards at the Phoenix house are very—” She stopped, her gaze on his face. “My God.”

He nodded. “No possibility that she’s not a target.” He said, mockingly, “Quinn would laugh. He always told me I didn’t love you enough, that it had to be an obsession. I didn’t understand then, but he was right, you know. It’s an obsession.”

“If anything happens to those people at Dodsworth, she’ll hate you, Logan.”

“I’ll hate myself.” He started the jeep. “Call her and tell her you’re going to ask Quinn to come. She’s worried enough about Dodsworth. She doesn’t need to worry about you.”

Logan’s phone rang on the drive back to Phoenix.

“I met your Sarah,” Rudzak said. “Did she tell you what an entertaining time we had together? She’s an interesting woman. Not nearly as fascinating as Chen Li, but then, you never had the sophistication to appreciate her. It doesn’t surprise me that you’ve formed an attachment to someone as blunt and straightforward as Sarah Patrick.”

“She did a job for me. There’s no attachment.”

“It’s too late to lie to me. I saw you together and I read you so well.”

“You don’t know jack. You haven’t been around me for a long time. I’m not the man you knew all those years ago.”

“You’ve matured, you’re sharper, but the basics are still there. You become involved and you’re pitifully sentimental when your sympathies are aroused. Look how unreasonable you became when I did what was best for Chen Li.”

“I agree. It would have been far more reasonable to have broken your neck then. I’ll have to do it now.”

He laughed. “Then come and get me, Logan. Find me. I’m waiting for you. Oh, by the way, the comb wasn’t for Sarah or anyone at Apache Lake. That was just a mere exercise, not worthy of Chen Li.”

Logan stiffened. “Then why throw the comb in her jeep?”

“It wasn’t for Sarah, Logan.” He hung up.

15

“Where’s Jane?” Eve fired the question at Logan as soon as he picked up the ringing phone the next morning. “You said they’d be safe. Damn you, where’s Jane?”

“What?” Panic spiked through him. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Jane. Joe just called me and told me that Jane’s missing.”

“Missing from where?”

“My mother’s house in Atlanta. Joe dropped her off there last night when I asked him to fly out here today. When my mother went into Jane’s room to call her for breakfast, she was gone. Goddammit, you said they’d be safe.”

“Was there any sign of forced entry?”