Free Chasing the Night by Iris Johansen Page A

telling me that there’s going to be an explosion between you and Rakovac, and it might be soon. I know him. If Luke is alive and has even a tiny bit of security now, that will vanish in a heartbeat the minute Rakovac breaks with Washington. I have to get him away before that happens.”
    “But what if you’re the one who causes it to happen?” Venable asked softly. “If you’re clumsy, you might push Rakovac into making the break before any of us are ready. Slowly and delicately, Catherine.”
    “I can’t—” She stopped. “I’ll try to not rupture your precious alliance with Rakovac before you’re ready. Hell, I may even act as a diversion. But you can’t kill Rakovac until I’ve found Luke. Do you understand? My son could be lost forever.”
    “We’ve always tried to keep Luke safe for you,” he said. “Eve, you can see that the situation is very difficult. I repeat, it would be wise of you and Joe to stay out of it.” He added wearily, “No one is trying to victimize Catherine. We’re just trying to do our jobs.” He hung up.
    “Slow and easy,” Catherine repeated bitterly, as Eve pressed the disconnect. “When that’s what I’ve been doing for nine years. And now he wants me to stand by while they kill Rakovac. Do you know how long I’ve wanted Rakovac dead? I would have found a way to kill him myself if I hadn’t been afraid I’d lose my link to my son. It’s not going to happen. I won’t permit it.”
    “You’re upset,” Eve said quietly. “Why don’t you go out on the porch and relax for a while.”
    “No.” Catherine turned back to the worktable. “I have work to do. I promised you. We have an agreement.”
    “It won’t hurt to take a break. Don’t you want to read that file?”
    “I’ll do it after we finish for the day.” She smiled grimly. “That phone call may have been one of the roadblocks Venable was talking about putting in my way. He knew it would upset me.”
    “And slow you down.”
    She nodded. “You heard more than you wanted to hear, didn’t you? You may not like secrets, but it’s sometimes safer to not be privy to them.”
    Eve shook her head. “I don’t like cocoons. I’ll take honesty every time.”
    Catherine stared at her for a moment. “I’m grateful, you know. Ask me anything. I’ll do it.”
    Eve smiled. “I’ll think about it.”
    Catherine nodded. “In the meantime, no secrets. I promise. It will be difficult for me. I’ve lived with secrets and deceptions all my life.”
    “Catherine, I don’t want to invade your privacy.”
    She shrugged. “It’s the only gift I can give you right now.” She turned back to the worktable. “I’m better now. My hands aren’t shaking any longer. I can go back to work.”
    But Catherine was still in an emotional tailspin. She needed a major distraction. “I’m not ready yet.” Eve got up and headed for the kitchenette. “I want a cup of coffee. What about you?”
    “I don’t need it.”
    No, Catherine wouldn’t admit to any weakness. “But do you want it?” Eve asked.
    Catherine hesitated, then slowly nodded. “Yes, thank you.”
    Eve nodded as she pressed the coffee button. “Drag your stool around to my computer. I might as well go over the transitions I’ve completed while we take a break.”
    Catherine’s eyes lit with eagerness. “Are you that close?”
    “I have two more transitions before I reach the final stage.” She filled Catherine’s cup. “But I’m far enough along that you may find it interesting.”
    “Oh, yes. I’ll definitely find it interesting.” She smiled ruefully. “I’m like a kid waiting for the gates of Disney World to open.”
    Eve crossed the room and handed Catherine her coffee before sitting down on her stool. “I only hope my work isn’t as fantasy-based as Disney. I did the best I could.”
    “Show me.”
    “I was going to skip age three, but a lot happens in that year.” She pulled up the first transition of Luke at age three. “Do