Read Hide Away for Free Online

school.” She drew a deep breath. “But I’ll know better next time.” She headed for the elevator. “We have to get back to Eve. I mentioned her name. He might try to—”
    Joe was already ahead of her, his finger pressing the button. “I doubt if he could bounce back that fast, but we won’t take a chance. We have to get out of here.”
    â€œI shouldn’t have mentioned her. He just seemed—Hurry!”
    Two minutes later they were at the door of Eve’s hospital room.
    No Eve.
    Cara stopped short, her gaze on the rumpled bed. “No,” she whispered.
    â€œI didn’t expect you this soon. All done with the paperwork?”
    Cara turned to see Eve standing in the doorway of the bathroom. She felt limp with relief. “Hi. I thought—” She swallowed. “I was scared. I did something stupid.”
    Eve’s gaze narrowed on her face. “I can see you’re scared.” She looked at Joe. “What happened?”
    â€œShe ran into a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Joe said. “I left her for a minute in the hall outside the administration office, and he pounced.”
    â€œSalazar?”
    Joe nodded. “He recruited a young kid who was very good. Smooth as silk and very believable.”
    â€œA kid?” Margaret came out of the bathroom carrying three plastic bags filled with Eve’s personal items. “That doesn’t sound like a recruit to replace Walsh.”
    â€œHe was good,” Joe repeated. “And clever. Salazar might be trying something new. Walsh had to have been a miserable failure in his eyes.”
    â€œHe was a miserable failure in anyone’s eyes.” Eve shivered. “But I didn’t think that Salazar would have found out that Walsh was dead yet. Much less send a killer to replace him.”
    â€œHe probably had someone watching Walsh and reporting back to him. I doubt if he would have trusted him after he’d failed him all these years.”
    â€œDo you know his name?”
    â€œKevin Roper. At least, that’s what he told us. I’ll check with Manez, my contact in Mexico who deals with the cartels, to see if I can verify.” Joe glanced quickly around the room. “Have you got everything? We need to get out of here.”
    â€œThese were the last items.” Margaret went to Eve’s bag, which she’d set on the floor on the other side of the bed. “She’s ready to go.” She looked back at him. “Where are you going to take her?”
    â€œWe’re going home,” Eve said. “I told you, Margaret.”
    â€œI thought there might be a change of plan.” She fastened the suitcase. “Since I’m sure Salazar knows where you live.”
    â€œSo am I,” Joe said. “But it’s my home territory. Easier to defend. We can’t hide out here with Cara like she did with Elena. I know the police there, and I have friends.”
    â€œYou won’t be hiding at all,” Margaret said soberly. “I know something about hiding. It seems like I’ve done it all my life. You should disappear until you’re ready to make your move against Salazar.” She glanced at Cara. “You know all about disappearing, don’t you? They don’t want to make you feel unsafe, they want to put you in a nice, cozy place. But sometimes those cozy places can be traps, and you have to leave them. There’s no choice. Your Elena knew that, didn’t she?”
    Cara nodded. “She knew. She was trying to take me away again when Walsh … killed her.”
    â€œWe’ll take care of her, Margaret,” Eve said quietly. “I know you mean well, but she’s our responsibility.”
    â€œAnd I should butt out?” Margaret shrugged. “I take it that you haven’t changed your mind about letting me come with you?” She didn’t wait for an answer but turned back to Cara.