16 Taking Eve (8 page)

But Ben was at the door before her. “No, I have to be with you.”

She looked at him in exasperation. “Ben…”

He shook his head. He wasn’t going to be persuaded.

She drew back the drape and glanced out the window and saw the uniformed officer coming up the porch stairs. She opened the door before he had a chance to knock. “I’m sorry, Officer Hughes. I didn’t have time to call you. It was a false alarm. It was only my friend at the door.”

“At this hour?” He was looking beyond her at Ben. “May I come in for a moment?”

It was clear he wanted to check Ben out and make sure she wasn’t being coerced. Why not? It would be the quickest way to reassure him. No one would believe Ben would be a threat once they’d spoken to him. She opened the door wider. “Of course.”

“Thanks. I’ll only be a minute.” He showed her his ID as he came into the house. “Detective Quinn wouldn’t like it unless I did everything by the book.” He looked at Ben. “Your name?”

“Ben. Ben Hudson.”

“And your purpose here?”

“To help Eve.” He smiled. “Like you. Right?”

“Right.” Officer Hughes smiled back at him. It was hard not to smile at Ben. “But from now on call her and tell her you’re coming. It will save all of us a lot of trouble. You don’t want to scare her.” He turned back to Eve. “I’ll be on my way. If you need me, just call. I’ll be on duty for another two hours, and I think Detective Quinn has arranged for Pete Dolanelli to take over.”

“Thank you for being so prompt.” She went with him to the door. “I hope it’s the last time I’ll have to call you.”

“So do I.” He grinned. “But it broke up the duty a bit. Monotony is always best, but it gets boring.” He started down the steps and looked back over his shoulder and lowered his voice. “No offense, ma’am, but I’d rather you rely on me or Dolanelli. Mr. Hudson seems like a nice guy, but there’s no … edge.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Eve said. “Ben has no edge at all. But he’s very loyal and has a good heart. When I need edge, I’ll definitely call you.” She went back in the house, locked the door behind her, and turned back to Ben. “You see, I have that very nice and competent policeman to protect me. I don’t need you, Ben. Go back to the camp.”

He shook his head. “I have to stay with you.”

She nodded. She hadn’t thought that she’d be able to convince him. “I’ll go and get Joe’s clothes. The bathroom is the first door on your left. Why don’t you take a hot shower?”

He shook his head. “I’ll only get cold and wet again when I go back outside.”

“Outside? Why should you go outside again? You want to protect me? Do it from the living-room couch.”

“I just wanted to make sure that the cottage is safe. That Officer Hughes is in a car. I’ll be able to see more if I move around on foot.”

“Ben, there’s no solid proof that I’m even in danger. It’s all fog and mirrors.” She met his eyes. “And dreams. And that dream of yours was very vague.”

“Because of the darkness,” he said gravely. “But it wasn’t vague that Bonnie sent me here. She wanted me to come.”

“And park yourself out in the rain?”

“Maybe the rain will stop.”

“And maybe it won’t.” She gazed at him for another moment and turned on her heel. She wasn’t making a dent in that solemn determination. “I’ll get those clothes. Do you have a cell phone?”

“Yes, but I keep doing things to it that make it go wonky.”

“Well, don’t do anything tonight, dammit. I want you to call me every hour, and I want to be able to reach you.”

He smiled. “Yes, Eve.”

“And I’m going to give you Joe’s slicker, and I want you to keep beneath the trees and out of the rain as much as possible.”

“Yes, Eve.”

“And if you see something you don’t like, then call me, and I’ll call Officer Hughes. Don’t try to deal with it yourself.”

His smile widened. “Yes, Eve.”

“And stop saying that and grinning at me. I mean it.”

“I know you do. But it’s hard not to smile. You’re worried about me, and that means that you like me. That makes me happy.”

She felt a melting within her. “Of course I like you. I’ve always liked you, Ben. Don’t you know that?”

He shook his head. “I thought it was because I helped you with Bonnie. It was okay that it was all about her, but it’s nice that you like me, too.”

She went back and gave him a quick hug. “Don’t you ever say that again. Bonnie was the beginning, but you’re very special to Joe and me on your own. Because you’re who you are.” She turned and strode toward the bedroom. “So you have to take care of yourself and don’t do anything foolish.”

“Some people think I am a fool, Eve,” he said quietly.

“Then they’re stupid. Are you different? Yes. But we’re all different, and we just have to accept each other. Finish that chocolate and dry your hair.”

“Yes, Eve.”

“Now you’re making fun of me.”

“I think I am.” He thought about it. “Do you mind?”

“No. Just don’t make a habit of it.” She slammed the door behind her.

Dammit, she didn’t want Ben to go out there.

But he had said that Bonnie had told him to come here. Surely she wouldn’t have sent him if she’d thought there was any danger. Or would she? Bonnie had shown that she wasn’t above weighing her choices as to whom she wanted to protect. She loved Eve as much as Eve loved her. Eve would always be first where Bonnie was concerned. From the moment she had given birth to Bonnie, Eve had realized her little girl was very special, and they would always have a bond that would last forever. But forever had lasted only seven short years when Bonnie had been kidnapped and died. Eve couldn’t bear the agony of living without her and had been spiraling downward to follow her through that final door when she had started to dream of Bonnie. It wasn’t until years later that she would admit to herself that she believed Bonnie was no dream but a spirit who had come to show her that forever was still possible if they were patient and didn’t break the rules. It had been difficult because Eve always had been hardheaded and practical, and ghosts were not acceptable in her vision of life … and death. But those visits from Bonnie were so real, so right, that she had gradually realized that Bonnie was alive for her no matter what anyone else thought.

And when she was searching for Bonnie’s body to bring her home, she had come across Ben, who was as special in his way as Bonnie. Somehow, it had hardly surprised her that he, too, dreamed about Bonnie. Nor that he loved her as much as Eve did.

No, that wasn’t true. No one could love her that much.

Good God, was she a little jealous that Bonnie had come to Ben and not to her?

She said the darkness around you was holding her back.

So Bonnie had sent Ben to try to keep Eve safe.

And now Eve had to find a way to keep Ben safe.

*   *   *

THE RAIN WAS LESSENING,
Doane noticed. That was too bad. The rain was his friend right now.

“It will still be fine, Kevin.” He looked down at the skull in the chest beside him on the seat of the truck as he pulled out his earphone. “I’ll just have to make a few adjustments here. I kind of thought Venable might send that man who was watching us at the lake. But I wasn’t expecting Ben Hudson to show up. Fate seems to be putting obstacles in our path. But you always said the victory was sweeter if it wasn’t easy.” He opened his computer. “Everything has to be ready to go like clockwork when I put it in motion. Let’s check on Blick.”

Text or Skype?

No, he wanted to see Blick’s face, make certain that there was no hesitance or lies. He trusted the man as much as he trusted anyone. He had been Kevin’s friend and worshipped him. Besides, he liked money. Between the two, he had a chance that he wouldn’t betray him. Or that he wouldn’t move too soon and trigger a response that would make it difficult for Doane to initiate his plans for Eve Duncan. Blick had never had Kevin’s coolness and was prone to panic. He had to keep him calm and on track.

He pressed the button and waited for Blick to pick up the line on Summer Island.

“Is everything okay?” Blick’s face was tense as he picked up the line. “Have you done it?”

“Not yet. There are problems. I’ll work them out. MacGuire’s attention is still focused on the dog?”

“Yeah, the doctors seem to be busy. I don’t know what’s going on.”

“You don’t have to know. Just keep her there and away from here. That’s your job. You understand?”

“I heard you.”

“Good. Then do it.” He hung up.

CHAPTER

4

“HOW’S HE DOING?” CALEB ASKED,
as Jane came out of the examination room.

“Good. Very good.” She smiled brilliantly. “Devon doesn’t think there’s any internal organ damage from the poison. That means that once we get the poison totally out of his system, he has a chance for total recovery.” She looked at the computer on his lap. “That’s my laptop. What are you doing with it?”

“Nothing criminal. That’s not saying I couldn’t have made you a cybervictim if I’d chosen. It was ridiculously easy to access anything I wanted to see.” His brows lifted. “And your password? Eve/Joe. It took me all of three minutes to decide what you’d use.”

“So? It’s not as if I really cared. Nothing is top secret on my computer. Technology is not my life.” She added, “Though you might have asked permission if you wanted to use it.”

“You weren’t around, and I have a tendency to be impatient. I didn’t go into your Facebook account or anything. I was just checking your e-mail to see if you got an answer from that Nedra woman at your luxury pup day-care center.”

“And did I?”

“Yes.” He turned the computer around. “Shocked disbelief. And then abject apologies. When they checked, they found their cameras caught this man with Toby.” He paused. “Syringe in hand.”

“What?” The next moment, she’d snatched the computer from him. One glance, and she could see it was true. It was taken in the outdoor play area, and the short, stocky man with curly, red hair had his back to the camera, and she couldn’t see his features. But she could see that he was standing over Toby and she could see the syringe he was slipping back into the pocket of his jacket. For an instant she could feel the rage run hot before she got it under control. “The son of a bitch. Who is he? Did Nedra know? Everyone has to check in at the front desk.”

“She said his name is Herbert Connors. He’d brought a boxer to the day-care center three times before that day. He said he was dropping the dog off for his next-door neighbor at his flat. She says he appeared to be a nice man and was very friendly with all the dogs. She can’t believe he would do something like this.”

“Well, he did.” Her hands tightened on the laptop. “And she’d better check out the other dogs he had contact with.”

“That was her first thought. She said she’d get on the phone immediately with all her clients and see if any other dogs are sick.” Caleb tilted his head. “But somehow I don’t think she’s going to find any. I think that Toby was the only target.”

Her gaze flew to his face. “And why do you think that?”

“She said Herbert Connors hadn’t been back since that day he’d evidently given Toby the poison. I think he’d gone the other three times to set it up. He was waiting for you to drop off Toby so that he could finish his job.”

“For God’s sake, you’re making it sound like some diabolic scheme instead of a vicious crazy preying on a helpless animal.”

“Haven’t you noticed?” He smiled faintly. “I tend to think on diabolic lines.”

“True. But you’re very clever, and sometimes you’re right. So tell me what you’re thinking.”

“That you’re a target. That this Herbert Connors used Toby to nudge you in the direction he wanted you to go.” He paused. “And he wanted you to leave London and come here to Summer Island.”

“You’re crazy. How would he even know about Summer Island?”

“I’m sure there are several messages from Sarah Logan in your e-mail. If he tapped it, he could put together a way to lure you out of London to take Toby to the island if it was an emergency.”

She stared at him incredulously. “You believe he found a way to get access to my computer?”

“You probably made it easy for him. To use your own words, technology is not your life.” His forehead wrinkled thoughtfully. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he also found a way to bug your apartment.”

“You’re really reaching. This is getting more and more complicated … and absurd. If he got into my apartment, why not poison Toby while he was there.”

“Because he wanted information and a way to move you out of London, not just to hurt the dog.”

“I was already moving. I was planning on visiting Eve and Joe,” she said. “So there goes your motive for the scenario.”

“Maybe not. At any rate, I put a few wheels in motion to start verifying. For one thing I’m running a check on Herbert Connors. Though I doubt that’s really his name.” He stood up and headed for the front entrance. “But I do need to think about it. Let’s get some air.”

“Caleb, what—” He was already out the door. She closed the computer and hurried after him.

The air was soft and fragrant, and a breeze brought a hint of salt from the sea she could not see. It must be close to dawn, but night was still clinging stubbornly.

“The sea is just over that hill,” Caleb said. “I went out and reconnoitered the area earlier.”

“You’re lucky you didn’t get shot by a security guard.”

He only smiled.

No, he wouldn’t be worried about guards. She had seen him in action, and he was truly intimidating. He was not only a hunter but had the instincts and skill of a jungle cat. “Reconnoitered? That’s a military term.”

He nodded. “But this is far from an armed camp. Margaret Douglas was able to get on the island with very little problem. The airspace is probably secure, but it’s not as if there are constant patrols along the beaches.”

She gazed at him quizzically. “And are we expecting a D-day assault?”

“No, one man would be enough,” he said quietly. “One gun.”

“Caleb.”

He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a suspicious bastard. I don’t like the way this is playing out. Whoever gave that poison to Toby went to a good deal of thought and trouble.”