Quicksand (16 page)

"Very bad. Don't you know?"

She shook her head. "I know he's happy and not hurting anymore."
She cleared her throat. "You're saying that because that's the way I want it to be."

"Am I?"

"And because I'd rather you be a ghost than a figment of my imagination."

"Then why do you fight me?"

"Because I have to do it. It's the sane thing to do." She smiled. "And because I ran into an
authority on the subject lately who told me she'd never met a ghost."

"Oh, the lady with the box."

Eve frowned. "Box? Oh, you mean Megan's medical bag."

"No." Bonnie set the swing to moving gently. "The other box. She doesn't like it, but it belongs
to her. She has a good heart, but she can hurt you, Mama. Stay away from her."

"I have no intention of seeing her again."

Bonnie shook her head. "Mama . . ."

"I just asked her a few questions."

"Don't let her hurt you," Bonnie said. "Don't let her hurt me."

"Why should she be able to—"

"Look at Toby. He's wagging his tail. He hears Joe coming."
She glanced down and saw that Toby's head was lifted and he was staring at the screen door.

"Bonnie, what did you mean about—"

Bonnie was no longer sitting on the porch swing.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING
out here?"

Joe had opened the screen porch and was gazing at her with a frown.

"Just getting a breath of air." She got to her feet. "I couldn't go to sleep."

"Why didn't you wake me? Or didn't you want the company?"

"I wanted the company. I was just trying to be considerate. You haven't gotten much sleep in the past few days."

"Neither has Kistle."

"I'm sure he's tucked in somewhere taking care of that." She laid her head on his chest. "I'm worried about you, not him."

His hand cupped her throat and he gently rubbed the fine hairs at her nape. "I'm glad I rank above a slimeball like him. Does that mean you'll come back to bed and keep me company?" She started toward the door. "Good idea." She wanted to stay close and hold him for as long as she could. "I don't want to do anything else." She linked her hand with his. She wished they could always be linked together, with nothing and no one between them. She avoided looking at the swing where Bonnie had been sitting. Feeling as he did about Bonnie, there was no way she could tell him about her visits. To him it would be yet another sign of the damage done to her by Bonnie, not only an emotional but a mental wound.

No wound now. Only love, Joe. She only brings me love . . .

"SHE'S AT THE LAKE COTTAGE,"
Miguel said as he came into the hotel suite. "No protection but Quinn. Do you want me to stake the place out?"

"No, Quinn would know and probably break your neck. She's safe with him." Montalvo moved over to the window and looked down at the almost-empty street below. "For the time being. Kistle wouldn't have been able to just jump on a plane as we did. He'll have to make his way down here and set his plans in motion."

"But you think he'll definitely come after Eve?"

"Oh, yes. I believe it's been sort of a game to him from the beginning. He'd already had a fixation on her because of Bonnie and it amused him to make that first contact. But then she began to trip him, get in his way. Then, when we found Bobby Joe, it really bothered him. Now his ego demands that he show her how superior he is, how he can manipulate and hurt her." He paused. "And eventually kill her."

Miguel sighed. "I don't like this standing back and watching and waiting. It's boring. I liked it much better in Colombia where you were in control. I think you did too." Montalvo shrugged. "Sometimes it's necessary to play a waiting game." But he should have realized that Miguel knew him well enough to see the impatience that was beginning to gnaw at him. He was accustomed to being the one to plan and take action and Eve's reliance on Joe Quinn completely blocked him. His time would come, it always did, but he might have to make an opportunity, as he had when he'd contacted Venable.

"You're thinking about it. Good. You don't like to be bored either. She's an unusual woman, but is she worth it to you?"

Montalvo turned to look at him. "That's none of your business, Miguel."

"Of course it is. You saved my life, that means you belong to me. I must take care of you."

"I believe your reasoning is screwed."

"Whatever." He grinned. "But the fact remains that is a truth to me. I take it you're not going to answer me?"

"I made a promise. I would still go after Kistle no matter who I made it to."

"And?"

He shook his head resignedly. "Yes, she's worth it, you persistent bastard." He headed for his bedroom. "Tomorrow morning I want you to go and look up Murdock, the man who gave us the information about Kistle. He's supposed to still be here in the city. I want to know every little thing he might remember about Kistle. Where he went, what he talked about besides Bonnie."

"It's a long time ago. Years."

"Make him remember. Kistle's proved he likes to go back to old haunts. He returned to Detroit even though he'd made a kill there. If he did kill Bonnie, then he might have disposed of the body in a familiar place. Or he might want Eve to believe he buried her in one of those places. Either way, we'll be ahead of the game if we can check it out."

"What method should I use? Force? Intimidation? Bribery?"

"Just get the information." He glanced back over his shoulder as he opened the door. "And don't damage those hands."

"That means trickery or bribery. No problem. I'm excellent at the first and I'm truly superb at giving away your money."

"I've noticed you have that talent," Montalvo said dryly. "Try not to beggar me. I still have your final operation to pay for."

ATLANTA HAD GOTTEN BIGGER
and even more congested since he'd left, Kistle thought distastefully. He hated this traffic. All those bastards flying by him, when he had to keep steady and within the speed limit. He couldn't afford to be stopped, even though this car he'd stolen from a farm outside Chattanooga wouldn't be reported missing for some time. He'd ditched the car he'd stolen in Illinois in a junkyard near the farm and he'd needed wheels and money and a new cell phone. He'd hidden the bodies of the farmer and his wife well enough so that anyone dropping by the farmhouse would just think they were off on a trip. Another truck zoomed by him in the right lane. Damn, he hated this concrete jail of a city. He wanted to be back in the woods, where he ruled supreme.

Be patient. It wouldn't be long now and he'd be outside the city and ready to roll. He had money and had picked up the special equipment and supplies he needed. But his primary advantage was his own ingenuity.

You're waiting for me, aren't you, Eve?

Just a little longer and I'll come for you.

EVE LOOKED UP FROM PACKING
Carrie in a carefully padded box when Joe came into the cottage from taking a call on the porch. "What did you find out from the sheriff?"

"Surprise. Cassidy thinks that Kistle has left Clayborne Forest. If he can wrap up the forensic reports on Bobby Joe, he's planning on going back to St. Louis tomorrow." He went to the refrigerator and took out the pitcher of iced tea. "The deputies and volunteers still haven't given up. They'll probably be in that damn forest for the next six months."

"Why does Cassidy think he's gone?"

"A car was stolen from a Wal-Mart parking lot in a town about thirty miles from Bloomburg. The man suspected of stealing it was seen by one of the greeters and meets Kistle's description. It was abandoned outside Chattanooga." He paused. "And so far we haven't been able to find any story about Bonnie that mentioned her favorite song. But there's still a lot of articles to check."

I made her sing it over and over.

It could still have been a lie. Don't think about it.

Joe's gaze went to the reconstruction. "You finished her?"

"Last night." She took the glass of tea he offered her. "FedEx will pick her up in a few hours."

"And her hometown police can start publicizing and checking comparisons." She nodded as she dropped down on the couch. "I'm glad it's done. It took longer than it should have."

"You were a little distracted. It's not as if your Carrie is in a hurry."

"I know. I'm the one in a hurry. I want her brought home." She took a sip of tea. "She's a pretty little girl, Japanese descent."

"That should make it easier?"

"It's never easy. On a cold case the police want the identities and suspects served up to them on a platter. Otherwise it's not worth their time. Have they gotten the DNA report on Bobby Joe?"

He nodded. "It's confirmed. I suppose you want to call Megan Blair and tell her?" She thought about it and then shook her head. "She doesn't have any doubts that it was Bobby Joe. She asked me to call her when we caught Kistle." She paused. "I know you don't want to hear it, but she may be the real thing. How else could she find that little boy?"

"You're right, I don't want to hear it," Joe said flatly. "And I'm sure Cassidy is scrambling to find out how she did it. I'd start out checking the possibility of a connection with Kistle. Then I'd go to the manufacturer of the vat where they found Bobby Joe and see what I could find out there. Or maybe she's been quietly interviewing townspeople and found a witness or a lead of some sort."

Eve shook her head. "I believe her."

"Eve." She could see him trying to subdue his impatience. "Don't let yourself do that. She'll prey on you. She's just cleverer than those other crooks you ran across."

"I believe her," she repeated. "But I won't try to convince you. It's not important now." She picked up the FedEx box. "It's a pretty day. I'm going to go out on the porch and wait for FedEx."

He nodded. "I'll take Toby for a walk. I'm restless."

She could see the nervous energy charging him. Joe would always rather dive into trouble than wait for it to happen. It wasn't that way with her this time. She would rather enjoy these rare moments of peace before the storm. Right now she could sense the dark clouds coming toward her and they'd be here soon enough.

She went out on the porch and settled on the swing, watching Joe as he trotted with Toby down the lake path. In the late afternoon sunlight Joe looked strong and powerful and completely in control. So different than a few months ago in Colombia when he'd been wounded and was fighting just to get out of bed.

Her phone rang and she pulled it out of her pocket. Jane.

"I'm fine, Jane," she said when she answered. "The sun is shining and I'm sitting at home on the porch and watching Joe walk Toby."

"And where is Kistle?"

"Not here."

"Dammit, they should catch that bastard." She sighed. "Am I being a worrywart?"

"Yes, but it's very becoming. How is Paris?"

"Beautiful and full of itself. It's not as easy to get things done over here." She paused. "I could let my agent do all the diplomatic work for the show and come back home. They wouldn't miss me."

"They'd miss you. You can be diplomatic when you want to be."

"Well, I've already antagonized the gallery owner. He wanted to put all the paintings on sale even though I'd put a reserve on one of them."

"Which one?"

"
Guilt
. The one Montalvo liked." She paused. "Where is Montalvo?"

"I have no idea. He called me yesterday when I arrived and told me he was in Atlanta at the Plaza, but I haven't heard from him since."

"I imagine he'll be in touch." She hesitated again. "I know you want to keep him at a distance, but I'm glad he's there, Eve. Whatever else Montalvo may be, he impressed me as a man you could count on in a pinch."

"Yes, he knows what he's doing." She changed the subject. "We're fine here. Nothing is happening. Your show is in three days. Stick it out and then come flying to my rescue if you feel you have to do it."

"You'll call me if you— No, I'll have to call you. You won't want to worry me. I'll phone you tomorrow. 'Bye, Eve."

"Good-bye, Jane." She was smiling as she hung up. She wouldn't be surprised if Jane appeared on the doorstep tomorrow in spite of the show. Which meant Eve would have to persuade her to turn around and go back. Not an easy task with someone as stubborn as Jane. The FedEx truck was coming up the road and she picked up the package and went to meet it. Good-bye, Carrie. I hope I helped you. I hope they bring you home.

TEN

SHE WAS CLIMBING THE PORCH
steps when her cell phone rang again.

"Who is Montalvo?"

She went still. "Kistle?"

"Who is Montalvo and why does your Jane feel safer that he's with you?" Her heart started to pound and her gaze darted around her. "How did you know what Jane—"

"I decided I needed to be closer to you. There's such wonderful equipment available these days to encourage intimacy."

"You have a machine to let you listen in on my phone conversations?"

"Who is Montalvo?"

"Never mind him." Her gaze searched the woods. "You must be nearby if you can tune in on my phone."

"Not that near. Ask Quinn. I don't need to have you within touching distance yet. That's for later. I'm anticipating it."

"You're crazy. It's not going to happen."

"Then why did you accept my invitation? You knew why I told you to go home."

"You said . . . Bonnie."

"And Bonnie is the magic word, isn't it?"

"You meant me to think that you'd lead me to Bonnie."

"Then I'll have to do it, won't I? I have to keep my word." He paused. "But is bringing your little girl's body home worth your life? That's the question. It will be interesting to find out."

"Tell me where she is," she said unevenly.

"In time. But first we have to come to an agreement. Clayborne Forest was entertaining, but it began to annoy me toward the end. No police. No FBI. The moment I see any signs of the law I'm gone and your chance of getting Bonnie back is zilch. Do you understand?"