The Killing Game (21 page)

“Dom likes her with me and I can't chance leaving her alone. She won't get in the way.”

“I didn't say she would. She seems a smart kid. But Monty's not going to be able to keep her company.” She strode over to Jane and smiled down at her. “Sorry. It's time for Monty to work.”

Jane got to her feet slowly. “May I go with you?”

Sarah looked at Eve.

Jane was already there. Was it any worse for her to search actively than sit in a car and wait? At least she'd be busy. She slowly nodded.

Sarah turned back to Jane. “We cover ground pretty fast and I usually take him over the terrain twice just to make sure we don't miss something.”

“I'll keep up.”

“Suit yourself.” Sarah knelt down and opened the canvas bag. She pulled out a leash and fastened it to Monty's collar.

He went still.

“He knows something's happening?” Jane asked.

She nodded. “But he doesn't know what yet. I'm leashing him for my benefit, so I can better control our steps. I don't usually put a leash on him at all, only when we're in an unfamiliar environment or a leash makes people feel safer around him.”

“Safer?”

“He's a big dog. Some people don't like big dogs.”

“Then they're crazy,” Jane said.

Sarah smiled. “I'm with you, kid.” She reached into the canvas bag again and pulled out a denim belt that contained a multitude of pockets.

Monty stiffened.

“Now he knows we're on the job.” Sarah fastened the pack around her waist. “It's his signal.”

Monty lifted his head, his eyes bright and eager.

Sarah reached down and let him sniff the jersey. “Find her, Monty.”

Eve leaned against the fender of her car and watched Sarah, Jane, and Monty walk the field. They moved fast, as Sarah had said they would, but the field was large and it took time to traverse every foot of it.

Monty held his head down, every muscle tensed as he moved over the terrain. Twice he stopped, hesitated, and then continued on. It was early afternoon before Sarah brought Monty back to the car. “Nothing.”

“You're sure?” Eve asked, disappointed.

“Monty's sure. That's enough for me.”

“How good is he?”

“He's damn incredible.”

“Why did he stop those two times?”

“He sniffed something dead.”

Eve stiffened. “What?”

“Nothing human. Monty knows the difference.” She took off the dog's leash, then her own belt, and turned to Jane. “He's off duty now. Why don't you go play with him? He'd like that.”

“Okay.” Jane didn't have to be asked twice.

Sarah watched her run out into the field with Monty at her heels. “Monty likes her.”

“She absolutely loves him.”

“She's got good taste.”

“Thanks for letting her trail along with you. She's had it pretty rough. Being with Monty is good for her.”

“It's not her fault I've been railroaded into doing this.” She looked pointedly at Eve. “It's yours.”

Eve flinched. “You're right. So I might as well drive you as hard as I can while I've got you. You're not going to think any less of me.”

“You have other sites in mind?”

“About eleven. They all have ‘light' in their names.”

“Eleven?”

Eve got out her city map and pointed to areas she'd circled. “Maybe twelve.”

“You'll never make it in two days.”

“We'll do the ones closest to Debby Jordan's church first. Is there any limit to how long Monty will be effective?”

“No, we worked for seventy-two hours straight in Tegucigalpa with only short rests. But you saw how long it took to rule out just this field.”

“Then we'd better get moving.” Eve folded the map. “Moonlight Creek is just fifteen minutes from here. We need to search both sides of the bank.”

“That will take even longer than this field.”

Eve got into her car. “Call Monty and Jane.”

Sarah stared at her for a moment and then smiled grudgingly. “You don't know when you're beaten, do you?”

“Do you?”

Sarah turned and called, “Jane, bring my dog back. We've got work to do.”

THEY SEARCHED UNTIL
almost midnight but managed to rule out only four other sites. Seven left.

“That's it.” Sarah took the leash off Monty. “We're calling it a day. I'm so tired, I can't see anymore.”

“You don't have to see. Monty just has to smell.”

Sarah shook her head. “God, you're one hard bitch.”

“I have to be.” Eve looked at Jane, who was asleep in the backseat.

Sarah's gaze followed hers. “He really kills kids?”

“He really does.”

“Bastard.”

“One more hour.”

Sarah shook her head. “We can't see. I could get Monty hurt. I don't have that right.”

“You said you worked longer in Honduras.”

“We were trying to save lives, not find bodies.” She gestured to Monty, and he jumped into the Jeep. “We're quitting for tonight.”

“We didn't cover as many sites as I hoped.”

“I told you we wouldn't.”

“I know. I just wanted . . . you're not giving me enough time.”

“Too bad.”

“Yes, it is.”

Sarah got into the Jeep. “We'll start at dawn tomorrow,” she told Eve.

“Dawn?”

“Don't you want a full day?”

“Of course I do. But I thought that you—”

“Monty and I don't work banker's hours. I promised you two days. You'll get them.”

Before Eve could reply, Sarah's Jeep was roaring down the road.

She got into her car and headed home.

Sarah was tough but not as tough as Eve had first thought. She had worked tirelessly, to the point of exhaustion, and would get only a few hours' sleep tonight before starting out again in the morning. Obviously, she had a soft spot for kids. Maybe Eve could persuade her to search more days and—

Her digital phone rang.

“You're keeping late hours,” Dom said. “Are you becoming a little frantic, Eve?”

Oh, God.

“You woke me up.”

“Not unless you're asleep at the wheel.”

Don't panic. It could have been a guess. “You haven't called in a while. I was hoping I was rid of you.”

“It's been only a few days. I've enjoyed watching you scramble to find the lovely soprano.”

“You're bluffing. You don't know where I am.”

“I didn't for a little while. You slipped out of Atlanta very quietly. But I knew it was only a matter of time before you figured out the identity of my soprano. I only had to stake out Debby Jordan's home.”

“I never went to her home.”

“But one of John Logan's men did. It was easy to track him to Logan and Logan to you. Is he the one who helped you get out of Atlanta?”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

He chuckled. “You're trying to protect him. I'm not annoyed with Logan. He's just made the situation more interesting. Though I admit I was puzzled when you didn't show up on the grieving widower's doorstep and question him yourself. But I should have known you wouldn't do the obvious thing. Using Sarah Patrick is a stroke of genius. Too bad you went to the wrong places.”

“I'll find her.”

“I hope not too soon. I'm enjoying the hunt.”

“Dammit, tell me where she is. You know you want me to find her.”

“Not yet. Every day is making you more tired, more tense, more angry. I want it to go on.”

“I'll find her tomorrow.”

“That would disappoint me. I'd like the search to last at least a week.”

“Then why don't you go dig her up and bury her somewhere else?”

“You know moving a body is a killer's worst mistake. I could be discovered, leave evidence. Anything. No, I think I'd do better to slow you down. Did I mention how much I liked the idea of you taking Jane wherever you go? She's with you now, isn't she?”

Eve didn't answer.

“You're growing closer, aren't you? Older children are smarter. You're able to talk to them. Bonnie was a little too young for you to—”

“Shut up.”

“You see how tense you are? This hunt is terribly exciting. I'm beginning to wonder if little Jane is redundant. Killing her would slow you down, wouldn't it?”

“It would stop me in my tracks.”

“No, I think you'd be angry enough with me to continue. Anger and sorrow are almost as good as fear.”

Damn vampire. “I'm hanging up.”

“Maybe I'll take the little girl tonight.”

Her hand tightened on the receiver.

“Yes, that would slow you. Look in your rearview mirror.”

Headlights.

“Do you see me?”

“It's not you. One of Logan's security men has been following us all day.”

“He lost you at the last search site. But I felt bound to keep you company.”

“You're lying.”

“How long until you get home?”

She didn't answer.

“You'd better hurry.”

She pressed on the accelerator.

“Yes, I think it's time I took Jane.”

He was only bluffing.

Oh, God, the car behind her was going faster.

Her heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

Faster.

Ten blocks more to the house.

Were the lights closer?

Yes.

She went around the corner on two wheels.

Jane murmured something in the backseat as the car jerked.

“Did I ever tell you how I kill children? I do it slowly, since every emotion they emit is pure and singing. They're the only ones who deserve white. Fear and pain aren't clouded as they are in adults. Do you think Jane will be as brave as Bonnie?”

She wanted to kill him.

Four blocks.

“I hear you breathing. How frightened you are.”

Headlights blinding her in the rearview mirror.

She dropped the phone on the seat.

And stomped on the gas.

Gates up ahead.

The remote. Open the gates.

They were moving too slowly. The car was right on top of her.

She almost tore through the gates.

Up the driveway.

The lights were still behind her. Coming through the gates.

She screeched to a halt in front of the house and leaned on the horn.

Come. Somebody come before he—

Knocking on the window. A face pressed against the glass.

“Ms. Duncan. Are you okay?”

Herb Booker.

She rolled down the window.

Headlights were still glaring in her rearview mirror from the car parked behind her. The driver's door was open.

“Eve?” Jane was sitting up sleepily.

“It's okay.” Her hand tightened on the steering wheel. “Is that your car, Herb?”

“Sure. I've been behind you all day. Is something wrong? I got worried when you started speeding.”

She slowly lifted the phone to her ear. “Damn you.”

“Just kidding.” He hung up.

“
YOU LOOK BEAT.
” Sarah's gaze narrowed on Eve's face. “You okay?”

“I didn't sleep well. How are you?”

“Fine. Monty and I are used to getting by with a few hours' sleep.”

Eve got out her map. “We hit the areas south of the church yesterday. I thought we'd go west today.” She tapped a spot on the map. “This one first. Woodlight Reservoir.”

“Are you sure? That will be a lot of ground to cover. You've got to pick your best shot,” Sarah said. “I'll give you until midnight tonight.”

“You won't change your mind?”

“No.” Sarah turned and tossed Monty's leash to Jane. “Come on, kid, we've got to get this show on the road.”

Eve looked at her in despair. After last night, the search seemed futile. Why were they doing it? Just to entertain that bastard?

No, they were doing it for the same reason Eve had in the beginning. The possibility that Dom might have made a mistake.

God, let him have made a mistake.

“
WE HAVE TO
stop now,” Sarah said quietly. “Sorry.”

Eve's hands clenched into fists. “It can't be midnight.”

“It's one-thirty.” She gestured, and Monty jumped into the Jeep.

“I suppose I should thank you for the extra time,” Eve said dully.

“You'd rather spit in my eye.”

“That's not true.” Eve was frustrated, but she couldn't fault Sarah's work. The woman had worked from dawn until then with only short breaks for Monty to drink and rest. “I only wish you'd give in and let me have one more day.”

“I can't do that.” Sarah didn't look at her. “I know you have good reason to search, but it's not my reason. My job is to protect Monty. I didn't want to do this job, and I've given you two days.”

“It's not enough.”

“I've given you all I can. And every hour of the past two days I've hoped we wouldn't find that woman.” She shook her head. “So maybe it's just as well I'm out. Maybe I'm not working as hard as you want me to work.”

“Bullshit. You'd never cheat.”

“Find someone else.”

“You know I can't afford a delay.”

“I can't help you.” She started the Jeep. “Sorry.”

“If you were sorry, you'd help me. Finding bodies isn't pleasant, but I'd think you'd—”

“Pleasant?” Her voice was strained. “My God, you don't know what you're talking about.”

“I know catching Dom and protecting Jane are more important than any objections you have to working another day or two.”

“Your opinion. You have a right to it. I know only that I have to protect my world the way you're protecting yours.” She paused. “Sorry.”

Eve's eyes were stinging as she watched the taillights disappear. She would feel all right soon. She was just tired and discouraged. She'd go back to the house and hit the Internet and see if she could find another Sarah Patrick.

C                  H                  A                  P                  T                  E                  R

TWELVE

Monty whined.

“Shut up.” Sarah pressed the accelerator. “You don't know when you're better off.”

Sad.

“I can't help it if she's sad. I have to take care of us.”

Alone.

“We're all alone.”

Not us.

She reached out and scratched his ears. “No, not us,” she whispered.

He whined again.

“I said no.”

Child.

That thought was tearing at Sarah too.

“It's not our business. Eve will take care of her.”

Sad.

“Go to sleep. I'm tired of you nagging me. We're through. We got lucky and I'm not risking another day.”

Monty settled down in the seat and laid his head down on his paws.
Child . . .

“
WHERE IS SHE,
Mark?” Joe asked.

There was silence on the other end of the line. “How did you track me down?”

“It wasn't easy. The station was very cagey about giving me your new digital phone number. You changed it two days ago. Why, Mark?”

“I get a lot of nuisance calls. All media people do.”

“And you took a two-week leave from the station.”

“I was tired. I decided to come down here to Florida to bask in the sun.”

“Or you knew I'd be searching for you.”

“Really, Joe, I'd hardly go to all that trouble to avoid you.”

“I think you would. Where is Eve, Mark?”

“How would I know?”

“She didn't have the address of the welfare house. It took me fifteen minutes to bully the information out of Eisley. Yet Eve was able to go there and take the kid away. I put two and two together and came up with you, Mark.”

“Do you think Eisley would tell me where it's located?”

“I think you know where every body in the city is buried.”

“That's an unfortunate turn of phrase.”

“Where is she, Mark?”

“I've invested a lot of time and effort in this story. Eve doesn't want you to know where she is.”

“I'm going to find her.”

“Then you'll do it without my help.”

“I don't think so. I'll find her or I'll find you. Believe me, you'll prefer that I find Eve.”

“Is that a threat, Joe?”

“You'd better believe it. Where is she?”

“Let's just say that she's following Dom's lead.”

“What lead?”

“That's for me to know and you to find out,” Mark said silkily. “I don't like being threatened, Joe.” He hung up.

Joe leaned back in his chair, chilled to the bone.

Christ.

Don't let fear get to you. Just find her. Keep at Mark until you've wrung every drop of information out of him.

He dialed Mark's number again.

Just find her.

MONTY WAS HOWLING.

Sarah sat upright in bed.

Monty almost never howled.

She turned on the bedside lamp and swung her feet to the floor.

He howled again and then broke off.

Oh, God.

She was through the front door in a heartbeat. “Monty?”

No answer.

She turned on the living-room light, then walked back outside, keeping the door open.

“Monty?”

No sound. Her hands clenched at her sides.

“Monty, where are—”

Something beside his water dish.

A large steak with bites taken out of it.

She never gave Monty red meat.

“No.”

She ran out into the darkness. “Monty!”

She tripped over something furry. Something limp that—

Please. Please. No.

“Monty!”

SOMEONE WAS HONKING,
lying on the horn until it ripped through the night.

What the hell?

Eve pushed away from the computer and stood up.

The phone on the desk rang.

“We have an intruder at the gates,” Herb Booker said. “Please stay inside the house until we check it out.”

“For God's sake, it has to be a drunk. I can't imagine anyone very menacing waking the entire neighborhood.”

“Please stay inside.”

“He'll wake Jane up, dammit.” She headed for the front door.

The horn was still blaring as she walked down the driveway toward the gates. Juan Lopez was there before her.

Sarah Patrick's Jeep was stopped outside the gates. “Let me in, dammit.”

“Open up,” Eve told Lopez.

He pressed a remote and the gates swung open.

Sarah drove past Eve and up to the front door.

“It's okay,” Eve told the security men.

Sarah was climbing out of the Jeep when Eve caught up with her. Eve took one look at her face and asked, “What's wrong?”

“What's not wrong?” Sarah said. “Son of a bitch. Dirty son of a bitch. I want to kill him.”

“Dom?”

“Who else? No one else—”

Fear suddenly surged through Eve. “Sarah, where's Monty?”

“Dirty son of a bitch.”

“Sarah.”

“He tried to kill him.” Tears were running down her face. “He tried to kill Monty.”

“Tried?”

“He scared me to death. I thought he—”

“Sarah, what happened?”

“He threw a slab of beef next to Monty's water bowl. It was poisoned.”

“You're sure?”

“A coyote got hold of it. He was dead when I found him.”

“Thank God Monty didn't eat it.”

“I didn't think he would. I've taught him not to eat anything I don't give him. But I didn't know—and then he wouldn't answer me.” She wiped her damp cheeks with the backs of her hands. “Shit.”

Eve nodded. “I know.” She opened the door. “Come in.”

“Just a minute. I've got to get Monty out of the back.”

She couldn't see the dog. “Where is he?”

“On the floor.”

“Why? Did he eat any poison at all?”

“No.” She knelt beside the Jeep and her tone became soft and loving. “Come on, baby. Time to go.”

Monty whined.

“I know. But we have to get out of the Jeep and go inside.” She put the leash on him. “Come on, Monty.”

He finally got to his feet and jumped down from the Jeep. His tail tucked between his legs, he moved slowly toward the front door.

“Are you sure he didn't get any poison?”

“I'm sure.”

“Then what's wrong with him?”

“What do you think's wrong? He's sad. I had a devil of a time getting him away from that dead coyote. It must have been alive when Monty found it. Monty has trouble dealing with death.” She shrugged. “Don't we all?”

“You're saying he has psychological problems?”

Sarah glared at her. “What's odd about that?”

Eve held up a hand. “Not a thing.” Looking at Monty, she could tell something was drastically wrong. His ears were pressed to the sides of his head, and his expression was terribly woebegone. “What can we do?”

“He'll be okay. He just needs a little time.” She led Monty to the hall. “Is it okay if I take him to Jane's room?”

“She's asleep.”

“He won't wake her.”

“But what good would that do?”

“There's no one more alive than a child. It will help Monty to be near her.”

“Therapy?”

Sarah stuck out her chin. “Jane won't mind. She's crazy about Monty.”

Who wouldn't be crazy about Monty? Eve thought. Those big, soft eyes were so sad, it almost broke her heart. “Up the stairs. First door.”

“Thanks.”

Eve watched her lead Monty up the stairs, then went to the kitchen and started brewing a pot of coffee.

The coffee was almost done when Sarah appeared in the doorway.

“Get him settled?”

She nodded. “Sorry. Jane woke up.”

“She'll go back to sleep.”

Sarah said hesitantly, “He's in bed with her. But he's clean. I washed him off after I brought him home tonight.”

“Do you take cream or sugar?”

Sarah shook her head.

Eve handed her a cup of coffee. “Stop looking so guilty. It's okay.”

“No, it's not. Monty and I don't like to depend on other people.”

“I don't think Monty minds as much as you do.”

“You're right.” She made a face. “He's probably better adjusted than I am.”

“Why did you come here, Sarah? I don't think it's because Monty needed therapy.”

“I was mad.” Her lips tightened. “I wanted to kill the bastard. I still do.”

“You're sure it was Dom?”

“Aren't you? I've no near neighbors who could be annoyed by Monty. He always stays close to me. No one ever tried to hurt him before he started to look for Debby Jordan. Someone wants to stop you from finding her.”

Eve shook her head. “Just slow me down. Dom's having too much fun to stop me cold. He didn't realize that you'd refused to help me any longer.”

“So he tried to kill Monty.”

Eve nodded.

Sarah's grip on her cup tightened. “I won't stand for it. I'm going to get the bastard and hang him out to dry.”

“I thought you were through.”

“Don't be stupid. He tried to kill my dog. He might try again. The only way to protect Monty is to catch that son of a bitch.” She took one more sip of coffee and set the cup down. “Time to get to bed. We have only a few hours to sleep. We'll set out at dawn.”

“We will?”

“I'm staying here. It's safer for Monty. I'll need a room. Or if that's not possible, I can go get my sleeping bag. I'm used to roughing it.”

“I can give you the bedroom across the hall from me.”

“Thanks. I'll get my bag and Monty's things out of the Jeep.” Sarah left the kitchen. “You go on to bed. I'll lock up.”

Eve stared after her. An angry, protective Sarah Patrick was clearly a power to be reckoned with.

She turned out the light and started up the stairs. Well, this was what she'd wanted. She'd asked Sarah to continue to help. But she hadn't imagined the woman would barge in and take over.

Eve stopped at Jane's door and opened it. Jane was asleep again. Monty was in bed with her and she had an arm flung over the big dog.

What the hell. She could hold her own with Sarah Patrick. The dog was good for Jane, and the attack on him pointed out how close Dom was. He was getting tired of staying in the background and watching and waiting.

She shivered as she closed the door of Jane's room. It might not be bad having Sarah and Monty in the same house. She was feeling very much alone right now.

“Get to bed.” It was Sarah passing her in the hall.

“Go to hell.”

Sarah stopped at her bedroom door. “Sorry. I'm used to running things and I've been feeling pretty helpless lately. I'll try to watch it.”

Eve smiled faintly. “Do that.”

It was going to be all right. She and Sarah would adjust to each other. After all, they had a common goal now.

You made a mistake, Dom. You're not perfect. If you'd left it alone, Sarah would have stopped helping me. Now I have an ally.

Did you make another mistake with Debby Jordan?

“
NOTHING?
”
EVE ASKED,
disappointed.

Sarah shook her head. “Not a sign.” She gestured to Monty, and he jumped into the car. “He thought there was something beneath that fallen tree, but then he changed his mind.”

“Should we go back? Monty must be as tired as we are. Maybe he made a mistake.”

“He doesn't make mistakes. He'll know it when he runs across it.”

“It's been three days.”

“She's not
there
.” Sarah paused and then tempered her tone. “Sorry. It's been a long day.”

They had all been long days. From dawn to midnight and sometimes later. Sarah had a right to be annoyed. While she had sat in the car or stood watching, Sarah and Monty had hunted. It was a wonder they kept pushing.

Sarah was silent until they were almost back at the house. “How many sites are left?”

“Four.”

“That's not many. Could he have lied to you?”

“He's capable of anything. But if we aren't on the right track, why did he try to kill Monty?”

“To make the scenario more believable?”

“It's possible,” she said. “Maybe he likes seeing me run in circles.”

“But you don't believe it.”

“No, I think there has to be a payoff. He likes the excitement, the ups and downs. Hope and then disappointment. Tension and then release. If we found Debby Jordan, it would be a tremendous release for him.”

“You sound like you know the bastard.”

Sometimes Eve felt as if she did know him. He was always on her mind. And there were moments when she felt that if she turned around quickly, she would catch sight of him.

Imagination. Since that night he'd phoned her in the car, Juan Lopez and Herb Booker had been very much on guard and had assured her no one had been following her.

Maybe.

She turned the corner and saw the familiar gates of home. “We'll find her tomorrow,” she told Sarah. “He didn't lie to me. I know that—”

“Watch out!”

Eve stomped on the brakes when she saw the man in the street. “Christ.”

Lopez had stopped his car behind her and was running toward the man, gun drawn.

“No!”

Then Lopez was down, lying in the middle of the street.

My God, he was going to kill Lopez.

She jumped out of the car.

“Eve, are you crazy?” Sarah shouted.

“Stop it. Do you hear me? Dammit, stop it. You'll hurt him.”

“I feel like hurting someone.” Joe released his hold on Lopez's neck and stood up. “He was stupid to run at me.”

“He was trying to protect me.”

“He didn't do a good job. Logan's wasting his money.”

“He does a very good job.”

The gates were swinging open and Herb Booker was running out into the street.

Joe whirled, immediately on the offensive.

Eve stepped in front of him. “No, it's okay. I know him, Herb.”

Herb looked at his partner, who was on the ground, slowly sitting up, and then at Joe. “It's not okay to me.”

“He's a police detective.”

“Since when do cops use Rambo tactics?”

“Joe's a little different.” She turned to Joe. “Go on up to the house.”