Текст книги "Hunting Eve"

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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Текущая страница: 19 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

She could taste the blood from her cut lip as she struggled to sit up. “Did you enjoy that, Doane?”

“Extremely. That hurt you, but I’d bet it hurt those people rushing to your rescue more. Get up.”

She got to her feet. “It doesn’t take courage to strike a woman who has her hands cuffed. Everyone will just think what a coward you are.”

“No, everyone will see how you suffered, and it will make them suffer to remember it.” His head lifted, and his gaze went to the ridge as a black van pulled up behind Jane’s Jeep, and uniformed men poured out of it. “Ah, Venable. Very aggressive. That changes the speed with which I have to work. Fortunately, I’ve planned for every contingency. Have I mentioned before what a superb planner I am?” He lifted his gun and fired one more shot. Then he grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the saloon. “Venable will read that last shot as defiance. It may act as a trigger.”

“You’re cornered. Give up, Doane.”

“You know I can’t do that.” He turned to face her. His blue eyes were glowing with excitement. “Cornered? I’m not the one in a trap. You’re the bait, and they’re all taking it. Zander thought he’d come after you? It only proves that you were wrong about his not caring if you lived or died.”

“No, it doesn’t. It only proves he wants to get rid of you once and for all.”

“Well, he’s here.” He glanced at the bar. “Let him come and get me.”

He was talking about the explosives, Eve realized, chilled. He had set off that explosion on the ridge, and it was clear he had enough left to take down a skyscraper. What kind of booby traps had he set up around this ghost town?

“Don’t do this, Doane.” She knew he wouldn’t listen to her, but she had to try. “Leave this place.”

“Oh, we’ll leave it all right,” he said softly. “I told you that the only way I’d give you up was to Kevin.” His eyes were shining, his face illuminated by a light that held her, frightened her. “What better way to give you to him than have you burned on a glorious funeral pyre and let Zander watch it?” He reached out and touched her bloody lower lip. “And perhaps take him with us.”

She couldn’t take her eyes from him. Doane. Kevin. Who was standing before her? Evil. Pure evil.

Shots outside.

No! She couldn’t just stand here. She had to warn them.

She whirled and broke for the door.

“That’s not in the plan, Eve.” He caught her, brought her down, his hands grasping her throat. “That will be your last escape.” His hands tightened. “Just a little pain, then Kevin will be there to take you.”

Red haze. No breath. Bruising agony.

She was fighting desperately, her hands clawing at his fingers.

Red fading into darkness.

But beyond the darkness … light.

Joy.

Bonnie!

CHAPTER

17

“I’LLKILLHIM,” JOE said between clenched teeth. “Get me there, Zander.”

“Another few minutes,” Zander said. “And in that few minutes, you’d better work out a way to get to the bastard to kill him. You’re not thinking, Quinn.”

Joe knew he wasn’t thinking; he was only feeling. Seeing Eve stand there in the street, bloody, and looking like a holocaust refugee had torn him apart.

And then the son of a bitch had hit her.

“Easy to say,” he said harshly. “You don’t give a damn.”

“Which is the best mind-set for removing obstacles like Doane.” Zander was gazing straight ahead. “And the reason that you should stand back out of my way while I dispose of him.”

Joe gazed at him in disbelief. “And let him kill Eve while you concentrate on killing him?”

Zander said quietly, “That won’t happen, Quinn.”

“Why not?”

“Are you expecting some maudlin emotional statement? You won’t get it. If Doane kills Eve, it will be a victory for him. I’m not allowing any victories.”

“Just get me there, and I’ll go around back and see if I find a way to—” He broke off as the wood sidewalk in front of the saloon was spiked with rifle bullets from the ridge road. He glanced up and saw men swarming down the mountainside toward the town. “What the hell is Venable trying to do?” He dialed Venable. “Get your guys out of there. Are you trying to get her killed?”

“Intimidation,” Venable said. “He’s got to know that we’re on top of him, and he can’t—”

“Get out of there!”

But Venable had hung up.

Joe drew a deep breath, trying to smother the rage. “What do you know about that saloon, Zander? Can I get in from the rear?”

“I didn’t do a thorough scan when I was here. I knew that Doane wasn’t using the place to hold Eve, and I wanted to get on with the hunt. I remember a door and a staircase leading to the upper floor. The staircase was in lousy shape and missing four or five steps.” He glanced at Joe. “You could swing up it, but it will take a bit of effort.”

“Then take me around back.” The gunfire had resumed, and Joe’s hands clenched. “How long?”

“A minute, no more,” Zander said quietly. “I’ll drop you off, then dodge around front and draw Doane out and distract him.” He turned to Stang. “When I jump out, you get in the driver’s seat and get out of here. And stay out of the line of Venable’s fire.”

“I can handle that,” Stang said. “But I should remind you that you’re walking wounded.”

“No, you should not remind me. I can’t think of it right now.” He glanced up the mountain. “Venable’s men are nearly down to the foothills near the town. Once they get there, they’ll head for the saloon, and there will be hell to pay.”

“For Venable,” Joe said grimly. “If he causes Doane to go crazier than he is right now, I’ll take him down.”

“Not Venable’s usual pattern of behavior to go off like this…” Zander murmured. “He’s usually cool, very cool.” He swung the car wide as they entered the town and headed toward the rear of the saloon. “The ground is one giant mud hole. Get ready to jump out and run for it if I get stuck.”

*   *   *

“STOP THEM!” JANE GRABBED Venable’s arm and whirled him to face her. “Are you nuts? You saw what he did to Eve a few minutes ago. He wants to hurt her. Now you’re trying to panic him into killing her?”

“It’s Doane who’s nuts,” Venable said grimly. He threw his arm toward the burning brush and the flaming wreckage of Kendra’s car. “And that should prove it to you. We have to get him under control.”

“Then let Joe do it. Give him backup, but don’t try to take Doane out by yourself. Stop that shooting.”

“I’ve given orders that my men not fire directly at the building itself but at the sidewalk and steps. Just enough to let Doane know he’s pinned down and can’t escape.” His voice was soothing. “Trust me, Jane. It’s the best psychological—”

“And what if a few of those bullets go astray?” Kendra had come up to stand beside them. “Those are hundred-clip assault weapons, not sniper rifles. Doane’s not going to tolerate the front of that saloon being shot apart. If he feels threatened, Eve may be the one who suffers for it.”

“You should approve of my taking action,” Venable said. “You were within seconds of being blown up by that booby trap Doane set.”

“It scared the hell out of Margaret and me,” Kendra said. “But it didn’t kill off any brain cells. The threat to us is over, and Eve is right in the crosshairs, where she’s been all along. We don’t need to make it any worse for her.”

“I’m not making it worse. I’m trying to—Where the hell are they going?” His attention had switched to Trevor and Caleb, who were heading down the mountain toward the town. He started to curse. “They’re not part of the operation. They have no business there. What are they doing?”

“Well, they won’t be shooting up the town,” Jane said. “They have too much sense. I’d guess they’ll be trying to help Joe.” She could see the car that must be Joe’s enter the town and head for the rear of the saloon. “I don’t want to guess. I want to be there.” She went to the edge of the road and stood there, with hands clenched, her eyes straining to see any motion at the front door of the saloon. “I’m not as good at mountain climbing as Trevor and Caleb, so you find me a fast way to get down there, Venable. Or I’ll be following them down this mountain. Either that, or you call off your attack dogs. Your choice. I’ll give you three minutes.”

“I’m not going to be—” His gaze was suddenly cool. “I’ve done what I thought best. You’ll have to do the same.”

“Right.” Jane took off down the mountain. “And I’ll be going straight to that street in front of the saloon, and any bullets from the gunfire you order will have to go through me.”

“Come back, dammit. I’m warning you. I’ll be on the phone giving orders you’re to be stopped before you get near that saloon, Jane.”

“Go ahead.” She heard him calling behind her, but she ignored it. The time was over for anything but action. She had to get down there.

“Let me go first.” Margaret was suddenly beside her. “I grew up outdoors in the woods and hill country like this. I’m as steady as a mountain goat. Just step where I step.”

“Okay.” She tried to steady her voice. “If it will get me down there faster. Thanks, Margaret.”

Margaret nodded. “I’ll take you to her.” She didn’t speak for a moment as they made their way swiftly down the mountain. “She’ll survive, Jane. I know you told me that she was strong, that she’d fight, but I never knew her, never saw her until a moment ago.” Her voice was quiet. “And she stood there in the street, taking punishment and enduring, and I thought that maybe she was stronger than even you dreamed. Perhaps more than she knows. I watched her, and I wanted to hold her, help her. I came here for you, Jane. But now it’s for her, for your Eve.”

“That’s all I ever asked. I’m so scared, Margaret,” she whispered. “It’s all going wrong.”

“Maybe not. Joe Quinn is down there. All that love surrounding her has to mean something is right.”

The gunfire had started again, and Jane felt rage and desperation choking her. She’d swear one of those bullets had struck the wooden bench beneath the saloon window. Too close. How near must a bullet come before Doane panicked? “Dammit, why don’t they stop?”

Margaret says you’ll survive, Eve. God, let her be right. Fight him. Fight all the stupidity that might destroy you. She’s right, we all love you so much. We can’t lose you. I can’t lose you.

‘We’re in the foothills now,” Margaret said. “Not long, Jane.”

But where was Joe, and what was he doing? She hadn’t seen him since he’d driven around to the rear of the saloon. He could even be inside the saloon by now. Stay safe, Joe. Don’t let anything—

She saw the wall of flame first, reaching for the sky.

Then she heard the explosion, rocking the earth, rocking the mountain, rocking the world.

The saloon blew apart, shredding into pieces. One blast following the next, feeding on fire and smoke … and agony.

Jane screamed.

“Dear God,” Margaret whispered. “No. No. No.”

“Eve.” Jane fell to her knees, her gaze on that inferno. No one could live through a blast of that magnitude. There was nothing left of walls or structure. The saloon was nothing but pure flame. The houses and shops around it were knocked flat, and the fire was licking, devouring the wood sidewalks. “Eve!”

Margaret was kneeling in front of her, wrapping her arms around her. “Hold on to me. You’re not alone. I’m here.”

But Eve wasn’t here. Eve would never be here again.

It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be true.

She jumped to her feet. “I’ve got to go to her. I’ve got to help her.”

“Jane…”

But she was running down toward the town, her gaze on that conflagration from hell.

She fell, jumped up again, and ran.

Joe. Where was Joe? Maybe he’d gotten Eve out before the explosion. That could happen, couldn’t it?

Or perhaps Joe was lost in those flames, too.

Agony tore through her at the thought.

Nightmare. Loneliness. Pain.

There were people around her, Venable’s team milling around in front of the saloon.

Caleb was coming toward her.

“Joe Quinn is alive,” he said. “He was behind the saloon, and the blast blew him ten or fifteen feet away against a shop building. I think he’ll be okay. Trevor is checking him out now.”

“Thank God.” She swallowed. “Now tell me Eve is okay.”

Caleb didn’t answer.

“Tell me. She has to be alive. She has to be okay.”

Caleb’s gaze went back to the fire. “Eve went into that saloon and never came out. Dozens of witnesses, Jane, all focused in hopes that Eve would walk out of there. There must have been enough explosives in there to blow up a mountain. We’ll see a hole big as a crater when we manage to get in there.”

“Don’t tell me that.”

“I have to tell you exactly that,” he said fiercely. “Do you think I want to do it? I hate it. I can’t stand seeing you like this. I want to stop it. But I can’t stop it. All I can do is cut you, and hurt you, and hope that you heal soon.”

“She’s not dead. She can’t be dead.”

“I hope you’re right. But don’t expect me to tell you that you are. I’ll leave that to Trevor or Quinn. They’ll comfort you and maybe even make you feel better.” He stepped back. “Go on. Go to them. They’re still behind the saloon.” He turned away. “Or what used to be the saloon. I’m going to go talk to Venable and see if he has a way to find out … if there’s a way of definitely ascertaining if there were any victims in that hellhole of a blast. I’ll let you know.”

Joe was struggling to get to his feet when Jane reached him a few minutes later. His face was cut and bleeding, and his eyes were wild.

“No.” His voice was hoarse. “No, Jane. It doesn’t make sense. We can’t lose her.”

“I know.” She went into his arms. Caleb had said there would be comfort, but that was not true. There was love but not comfort. The world was still barren. She had the horrible feeling it would always be barren. “I’ve always told people that I’d know if anything ever happened to Eve, that I’d feel it. But now I’m not sure. Maybe that’s what I’m feeling now.” The tears were running down her cheeks. “Is it, Joe?”

“No, because it’s not true. I won’t let it be true.”

“Jane.” Trevor was beside her. Warm, kind, loving. “There’s a chance. Don’t lose hope yet.”

“That’s what Caleb said you’d tell me. He said go to Trevor, and he’ll comfort you.” She said, “He’s getting to know you very well, Trevor.”

“Because I won’t give up until we get an ID.” He said gently, “And, give me the opportunity, and I’ll wrap you in all the comfort that this world provides. It would be my privilege.” He turned away. “I’ll leave you two alone. You don’t need anyone else right now. I just talked to a Howard Stang, who said he could get a doctor here right away. I think we need to get you looked at, Quinn. You may have some cracked ribs.”

Joe wasn’t listening, Jane realized. He was staring—stunned, numb—at the blazing firestorm that seemed to be growing in intensity by the moment, feeding on itself.

Devouring air, devouring life, devouring hope.

Eve went into that saloon and never came out. Dozens of witnesses. Jane, all focused in hopes that Eve would walk out of there.

Dozens of witnesses …

Give me a miracle, Eve. All my life with you you’ve made every day a miracle. I need a miracle now.

But the panic was starting, piercing the numbness, and desperation as she stared into the searing depths of that fire.

Oh, God, no miracle this time, Eve?

*   *   *

“I’M SORRY, JANE.”

She looked up to see Venable standing a few feet away.

He looked genuinely sorry, she thought dully. Too late. Everything was too late.

“That’s nothing to how sorry you’ll be if Joe finds out that it was one of your damn bullets that caused the saloon to blow.” She gazed at Joe, sitting beneath the trees several yards away and being bandaged by the doctor that Stang had somehow managed to get down here. “He’s in shock right now, but he’ll go crazy once it hits home that Eve is dead.” She moistened her lips. Joe wasn’t the only one who would go insane. She was barely holding herself together now. “Caleb said he was going to go talk to you. Did you see him?”

“Yes.”

She didn’t want to ask the question. Her glance shifted to the flames. The fire had spread, jumping from house to house. Soon, the entire town would be ablaze. The final death of a ghost town, she thought.

As if in response, she heard the mournful wail of a wolf somewhere in the foothills. Mourning the end of a town. Mourning the end of Eve …

She braced herself, then looked back at Venable. “What did you tell Caleb?”

“That I wouldn’t stage any attack without attempting to determine the location of the people in the house. Standard operating procedure. We had infrared scopes trained on the building.” He was standing very straight, looking her directly in the eye. “There were two people inside that saloon when it exploded.”

She couldn’t breathe. She felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach.

“Jane.” He stepped forward with hand outstretched. “I can’t tell—”

“Don’t touch me.” She jerked back from him. “I don’t want anyone to touch me.” No one but Eve. But Eve was somewhere in that hideous firestorm that was taking over the town.

Or maybe not. It could be that her Bonnie was beside her, taking away that horror. I never believed that she came to you, Eve. I wish I could believe it now. God, I want to believe it.

But Joe believed that Bonnie was always with Eve. Maybe if Jane went to him, touched him, stayed with him, he would make her feel it, too.

She got to her feet. “You’ve told me what you had to say. I don’t want to talk to you any longer, Venable.”

“I realize we had a disagreement about the way to free Eve, but it wasn’t any of my men who set off that explosion. I want you to know that. It’s going down in my report as a probable murder-suicide.”

“Very tidy.” She shook her head. “But I’m wondering how anything as chaotic as what went on here could be that tidy. Are you covering your ass, Venable?”

“I’m just doing my job. It’s the truth and—”

“I don’t want to hear any more,” she interrupted. “Not now.” She started across the distance to Joe. “I’ve got to tell Joe what you just told me, and I’m not looking forward to it.”

Put one foot in front of the other. Look straight at Joe. He was staring at her. Did you see me talking to Venable? Are you hoping against hope?

There’s no hope, Joe.

Except perhaps the hope that there’s a little girl somewhere who will love and take care of our Eve when we cannot.

She reached Joe and sank down on the ground beside him. “Hi.” Hold on. Don’t cry. Then he’d feel as if he had to comfort her. She leaned against his shoulder, touching, trying to give warmth when there was no warmth. “I have something to tell you, Joe.”

*   *   *

“YOU TOLD HER?”

Venable turned to see Zander standing in the shadows behind him. “Hello, Zander. Why are you lurking around here? Doane is dead. Your hunt is over.”

“You told Jane MacGuire about the infrared?”

“Yes. How did you know about that?”

“I was up the mountain talking to your tech guy five minutes after the saloon blew. I had him show me the recording. I needed to know.”

“Because you had to confirm the kill?”

He smiled faintly. “Of course, why else? You know what a stickler I am.”

“But you’re still here.”

“Because I have a feeling things aren’t quite right. You’re not quite right, Venable.” He glanced at Jane and Joe Quinn. “And I’m … disturbed. So I believe I’ll stick around for a while.” His glance shifted to the burning wreckage of the town. “She managed to create quite a stir, didn’t she?”

“Eve?”

“Yes, who else is this about? She’s the one who appears to reach out and touch everyone. Even you, Venable. Which is why I’m surprised that you’d risk her like that.” He added softly, “Perhaps she even reached out and touched me the faintest bit because I find I’m angry that you’d do that to her.”

Venable stiffened warily. “Is that a threat?”

“I don’t threaten. You wouldn’t even see it coming.” Zander turned away. “But my curiosity is flaring as high as this bonfire of a town. You’ll have to satisfy it, Venable. Or I’ll do it myself.”

The next moment he had faded once more into the shadows.

*   *   *

THE WOLF WAS HOWLING again.

Margaret lifted her head and looked away from the blazing fire to the foothills.

At first, she had thought that the cry sounded mournful, but that was not the case. There was distress and anger and something else in that lonely howl.

And why was the wolf sticking so close to this hellish firestorm? she wondered curiously.

She glanced at Jane, sitting with Joe and trying to hold away the horror that was already upon them. Jane did not need her right now. She probably wouldn’t even know that Margaret was gone.

The wolf howled again.

I’m coming. I’m not the one you want, but I have to know …

She started to walk toward the trees.

By the time she reached the foothills, she realized the wolf was a male, and he was not alone.

Careful. Go slowly. A wolf pack was very dangerous. She could sometimes reason or soothe a single wolf if he proved intelligent. She had also even dealt effectively with packs. But the pack mentality often overcame everything else … and left only carnage.

Where are you? I won’t hurt you. Let me come close, and I’ll show you.

She stopped, listening, reaching out.

The grove of white birch.

She could feel the tiny hairs on the back of her neck tingle and lift as she approached. She could see flashes of gray and white weaving among the trees. How many were there?

She didn’t want to know. Even three could bring you down and make a meal of you.

There were more than three.

She closed out all the wolves but the male who had been howling, calling. Kerak. Was that how he thought of himself? The impression was strong, but his mind was elusive … and very fierce.

But she was getting something else from him now.

Go away. He has to go away.

Not departure. Death. He was talking about death.

Not Margaret’s death. Even though she was an intruder.

He? Who had to die? She formed a picture in her mind. Doane?

A fierce explosion of hate that was completely uninterpretable.

And it was coming not only from the male, Kerak, but from all the wolves skulking in those trees.

She shivered and stopped in her tracks. Should she turn around and go back? This could be fatally stupid. Why was it so important to her? It had started as curiosity, but there was another element present now. She had never joined with any animal that had displayed this complex an emotional response.

And it had something to do with that explosion and fire in the valley.

She had to know what had triggered it.

She addressed Kerak directly.

I can’t be sure you’re not angry with me. Are you?

No answer.

Just that wild flow of hatred.

I’m coming into the grove, and I’m going to sit down. I’ll be very quiet, and I’ll let myself be open to you. Will you let yourself be open to me?

No answer.

She drew a deep breath and entered the birch grove.

I’m here. I’m not going to hurt you.

She sat down on the ground and crossed her legs.

She could hear a rustle in the shrubs, and out of the corner of her eye saw the soft flow of gray and white moving behind her, on either side of her, in front of her.

Green eyes glowing in the dimness.

She could feel her heart pounding. She could count at least six moving bodies encircling her in the trees.

Would they attack?

Too late to worry now. Open your mind. Let the male wolf see.

She closed her eyes.

You see who I am. Now let me see who you are. Why were you watching that ghost town?

No answer.

Who has to die?

She heard a growl, and her eyes flew open.

A huge gray-and-white wolf was standing not ten feet in front of her.

White teeth gleaming, half-crouched.

Who has to die? She gazed into those wild, green-amber eyes. Tell me.

And she was suddenly bombarded, surrounded by a whirlwind of visions and impressions.

Rushing water.

Monsters.

Hunger.

A little red-haired girl, eyes wide with fear.

Burned forests.

Darkness.

Silence.

Evil creeping on padded feet.

Death.

And in the midst of all that swirling chaos, the image of a red-haired little girl.

Margaret felt a surge of panic.

No, not the child! Don’t kill the child.

She pulled back and started to jump to her feet.

Growling all around her.

The smell of sweat and animal.

She froze as she realized that she was completely surrounded. The rest of the pack had shown itself.

White pointed teeth, bared and ready …

*   *   *

WOULD THE FIRE NEVER go out? Jane wondered dully.

It had been hours since the blast, and the entire town was now engulfed in flames. She could see that Caleb and Trevor had joined Venable’s team, who were digging a trench around the town to prevent the fire from spreading to the forests. The water source in town was limited to nearby streams, and help from the nearest towns had not reached here yet. She wanted to shut her eyes and close it all out, but she couldn’t do it. It would be like closing Eve away from her since Eve was part of that fire. She supposed she should go look for Joe, but she would not be welcome. He had said he had to talk to Venable, to verify what she had told him. So she had stayed here, leaning against this tree, waiting for Joe, waiting for the fire to end.

Waiting.

“Jane.” It was Kendra, coming toward where Jane was sitting in the trees outside the town’s perimeter. “Good. You’re not asleep. I was afraid that Dr. Eland had given you a shot.”

“No, he tried to give one to Joe, but that wasn’t going to happen. It may be killing him, but Joe won’t run away from it.”

“And neither will you.” She fell to her knees beside her. “I won’t pretend to know what you’re feeling, but I want to tell you that I’m sorry that—”

“Everyone is sorry,” Jane said. “I know that. I appreciate it. But I wish everyone would stop saying it. It won’t bring her back. It won’t stop the hurting.” She wearily shook her head. “Now I’m the one who is sorry, Kendra. You’re only being kind.”

“And sincere. Don’t forget sincere.” Kendra hesitated. “And, right now, I sincerely wish I didn’t have to disturb you. I told her that it wasn’t the time, but she wouldn’t leave me alone.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Margaret. I just got a call from her. She told me that I had to go and get you and bring you to her.”

“What?”

“I know. I know. You’re grieving, and Margaret is being Margaret. I argued, but she wouldn’t shut up about it. She said you had to come.”

Jane shook her head.

Kendra sighed. “I knew you wouldn’t do it. So did she. But she said to tell you that if you were grateful to her for saving your dog, Toby, that you had to come.”

Jane gazed at her, puzzled. “This is hard for you. You didn’t want to come and ask me. Yet you did it. Why?”

“Because it’s Margaret, and sometimes she’s Thelma to my Louise crashing into the Grand Canyon. And sometimes she’s weird and kind of wonderful, like the good witch from Oz. I don’t know which Margaret it is this time.” She shrugged. “So I thought I’d take a chance on causing you more grief and go along with her. Will you come?”

“Where is she?” She looked around but didn’t see her in the group fighting the fire. “The last time I saw her was when she came down the mountain with me. Why did she have to phone you?”

“You’ll have to ask her. I told you, she said you had to come to her. She couldn’t come to you.” She jerked her head at the thick grove of trees to the north. “She’s out there somewhere. Yes or no?”

Jane didn’t want to go anywhere. She wanted to curl up in a ball and just ward off the loneliness and pain.

Toby. Margaret had saved Toby, and now she was asking one simple act in return.

Jane got slowly to her feet. “Take me to her.”

Kendra nodded. “If I can find her.” She turned and headed into the trees. “She gave me directions, but I’m not as woods savvy as Margaret. She’ll hear from me if I get lost.”

Jane quickly followed her. “How far is it?”

“Ten, fifteen minutes.” She was climbing; they had gone through the trees and were now in the foothills.

Jane glanced back over her shoulder at the fire. It appeared even more intense from this distance. What was she doing wandering out here when everything that mattered was back in that town?

See Margaret.

Pay the debt.

Get it over.

“She should be up ahead,” Kendra said ten minutes later. “In that grove of birch.” Her pace quickened. “Margaret!” she called. “Answer me. I’ve stuck my neck out for you, and it had better be worth it.”

“It’s worth it,” Margaret called back. “Of course, it will require a little work from you to help make it worthwhile. I can’t do everything.”

“Margaret, what the hell is going on?” Jane called wearily, as they entered the birch grove. “I really didn’t want to come out here tonight.”

“I know. But I couldn’t come to you.” The next minute she said, “I hear you. You’re getting close to me. Slow down, and don’t make any sudden movements.”

“What?”

“I think we should do as she says,” Kendra said, as they strode deeper through the trees. “I have a hunch she may be the good witch tonight.”

Margaret giggled. “But I’m always good, well, almost always. And particularly tonight. I’m just around the next corner. Slowly…”

Jane moved around the corner.

She stopped, her eyes widening with shock.

Margaret was sitting on the ground only a short distance away. Lying half-on her lap was a magnificent gray-and-white wolf who lifted his head, his green-amber eyes shining warily as he saw Kendra and Jane.

“Shh,” Margaret said softly to the wolf. “It’s fine. You’re safe.” Then she smiled at Jane, a smile full of warmth and love that lit her face with joy. “It is fine. It’s wonderful. We have a chance to make it right.”

“Margaret?”

“She’s not dead, Jane.” Her voice was vibrating with the same joy that illuminated her entire being. “Do you hear me? Eve is alive.”