Текст книги "The Killing Game "

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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"Will she have enough rooms for us?" Joe asked the cabdriver.

"Six rooms. All clean as a whistle." He nodded. "It's right up ahead. Two blocks."

The bed and breakfast was a large gray house with a wooden swing on the wide front porch. A light gleamed beside the storm door.

"You go on and knock." Bob got out of the car. "I'll get your bags."

"Wait," Spiro said. "Do you have a bar in this town?"

"You've got to be kidding. Four." Bob pulled the overnight cases out of the trunk. "You want to go get a drink first?"

"Is there one where all the regulars go?"

"Cal Simm's place on Third Street."

"Take me there." He turned to Eve. "I want to see if I can find out anything before tomorrow. Check me in and tell Mrs. Tolvey I'll be along in a few hours."

Eve nodded. To Joe, Spiro said, "You'll talk to Mrs. Tolvey?"

"You'd better believe it."

The taxi was pulling away when Mrs. Tolvey opened the front door. Dressed in a pale green chenille robe, she was in her late fifties with short, curly brown hair and a wide smile.

"I saw Bob drop you off. I'm Nancy Tolvey. Need a room?"

"Three." Joe picked up the bags and entered the foyer. "A twin for Ms. Duncan and the little girl, a single next door for me. We have a friend who will be back a little later. We'll check him in too."

"Fine. But we don't have any twins. A queen okay?"

Eve nodded.

"Suppose you show Eve and Jane upstairs and I'll stay down here to sign us in," Joe said.

Eve picked up her and Jane's bags, and Nancy Tolvey led the way.

The room she showed Eve was clean and bright with pale green ivy twining on cream-colored wallpaper. "No private bathroom. It's down the hall."

"You heard her, Jane," Eve said. "You shower first. I'll bring your pajamas to you as soon as I unpack them."

"Okay." Jane yawned. "I don't know why I'm so sleepy."

"The altitude," Nancy Tolvey said. "You must not be from around here."

"We came from Phoenix."

She nodded. "I visited there once. Too hot. I couldn't ever get used to that kind of climate after living here all my life."

All her life . . .

Joe had told Spiro he'd talk to Nancy Tolvey, but Eve might as well do it herself. "We're trying to locate a family who may have lived here a long time ago. The Baldridges?"

"Baldridges?" Nancy Tolvey was silent a moment and then shook her head. "I don't think so. I don't recall anyone by that name living here." She headed for the stairs. "I'll bring you up some more bath towels."

It had been worth a try, Eve thought. Maybe they'd find out something tomorrow.

NANCY TOLVEY WAS frowning as she came down the stairs.

"Something wrong?" Joe asked.

She sat down at the old-fashioned writing desk in the foyer. "It's nothing." She opened the guest book. "Sign here, please. Name, address, driver's license." She was still frowning as she watched him register. "You'll share the bath with your friends. We don't have–" She closed her eyes. "The candles . . ."

"I hoped you had electricity," Joe said dryly.

Her lids flicked open. "No, that's not what I meant. Miss Duncan asked me about the Baldridge family, and I told her I couldn't remember anyone around here by that name."

Joe stiffened. "But you do?"

"I didn't want to talk about it, but, yes, I remember." She smiled bitterly. "There's no way I could forget. And not talking about it isn't going to make it go away, is it? I've done that for years."

"The Baldridges lived here in town?"

She shook her head. "It was up north of Dillard."

"Near Jamison?"

"No, the tent was up farther in the mountains."

"Tent?"

"Old man Baldridge was an evangelist. A real fire-and-brimstone preacher. He had a big tent on this plateau in the middle of the mountains, where he gave his sermons." She made a face. "When I was in my teens, I slept around a little. Well, maybe a lot. My daddy thought I needed my soul saved. When he heard about Reverend Baldridge's tent show, he drove me up there one night. And believe me, it was quite a show. The reverend scared the daylights out of me."

"Why?"

"He looked like death warmed over. White face, dirty gray hair, and his eyes . . ."

"How old was he?"

"Sixty, maybe. He looked real old to me. I was only fifteen."

Then the evangelist couldn't have been Dom, Joe thought.

"He shouted at me," Nancy Tolvey continued. "He stood up there, waving that red candle, telling me what a whore I was."

"Red candle?"

"The whole tent was full of candles. No electricity. Just big iron candelabras filled with candles. We all got a candle when we came in. Children got white ones. The rest of us got red or pink." She shook her head. "I never forgave my daddy for taking me there and letting Baldridge drag me up to the altar and tell everyone what a sinner I was."

"I can see why it's impossible to forget."

"I remember crying and jerking away from him. I ran out of the tent and down the hill to our car. My father came after me and tried to make me go back, but I wouldn't go. He finally took me home. I got married and moved out six weeks later."

"Who else was in the tent that night?"

"There were so many people there. Why are you looking for him? Is he any relation?"

"No. Actually, we're looking for his family."

She shook her head. "I don't know about that. You'll have to ask someone else."

"Can you point me to anyone who might remember anything about the reverend?"

"Daddy heard about him through the Bloom Street Baptist Church. A lot of the members were driving up to the revival on weekends. Someone there might know something." She smiled crookedly. "That was the church where I was baptized, but I never went back. I was too afraid someone had been there when that old devil screamed out what a sinner I was."

"You never heard about the reverend again?"

"You think I'd want to hear or think about him again? I wasn't a bad kid. What's sex anyway? He shouldn't have done that to me." She drew a deep breath. "I'm getting all upset over nothing. It was so long ago. I've lived a happy life since then. Funny how the things that happen to you as a kid leave the deepest scars, isn't it?"

"Maybe not so funny."

She stood up. "I was going to bring up more towels. You're in the room at the top of the stairs, next to Miss Duncan and the kid."

Joe watched her walk down the hall. He had struck pay dirt.

"AN EVANGELIST," EVE repeated. "Dom's father?"

Joe shrugged. "Or grandfather. She said he was nearly sixty."

"Everyone over thirty looks decrepit to a fifteen-year-old."

"True."

"Candles had some sort of significance for the preacher. His flock's state of grace?"

"More likely degree of sin."

"And Dom carries on the judgment?" She shook her head. "He's very smart. He knows why he's killing. He likes it."

"But, as Nancy Tolvey says, things that happen in your childhood scar and stay with you."

"So what happened to him that could have turned him into a mass murderer?"

Joe shrugged. "Who knows? We'll go to the Baptist church tomorrow and see if we can find out anything else."

"Could Dom's father still be alive?"

"Possibly. He'd be pretty old." He bent his head and brushed a kiss on her nose. "Go to sleep. I'll wait up for Spiro and tell him what we've learned."

"It's more than I expected." Excitement tingled through her. They were getting close. Dom was no longer a complete enigma. "And tomorrow we'll know more."

"Don't get your hopes up."

"Don't be silly. Of course I'll get my hopes up."

Joe smiled. "I shouldn't complain. Hope's very healthy for you."

"Stop sounding as if I'm a nutcase and you're my psychoanalyst."

"Sorry. I've become accustomed to analyzing every move you make. It comes of standing wistfully on the sidelines."

"Wistful isn't in your vocabulary." She hurriedly looked away from him. "Jane's in bed. Will you keep an eye on her while I shower?"

"I won't take a step away from your door."

She could feel his gaze on her as she walked down the hall, feeling weak-kneed. Since the trip had begun, Joe had fallen back into the role of old friend. He hadn't said anything too personal until just then, and his words brought the memory of the previous night rushing back to her.

It was very unsettling to realize her feelings for Joe could almost overwhelm her eagerness at what they'd learned about Dom.

JOE WAS WAITING when Eve and Jane came down the stairs the next morning. "I'm afraid we'll have to skip Mrs. Tolvey's breakfast. I have a taxi outside. Spiro's waiting for us."

"He's not here?"

"No, he called me about three in the morning. At the bar he got a lead on Reverend Baldridge, and he's been up all night."

"Did you tell him we should go to the Baptist church?"

Joe nodded. "He said it's not necessary. After he found out about the tent revival, he tracked down Reverend Piper, who's the pastor of the Bloom Street church, and woke him up." Joe shrugged as she stared at him in surprise. "Nobody said Spiro isn't ruthless when he's on the trail."

"He found out something?"

"He found the place where the reverend gave his sermons. It's a fairly long drive. We're going to meet Spiro there."

SPIRO WAS STANDING alone on top of a hill. Patches of snow dotted the ground and gray clouds hovered over the mountains in the distance.

The driver parked at the bottom of the hill.

"Pay off the taxi, Joe," Spiro called out. "I'll drive you back. I commandeered Reverend Piper's car." Spiro smiled sardonically as he nodded at the brown Ford parked some distance away. "There are times when being FBI comes in handy."

Jane ran up the hill and looked around. The ground was utterly barren; tatters of seared cloth clung to the numerous blackened stakes driven into the earth. "A fire?"

"Yes," Spiro answered.

Eve felt suddenly cold. "What happened here?"

"Do you want to send the child to the car?" Spiro asked.

Jane was wandering slowly some distance away.

"No, I won't shut her out. She deserves to know everything we know."

"And what do we know?" Joe had joined them. "When did this happen?"

"Twenty-nine years ago."

"An accident?"

"It was presumed to be an accident. Everyone knew about all the candles. The tent was a fire waiting to happen."

"Any fatalities?"

"No bodies were found. Services were held here every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The fire must have happened earlier in the week, because the site was found exactly like this when the first carload of people came that weekend."

"Was there an investigation?"

"Of course. But no one could find Reverend Baldridge. It was decided that he had moved on. Evangelists are usually traveling men, and he wasn't very popular with the authorities anyway. He'd been warned about the candles being a fire hazard."

"Did he move on?"

"We'll have to find out, won't we?" Spiro glanced around. "Christ, this place is weird."

Eve felt the same way. "If the fire happened that long ago, why hasn't the grass grown back?"

"What else did you find out?" Joe asked. "What about his family? What did Reverend Piper tell you about Kevin Baldridge?"

"He doesn't remember a Kevin. His father was the pastor of the Bloom Street Baptist Church when Reverend Baldridge was preaching here. He was only a boy when his father brought him up here for services. He met Mrs. Baldridge once, but the only sons he recalls are Ezekiel and Jacob. He never met Kevin."

"But we know there's a Kevin. Mrs. Harding met him."

"If he was here, he was kept out of sight." Spiro shook his head. "Though why is a mystery. It seems old Baldridge kept everyone in the family busy at the services, handing out candles, passing the collection plates . . ."

"I don't like it here." Jane was standing beside Eve. "When can we go?"

Even Jane was feeling bad vibes, Eve realized. "Soon. Want to go wait in the car?"

Jane shook her head and moved closer. "I'll wait for you."

"We might as well all go," Spiro said. "There's nothing we can do right now. We'll hop back to Phoenix and I'll get a team to come here and go over the site."

"After two decades and a fire?"

"No one searched for graves in the area."

"You don't think Reverend Baldridge just moved on, do you?"

"I have to investigate every possibility. The old man seems to have been pretty unpleasant."

"Yes." Joe's gaze wandered around the campground. "Fanatics usually cause a lot of misery."

"Well, if Kevin Baldridge is Dom, he's created more than his share of misery." Spiro started down the hill. "Like father, like son."

"Maybe it isn't Kevin. Maybe it's one of the other brothers." Eve followed Spiro.

"But where was Kevin when the services were going on?" Spiro said. "It smacks of rebellion against the old man." He glanced over his shoulder. "What are you doing, Quinn?"

Joe was kneeling, digging into the soft soil with a hand. "Just checking something." He lifted a palmful of dirt to his mouth and touched his tongue to it. "Salt."

Eve stopped in her tracks. "What?"

"Like you, I was wondering why nothing had grown back." Joe brushed his palm clean as he stood up. "Someone plowed the area with salt either before or after the fire. He didn't want anything to live in this place again."

IT WAS EARLY evening when they arrived back in Phoenix. Spiro left them at the airport and Joe, Eve, and Jane arrived at Logan's house after nine o'clock.

To Eve's surprise, Logan himself was sitting on the couch, playing cards with Sarah, when they walked into the living room.

"It's about time." He threw down his cards and stood up. "Why the hell didn't you tell me you were leaving town?"

"I'm glad you're back," Sarah said. "He's been here for hours driving Monty and me bats. He wouldn't leave and then he wanted me to amuse him."

Logan scowled at her. "You cheated."

"I'm just a better poker player than you are. What do you think rescue teams do between searches?" She rose to her feet. "You deal with him, Eve. Monty and I are tired of watching him brood."

"I don't brood."

Sarah didn't argue. "Come on, Jane. You look as tired as I feel. Rough trip?"

"It was creepy there." Jane stooped to pat Monty. "Come on, boy. Let's go to bed."

The retriever stretched and then followed Sarah and Jane from the room.

Logan's gaze followed Sarah. "She's still holding a grudge."

"She played cards with you," Joe said.

"Because she wanted to beat my ass." He turned to Eve and went on the attack. "Didn't it occur to you that I'd be worried when Booker told me you'd left the house?"

"I was in a hurry. Spiro had a lead. I honestly didn't think of it." She supposed she should have called Logan, she thought wearily. "I'm sorry, Logan."

"Leave her alone." Joe was behind her, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders. "She has enough problems without trying to pacify you."

"Be quiet, Joe. He's been trying to help me. I shouldn't have made him worry."

"I don't mind worrying if I can get my teeth into a problem. I can't stand being shut out of–" Logan stopped, staring at Eve and then at Joe standing behind her. "It's over, isn't it? He's done it."

"What?"

"He's won. He's finally got what he wants. God, it couldn't be more clear." He smiled without mirth. "I should have known that I was fighting a lost cause. I could fight Quinn, but I can't fight you, Eve. From the time he came to the island, you wanted to follow him home."

"Because of Bonnie."

"Maybe." Logan looked at them for a long while. "You take care of her, Quinn."

"You don't have to tell me that."

"Yes, I do. Because I'm warning, not stating. If I can help, call me, Eve."

"She won't need your help," Joe said.

"You can never tell."

She couldn't stand it. She wouldn't let him leave like this. "Joe, I want to talk to Logan alone."

Joe didn't move.

"Joe."

"Okay." He left the room.

"Why do I feel that he's lurking in the hall?" Logan asked.

"Because he probably is." She tried to smile. "You should take it as a compliment."

"Should I?"

"He realizes how much you mean to me. How much you'll always mean to me."

"But evidently not enough."

"What's enough? It hurts me when you hurt. It makes me happy when you're happy. If you ever need me, I'll be there for you. Isn't that enough?"

"It's a lot. Not as satisfying as what I wanted, but I'll take it." He paused. "Just for my own curiosity, how did Quinn do it?"

"I don't know," she said frankly. "I didn't want it. It makes me uneasy. It's like being caught in some kind of whirlpool. It just happened."

"Nothing 'just happens' with Quinn. He's a major force. I've always known he was waiting in the wings for you."

"I didn't."

"I know. I hoped I'd have you wrapped up before he decided to make a move. I didn't manage to pull it off." He looked at her for several moments and then gave her a quick kiss. "But it was a good year, wasn't it?"

Tears stung her eyes. "The best."

"Not the best, or we wouldn't have reached this point, but pretty damn good." He took her arm and walked with her into the foyer, where Joe was waiting by the stairs. "Hello, Quinn. What a surprise."

"Not." Joe moved closer to Eve.

"You don't have to act as if I'm going to kidnap her. That's not my style." His lips tightened. "Though I'd like to break your neck."

Joe shook his head. "But you won't do it. That's the difference between us. You're tough, but you never reached the point of no return with Eve. I wonder if you ever have with anyone."

Logan took a step forward and said softly, "I'm tempted to prove you wrong."

"Logan," Eve said.

She didn't think he'd listen to her. Then he turned away from Joe and opened the door. "Good-bye, Eve. I'll be around. Don't close me out entirely. Okay?"

"That couldn't happen." They had become too close. She kissed his cheek. "Not ever."

"Remember you said that." The door shut behind him.

Joe gave a low whistle. "I don't like the sound of that. Am I going to have to be friends with him?"

"You don't have to do anything. But he's my friend, dammit. He always will be."

"I was afraid that was what you meant. I'll have to consider the way to–" He stopped. "You're upset. I'll shut up and leave you alone."

"That would be a first."

"You are upset." He scowled. "And I'm jealous as hell."

She used the word he'd once used with her. "Adjust."

He smiled. "I will."

"I've made you no promises, Joe. I still don't think we–"

"Time for me to leave," he interrupted. "You're starting to be introspective, and that could be dangerous. I'm going to the precinct and see about the picture." He paused. "I may not be back tonight. I think you could use some time alone."

She felt a mixture of relief and disappointment. "You don't have to stay away. If I don't want you in my bed, I can always say no."

"I'm trying to display my sensitive side." He leaned forward and kissed her hard and quick. "Sleep well. I'll see you in the morning."

She doubted she'd sleep well, she thought as she climbed the stairs. All the way back from Dillard she hadn't been able to forget the sight of that scorched, ruined hilltop. What had made Dom so bitter that he had ravaged the site? He had ripped and killed the earth as he had the bodies of his victims.

And then she'd faced Logan and hurt him. For the second time.

But she had never thought her feelings for Joe would shift and change. If she was smart, she'd close herself away from him, focus solely on her work. She'd never been this unsure and emotional when she was focused on her job. She had purpose and satisfaction knowing she was helping the lost ones.

Yes, that was the smart thing. Think only of work. Close Joe out . . .

"IT WON' T WORK,Mama." Bonnie was sitting in the chair beside her bed. "Joe won't let you do that. Besides, it's too late."

"I can do whatever I wish." Eve propped her head higher on the pillow. "He's interfering with my life."

"So am I, but you don't shut me out."

"You can't shut off your dreams."

Bonnie chuckled. "You always have an answer. The reason you don't shut me out is because you love me."

"Oh, yes," she whispered.

"And that's why you can't shut Joe out."

"That's different."

"You're darn right. Joe's alive."

"I'd hurt him."

"You're just depressed because of Logan. You shouldn't be. It was bound to happen. Remember I once told you that sometimes love started out one way and then became something else? You don't have to lose Logan and you won't lose Joe."

"Bull. Loss can happen anytime. I lost you."

"Silly. Then why am I here talking to you?"

"Because I'm nutty as a fruitcake. Another reason I should walk away from Joe."

"I'm not going to argue with you. You're smart, you'll do the right thing." Bonnie leaned back in the chair. "I just want to sit here and enjoy being with you. It's been a long time."

"Then why didn't you come sooner?"

"I couldn't get close to you. It was hard this time. So much darkness . . . Nothing but darkness around him, Mama."

"He's a terrible man." She moistened her lips. "Was he the one, Bonnie?"

"I can't see through the darkness. Maybe I don't want to see."

"I want to see. I have to see."

Bonnie nodded. "To protect Jane. I like Jane."

"So do I. But also because of you, baby."

"I know. But you're leaning more toward the living now. That's the way it should be."

Eve was silent a moment. "He tried to tell me Jane was you reincarnated. Wasn't that stupid?"

"I think it is. How could I be reincarnated when I'm here talking to you?" She smiled. "And you know she's nothing like me."

"Yes, I know."

"You wouldn't want her to be like me, Mama. We all have our very own souls. That's what makes every one of us so special and wonderful."

"Dom isn't wonderful."

"No. He's twisted and ugly." Bonnie frowned. "I'm frightened for you. He keeps coming nearer and nearer . . ."

"Let him come. I'm waiting for him."

"Shh, don't get upset. We won't think any more about Dom tonight. Will you tell me about Monty? I love dogs."

"I know. I was going to get you a puppy for Christmas the year that you–"

"And you've been regretting ever since that you didn't get me one sooner. Stop it. I was happy. But you should learn something from that. Live every moment. Don't put off anything until tomorrow."

"Stop preaching at me, dammit."

Bonnie giggled. "Sorry. Then tell me about Monty."

"I don't really know much about him. He belongs to Sarah and he's a rescue and cadaver dog. Jane loves him and trails after him every chance she . . ."

MARK GRUNARD WAS waiting in the lobby of Charlie Cather's hotel when Joe walked in. "Ah, back from the mountains?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Cather's promised to have a drink with me. He should be down soon. Any luck in Dillard?"

"No school records there, so we're checking a nearby town. It turns out the father was a traveling evangelist."

"Damn, I was hoping there would be school photos to compare with Mrs. Harding's snapshot."

"So were we." Joe sat down. "Spiro's not pleased you're sticking so close to Cather."

"Tough. I didn't get anything from him, so I had to zero in on Cather. He's a hell of an easier mark."

"He's tougher than you'd think."

"But he doesn't have Spiro's experience and just may let something slip." He added shrewdly, "Has he told you anything about the photograph? Is that why you're here?"

Why was he there? He'd gone to the precinct earlier about the picture and was told the duplicates weren't ready. That stone wall again. The Phoenix police were mad as hell at Spiro for not telling them who tipped him off about Debby Jordan's grave. So they were paying him back. A little tit for tat.

Even if Joe could persuade Charlie to describe the photo, he doubted it would help. Face it, he was really there because he'd needed to distance himself from Eve. His impulse had been to move quickly, push hard instead of waiting patiently. It would have been a stupid move. She had been close to Logan, and Joe should be grateful she hadn't been more upset. But he wasn't grateful, and he was tired as hell of waiting patiently. He'd come too close to her to take a step back.

"No one's told me anything," Joe answered Mark. "Have you seen Charlie since he picked up the photo?"

"Yesterday evening at the precinct." He paused. "Something's bothering him. He's trying to hide it, but he's not good enough."

"Maybe Spiro raked him over the coals for talking to you."

"Maybe." He shrugged. "But I didn't notice it until he came back from the Hardings' with that picture. I'm glad you're here. We'll gang up on the kid and try to find out what's making him so uneasy." He got to his feet. "Here he comes."

Cather was smiling as he walked toward them from the elevators. "I wasn't expecting you, Joe. Spiro said you just got back from Dillard. What is this? A conspiracy?"

Screw ganging up on Cather. If Charlie dropped something, he'd pick it up. But he wouldn't pressure him. Joe rose to his feet. "Yep, and you're the target."

Cather's smile faded. "I can't talk about the photo until I get clearance from Spiro. No way am I stepping on his toes again."

Grunard was right, something was bothering Charlie. But maybe he was just feeling the pressure. "If you can't, you can't. Then I guess if we can't bribe you, you'll just have to buy the drinks." He headed for the bar. "How's your wife?"

EVE WAS SLEEPING when Dom called her very early in the morning. The sound of his voice was hideously jarring, piercing the serenity she usually felt after dreams of Bonnie.

"You've been busy. How did you like the scenes of my childhood?"

"How do you know I was there?"

"I listen. I watch. Don't you feel me watching you, Eve?"

"No, I ignore you . . . Kevin."

He chuckled. "I prefer Dom. Kevin doesn't exist anymore. I've gone through so many transformations since then. And I've noticed you've been trying to close me out. It made me angry at the time. But I got over it. It only whetted my appetite."

"Kevin must have been a nasty little bastard. What happened to your parents?"

"What you think happened."

"You killed them."

"It was inevitable. My father saw Satan in me from the time I was a small child. He'd make me stand and hold a black candle in each hand and then he'd beat me until I fell to my knees. When the beating was over, he'd rub salt into the wounds. Maybe he was right about seeing evil in me. Do you think we're born with the seeds of evil?"

"I think you were."

"But you also think I'm insane. My father was insane and they called him a saint. The line is so thin, isn't it?"

"Did Ezekiel and Jacob think he was insane?"

"No, they were as frightened and fooled by him as all the rest. But I tried to make them see. I took them with me when I ran away. I was lonely then and needed people."

"And you brought them here to Phoenix."

"We were going to California. I'd talked the Harding kids into going with us. But then Ezekiel and Jacob got scared. They packed up one night and ran back to my father. I went into a rage."

"And killed the Hardings."

"It was beyond anything. The ultimate experience of my life. And at last I knew what I was and what I was meant to do. I went back to that tent on the hill and I butchered all of them."

"Your mother too?"

"She stood by and watched him punish me. Is cruelty less painful because it's passive?"

"And your brothers?"

"They made their choice when they went back to him. I had to start over."

"Where are the bodies?"

"You won't find them. I scattered their parts over half of Arizona and New Mexico and enjoyed every moment of it."

"And sowed that campground with salt."

"A melodramatic piece of symbolism, but I was only a boy at the time."

"Like leaving a candle with your victims? You're not a boy now."

"It's difficult to erase the teachings of childhood. Or perhaps part of my satisfaction is showing my father that I use his precious candles in my own way."

"Your father is dead."

"He was sure he was going to heaven, so he must be looking down on me. Or do you think his soul was chopped up with his body? I've often wondered." He paused. "Do you believe Bonnie's soul was destroyed?"

She bit hard on her lower lip. "No."

"Well, you'll know soon. I haven't decided what candle I'll use for you. It's a terrible decision. White for Jane, of course, but your color must reflect–"

She hung up. He was in a mood for confidences, and perhaps she should have held on, but she couldn't take any more. He was dragging her down into the darkness that surrounded him. It was worse because it followed the wonderful dream of Bonnie. At this moment the evil seemed to be overpowering and she was helpless to fight it. It kept coming and coming . . .

You should learn something from that. Live every moment. Don't put off anything until tomorrow.

Bonnie's words.

Live every moment . . .

EVE HEARD JOE come into the house two hours later. She left her bedroom and waited for him at the top of the stairs.

He paused when he saw her. "Okay?"

"No, Dom called. Nothing is ever okay when he talks to me."

"What did he say?"

"Poison. Ugliness. I'll tell you later." She held out a hand. "Come to bed."

He slowly climbed the steps until he stood before her. "I'm being forgiven for not being sorry Logan bowed out?"

"It was never a question of forgiveness."

He took her hand. "You've discovered you can't live without me in your bed?"

"Will you stop joking?"

"Who's joking?" He reached out and touched her cheek. "I'm probing. I have an idea something very important is happening here. Why, Eve?"

She swallowed to ease the tightness of her throat. "I never gave Bonnie a puppy. She wanted it and I put it off. And then it was too late."

His brows lifted. "And what's the connection? Is taking me into your bed the equivalent of giving me a puppy?"

She shook her head. "The puppy's not for you, Joe. It's for me. I'm being entirely selfish. I want to be near you. I want you to talk to me. I want you to make love to me." She smiled shakily. "And I won't put it off. I won't wait until it's too late. Will you come to bed and be with me, Joe Quinn?"