Текст книги "Silencing Eve"

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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He froze above her. Then he muttered a curse. “I shouldn’t have mentioned him. Okay, I’ll have to pay for that mistake.” He started to move again. “But you may have to pay a little, too. Suppose I give you something to remember before you go back to him.” His tongue traced the curve of her lip. “You need at least another few hours before the healing is complete. Let’s just lie here and let the blood do its work.” He lay down and drew her into his arms. “I’ll just hold you, no physical seduction … Why, I’m almost as noble as Trevor. Just relax…”

How was she supposed to relax in this feverish state to which he’d brought her? Not likely.

Yet in a few minutes she found, incredibly, that she was relaxing, growing sleepier by the minute …

*   *   *

NO, SHE WAS WIDE-AWAKE.

She was naked, lying on the grass in a garden. She could smell the roses and the scent of spices on the warm breeze. The sun was on her skin. Her breasts were taut, heavy.

And she was aching, tingling, throbbing.

But Caleb was here, Caleb would make it stop.

“Of course, I will,” he whispered. “I wouldn’t leave you like this.”

And then he was over her, in her, going deep, deeper.

She arched, her nails digging into his shoulders.

Deep. Deeper.

She was on fire. With his every move, the throbbing increased, the ache became insatiable.

“Like it?” he murmured. “Want it?”

“Yes,” she gasped. “Give me—”

“Oh, I will. Hold on.”

A moment later, she felt her throat tighten as she smothered a scream.

“Again?” He was moving again. “You’re not ready to stop. You still want it.”

It seemed impossible but it was true. “I … still … want it.”

“Of course, perfectly natural. It’s because we’ve held it at bay for too long. Then we’ll try it a little different this time.” He pulled her over on top of him. “But it will be just as good, then I have a few other ideas…”

She climaxed again a few minutes later.

“Again?” he whispered. “You’re such a delight, and I can tell how much I pleased you. Let me do it once more…”

It wasn’t just once more. She didn’t know how many times they came together in a sexual frenzy. It seemed to go on and on, and she couldn’t get enough.

But, at last, Caleb moved away from her. She felt terribly alone and instinctively tried to pull him back.

“Shh, it’s time to sleep now. It was all right to have your mind active while the rest of the blood in your body was in motion, but you need to go dormant for a while.” He bent back over her and kissed her. “But wasn’t that spectacular?”

She didn’t know what he was talking about. Spectacular, yes … Everything else was beginning to blur. The garden, the scent of roses, the sun …

All had faded into nothingness.

And darkness.

*   *   *

“ENOUGH.” CALEB’S VOICE WAS SOFT in her ear. “You should be ready now.”

Ready? Ready for him to come over her and again begin that mad, sexual marathon that had driven her—

Wrong. Something was wrong. How could that have happened? How could she have let it happen?

And then she realized just how wrong it had been.

Her eyes flew open. “No!” She bolted upright in bed. “You son of a bitch.” She glared at him. “Your damn tricks.”

He chuckled as he rolled over and raised himself on one elbow. “You enjoyed those tricks enormously.” His smile faded. “And so did I. I had no idea you were that responsive. I had to force myself to stop.”

“Responsive? It wasn’t real. It was a hallucination. You were playing mind games with me.”

“And what games they were…” His eyes wandered slowly from her breasts down her body. “You’re beautiful, you know. Even more beautiful than you were in that garden. That’s one of the disadvantages of having to concentrate on maintaining a fantasy. I have to build the entire picture when I’d prefer to enjoy the reality of you.”

“Bastard.” She was jerking on her clothes. “It was all fantasy. I had nothing to do with it.”

He shook his head. “I’m sure that would be comforting, but it’s not true. All I did was lull you into a responsive state and give you a pleasant setting. Every one of those emotional reactions were your own. That’s the way it works, Jane.”

“Then it was a physical response to what you were doing to the flow of my blood.”

“Perhaps a little. Most of it was—”

“I’m not going to listen to this.” She glared at him as she finished buttoning her blouse. “It was deceit. I’m not going to forgive this, Caleb.”

“Someday. Just another hurdle to overcome.”

“The hell it is.” She got to her feet and strode toward the bathroom. “That was an … invasion.”

“Only mentally. Just imagine what it would have been like if I’d actually been in you.”

“You imagine. You’re so damn good at it.” She splashed water in her face. “And my mind is as important as my body. You make me—”

“Forget your outrage for a moment. I did nothing to hurt you physically. I was careful and didn’t let it interfere with getting you well. Do you realize how strong you’re feeling? Stop a minute and gauge the difference from when you walked into this room. I don’t want you to leave me until I’m certain that I’ve done my job.”

“Done your job?” She wiped her face on the hand towel and threw it on the vanity. “Oh, you’ve done more than your job, Caleb.” She strode back into the bedroom. “I want to strangle you.”

“No pain? No exhaustion?” He was ignoring her rage. “You feel entirely normal? Think. That’s why you came here. Let’s get that right.”

She drew a deep breath. It was hard to think through this emotional turmoil. “I feel normal physically. I believe that part came out okay. Other than that I feel … used.”

“Really? Then that makes two of us.” He sat up and leaned back against the headboard. He was still naked, and he looked arrogant, beautifully indolent, and an entirely sexual being. Yet she was suddenly aware that that indolence was false, beneath it a storm was brewing. He was angry. “So don’t expect me to feel too badly about returning the favor.” He smiled. “It’s not my nature.”

“You’re angry.” Caleb had disguised it behind his usual enigmatic, cynical facade, but Jane was now realizing something else. “And you’ve been angry since the moment I walked into this room.”

“Why not? Trevor gave me orders, and you graciously but reluctantly agreed to do what he wanted. No one asked me to help you. It was all between the two of you. I was merely the go-between, a tool.” His smile vanished entirely. “I didn’t like the role I was assigned to play. I’ve been an outsider all my life, but I’ve never felt it quite this deeply. I made it clear to you that all you had to do was come to me, and I’d help you. If you’d just come to me, it could have gone differently. Who knows? I might have even been able to go against nature and shown you a little of Trevor’s magnificent selflessness.”

“You’re saying it’s my fault?”

“I’m saying that there’s blame enough for everyone.” He shrugged. “And that I could have been far worse than I was tonight.”

“If you were that resentful, why didn’t you refuse? Why didn’t you turn your back and walk away from me?”

He didn’t speak for a moment. “I find I’m not capable of doing that.” He shrugged. “So I made the best of it. You got what you wanted. I didn’t entirely get what I wanted, but you’re not going to be able to forget that little preview of what’s to come. We’ll be even more fantastic when we finally come together.”

“We’re not ever going to come together. I hate to be weak, and you took advantage of that weakness. Do you think I’d ever trust you again?” She drew a long, shaky breath. “You’re right, Trevor and I did use you. It was wrong. I should have shown you gratitude and not taken anything for granted.”

“Screw your gratitude,” Caleb said roughly. “And I never expected trust from you. You’ve been wary of me from the moment we met. I accept that since the fringe benefits will be extraordinary. As for being weak, you’re not weak. You’re strong, and I love that strength. You just wanted what I gave you. If you feel a little overwhelmed, you’ll rally and find a way to control anything I do to you.”

She shook her head adamantly. “No, Caleb.”

“Yes, Jane,” he said softly. “Now go on out to Trevor and tell him all is well and that I’ve done as ordered. He’s probably ready to have a breakdown by now. Not that I’d mind. But you’d be all teary and emotional, and it would be another step back for me.”

“Not just a step. Trevor is miles ahead of you,” she said quietly. “What happened tonight proved that to me.”

“But the game’s not over. It’s scarcely begun.”

“It’s over, Caleb.” She opened the door and saw Trevor standing at the door of the balcony gazing out at the city. She felt a sudden rush of relief and joy. “You just can’t see it. It couldn’t be more clear to me.”

*   *   *

TREVOR MUST HAVE HEARD HER because he turned to look at her as she shut the door behind her. “You were a long time.”

“Yes.”

“Three hours and thirty-five minutes.”

“You kept track?”

“Oh, yes. Every minute. Every second. Are you okay?” He gazed at her searchingly. “It did what it was supposed to do?”

She nodded. “I feel the same way that I did after Caleb did his voodoo the last time. It should last me long enough. I only need a few days.”

“Yes.” He was silent a moment. “And was everything else about it the same?”

“Yes … and no.” She came into his arms and laid her head on his shoulder. “Hold me, Trevor.”

He stiffened, then his arms slid around her. “Why do you need me to hold you? Should I go kill Caleb?”

“No, I don’t need protection. Caleb and I understand our positions. He told me to tell you that he’d done what you ordered.”

“You said yes and no. What was the no?”

“He was angry.”

His grip tightened. “Did he hurt you?”

“You want to know details?”

“Not if you don’t want to tell me.”

“I want you to know everything you want to know. I don’t want to close you out of what happened. I know sending me to him wasn’t easy for you.”

“It was hell.” He paused. “Did he rape you?”

“No.” She added, “And no, I didn’t really have sex with him.”

“Really? That’s a little too tentative.”

“Mind games. I told you that Caleb had that capability.” She paused. “And the touching was more intimate than the first time. That’s all that was different.”

“I still think I should kill him.” He tilted back her head and looked into her eyes. “Because I’m sensing something else about you. There’s a difference. You’re more…” He searched for a word. “Open.”

He was right, she had never felt more open, more free. All the boundaries were gone. She smiled. “But that’s a good thing. Can’t you understand that?”

“No, why don’t you tell me?”

“I will. Because I realized something when you sent me to Caleb tonight. Not at first, I was too confused and hazy to be able to think clearly during those first moments, then Caleb was dominating every—”

“I don’t want to hear that.”

“But I have to be honest with you. I want you to know everything that I’m feeling. It’s important. You were right when you said that I have an erotic response to Caleb. I can’t seem to help that response. It may have something to do with that damn blood thing. I don’t know. But I don’t have to act on it. And it’s just sex, Trevor.”

“Just? That’s damn important.”

“But not most important.” She took his face in her hands and looked him in the eye. “Love is more important. Love and trust.” This was harder than she’d thought it would be. “I … love you, Trevor.”

“Love,” he repeated. “That’s the first time you’ve said that to me.” He paused. “Have we had a breakthrough?”

“I do love you.” She moistened her lips. “And I trust you. You said I didn’t trust anyone but Eve, but I do trust you. You’d never lie or do anything that wasn’t honest or good.”

“I’m no angel, Jane. You should know that better than anyone.”

“I trust you.” She kissed him. “Now will you stop trying to talk me out of this? It’s all new to me, and I’m having a tough time adjusting. You wanted trust and commitment? You’ve got it. Unless you’ve changed your mind.”

“Changed my mind? After all these years of trying to get you to admit that we were born to be together?” A brilliant smile broke the gravity of his expression. He picked her up and whirled her in a circle. “And all I had to do was throw you into bed with another man.” He kissed her long, hard. “But that’s not going to happen again.”

“It would if you thought it would help me,” she whispered. “Because that’s what your love is about, Trevor. It’s giving and caring and not taking.” She nestled closer. “And I thank God for it. I do love you, Trevor. You said I seemed open. That’s the way I feel. Everything is flowing out to you. I want to give you my thoughts and feelings and dreams…” She suddenly broke away from him. “Let’s go bring Caleb out here to monitor those machines. I want to go somewhere and be alone with you.”

“My, how aggressive.” He smiled. “I’m not sure that Caleb will welcome that call to duty.”

“He said we’d used him, and I realized how callous I’d been. We shouldn’t have done it. It was wrong,” she said. “But this time I don’t care. We don’t have much time, and I’m going to steal a little.” She headed for the bedroom door. “You call down and get us a room on this floor, and I’ll go get Caleb.”

And hope that he was not still naked, she thought dryly. She wouldn’t put it past him to open the door nude for sheer devilment.

But when Caleb opened the door to her knock he was no longer naked but wearing jeans and a turtleneck sweater. He smiled. “You need me?”

“To monitor the machines.” She added deliberately, “Trevor and I are getting a room. Unless you’ve decided that you’re going to opt out of finding Eve.”

She couldn’t read his expression, but she could see the tension of the muscles in his shoulders and abdomen. “That would be very foolish of me. I told you it wasn’t over.” He strolled out into the sitting room. “By all means, run along. Comparisons are always interesting.” He dropped down in the chair by the table. “I’ll let you know if you should drop everything and come running.” He glanced at Trevor. “But you should thank me for the gift I gave you.”

“No way.” Trevor took Jane’s hand and led her toward the door to the corridor. “I’d be a fool to do that when this is how it was meant to be. You didn’t give me anything, it was all Jane. And I’ll take it and never let go.” He looked down at her as he whisked her out of the room. “Now and forever, so help me God.”

“That sounds like a wedding vow.” Her voice was uneven. Love, trust, devotion, commitment. So many emotions she had been afraid to feel were brimming within her in this moment. “I like it. Now and forever…”

CHAPTER

12

Bayside, Washington

“JOE, JUST THINK ABOUT IT,” Catherine urged. “Gallo is damn good. He can help you. Two can sometimes accomplish more than one.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I ask. Stubborn. You’re both so damn stubborn. I got the same response from Gallo.” She hung up.

Two can sometimes accomplish more than one.

Catherine’s words might have rung true to Joe, but it all depended on what two you were talking about, he thought as he hung up. Gallo might have been a top-notch Special Forces guy, but Joe did not want to have to deal with him. Gallo would want to go his own way and try to control everything and everyone around him.

Like Joe did, himself.

That was different.

Or, if it wasn’t, it was irrelevant that they had similar philosophies if they didn’t have to work together. He didn’t need Gallo. The minute he got into Seattle, he would make contact with Detective Brewer in Seattle Homicide and see what the word was out on the streets about any new cell movement. Then he would hit the bars and try to pick up—

His cell phone rang.

He stiffened when he read the ID.

Ben Hudson.

He hadn’t thought of the boy since he had left the hospital after Jane had drawn Doane’s sketch from the description Ben had given her of Eve’s kidnapper. He should have thought more about the kid, dammit. The reason Ben had ended up in that hospital was that he was trying to protect Eve. “Ben? Are you okay? What can I do for you?”

“You should have taken me with you,” Ben said reproachfully. “I told you that Bonnie wanted me to keep Eve safe. I let her down when I let that man take her away from the cottage. I have to get Eve back.”

“I told you that was my job, Ben. You can’t—” Be patient, Joe told himself. He had to remind himself that Ben might still have the mind of a child, but that spirit and heart he possessed were special in more ways than one. In their search for Bonnie, they had come upon Ben, who had been having dreams of Eve’s daughter. Eve believed that Bonnie’s ghost actually visited Ben because they were kindred souls. Joe had to acknowledge there was some kind of mystical connection when Ben had ended up in the hospital because one of his Bonnie dreams had sent him to try to protect Eve from Doane. Joe owed him. He could have been killed instead of just injured. “You were wounded and in the hospital. I didn’t have time to wait for you to get well. Are you still in the hospital, Ben?”

“No, they let me leave yesterday. That man, Venable, told the people at the hospital that they could release me into his care. He must be a good guy.”

“Venable?” Joe repeated warily. He wasn’t sure that he liked this. “Yeah, sometimes.”

“I told him I wanted to call you and tell you that I have to come and help right away.” Ben’s voice was desperate. “He thought that was a good idea. Where are you, Joe? Mr. Venable didn’t know.”

And Joe would just as soon he didn’t know anything more than Joe wanted to tell him. He had learned his lesson in Colorado, when Venable could have gotten Eve killed when he’d tried to control the situation to suit himself. It was clear Venable was trying to manipulate Ben to get what he wanted, he thought grimly. “Is Venable there with you, Ben?”

“No, we’re at a motel. He’s in the next room. He said that he’d help me come to you if you’ll tell me where you are.”

“Look, I know you want to help, but by the time you get here, we’ll already have Eve safe.” God, he hoped he was telling the truth. “We’re close, Ben. She’s going to be okay. Stay where you are, and I’ll have Eve call you as soon as she can.”

“No, why are you telling me that? Bonnie says she’s not safe. She says he gets angry with Eve, and she almost died last night.”

Joe couldn’t breathe. He felt as if he’d been kicked in the stomach. “What are you talking about, Ben?” Keep calm, fight through the fear. “Talk slowly and clearly. You had another dream about Bonnie? When?”

“A little while ago. That’s why I have to get to you. Bonnie said you have to get her away from him right away.”

“I know that, dammit. What do you think I’m—” He tried to temper the harshness of his voice. “What else did she tell you? Eve hasn’t been hurt yet?”

“I don’t think so. Sometimes I think Bonnie doesn’t tell me everything she knows. But Eve is still alive, Joe. She was asleep, not dead. Like that princess in the fairy tale. Bonnie said Eve even joked about it to her. A sleeping princess in a cottage not a castle and not a garden of thornbushes but a graveyard of driftwood.”

He frowned. “What is all this nonsense? You’re not making sense.”

“I think Bonnie was trying to tell me where Eve is now. She didn’t know exactly. She could only see what Eve was seeing, what Eve knew about the place.”

“A graveyard of driftwood to keep everyone away from sleeping beauty?”

“He gave Eve something to keep her asleep,” Ben said simply. “Bonnie was afraid she’d never wake up.”

Joe muttered a curse. “Anything else? Did Bonnie tell you anything else, Ben?”

“You’re scared, aren’t you, Joe? I’m scared, too.”

Joe closed his eyes. God, yes, he was scared. “Yeah, I’m afraid for her. You’ve got to think hard and tell me everything about your dream.”

“It wasn’t very long. Bonnie said that she had to fight to get through, that someone…” He thought for a moment. “Kevin was keeping her from reaching anyone close to Eve. I’m the only one…”

“Anything else?”

He was silent, thinking. “Only that it was Kevin’s castle, I mean cottage, where Eve is now. Is that enough? I repeated everything she told me just like she wanted. Can we find her now?”

Garden of thorns, graveyard of driftwood, a cottage belonging to a man dead for the last five years. Pitifully slim clues given to a special boy from a spirit from beyond. He should be in hopeless despair.

He was not in despair. He would not let that happen. He was desperate, but he was reaching out to grasp this fragile straw that Ben was handing him. “We’ll find her. I just have to think and put all this together. You did good, Ben.”

“Then let me come to help you find her. I won’t get in the way.”

“I’m on my way to Seattle. That’s a long way from you. I can’t wait for you to get here. Bonnie wouldn’t want me to wait, would she? She was worried, or she wouldn’t have come to you. She’d want me to find Eve as soon as I can.”

Ben’s silence was troubled. “No, you can’t wait. Eve almost died. I’ll find my own way. Maybe Bonnie will help me.”

“Ben, stay where you are. I don’t want you to—” It was no use arguing with the boy. He would do what he thought was right. “Take care, Ben. Keep in touch.” He hung up.

His stomach was tied up in knots.

Eve almost died.

Stop thinking about Ben’s words. Move forward.

But one thing to do first.

He dialed Venable. “I assume you bugged Ben’s phone?”

“Would I do that to a fine boy like Ben Hudson?” He paused. “What do you expect. You’ve all shut me out. Even Catherine offers me only crumbs about what she’s up to. I have to take what I can get.” He added dryly, “Though that hogwash Ben was spewing wasn’t worth the planting of a very fine piece of electronic equipment.” His tone roughened. “I won’t have roadblocks put in my way, Quinn. The risk is too great. This isn’t only about Eve. I want Zander. He may be the only bargaining chip I have to get Doane and the location of those nukes.”

“I’ll get your damn bombs. And I’ll throw Doane’s body at your feet as soon as I get my hands on him. But I won’t have you dangling Ben on your string to force me to play the game your way. He’s a good kid, and he’s trying to help.”

“Yeah, dreams and ghosts and all that crap,” Venable said. “I can offer you a hell of a lot more help. I sent a team from Homeland Security into Seattle as soon as Catherine told me she was heading there. I also sent a team to Chicago to back any play there. Just keep me informed, dammit.”

“If I can do it without risking Eve. Otherwise, I’ll handle it myself.” He listened to Venable curse. “And I don’t care if you think Ben’s words were crap or not. Pretend you believe him and see if you can unearth any records about a cottage outside Seattle that Kevin may have purchased five years ago.”

“The information is probably buried, and it could be a waste of my time.” He paused. “We could make a deal.”

“I’ve told you how it’s going to be. You’ll do it because you’re scrambling for any clue to lead you to Doane.” He changed the subject. “Now, Ben is going to try to get up here. That’s okay as long as someone is looking out for him. That means you, Venable. You’ll be heading up here anyway now that you know Catherine and Zander are in this area. You take good care of Ben, or I’ll make you pay, Venable.”

Silence. “Threats? We used to be on the same side.”

“Not if your side considers Eve expendable.” He didn’t wait for an answer. He hung up.

He drew a deep breath. Don’t think, don’t feel, just move forward efficiently and at top speed. He dialed Gallo’s cell.

Gallo answered on the second ring. He said warily, “I take it that Catherine contacted you, too? I assure you that I don’t like the idea of our working together any more than you do.”

“I agree, but I’ll accept it because I may need you.”

“What?”

“It depends if you can swallow what Venable calls Ben’s hogwash,” Joe said curtly. “If you can’t, I don’t want you.”

Gallo was silent as moment. “Ben Hudson? What hogwash?”

“He dreamed of Bonnie, and she told him a few things. She was scared for Eve, but she couldn’t reach the people closest to her. She said Kevin was keeping her away.” He paused. “Well, simpleminded hogwash, Gallo?”

“Because he dreamed of Bonnie?” he asked quietly. “Then call me simpleminded, too, Quinn. I was in a North Korean prison for years, and I dreamed of Bonnie. I didn’t even know she was my child. I had no idea Eve was even pregnant when I left to go into the Army. All I know was that when I was on the point of death from starvation and torture, a little girl with red hair came down into that darkness and kept me alive. Yes, I believe that Bonnie could come to Ben. Do you?”

“Yes, I didn’t for a long time, years. I had to learn to suspend disbelief.” He cleared his throat. “And Bonnie’s let me keep Eve through all these years, so I have no trouble believing she wants us to find her. Though as far as clues go, she didn’t give us a hell of a lot.” He tried to think of Ben’s exact words. “Bonnie said Eve was joking about her being sleeping beauty but instead of a castle it was a cottage, and instead of a garden of thornbushes, it was a graveyard of driftwood.”

“That’s all?”

“Something about its being Kevin’s place.”

“A cottage and driftwood and a connection with Doane’s son,” Gallo said. “It was more than we had before.”

“That’s what I thought.” He paused. “But we have to move fast to find it. Doane gave Eve an overdose and almost killed her. That’s why I called you. As Catherine said, two can cover more ground than one. And I’m calling Kendra and telling her to check those letters and the journal for any reference that might lead to answers.”

“Good move. Spread the word. I’ll call Catherine and let her know to call Jane or Margaret. I’m at a Starbucks in Everton, Washington. How close are you?”

“About twenty minutes.”

“I’ll stay here. But be quicker than twenty minutes if you can do it.” He hung up.

Those last sentences had sounded remarkably like orders, Joe thought with annoyance. Gallo was instinctively trying to take control. It was just what Joe had been wary about.

Screw it.

He’d take any chance he had to take to bring this nightmare to a close as quickly as possible.

Eve almost died.

Keep her alive for me, Bonnie.

And while you’re at it, I’d appreciate it you’d keep a rein on your father. God knows, I don’t need trouble from Gallo.

Seattle, Washington

“EVE’S DEFINITELY HERE IN SEATTLE?” Catherine’s voice was tense. “It sounds like it from that driftwood description. I thought the chances were excellent, but there was always the possibility Doane had laid a false trail, Gallo. It’s good to have confirmation.”

“Venable wasn’t so accepting,” Gallo said dryly. “He thought the source was suspect.” He paused. “Do you?”

Catherine hesitated. “Bonnie? Let’s just say that I may not have met your little ghost-girl, Gallo, but Eve believes in her, you and Joe believe in her. I grew up in Hong Kong, where spirits are a part of the culture. I’m willing to take your word that I should take a chance on her.” She quickly changed the subject. “A graveyard of driftwood? Couldn’t Ben pin her down to more than that?”

“Catherine, I haven’t the faintest doubt that you would make the attempt to third-degree even a ghost, but Ben has the simplicity of a child, and he worships Bonnie.” She could hear the amusement in his voice. “We’ll have to work it out for ourselves. Quinn and I are both moving forward, and he’s put Kendra on it.” He was silent a moment. “I can’t do anything else since you won’t trust me enough to let me come to you. Has Zander been able to get a clue to where Doane might be hiding out?”

“No.” She could feel his tension and impatience growing, and she didn’t want to struggle against Gallo just then. “I have to go. I’ll call you if I learn anything more.” She turned off the speaker as she hung up. Stang was driving the car, and she turned to Zander, who was sitting beside her in the backseat. “You could trust Gallo. He could be helpful, Zander.”

“My dear Catherine, I trust no one.” He smiled. “Not even you. And I doubt if Gallo would prove as amusing to me as you’ve turned out to be.” He tilted his head. “Of course, he might amuse you. I believe I caught a strong hint of electricity between you. But neither of you really have time to indulge yourselves at the present time.”

“Cut the crap,” she said impatiently. “You heard him. He called about Eve.”

“And sleeping beauty and a graveyard of driftwood.” His tone was objective. “And Bonnie. I was fascinated by your reply to Gallo’s question about whether you believed in her. It was all quite interesting and reasonable, but Gallo wasn’t here to see your expression.”

She gazed at him warily.

“You were dancing around answering him. Why? Were you lying or just not telling the entire truth?”

“I wasn’t lying.” Dammit, his gaze was fixed curiously on her, and she was already familiar with that curiosity. He wouldn’t give up. “Okay, I’m hardheaded, and it’s difficult for me to admit that I believe in Bonnie.” She moistened her lips before she said reluctantly, “But I saw her.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me, I saw her. We were in that canyon where she was buried. I came out of the forest, and I saw her with Eve.”

“Imagination?”

“I saw her. She was there, then she was gone. I never mentioned it to Eve, but I think she knew.” She lifted her gaze to Zander’s face. “I don’t go around hobnobbing with ghosts, but Bonnie was as real as you are to me.”

“Indeed?”

“Don’t give me that supercilious bullshit. According to you, you’re Bonnie’s grandfather. If anyone was able to see her, it should have been you.” Her stare became challenging. “Have you seen Bonnie, Zander?”

His smile never wavered. “Perhaps.”

She hadn’t really expected an answer. No one was more guarded than Zander. “Which means?”

“I had a hallucination when I was down in that mine shaft in Colorado. Of course, I was in shock from pain, and it was natural that I see a red-haired little girl telling me I had to save her mother. I’d had Eve and her daughter thoroughly researched, and if I was to have a hallucination, it was entirely logical.”

“If it was a hallucination, why did you say ‘perhaps’?”