Текст книги "Bonnie"

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

“I don’t see. He took you away from me. I am angry. I won’t let—”

“She’s here, isn’t she?” Danner was staring at Eve, his face pasty white. “But I don’t see her.”

She could no longer sense Bonnie, and the sudden loneliness sparked even more anger. “You’re keeping her away.” She looked at the looming dark crevice. “You bastard. You stuffed her in that black hole? What did you do? Just pile a bunch of rocks on her body?” She was striding into the narrow space between the rock walls. It was dark and so close it was claustrophobic. She could see the shadow of a large boulder blocking the path ahead.

“Get out of my way.” Danner was pushing her aside and going ahead. He rolled aside the boulder and pushed her through the opening out of the darkness. “If she’s here, it must be because she wants you here, too. Can’t you see? I was right. I have to do it.”

After the darkness, the daylight almost blinded Eve.

She stopped, stunned.

*   *   *

“SHIT, WHERE’S HE TAKING HER?” Joe said between set teeth, as his gaze flew down the path and the dark crevices on either side. “This part of the canyon looks like a rabbit warren. It will be a nightmare trying to follow him into any of those crevices.”

“And no footprints,” Gallo said. The trail had become rock and stone once they left the lower part of the trail. “If we had shale, I could at least tell if it had been disturbed.” He stopped and gazed down one of the twisting passageways between the walls. “I’ll check out this one. You take the next path over there.”

Joe nodded. Taking the openings one by one was the only thing they could do, but it was a waste of time. Dammit, they had no time to do an extensive search.

“No.” Ben was suddenly beside Joe. “Not there. Not this one. Straight ahead.”

“We have to eliminate every possibility, kid,” Gallo said.

“No, straight ahead.” He put his hand on Joe’s arm. “She’s not there.”

Joe looked at him.

“I have to be with you. But not here.” He added urgently, “Tell him. We have to hurry, Joe.”

Joe hesitated, gazing at the boy’s pleading expression. Then he said slowly, “We’ll split up, Gallo, we can cover more area. You search here, and I’ll go straight ahead.” He whirled and started running up the path. He could hear Gallo cursing behind him, but when he glanced behind him, Gallo had disappeared down one of the crevices.

Ben caught up with Joe and passed him.

Follow him. He seems to know where he is going.

And God knows Joe had no idea.

*   *   *

EVE WAS FROZEN WITH SHOCK. She couldn’t believe her eyes.

Greenery where there had been only rocks, grass so well tended it looked like velvet. A flowering magnolia tree, shiny-leafed shrubs, plum leaf azaleas, small, exquisite pink roses, delicate lantana, and golden sunflowers … She was on the edge of the rose-hued canyon wall on a cliff that was perhaps thirty feet in diameter. It was sheltered by a network of vines on all sides that made it into a secret garden.

Secret Garden. Yes, that was what it reminded her of, that classic children’s tale about a garden of magic beauty that had the power to heal because of the love that gone into bringing it to life.

“What is this, Danner?”

“It’s the place.” He gazed at the garden. “It took me years to make it for her. I had to bring in lots of soil, and the vines to shelter it from the weather. And the flowers had to be hardy and not take much care. I couldn’t bear to come here too often after I gave it to her. She frightened me.”

Her gaze was wandering around the garden and stopped at a twisting path that led upward along the edge of the canyon. “What is that?”

“It’s a path that goes to the top of the canyon. It took me a year to hack it out of the wall.”

“Why?”

“I couldn’t be sure that the demons wouldn’t find her. I had to have a route to take her out of here.”

“An escape hatch?” she asked softly. “Good heavens, you thought of everything.”

“Are you laughing at me?”

“No, there’s nothing funny about this.”

It was sad, tragic.

“No.” His gaze went to the far west corner of the garden, then glanced quickly away. “There she is.”

Bonnie.

It was a raised plot of earth that was surrounded by the same gorgeous blossoms that were everywhere in the garden. A simple carved cross marked the grave.

Eve slowly moved to stand before it.

Here I am, baby.

No special sense of presence. She had not believed Bonnie when she had told her that it would not matter whether she found her body. That she was always with her, that it was memories and love that made the difference. She could almost see Bonnie standing in front of her with an impish I-told-you-so smile.

Okay, so you were right. But I’m glad to be here anyway.

And maybe she would have felt something more special if Danner had not been here.

Danner, who was standing looking at her from a few yards away.

He was getting ready. She could see the tension in the set of his shoulders … and his eyes …

“It’s a beautiful place,” Eve told him quietly. “I’m glad that you gave Bonnie such a wonderful garden. She loved flowers.”

“She was John’s daughter. I had to take care of her after the demon killed her. I had to find a place to hide her so that the demons wouldn’t steal her soul as well as her body.”

“And you brought her here.”

“I thought she’d be safe. I took care of her. I made a beautiful place for her. I kept the demons from finding her.” His expression clouded. “At least, I thought I had. But they started coming at me. I heard that Queen and Jacobs had lied to me and were trying to destroy John. I had to stop them. But even after they were dead, it didn’t stop. There are so many demons.… Everywhere I turned, I saw them there in the shadows, waiting.”

“But not here, not in this place.”

“No, the little girl was safe here.” His lips were twisted. “But she wouldn’t stay. I’d see her in the canyon. Sometimes I’d even see her in the camp or in the city. She’d look at me with those big eyes, and I knew she wanted something from me, but I didn’t know what it was.”

“And you were too afraid of her to stick around and ask.” She was putting together the pieces of the tragic puzzle that had haunted all their lives. “Because you thought she’d want revenge because you’d killed her.”

“She didn’t understand. It wasn’t me. I saved her.”

“I think she understood more than you could believe.” Eve was gazing at the cross. “You should have tried to listen to her.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” His voice was rough. “I tried to hear her, but all I could see were her eyes looking up at me that day at the car. ‘I’m not afraid, Ted,’ she said. Did I tell you that?”

“Yes.”

“And then I let the demon kill her.” His hands clenched at his sides. “But she’s safe here, the demons can’t reach her. But she has to stay. You see that, don’t you?” He took a step closer. “She won’t leave if you’re here with her.”

“Another lovely cross for me, Danner?” Eve asked, her gaze on the grave.

“You love her. You want to be together. Don’t you want to keep her safe?”

“With all my heart.”

He was only a few feet away, and his hand was grasping the hilt of his dagger. “It will be quick. I know how to do it. No pain, Eve. Don’t fight me. I know you want it.”

She did want it. The thought of being with Bonnie was almost irresistibly alluring.

“No, Mama, it’s not your time.”

“Well, that stirred you to action. You always say that it’s not my time, but you promised us that this was the finish. It wouldn’t be a bad ending, baby.”

“Mama.”

Eve was suddenly bombarded with a kaleidoscape of pictures of her life with Joe, her life with Jane, of her work, intense, satisfying, worthwhile. Rich life, sweet life, a life full of love, a life worth living.

“I know. I know. I won’t let it happen.”

*   *   *

HOW TO DO IT? SHE HAD no weapon.

He was blocking the way that led to the passage that had brought her here.

No choice. She’d have to take the path that led to the top of the canyon. Perhaps she could find a rock or branch up there to use to defend herself.

“Come here,” Danner said. “Don’t make me come to you. Show me that you understand. It will only be a second, and it will be over.”

Get past him, feint to the left, then run for the passage leading to the top of the canyon.

“I’m coming.” She held his gaze as she took a step forward. “You won’t hurt me? You promise?”

He smiled. “I promise. I’m like you. I only want to make her happy.”

And she believed him, she realized with a wrench of pure pain. Through all his torment and fear, he only wanted Bonnie to be safe in body and spirit. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted, too. To bring her home.”

He looked at her in wondering surprise. “But she is home. Who could ever want a more beautiful home? Don’t you see the flowers? You said she– No!” She had ducked under his left arm, bringing her heel up to kick his left kneecap. His leg buckled, and he staggered.

She heard him cursing as she ran toward the path leading up the cliff.

“You’re not supposed to do this. I don’t want you to fight me. Can’t you see I’m doing what’s best for her?”

“No, all I can see is that you’re the demon trying to rob my daughter of what she wants to happen. You’re wrong, dammit.” She had reached the cliff and was tearing up the path.

He was right behind her.

Faster.

She had to go faster.

The wind was tearing at her hair.

The top of the canyon. How far was it, dammit?

She could hear his steps pounding on the stones.

Faster.

Then she had reached the summit.

Weapon. Find a weapon.

A loose rock?

No, there was a branch underneath a scrawny pine tree that was balanced precariously at the top of the summit.

She could hear Danner’s strained breathing behind her.

She grabbed up the branch and whirled to face him.

“Eve!”

Joe was at the top of the trail, running toward Danner, a gun in his hand. A sandy-haired boy was close behind him. “Get away from him, Eve. You’re in the way of my shot.”

But Danner was turning, drawing his own gun, pointing.

“No!” She threw herself forward to grab his gun.

Too late.

“Joe!” she screamed.

Everything seemed to occur in slow motion.

Joe running toward them.

Danner’s finger squeezing the trigger.

And the boy who had been following Joe was suddenly even with him.

“Get away, Ben,” Joe shouted.

But the boy dove in front of Joe, knocking him to the ground.

A bright blossom of blood appeared on the boy’s white shirt.

Dead?

“Ben!” Danner’s voice was hoarse with agony, his gaze on the boy. “Stupid kid. I never meant– Why did you—”

“But you did,” Eve said fiercely. “You probably killed him, Danner.”

“No. No.” He was staggering backward, dropping the gun, his gaze on the boy. Then he whirled and was running toward the trail.

Let him go.

Eve ran toward Joe. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” Joe was rolling over and lifting the boy off him. “But Ben’s not. Why the hell did he—” He carefully laid the kid on the ground, his gaze on the blood on the boy’s shirt. “Shit.”

“Who is he?” Eve whispered as she fell to her knees beside them. The boy was pale, and that horrible wound …

“Ben Hudson. He told me where to find you.” He was opening the boy’s shirt and examining the wound. “Dammit, I shouldn’t have brought him.”

“Is he going to die?”

“I don’t know.” He took out his handkerchief and folded it. “I don’t have any idea about his internal injuries. All I can do is try to stop the blood.”

“I’ll do it.” She took the handkerchief and pressed it above the wound. “You call 911 for medical help, then go after Danner.”

“I should—”

“No.” She didn’t lift her eyes from the wound. “Stop Danner. It has to end, Joe. He’s like a wounded animal who will keep striking out and killing until he’s put away. He can’t do anything else.”

“No.” The boy had opened his eyes and was staring up at her. “He didn’t mean to—”

“I know,” she said quietly. “But it happened, and it will keep on happening. There’s no telling when he’ll decide that one of us is one of his demons. He’s not sane, Ben. He almost killed me two times before today. And Joe almost died just now.”

“Don’t kill … Ted. He has to know– Fresh start.”

“What?”

The boy’s eyes were closing. “Beginning. He has to know that it can begin…”

He was unconscious.

Joe was rising to his feet. “If I’m going to catch up with Danner, I have to go. You’re sure you want me to leave you?”

No, she desperately wanted to go with him, but she couldn’t leave this young boy who had saved him. She nodded. “Go.”

“Father Barnabas was just behind me. I’ll send him to—”

She stiffened. “The priest? No.”

“He’s okay, Eve. Trust him.” He was running toward the trail. “I’ll explain later.”

She stopped him as he started down the trail. “Bonnie’s death was an accident, Joe. Danner didn’t mean to do it.”

“And what does that mean? How do you feel? What am I supposed to do? Kill him? Have him thrown into prison?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know how I feel. I’m still angry. I’m still cheated. I want revenge for her death. And it’s all mixed up with the horrible feeling that everything went terribly wrong, and anything I do will just make it more terrible.” She met his gaze. “It’s your call, Joe. I won’t tell you to hold your hand when it might put you in danger. I just had to tell you.”

He nodded curtly, then vanished down the path.

She moved the pad on Ben’s chest. The pad was soaked with blood. Was the flow easing? It was hard to tell.

“You … want to go with him.” Ben’s eyes were open again. “You’re afraid for him.”

“Yes, shouldn’t I be? Your friend, Danner, tried to kill him.”

“I … think he’ll be all right.”

“I don’t want to think. I want to know.”

“I can’t tell … you that.”

“Stop talking, it’s not good for you. Worry about yourself, not Joe.”

He was silent a moment. “You think I … may die.”

Yes, she did. He seemed very close. “You’ll be fine. Don’t be afraid. Just hold on.”

“I’m not afraid. I was once. But she showed me that it would only be a new start with nothing to hold me back … and beautiful.”

Her grasp tightened on his hand. “‘She’?”

His gaze was on her face. “She looks like you. Sometimes I can’t see her, only hear her. But when I see her, she looks like you.”

“Does she?” she asked unevenly. “Well, I think she would want you to hold on, just as I do.”

He nodded and closed his eyes. “I just wanted to tell you so that you wouldn’t feel bad. You looked so sad.…”

“Eve!”

Her gaze flew to the trail to see Father Barnabas coming up the path.

“How is he?” The priest was frowning as he came toward her. “Joe passed me on the trail and told me what had happened and asked me to come and help you.” He knelt beside Ben. “He said he’d called 911, and they’ll contact the ranger station.” He put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Help’s on the way, Ben.”

Ben nodded but didn’t answer.

It’s a new start … and beautiful.

But she didn’t want any new starts happening for this boy who had saved Joe’s life. And she’d be damned if she’d let Joe wander off into the great beyond either.

“Hold the compress,” she told the priest as she got to her feet. “I’m going after Joe.” She looked down at Ben. “And you hold on and don’t go anywhere. She may think it’s okay, but I don’t. And I’m sure Bonnie didn’t mean it like that. We all have to stick together around here.” Her glance shifted to the priest. “You take care of him. Don’t you let him die. I want prayers and rosaries and anything else you may think will help.” She turned and strode toward the trail. “Do your job.”

CHAPTER

16

DANNER!

Catherine had only caught a brief glimpse of the man streaking down the twisting path toward the bottom of the canyon, but she’d recognized him. She had not seen that shock of silver hair at the bayou, but he moved with that same lithe alacrity that had so surprised her.

She tensed. It would take her five to ten minutes to intercept him, and there was a possibility she might lose him. Call Gallo.

She dialed quickly. “I’ve spotted Danner. He’s alone. Where the hell is Eve?”

“I don’t know. We lost them after he started climbing the west wall of the canyon. Joe and I split up to search.”

Catherine muttered a curse. “That’s not good. I have to find out where he left her.” She didn’t want to think of the question of how he’d left Eve.

Dead. Alive. Wounded.

“Where are you, Gallo?”

“Still on a path on the canyon wall.”

“Then you’re no help. Danner’s headed for the bottom of the canyon.”

“Wait for me. I’ll be there.”

“No time. I’m not letting him leave the canyon without telling me where he left Eve. If she’s unconscious, it could take us days to find her.”

“Wait for me.” The phone crashed in her ear as he hung up.

Screw it. The time was over for waiting and also for working as a team with Gallo. If she could lever herself from that overhanging oak tree down to the next level of the path, she would make up a good deal of the distance. She slipped her phone in her jacket pocket and started down the trail toward the oak tree.

*   *   *

RUN.

Don’t slip on this damn sandy shale, Danner told himself.

One false step would throw him off the path and into the canyon over a hundred feet below.

But he couldn’t see for the tears running down his cheeks.

He had killed Ben. Why had the boy come after him? He hadn’t wanted to harm him. He had been closer to Ben than he had been to anyone since the time he’d spent with John when he was growing up. He had wanted to protect him and take care of him. To keep all the demons away from him.

Dead. Dead like the little girl. He had killed him as he had Bonnie.

No!

It was the demon, Black, who had killed Bonnie.

He wouldn’t have killed the little girl.

But he had done it. If he could kill Ben, then he could kill Bonnie.

“Stop where you are, Danner.”

A woman had come out of the brush at the side of the trail, a gun in her hand. Long, straight, dark hair, slightly tilted dark eyes, framed in long lashes. He knew that face. Catherine Ling, who had been with John at the bayou.

“Where is Eve, you bastard?” she asked grimly. “Give me an answer in ten seconds, and you’ll live for a little while longer.”

Eve. He should not have run away even if he’d been sick about killing the boy. Eve was still alive. He had failed Bonnie. It would be okay. He could make it right. But he had to get away from here first. Then he could concentrate on finding Bonnie’s mother again.

“Is she dead?” Catherine asked.

He shook his head. “She fought me and ran away. She shouldn’t have done that. It’s not what the little girl wanted.”

“Where is she?”

“With the boy.” He was sobbing. “I killed the boy.” Too much pain. Get away. Get rid of her.

He dove sideways and kicked out and struck her gun with the toe of his boot.

It fired and the bullet ricocheted off the wall of the canyon. Then he was running into the brush, the thorns and branches whipping at him.

She was running after him.

Pull to the side and ambush her.

Not now.

Keep running.

Keep running.

Keep running.

Run away from those children in the flaming house in the mountains of Syria.

Run away from Ben, with blood blossoming on his shirt.

Run away from Bonnie, lying so still in the trunk of his car.

Bonnie.

“You have to stop.” It was John calling from behind him. “Don’t make me come after you.”

John was hurting. He could always tell when the boy was hurting. How many times had Ted chased after John when Ted’s brother had beaten him? John had always tried to hide it from him, but he always knew.

“You have to make it right,” John’s voice was hoarse with pain. “I’ll try to help you through it, but you have to give yourself up. And you have to tell me where you left Eve.”

He kept on running.

“Stop,” John said. “For God’s sake, stop. Or I’ll have to shoot you. Don’t make me do that.”

He looked over his shoulder and saw John aiming his gun.

He kept on running.

He didn’t hear the shot until the bullet entered his kneecap. Pain. He fell to the ground. Then, as he was levering himself up against a tree, he saw Catherine Ling come out of the shrubs ahead with a gun in her hand.

She was staring at him with no expression. “You should have stopped, Danner.”

John was beside them now. “I would have done it, Catherine.”

“I believe you. But you would have given him every chance to surrender, and I was tired of pampering him.” She bent over Danner and plucked his gun from his jacket. “Is Eve still alive? I want an answer, and I’ll know if you’re lying.”

Yes, she would know. He had thought when he had first seen her that she was a demon, a Delilah, who was as lethal as she was beautiful. “Yes, but you can’t have her. It wouldn’t be right. I’ll fight you. She belongs to the child.”

“Wacko.” She turned to John. “I’m going to call Joe and see if he knows anything about Eve. If you can persuade Danner to talk, do it. Or I will.”

John pushed past her, closer to Danner. “Why?” His voice was ragged. “Why didn’t you tell me that you were sick? It wouldn’t have mattered to me. I would have helped you. I loved you, dammit.”

Danner shook his head. John’s words were hurting, scalding him with shame. “I couldn’t do it.”

Catherine hung up the phone and turned back to them. “Eve is safe. She and Joe are together. I told him where we are.”

John breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God.” He turned back to Danner. “You didn’t hurt her. Maybe we can still make this—”

“Go away, John.”

“I can’t go away,” he said harshly. “You didn’t kill my daughter. I know you didn’t. Say the words.”

Of course, he could say the words, Danner thought. It was the demon, Black, who had killed Bonnie.

But what if it wasn’t?

Bonnie.

His head was exploding, he could feel the veins of his neck swell and distend.

Bonnie.

“No!” He lunged forward and got to his feet.

He was running, trying to get away from that hideous truth.

“Don’t move,” Catherine said.

He paid no attention, he was hobbling, his leg buckling with every step.

Catherine took a step forward. “Stop, Danner.”

Bonnie!

He slipped, fell, and was tumbling from the path down the sandy incline toward the bottom of the canyon.

*   *   *

“WHAT THE HELL,” EVE BREATHED. She and Joe had stopped on the cliff above the trail where Catherine and Gallo stood. She watched Danner skidding down the side of the incline. “He’ll be killed!”

“Maybe not. The ground is very sandy, that means soft.” Joe took her elbow and was running toward the trail. He added grimly, “But I may take care of that when I get down there.”

He meant it, Eve thought, as she tore down toward the canyon floor. She was angry, too, but she was also filled with dread and wrenching sadness. It wasn’t what she had expected to feel toward Danner. He was a murderer. He had tried to shoot Joe. He had killed Bonnie, and he might have killed that boy, Ben. Why couldn’t she just feel the anger and the thirst for revenge? Why did she keep seeing Danner as he had been when he’d smiled down at six-month-old Bonnie in her stroller and handed her the rabbit she had dropped?

Tragic.

But all tragedies had to end.

She stumbled, almost fell, but Joe caught her.

Joe was always there to catch her, to protect her, to stand by her.

As Danner had been there to protect Gallo. If things had been different, if Eve had let Danner into their lives when Bonnie was a toddler, would he have been there to love and protect her, too? Would everything have been changed?

Stop trying to second-guess every action she had taken. She was human. All she could do was play the cards she’d been given.

“Just below,” Joe said as he took her hand and started skidding down the incline. “I see Catherine, but not Gallo.”

“And Danner,” Eve said. “I don’t see Danner. Maybe he—”

*   *   *

AND THEN SHE SAW DANNER.

Blood.

Danner was lying on his back near the bottom of the canyon. He had fallen on a large branch and the force of the fall had broken the branch and caused the jagged point to pierce his body and exit from his chest.

She stopped beside Catherine, who was standing a few yards away from Danner. Gallo was kneeling beside him, examining the wound.

“Is he dead?” she whispered to Catherine.

“I don’t think so.” Catherine was short of breath, her chest rising and falling. “Not yet. We just got down here, and Gallo has been trying to see if he has a chance.”

Eve’s gaze flew to Gallo’s face. He was pale, his eyes haunted, and there was a long scratch on his right cheek. He was going through hell, and he looked it. “It doesn’t look good.”

Catherine shook her head. “I’ll try to get some help for him.” She glanced at Eve. “If that’s what you want. He’s probably not going to last anyway. Tell me what you want me to do. I know how long you’ve been searching for your daughter’s killer. If you want him dead, I’ll let him go.”

And cause Catherine to shoulder the blame for killing Danner?

Eve shook her head. “I don’t think he’s going to make it either.” She looked at Gallo. “Make the call. If he lives, then we’ll deal with him.”

Catherine took out her phone. “We’re surrounded by this rock canyon right here. The best I can do is get out from under these trees and hope I can pick up a signal.” She moved toward an opening in the trees several yards away. “Joe, you’ve got a satellite phone; come with me, and you try if I don’t get through.”

Joe frowned. “Dammit, I don’t give a damn if he—” He looked at Eve. “Okay, but it’s a waste.” He strode after Catherine.

He was probably right, Eve thought. But who the hell knew what was right or wrong? In this moment, she did not. There was too much history, too much pain. And the pain was still here. She could see it in Gallo’s face, feel it in all the memories of the years. She moved closer to where Gallo was kneeling beside Danner and put her hand on his shoulder. “How bad? What do you think?”

Gallo jerkily shook his head. “I can’t even stop the blood. I don’t know how many organs that branch damaged.”

“Catherine and Joe are trying to get him help.”

“That’s more than I expected.” He reached out a hand and gently touched Danner’s hair. “He was so damn good to me, Eve.”

“I know.”

“It’s crazy. How could he do it? He killed my daughter.” He reached out blindly and covered her hand on his shoulder. “Our daughter.”

“Our daughter,” she repeated. Yes, in this moment they were bound together as they had never been during Bonnie’s life. “And it was crazy. He wasn’t sane. He told me … it was an accident. That he was trying to save her.”

“Do you believe him?”

“Yes.”

“But it doesn’t take the pain away.”

“No, but it takes away some of the horror. I’ve always been afraid that Bonnie was helpless, terrified. It was one of my worst nightmares.”

“He was trying to save her?” Gallo’s eyes were moist. “Like he tried to save me. He did save me, Eve.”

“But he didn’t save—”

“Hurts…” Danner’s eyes were suddenly opening, staring up at Gallo. “I … fell.”

“Yes.” Gallo took his hand. “But I’ll take care of you.”

“How could you do that? You’re just a kid. Give me a minute, and I’ll get up and get us back to the cabin.”

Did he think he was back at that cabin in Wisconsin where he’d taken Gallo so many times? Eve wondered.

But Danner’s gaze was now on Eve. “I know you. You have a little girl.…”

“Yes, I do.”

He suddenly tensed. “The demons. You have to keep the demons from finding her.”

“I have her safe. Forever.”

“But I have to help. I have to—” He began to cough, and a rivulet of blood flowed out of the corner of his mouth.

He was dying, Eve realized. There was no doubt in her mind. “I don’t need you. My Bonnie is safe. I’ll watch over her.”

“No, it’s my job.” His head was thrashing back and forth. “I have to do it. It doesn’t matter if I’m afraid. I have to do it.”

“I’ll do it for you,” Gallo said thickly. “Just rest.”

Danner’s eyes were clinging to his. “I tried to save her for you, John.”

“I know you did.”

“I failed you. I failed her.” His eyes closed. “Go away.”

“No.”

“Go away.” He jerked his hand away from Gallo’s. “I don’t want you. You make me feel– Go away.”

Eve couldn’t stand it any longer. She turned and moved a few yards from Danner and Gallo. She crossed her arms across her chest to still their trembling.

“Take him away, Mama.”

“Bonnie?”

“Take my father away. They’re both hurting too much. I can’t help him.”

Eve hesitated, then strode back to Gallo. “Come on,” she said unevenly. “Leave him.”

“No.”

“Leave him.” She stared him in the eye with all the force of her entire will. “He won’t need you. I promise.”

Gallo gazed at her in bewilderment, then slowly got to his feet. “He’s dying, Eve.”

She nodded. “But he’s hurting because you’re here with him. He’s full of regret and guilt and pain. Let him go, John.” She took his hand and drew him a few yards from Danner. “It will be—”

Gallo stiffened. “Bonnie?”

Did he sense her, too? Eve wondered.

No, he could see her. She was here.

Bonnie was standing over Ted Danner, looking down at him.

Her expression …

Compassion, tenderness, sadness.

“What are you doing, Bonnie?”

But Bonnie was not paying any attention to anyone but the man at her feet.

“Ted.”

Danner opened his eyes. He saw her. His body stiffened. “Go away. It’s not my fault. I tried to do what you wanted. Why do you keep following me?”

“Because you won’t listen to me.” Bonnie fell to her knees beside him. “You’ve never listened, Ted. But now you will, won’t you?”

“No. I want you to go away.”

“Because you’re afraid of me?” Bonnie smiled. “Why should you be afraid? I’m no stranger to you. We’ve been together a long time.”

“You don’t understand.”

“I understand that you’re afraid that I’m angry with you, that I want to hurt you.”

“Yes, because you think that I’m the one who hurt you. You don’t believe it was the demon.”

“No, because I don’t believe in demons.” She took Danner’s hand.

He shuddered and tried to pull away.

“No, hold my hand, and the fear will go. You’re not afraid of me, you’re afraid of the darkness. You’ve been in darkness for a long time and haven’t been able to break free of it. Sometimes it got lighter, then when you weren’t expecting, it came back. Isn’t that right?”

“And then the demons came.”

“But it’s light now, and you can see in every corner. Everything is bright and clear and beautiful. And there are no demons. There will never be demons again.”

He was gazing into her eyes. “You promise.”

“I promise.”

Silence. “You’re not angry with me.”

“I’ve never been angry with you. Why should I? I always knew that you meant no harm, that it was love that made you take me that day. Love for my father, even love for me. I tried so hard to tell you.”