Текст книги "Eve"

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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“And will still kill her if no one stops him,” Eve said.

“You may try. Black is looking forward to it. He’s planned something special.” Queen added viciously, “I wish I could be here for the show. I’d like to see you taken down, Gallo. But it’s safer for me to take the ledger and ride off into the sunset.” He turned and started back down the path. “May you both rot in hell. Good night and good-bye.”

He disappeared around the curve of the path.

“It’s so tempting,” John murmured. “It would only take me thirty seconds to reach him and break his neck.”

“Judy’s daughter,” Eve reminded him.

He reluctantly tore his gaze away and turned on his heel. “It was only a thought.” He headed back in the direction of the cave. “We’ve got to hope that Queen isn’t as adept as he thinks about handling Black. Come on, let’s go back and wait for Black’s next call.”

*   *   *

NO SIGN OF EITHER A CAMPFIRE or a lantern.

Joe shinnied down the pine tree to where Catherine waited on the ground. “Nothing.”

She nodded. “I didn’t think we’d get lucky.” She glanced down at the Celltec. “And this thing is giving us zilch.” She punched the cell-tower locator button. “It indicates there’s possible tower access in the south and east. Maybe we’ll get lucky.” She started striding through the brush. “I guess we strike out to the south and try there.”

Joe moved ahead of her. “Dammit, it took us over an hour to search this quadrant.”

She was as bitter and discouraged as he. Time must be running out. She had hoped that they’d be able to get on Black’s track right away. “Maybe we can split up and each take—” Her phone rang.

Eve.

“We’ve just turned over the ledger to Queen. Tell me that you’ve got Black pinpointed.”

“I wish I could,” Catherine said. “We’re moving south now. Let me know if Black calls you.”

“There’s no ‘if’ about it. He’ll call,” Eve said. “But we can’t control the when. I hope it’s not right before he kills Cara. He’d probably enjoy having us on the line when he did it.” She paused, then added shakily, “Find him, Catherine. He killed Bonnie and so many others. We can’t let him kill anyone else.”

“I’ll call you as soon as we spot him. Take care, Eve.”

“And how is she supposed to take care of herself tonight?” Joe asked savagely, as Catherine hung up the phone. “She’ll be so busy trying to save that kid that she won’t think of herself. And I’m not there to do it for her.”

“John Gallo is there,” Catherine said quietly. “She’s not alone, Joe.”

“No, she’s with a man who will bring Black down on her without a second thought. Hell, Gallo may be worse than Black for all we know. Why couldn’t we convince her of that?”

There would be no sense in arguing with Joe right now. He wouldn’t be able to think logically until he had Eve safe. And Catherine wasn’t sure she wanted to argue. There were moments she was as scared as he was at Eve’s situation.

She shoved her phone in her pocket and moved forward through the brush. “South, Joe.”

*   *   *

“I’VE GOT IT,” QUEEN SAID jubilantly as he strode into the camp. He pulled the ledger out of his pocket and waved it. “No trouble at all. He forked it over without batting an eye. Gallo was meek as a church mouse.”

“I’m glad you were pleased. I know he gave you a bad time on occasion. It’s always good to get your own back, isn’t it?” He glanced at Cara sitting a few yards away. “Aren’t we happy Mr. Queen got what he wanted?”

Cara was staring at Queen, her eyes wide. “But you said he was—”

“Soon.” Black turned back to Queen. “I’m trying to teach our little friend the connection between cause and effect. But she’s a bit confused. I believe I’m going to have to demonstrate.”

Queen’s smile faded. “Well, I’ll leave you to your … lesson. Now that I’ve got the ledger, I’ve no need to stay here any longer. I’d just be in your way.”

“That’s correct. It’s true I don’t need you any longer.”

“And the remainder of your fee will be deposited in your usual Grand Cayman account. I’ll be in touch when I need you again.”

Black smiled. “I believe you’re taking me for granted. I really don’t appreciate your doing that. I’ve decided I’ll do a little freelancing on my own.”

Queen stiffened. “As long as you don’t get yourself in a situation that I’ll have to pull you out of. I can’t allow you to be arrested.”

“Because I know too much?” He spoke to Cara again. “You see, knowing a great deal can be either a good thing or bad depending on the point of view. You can see that Colonel Queen is breaking into a sweat because he thinks it’s a bad thing.” He glanced back at Queen. “We’re confusing her again. She has so little time that I hate to have that sweet head in a whirl.”

“We’ll talk later,” Queen said curtly. “I’ll call you.”

“But that would defeat the purpose. I think it has to be settled now.” He pulled a pistol from his jacket. “For the good of Cara.”

Queen’s eyes widened in panic. “What are you doing? We have a deal. You’d be lost without my help. The police would pick you up in a heartbeat.” He was backing away, his hand inching toward his shoulder holster beneath his jacket. “I’ll double the fee for your next job for me. Put the gun away.”

“I wish I could. I don’t like guns. They lack the personal touch. But in this case…” He shot Queen in the stomach. “I’ll make do.”

Queen screamed and clutched his belly.

Black aimed and shot him in both knees.

Queen fell to the ground, groaning with pain.

Black moved leisurely to stand over him. He fired into Queen’s chest. “You see, even though the pain is there, it’s still only a remote pleasure for me.” He added, “So I might as well just end it.”

He shot Queen in the head.

He turned to Cara. “Dead man. Just as I told you.”

Cara was staring in horror at the remains of Queen’s skull, which had been almost entirely blown away. She started to cry.

“I’m getting very tired of all that weeping.” He reached down and plucked the ledger from Queen’s jacket and stuffed it in his own. “I think it’s time we started the hunt.”

*   *   *

“FIVE!”

Joe stood frozen, listening for more shots.

“East,” Catherine said tensely. “A little toward the north, but definitely the east.”

And there weren’t any more shots.

Joe whirled and started at a run toward the eastern quadrant of the property.

“You think it’s Black?” Catherine was right behind him.

“Good chance. I’d bet that Queen is no longer with us.” He hoped desperately he was right, that none of those bullets had been aimed at Eve or Judy’s daughter. “But at least we have a clue to his location. Now, if we can get there before he moves on—”

“And it’s east. There’s a chance of cell-tower access. We might be able to zero in on him. But we don’t have much time. He’ll know those shots are a giveaway.”

Which meant Black didn’t care, that he thought he could afford to let Gallo and Eve know where he was. A trap?

But he didn’t know Joe and Catherine were there and tracking him. That could be an advantage.

If there was such a thing in this ugly game.

*   *   *

“EAST.” EVE’S HEAD LIFTED, her gaze flying to the trees. “Those shots came from the east, John.”

He nodded and jumped to his feet. “Black.” He grabbed his rifle. “Will you stay here?” He answered his question. “No, of course not. Then stay close, dammit.”

He took off at a dead run.

*   *   *

“WE HAVE TO HURRY ALONG NOW,” Black told Cara as he jerked her after him up a low hill by the ropes binding her wrists. “Those shots were not only unsatisfying, they were dangerous. But what is life without a challenge? Gallo and Eve will be hot on our trail, so I think that I should make them play the game on my terms. I always have to control the play. Queen didn’t realize that, did he? I was right to shoot him, wasn’t I?”

Cara was sobbing. “Dead. Ugly.”

“Yes, death is ugly. But the art of killing is beautiful. It’s power and excitement and everything that life is about.” He pulled her the rest of the way to the top of the rise to stand beside him. “And that’s what you’re going to give me, Cara. Not that shallow little jolt of pleasure I felt with Queen.” He pointed to the high hills bordering the north tip of the lake. “Do you know what’s behind those hills? A little town, houses, stores, a church. I couldn’t touch you there. You’d be safe. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Oh, yes, I can see you would. You’re not at all grateful for the kind way I’ve treated you.” He untied her wrists. “Go on, run. The path is clear to the hill, then you’ll have to scramble through the brush on your own. Try to get to all the people who will save you from me. They’ll even take you to your mother.”

She didn’t move, frozen. “You’re letting me go?”

“Yes.” He squatted in front of her, his eyes holding her own. “But I’ll be coming after you. If you stop, if you hide, I’ll find you and I’ll cut you to pieces like I did your grandmother. You remember that, don’t you?”

He could see the pulse jumping with terror in her throat.

“Yes,” she whispered. “She screamed, but nobody could hear her…”

“But everyone will be able to hear you if I catch you.” He leaned closer. “Run, little deer…”

She gasped and whirled and flew down the path.

Black stood up and watched her run, stumble, fall, and jump to her feet to run again.

He smiled.

The prey had been put to flight.

Now to bring in the other prey to complete the hunt.

He dialed Gallo.

“You sound short of breath. I suppose you heard the sounds of Queen’s demise. Are you hurrying toward me in hopes of saving little Cara?”

“You didn’t kill her?”

“Not yet. That was only Queen, though Cara was a little upset with all the blood. She started sobbing again. You’d think shock would kick in and stop that nonsense. It was annoying me. So I sent her packing.”

Silence. “What are you talking about?”

“I told her that she’d only be safe if she reached the town behind that high hill at the end of the lake.”

“There’s no town there, you bastard.”

“I know, but I had to give her incentive to keep her running. I couldn’t have her collapsing and spoiling the hunt.” He paused. “Just as I’m giving you incentive to join the hunt. If I track her down, Cara will die. Unless you find her in time. Or unless you kill me. Though I’m betting I’ll take you and Eve Duncan out, then be free to finish Cara Clark. Would you like to give me odds?”

“No, you don’t have a chance. I’m going to kill you, Black.”

“You might if you were the same man you were when you came close to killing me all those years ago. You had a divine insanity that gave you power. You knew what you were and what you had to do. Now you don’t even remember that glory, you’re confused and weak.” He chuckled. “But I can’t talk to you any longer. Cara is almost out of sight, and I have to start the chase. But she’s such a little girl I won’t have trouble catching up with her.” He hung up.

“I’m coming, Cara,” he murmured as he started down the path. “I can almost hear your heartbeat. Run…”

CHAPTER

19

“BLACK’S MADE CONTACT,” Catherine said curtly as she hung up from talking to Eve. “He’s turned Cara loose on the hill at the north tip of the lake, and he’s staging some kind of macabre hunt. Eve and Gallo are on their way.”

“And so are we.” Joe stopped and gazed at the hill looming over the lake. “Black and Cara are approaching the hill from the east. Follow them on that route, and we risk an ambush. We need to climb the hill from the west slope and try to surprise Black.”

“But we can’t circle the lake and get on the other side of the hill. It would take too much time.”

“No, we can’t do that.” He gave her his gun and ammunition, but kept his knife. “We split up.”

“What?”

He moved down the bank and took off his boots and shirt. “I swim across the lake and go up the hill from the west side. You follow Black along the east route. One of us should be able to pick him off.”

“Okay, but I’m calling Eve and telling her I’m on my way to join them. I can help them zero in on Black if I can pick up that tower signal.” She hesitated. “The lake’s pretty wide. I couldn’t swim that distance. Can you make it?”

“Come on. I was a SEAL. I live on a lake.” He jumped into the lake and gasped. Cold. He started stroking. “Hell yes, I can do it. Get moving, Catherine.”

When he glanced over his shoulder, she had disappeared.

Good. No arguments. Just Catherine acting with her usual logic and efficiency. One of them had to stop Black and get the job done.

He swam harder, faster, fighting the cold. Block it out.

He had to get to the other side.

*   *   *

CARA WAS ALMOST TO THE TOP of the hill, Black noticed.

She was out in the open, and the moonlight shone on her like a pale spotlight.

Black could see her scrambling desperately, slipping on the rocks, falling, picking herself up, and running again. The child had more stamina than he had thought she possessed. Perhaps it was only fear that had seemed to paralyze her and made her appear less than she was.

And if Black could see her so well, then she would be clearly visible to Gallo and Eve Duncan if they were anywhere near.

“Perfect bait,” he murmured. “You’re doing well, Cara. That desperation is enough to wrench the heart. How could they resist?” He moved farther behind the huge boulders. His rifle was loaded and ready. Again, not his preference. He carried other weapons, a pistol, two knives. But a rifle would be safer with Gallo.

Was he still wary of Gallo?

Nonsense. It was just smarter to handle the kill this way. He would take his time and use one of the knives on little Cara later. It would be enough.

That idea would horrify Eve Duncan, he thought with amusement. Come save her, Eve, as you failed to save your own child. Come on, Gallo. Watch the little one struggle and fight for life.

His finger poised over the trigger as he watched the path.

But hurry, I’m getting impatient.

*   *   *

“OH, GOD, I SEE HER,” EVE said in agony. Poor child. Desperation and panic were in the little girl’s every movement. “But where’s Black? He has to be here.”

“Somewhere close.” Gallo’s gaze was raking the terrain. “And waiting for us. Don’t move. We have cover on the path at this point, but we’ll be wide open if we go another thirty yards.”

“Dammit, where’s Catherine? She said that she could tell us where—”

“Don’t curse the bearer of the Celltec.” Catherine had suddenly appeared out of the shrubbery to the left of the path. She was dressed in black pants and shirt and looked lean and graceful and totally competent. She caught sight of Cara and inhaled sharply. “Bait. He’s staking her out.”

“That’s obvious.” Gallo glanced at her, then looked back at the top of the hill. “You’re Catherine Ling. I’ve heard a good deal about you. Eve thinks you can work minor miracles. I suggest you start.”

“You don’t have the right to tell me what to do,” Catherine said coldly. “It’s because of you that Eve is in this mess, and that kid up there is on the verge of getting killed.”

“Catherine,” Eve said. “Can you locate Black?”

“Yes. I should be in tower range, and I’ll bet he’s close enough.” Catherine pulled out the Celltec. “Come on,” she murmured. “Find the bastard…” She pressed the button.

The beeper went off immediately, then the small screen lit up with coordinates and squared an area. “Jackpot,” Catherine whispered. “The boulders. He’s behind the boulders.”

Eve’s gaze flew to the four huge boulders blocking the path. Steep incline on one side falling to the lake, open terrain on the other, where Cara was climbing. “There’s no way to get to him!”

“There’s a way,” Catherine said slowly. “Just not for us. We have to hang tight.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Gallo said roughly. “You stay here, and I’ll go off the path in the shrubs until I run out of cover, then take off after the kid. You give me protective fire until I can grab her and get her behind that stand of trees.”

“Too risky,” Catherine said. “Hang tight. We’ll have a chance if—”

“Gallo!” It was Black shouting. “I’m tired of waiting for you. I know you’re out there. Perhaps you need a little encouragement.”

A bullet caused the rocks to splinter two feet from where Cara was climbing.

She looked back with panic and frantically tried to climb faster.

“The next bullet will hit her heel. It will probably take her foot off. Do you want to see that, Eve?”

“No,” Eve shouted. “Don’t shoot her, Black.” She turned to Gallo. “You go after her the way you said. I’ll go up the path and try to distract him.”

“Come on,” Black called. “And bring Gallo with you. I was disappointed that I was going to have to use a rifle. This will be much better.”

“I’ll go slow,” Eve said. “I’ll talk to him on the way. Get to her, John.”

Catherine was cursing. “Dammit, stall. Don’t do this.”

“No choice,” Eve said. “He meant what he said. I’m not going to let him blow off body parts while we watch. Go, John. Once she’s safe, we can go after Black.”

“Son of a bitch. You’re right, no damn choice.” John ducked into the shrubbery and was gone.

“Eve, listen to me. I know you’re frantic about the kid, but there’s another chance to—” She shook her head. “But I don’t know if it will be in time.”

“If you get a shot, take it, Catherine.” Eve started down the path. She shouted. “Hold your fire, I’m coming, Black. Gallo doesn’t think Cara is important enough, but I do. Maybe after you have me, you’ll be able to persuade him.”

“Oh, yes, I can be very persuasive with your kind of collateral.”

“Keep on talking to him, Eve,” Catherine said curtly. “Stall. Joe should be here anytime.”

“Joe.” Eve stopped on the path as shock seared through her. “What are you talking about, Catherine? Joe?”

*   *   *

EVE DUNCAN HAD STOPPED IN the middle of the path and was looking back over her shoulder, Black saw, annoyed. What was happening? Was Gallo trying to talk her out of coming?

“I mean it, Gallo,” he shouted. “Don’t play with me. Maybe I should blow off your lady’s foot instead of the kid’s. I’m aiming right now.”

“But you’ll never pull the trigger.”

His head jerked around to see the man who’d spoken crouched on the rock behind him. He received a wild mixture of impressions as the man jumped him. Bare-chested. Barefoot. Brown hair plastered and damp.

Then he was knocked to the ground and the attacker was on top of him and jerking the rifle out of his hand. It went off as he threw it to one side.

Black was cursing as he reached for his knife in his arm holster. “Who the hell are—” But he knew who he was. “Quinn.” His knife plunged up at Quinn’s abdomen. “Son of a bitch, how did—”

Quinn grabbed his wrist and twisted the knife to one side. “Give it up, Black. I don’t want to kill you yet. You have questions to answer.”

Black kneed him in the groin and rolled out from underneath him. “I’m not going to die, Quinn. I’m never the one who dies.” The edge of his knife tore across Quinn’s upper arm. “I’ll kill you all.”

“The hell you will.” Quinn’s knife sliced down and entered Black’s chest.

Black shrieked.

Quinn sat back on his heels, his breathing hard, harsh. His eyes were glittering wildly in his set face. “Don’t die. I was careful. That shouldn’t have been fatal. I won’t have you dead. I still have a use for you.”

*   *   *

EVE TORE AROUND THE BOULDER and stopped short.

Joe was sitting beside Black, covered in blood.

Joe’s blood?

“Joe?” she whispered. “My God.”

“Stay away from him,” Joe said. “He’s not dead yet, and a viper can kill you with his dying strike.”

“To hell with him.” She came forward anyway. “All that blood…”

“A lot of mine. Most of it is his.”

“Where?”

“Arm.” He bent over Black. “You stay awake. You keep alive, dammit.”

“Oh, I’m alive.” Black’s voice was hoarse, vicious. His eyes were glaring up at Joe. “She’s soft. She won’t let you kill me.”

“I will kill you. It’s only a matter of time.” Joe turned to Eve, and said fiercely, “But he can’t slip away yet. I won’t let him.”

“Joe!” Catherine had come around the rocks. Her gaze went immediately to Black. “Good job. But you should have finished him.” She glanced back at Joe. “Do you need any help?”

“Not now.”

“Then I’m going up the hill and grab that poor kid and bring her down. Eve can take care of you.” She turned and disappeared behind the rocks again.

Eve took another step closer to Joe. “Let me—”

“No, I don’t need you to take care of me.” Joe’s eyes were boring into Black’s. “All I need is for you to listen while this bastard talks to me. It has to end. We both have to be free. He’s going to tell me where he buried Bonnie, or I’ll start cutting him to pieces.”

“Bonnie…” Black was gazing up at him maliciously. “You want to know … where Bonnie is? Screw … you, Quinn.”

“You like making people hurt, don’t you? That kid up on the hill. Her mother.” Joe put the point of the knife at his throat. “You want pain? I’ll show you pain, Black.”

“Joe.”

He didn’t take his gaze from Black. “You’ve got to know, Eve. He’s got to tell you. Where’s Bonnie?”

Black spit in his face.

“Where?” Joe didn’t move the knife to wipe away the spittle.

“Let me have him.” Eve hadn’t realized that Gallo had come and was standing a few yards away. His expression was as grim and savage as Joe’s. No, perhaps more savage. “He’ll talk to me.”

“Gallo.” Black’s gaze was glittering with ferocity. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you. Were you so afraid of me that you had to send Quinn to do your dirty work?”

“Shut up, Black.” Gallo’s voice was almost guttural. “I just came from seeing what you did to Judy’s daughter. She’s so terrified Catherine couldn’t get near her. She’s like a wild animal.”

“But that was the purpose,” Black said. “The hunt wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining if she wasn’t sufficiently primed.”

Joe jabbed him in the throat. Blood ran. Black flinched and began to curse.

“Where did you bury Bonnie?” Joe was ignoring everything around him but his one objective.

“Tell us,” Gallo said.

Uneasiness had suddenly supplanted the mockery in Black’s gaze as it flew to Eve. “Torture? Aren’t you going to stop them?”

“Did you stop when you killed all those children?” Eve said unevenly. “Did you stop when you killed Bonnie? I want to bring my daughter home. Tell me where you buried her after you killed her.”

His lip curled. “Bitch. Gallo’s bitch. I should have killed you when I had the chance. You and your Bonnie and—” He broke off with a cry as Joe’s knife bit down again. “Okay, take him away. I’ll talk to you.”

“Get off him, Joe,” Eve said.

Joe had already swung off Black and moved a few feet away. “Not for long.”

Black was staring malevolently at Eve even as he scooted back. “He doesn’t like to hear the truth. But you were Gallo’s bitch, and now you’re that bastard Quinn’s bitch. All of this is your fault. I wish I had—no!” Joe had made a motion toward him. He scrambled farther away from him. “You want to know about Bonnie. I’ll tell you about her. Such a pretty little girl. Different. I was practically salivating when I first saw her after I followed Gallo to your place. But the job I was being paid for was Gallo. I couldn’t move on her.”

“But you did move on her later,” Gallo said. “Admit it.”

“You’d like that wouldn’t you?” Black said softly. “You want the bitch to hear it.”

“I have to hear it,” Eve said. “What difference does it make to you. You’re probably proud that you did it. Isn’t that what you’re all about? The killing and savagery and—”

“Yes, I’m proud of my power.” He smiled, and his gaze never left Gallo. “And I have no need of Bonnie Duncan’s death to add to it. I don’t have to take credit for her anymore. Queen isn’t alive to pay any longer.”

Gallo went rigid. “What are you saying?” he asked hoarsely.

“What do you think I’m saying?” Black asked. “The truth, Gallo. Isn’t it time?”

“And what is the truth, Black?” Eve asked.

“I don’t know where your Bonnie is buried,” Black said. “I didn’t kill her.”

“Liar!” Gallo said.

“Am I?” He shook his head. “You’re not going to be able to convince anyone of that.” His gaze darted to Eve. “Don’t you want to know who did kill her? I find I can’t wait to tell you.”

Eve moistened her lips. “Who?”

“Gallo.”

Gallo made a low exclamation and lunged forward.

Joe jumped up and stepped in front of him. “Stay where you are. I want to hear this.”

“Gallo did it. A fit of madness. One of his blackout periods. Queen said he was always having them.” Black’s words were coming fast, tipped with venom. “He came back to Atlanta after Pakistan. He killed her.”

“No!” Gallo said. “I didn’t. I wouldn’t.”

“You did kill her. Can’t you all see it? Look at Gallo’s face.”

They were looking at Gallo’s face, and what Eve saw there stunned her.

Anger. Fear. Torment.

“Shit. Stop!” Gallo’s gaze was the only one focused on Black, and he tried to push Joe aside. “His boot. He’s going for—”

But Black had already retrieved a dagger from his boot holster and staggered to his feet.

Joe half turned, but it was too late. Black’s dagger sank into Joe’s back.

Eve screamed.

Joe was staggering back, slowly falling to his knees.

“Oh, God.” Eve ran forward and sank to her knees in front of him, trying to hold him. “No.” It couldn’t be happening. “No, Joe…”

Black was running for the rifle on the ground a few yards away. He didn’t reach it before Gallo was on him.

Gallo’s arm went around his neck, jerking it back. “Say it’s a lie, you bastard.”

“You did it.” He was straining to get the rifle. “You know you—”

Gallo’s arm tightened and twisted, breaking Black’s neck.

He fell to the ground, dead.

“Eve.”

Eve was hardly aware that Gallo had spoken. She was carefully laying Joe on the ground.

Her fingers were checking the pulse on his throat. Alive!

Relief surged through her. But unconscious. Going into shock. The blood pouring from his chest. How long would he stay alive?

“Eve.” Gallo was beside her now. “I need to—”

She ignored him as she reached for her phone and called Catherine. “Joe’s hurt. We’re going to need an air ambulance. I hope he doesn’t die before it gets here. Come and help me.” She hung up.

“Let me help you, Eve.”

She didn’t look at him. “You can’t help me.” She was trying to stop the blood. “I can’t even look at you right now. I’ll deal with you later.”

Pressure. She had to apply pressure. But what if the blade had torn an organ?

“You think I killed her.”

“I think Black was telling the truth,” she said unevenly.

Gallo was silent for an agonized moment. “So do I.”

When she glanced up, he was gone.

It was all a hideous nightmare.

Oh, Joe, why did you come?

I knew it would happen.

Why didn’t you let me go?

“Eve.” Catherine dropped to her knees beside Joe. “I should have stayed. I shouldn’t have left you to go after Cara.” She was examining the wound. “It’s bad.”

“I know,” Eve whispered. “I don’t know how bad.”

“Neither do I. I called for help, but I don’t know how long they’ll be. We need bandages, blankets. We have to get him warm. He’s still wet from the lake.”

“He swam the lake?”

“He would have swum the Atlantic to get to you.” She took off her jacket and wrapped it around Joe. “I’m going to hike to the cabin and get some supplies. I have to take Cara with me and tuck her in there until the ambulance comes. She’s waiting on the path. I would have been here sooner, but I had to coax her into coming with me. She was like a frightened animal. She’s sort of shell-shocked, but I was finally able to convince her she was safe now.” She jumped to her feet. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

“I’ll know it.” She was stripping her own jacket off to help form a makeshift blanket. “Why did you do it, Catherine? Why bring him here?”

“Blame me, if you like, but he wasn’t going to have it any other way. I could at least keep an eye on him if he was with me. I did what I thought best.” She looked down at Black. “Joe killed him?”

“Gallo.”

“Where is Gallo?”

“Gone.”

“Why did– You can tell me about it later. I have to get to that cabin.”

Eve didn’t watch her leave; her gaze was on Joe’s face. She lay down beside him, her hand keeping pressure on the wound while she cuddled close to try to share her body heat.

“You’re going to be fine, Joe,” she whispered. “You can’t leave me. You’ve got to get well and strong and let me tell you how much I love you. No, that’s all for me. Get well so that you can live life to the fullest, be what you want, take what you like.”

He didn’t stir.

Was he growing colder?

Panic was rising, and she held him tighter.

“Live, Joe. Hold on…”

St. Joseph’s Hospital

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

“Open your eyes. Coffee,” Catherine said.

Eve opened her eyes and straightened in the waiting-room chair. She took the Styrofoam cup. “Thanks.”

“Though maybe I shouldn’t have bothered you if you were dozing.” Catherine sat down beside Eve. “You’ve been living in this room for almost two days.”

“I wasn’t dozing. I just wanted to close everything out for a while.” Stark, shining corridors, doctors, nurses, worried family members.

Joe in ICU.

Death hovering, ready to reach out and take him.

“No word yet?” Catherine asked quietly.

Eve shook her head. “Still critical. They don’t know whether he’s going to live or not.” Her hand clenched on the steel arm of the chair. “I know. He can’t die, Catherine. Not for me. Not because I won’t let my Bonnie go. He’s so strong. He should live to be an old, old man. If I hadn’t come into his life, he would have.”

“We all make choices.” Catherine took a drink of her coffee. “Joe chose you. He didn’t regret it. The first time I saw you with him, I realized you had something special together. If there were bad times, then he thought the good times balanced them out. That’s all anyone can ask.”

“No, it isn’t,” Eve said fiercely. “You can ask for the best, the ultimate, if you care about someone. That’s what Joe should have.” Then she wearily leaned back against the wall. “But I couldn’t give it to him.”

“Your coffee is getting cold,” Catherine said. “Stop all this emotion and drink it. You need the caffeine if you’re going to spend any more time here.”

That was like Catherine, Eve thought. Blunt, authoritative, cut to the chase. But on occasion she could be as warm and comforting as a hand-stitched blanket passed down through loving generations. Lord, she was glad she’d had Catherine beside her for the last few days.

She lifted her cup to her lips and tasted it. “It’s not cold yet.” She asked, “How is Cara?”