Текст книги "Sleep No More "

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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“The part about Rick and that young girl. It’s … ugly. I won’t believe he’d do that kind of thing. Rick isn’t like that.”

“Isn’t he? You must have noticed that he was attracted to young girls. What about your friends? Didn’t he ever comment on them? Didn’t you notice that he liked to be around them?”

“No!” Beth’s eyes were suddenly blazing. “Stop saying things like that. It’s natural that he’d like to be around my friends. He knew I was lonely because he couldn’t be with me. He told me that he wanted me to have lots of friends around me to make up for it. Of course he liked all of my school friends. And they liked him, everyone likes Rick.”

“I’m sure they did. He seems to be a charmer.” Eve added quietly, “But a charmer with a terrible flaw, Beth. We think the Asian girl you saw that night was a Chinese prostitute who was only twelve years old. And there’s a good chance she died because Rick’s mother thought she was a danger to her son’s career.”

“If it did happen, it was his mother’s fault. Rick had nothing to do with it.” Her hand reached up and desperately clutched the golden key on the chain at her throat. “He would never hurt anyone.”

“There are many ways to hurt besides the physical.” Her gaze was on the golden key. “I’ve noticed you grab that pendant whenever you’re upset. Did he give it to you?”

“Yes, when I was sixteen.” Her voice was uneven. “He told me to wear it forever, and I’d know that I had the key to his heart. No matter how far apart we were, we’d still be together.” She stared at Eve defiantly. “It was on my neck all the time I was in the hospital. He must have told them to make sure it was never taken from me.”

“Very sentimental. It would have been better if he’d dropped the sentiment and tried to find a way to get you out of that place.”

“I’m sure he would have done it if he could. They must have lied to him. He wasn’t to blame. He loves me.”

Eve gazed at her helplessly. Beth wasn’t going to believe anything against her father, and, since he was the center of what happened that night at the chalet, she was looking at the entire report skeptically. How was Eve going to reach her?

“Beth, I believe that Gelber told the exact truth in those notes. Why would he lie?”

“How do I know?” she said jerkily. “I’ve been surrounded by violence and lies since Billy helped me escape from that hospital. Black is white. But I have to hold on to something. The only person I believe in is Rick. I won’t give him up because of some scribbling of that idiot doctor.”

“Beth…”

“No, Eve.” She shook her head forcefully. “Don’t talk about it anymore.”

“I will talk about it,” Eve said. “Cling to Rick if you have to do it, but believe that what happened that night was the reason that you lost all those years. You saw something you shouldn’t have seen, and Nelda Avery had to be sure that you didn’t talk. You may be right that Rick did love you and that—”

“Of course—and he still loves me.”

“Let me finish. If Nelda Avery wanted to keep her hold over her son, she couldn’t risk killing you. Even an accidental death would appear entirely too ‘convenient’ to him under the circumstances. But a tragic skiing accident in which your injury required permanent care and restraint would fit the bill. It actually must have been very satisfying for her on several levels. Your very existence must have been a constant thorn in her flesh since her son insisted on keeping in touch with you. It was much safer to have you under strict control. Will you accept that as being reasonable?”

“Maybe.” She went on in a rush of words, “I know that you think I’m being foolish. But what if that report was twisted and not true? All that about me not being able to breathe … Wouldn’t that posthypnotic suggestion have some kind of an effect on me now if it wasn’t pure bull? I’m fine, Eve.”

“Because in your heart you’re still believing what Gelber told you to believe, that you never went to that chalet. Because you’re afraid it’s going to hurt too much if you believe what really happened. You’d take the physical pain but not the emotional.”

“Think what you like.” She tossed the pages on Eve’s lap. “Everyone has gone to a lot of trouble to try to help me, and I appreciate that you—” She had to stop, her eyes glittering with tears. “I’m sorry, Eve,” she whispered. “It hurts me to have you believe I’m not grateful for all you’ve done. I want to think what you think, do what you think is best, but I can’t. I have to go my own way. Please forgive me.”

Eve could feel her throat tighten as she looked at her. In a way, she had tortured Beth as much as that bastard Gelber by bringing her face-to-face with her father’s sins and his involvement in her imprisonment in that hospital. How could she expect her to be willing to accept it? It might take a long time for her even to come close.

But they didn’t have a long time, she thought desperately. Things were moving at light speed.

Maybe they could work around Beth in some way, Eve thought wearily as she got to her feet. They seemed to have no choice at the moment. “There’s nothing to forgive.” She put the notes back on the bed. “I only ask you to read it again and see if—just read it again.” She turned toward the door. “I’ll see you later. I’m going to check with Joe and see if he’s been able to contact Cara Sandler. We’re trying to verify Gelber’s notes. I know you didn’t like or trust her, but we have to do what we can to—”

“Eve.”

Eve looked back at her.

“I … have to tell you something.”

“So tell me.”

“This is … difficult for me. I think I– I don’t know much about affection and stuff like that except with Rick. But I think I like—” She lifted her chin. “No, I think I … care for you. After all, we’re sisters. I guess that’s not weird or anything. You don’t have to feel the same way about me. That’s okay. We’ve barely gotten to know each other. I just wanted to let you know. Things happen, and if you don’t say the words, then they might get lost, and I wouldn’t—”

“Hush, Beth.” Eve smiled at her. “It’s difficult for me, too. We seem to be alike in more than blood. I think I care for you as well. But we’re as different as night and day in most things, and it’s going to take some doing to bridge those differences. We’ll have to take our time.”

Beth’s eyes were bright with eagerness. “But we’ll get there, won’t we?”

“We’ll get there.” She closed the door behind her and stood in the hall for an instant, trying to smother the emotion Beth’s words had ignited. Beth was part child, part woman, and her eagerness, vulnerability, and strength were impossible to resist.

And Eve didn’t want to resist, dammit. She had fought against letting Beth into her life in a meaningful way, but that was in the past. But as she had said, they were two individuals who would have to walk carefully not to damage one another.

“Eve?” Joe was walking toward her down the hall. “You’re upset. How did she take it?”

“The way we thought she would,” Eve said as she went toward him. “She won’t believe anything bad about Rick Avery. And she’s leaning toward not even believing much of Gelber’s notes because she’s in defense mode about her father. I asked her to read the notes again and think about them.”

“Will she do it?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. She doesn’t want to do it. Her first impulse is to reject.” She made a face. “But she has an intrinsic honesty that keeps her from being completely blind about it. I’m hoping that she’ll be able to begin to accept that it might be true the longer she lives with the knowledge.” She added soberly, “But time seems to be running out, doesn’t it?” She didn’t wait for an answer but changed the subject. “Did you get Cara Sandler’s number and manage to contact her?”

“Yes, I got her cell number.” His lips twisted. “But no I didn’t contact her. The call was picked up by the Vancouver police, and I got bombarded by questions.”

“The police?”

“Cara Sandler’s car went off the highway and down a gorge yesterday evening. She was killed on impact.”

“Damn,” Eve whispered. “How?”

“That’s what the police are trying to determine. They think the brake lines were cut.”

“Nelda Avery?”

Joe nodded. “Probably through one of Drogan’s contacts. Or maybe she’s had a plan in mind for Sandler for a long time and just set it in motion. She appears to be very efficiently tying up all the loose ends she left dangling all those years ago.”

“Hans Gelber, now Cara Sandler. So much for having a witness that could keep Beth from being tossed back in that hospital.” She leaned her head on Joe’s chest. “Hell, Joe, Cara Sandler was in Canada. Nelda is reaching out like a scorpion and stinging—” She drew a deep breath. “Maybe if we tell Beth about Cara Sandler, it will have some effect and she’ll be able to see the pattern.”

“We can hope it will—” His phone rang and he glanced at the ID. “Newell? Why would he call from—” He accessed the call. “What’s happening?”

He listened for a moment. “See what you can find out from your friends at the hospital.” He hung up and took Eve’s arm. “Come on, let’s go downstairs and watch the news on TV. Harry Pierce has been reported missing.”

“Pierce?”

He nodded as he nudged her down the stairs. “He had a meeting with an important donor at noon today and he didn’t show. He took out $800,000 in cashier’s checks early this morning. Stella Lenslow was with him last night and presumably this morning.”

“Then maybe Pierce lost his nerve, and he and his lady friend took off for some South Sea island.”

“Maybe. He didn’t impress me as being very brave but he was greedy. Less than a million dollars? I think he’d want more than that to set up his own Shangri-la.” His lips tightened. “Newell is seeing what he can find out at the hospital. We’ll have to watch for more news and try to put a picture together.”

*   *   *

“WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME, Nelda?” George asked as soon as he picked up the phone. “I can’t stall the media much longer, and Rick is asking questions, too. What’s happening?”

“I’ve called Rick and told him that I’m fine. Let the campaign people handle the media.” She didn’t want to deal with George just then, but it wasn’t smart not to keep him calm and think he was still in the loop. She was too far away to influence him on a physical basis, and verbal reassurance was the best she could do. “I just wanted to let you know that everything is going well, and I should be able to come back in a few days.”

“You didn’t answer me,” George said. “What’s happening? Have you found Beth?”

“No. Not yet. But I’m getting close. It shouldn’t take much longer.”

“If you’re that close, then leave it up to Pierce.”

Pierce. It was going to cause a problem when George learned about Pierce’s death. Maybe prepare him a little? “I’m having trouble getting in touch with him. He may have decided to take the money we’ve been paying him and head for sunnier pastures.”

“Bullshit,” George said bluntly. “He’s been under your thumb too long. He hasn’t the guts to double-cross you.”

George was too sharp. She’d just have to deal with the Pierce problem when it developed. “I hope you’re right. I just want to have Beth back in that hospital and be on my way home to you.” She added quickly, “I have to go now. Take care. I’ll let you know if there’s any progress.”

“There doesn’t appear to be much chance of that happening.”

“Don’t be pessimistic. Trust me. Things are working out very well. Definitely progress.” She hung up.

It was true. There had been progress once she had gathered the reins into her own hands. Not the kind with which George would be happy, but it was the only kind she could make and still protect herself. She had taken the weapons she had found and made them her own. Drogan had been a particularly valuable tool, with his lethal mind-set, contacts with other equally efficient killers around the globe, plus a total lack of loyalty to Pierce. She’d needed only to furnish the money, and he had provided the means to start eliminating all the troublesome people who had been a danger to her for years. It had been almost a relief to know that she could break those chains she’d been forced to wear because of that night at the chalet. She was going to be free. She should probably have made this move before, but Rick had always been in her way. Now she had no choice since Pierce had failed so miserably to erase Beth from the scene.

But the list of the people who had been dragging her down and keeping Rick from reaching for the heights was dwindling. All she had to do was control Drogan after he cornered Beth and made the kill. It shouldn’t be too difficult. She was far more clever than Drogan.

And far more clever than Stella Lenslow.

She had a sudden memory of Stella sitting on the bed that morning. She couldn’t deny that the slut had stirred her. It had been a long time since she had felt that intensity of lust, and it had been even stronger because she knew Stella was so dangerous. It might have been interesting to take a few chances and enjoy the skills Stella was offering to show her.

Interesting and exciting …

CHAPTER

16

STELLA HAD NEVER LIKED MOUNTAINS.

She gazed out the window of the plane at the darkness of the Rocky Mountains below her.

Beaches and surf had always been more flattering backgrounds to show her off to advantage. Heat and undulating rhythms and sensuous breezes suited her very well. What could you do with mountains but climb them and smile when someone said how inspiring they were?

Boring.

As boring as the trip had been so far. It had been bad enough during the daylight hours when she had first boarded the plane, but now that it was dark, all you could see were the red lights on the wings and the shape of the mountains below. She was ready to land, but it was at least another hour until they reached Vancouver, where she would change planes.

The only thing that made the trip bearable was the fact that she was on a private business jet. Well, not totally private. There was a Korean businessman toward the back of the Learjet who looked promising but seemed too involved with his wife sitting beside him to be worth bothering about. She had flown with Pierce a few times on private aircraft, and she liked them. They made her feel rather special, and this corporation jet of Nelda’s was particularly luxurious: soft lights, leather seats, and burl wood accents.

“More champagne?”

She looked up at the smiling male flight attendant, Mark Telfer, who was standing beside her seat. Good-looking but probably gay. He hadn’t paid her more than polite attention.

“Why not?” She gestured to her empty glass. “It’s very good.”

“The best.” He refilled her glass. “If you’d like anything else, all you have to do is call me. I received a note from Mrs. Avery right before we took off, and she said to make sure that I fulfilled your every wish. She specified the year for the champagne and sent a box of after-dinner chocolates for me to serve you.”

That was good news. Not that she doubted her effect on Nelda was anything but a success. She was always able to gauge her power over people. She lifted her glass. “I’ll keep that in mind. I can see how you’d want to please the boss. How long have you worked for the Averys?”

His brows rose. “Oh, I don’t work for them. This jet is leased to New China Porcelain. We have no direct connection with the Averys.” He shrugged. “Though occasionally we’re hired to do a discreet run for them. But then they always have their own crews and insist that their names are never listed on any record. They just show up at flight time and board the plane. Like you, Ms. Lenslow.”

“Discreet?”

He grinned and winked. “Top secret.”

“How interesting.” Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t you find it curious enough to explore?”

“No, I like my job just fine, and they’re only one client among dozens. Not really important.”

It might be important to Stella. Another weapon to use against Nelda? She would have to keep her eyes open to make sure that she was always one step ahead of her. “Perhaps we could talk about it later.” She smiled. “Do you get to Fiji very often?”

His smile remained, but he looked suddenly wary. “Now and then.” He turned away. “Be sure and buzz if you need anything. I’m at your service.” He hurried back down the aisle.

Definitely gay. She took another sip of champagne. But she might still be able to use him. She would have to think about it and see who he—

“I almost forgot to give this to you.” Mark was standing beside her chair again with an envelope. He glanced at his watch. “But I’m right on time—7:27. Mrs. Avery said it had to be right on the nose. Please tell her that I obeyed instructions.”

“Mrs. Avery?” She looked at the envelope as she took it from him. Heavy, rich, stationery, faintly scented. The same scent she’d smelled when Nelda had been in the motel room that morning. “She sent it to you?”

He nodded. “Together with my personal letter and instructions.” He started back down the aisle. “Nice perfume, isn’t it?”

She stared down at the envelope. She didn’t like this. It gave her an uneasy feeling. She slowly tore open the envelope. Nelda’s handwriting was bold and clear and struck with the force of a hammer blow.

Stella—

Did you really think that I’d let you dominate me? Your arrogance is incredible. Yes, I found you desirable, but as you grow older, you learn to pick and choose what you will allow yourself and how to say no to alluring toys. You wish to follow in my footsteps and perhaps supplant me someday, but you would never have learned that, Stella.

So good-bye, temptation.

Two minutes, Stella. Enjoy them.

Nelda

Stella’s heart jerked in her chest as panic struck.

Two minutes. In two minutes, it would be seven thirty.

What was going to happen at seven thirty?

They … insist their names are never listed on any record.

Like you, Ms. Lenslow.

The airline company has no direct connection with the Averys.

She sent a box of “after-dinner chocolates.”

The mountains below looming dark and hard … and waiting.

“No!” She threw her champagne glass to the floor and jumped to her feet. “No, you bitch. It’s not going to happen.”

She ran to the door of the cockpit. She was aware of the Korean couple staring at her with startled expressions. Mark Telfer, the flight attendant, was running down the aisle toward her as she tried to jerk open the cockpit door.

“You’ve got to land!” she screamed as she pounded on the door. “Let me in. This can’t happen to me.”

“Go back to your seat,” the flight attendant said soothingly. “Have some more champagne. I’ll ask the pilot to come out and talk to you.”

“Too late. You fool, it’s too late. Those damn chocolates. It has to be—”

She screamed.

Because precisely at seven thirty, the Learjet exploded into flaming shards of metal and hurtled into the Rocky Mountains below.

*   *   *

“I’VE TALKED TO EVERYONE at the hospital who could have any access to special info,” Newell said several hours later as he poured coffee into Beth’s cup. “As far as anyone knows, Pierce has done a flit with his luscious lady.”

“He’s gone?” Beth shook her head in wonder. “I can’t believe it. Those last months at the hospital I’d watch him whenever he was anywhere around me. Before that, the drugs made him only a hazy figure to me. He liked what he did. He liked the power and everyone’s deferring to him. I don’t think he’d walk away from it.”

“I don’t, either,” Joe said. “But where the hell is he?”

“But I was told one other interesting thing when I was checking,” Newell said. “The woman who was impersonating Beth is no longer occupying the room where she was quarantined. Before they left the hospital, Stella Lenslow gave an order, supposedly from Pierce, that the woman be moved back to the ward where she evidently was before Pierce pulled the switch.”

“Why didn’t Pierce give the order?”

Newell shrugged. “He’d already gone to the car. It didn’t ring true to me, either.”

“I don’t like it,” Joe said flatly. “Even if he was going to leave the area, why pull the phony patient and leave the suspicion that Beth was still on the loose?” He was channel flipping through the news channels. “They’ve checked the local airports for his car and didn’t find it. No Pierce. No Stella Lenslow.”

“Maybe not Stella.” Eve came into the kitchen from the living room where she’d been monitoring the other set. “But they’ve just found Harry Pierce. Turn on Fox.”

Joe switched to the station to see a shot of a BMW wrapped around a telephone pole. Police and ambulance trucks surrounded the vehicle. “Pierce? Where is this supposed to be?”

“A northern suburb,” Eve said. “He’s dead.”

“Suspects?”

“They don’t even know if it’s murder. It may take days for the medical examiner to determine it,” Eve said. “No obvious lethal wounds.” She paused. “But also no broken bones that they can determine.”

“Dead,” Beth said dully. “Another one.”

“Be happy,” Newell said. “No, don’t be happy. It would have been better if they’d stuffed him into a prison to rot like he did you.”

“Dammit, I wanted him alive.” Joe got to his feet. “Hell, everyone who could testify to Beth’s sanity is being sent to the morgue.” He headed for the door. “I’m going out there to see if I can find out anything more.”

“Like what?” Eve asked.

“Like where’s Stella Lenslow and does she have any evidence that can help.” His lips tightened. “And if there’s anything in that wreck of a car that could prove what a lying son of a bitch Pierce is to the Santa Barbara Police, even though he had them in his pocket. We need something fast.”

“Why? What’s suddenly put you on edge?”

“The deaths are piling up, and we have to stop worrying about Beth’s being thrown back into the hospital and start worrying about her being arrested for murder. It’s a little too convenient that a mental patient’s two doctors have shown up dead when she’s still wandering around loose.”

My God, he was right. First Gelber, now Pierce, Eve thought. Not only convenient, but chilling.

“I’ll see if I can find anything to use to deflect attention from her and gather any clues out there.” Joe turned at the door. “Newell, you stay here with Beth and Eve. I should be back in an hour or two.” He looked at Eve. “I’ll call you from the accident scene and let you know what’s happening.”

“You’d better.” She made a face. “I’m not all pleased at staying here and holding down the fort. I believe that position is vastly overrated.”

“But you’ll do it.” He glanced at Beth. “You have a reason to hold down this particular fort. Keep safe, Eve.” The door shut behind him, and he strode toward the car parked at the curb. He paused before he opened the driver’s door to look up and down the street.

Nothing.

Yet he was still uneasy even though he had no reason to be. There had been no sign that Drogan had been able to follow them to L.A. from the Seventeen Mile Drive. He had even checked the car for bugs before they left the Strip and found nothing. However, there were all kinds of devices available these days that weren’t detectable except with equally sophisticated equipment.

But Drogan had been very busy if he’d managed to kill both Gelber and Pierce in the span of such a short time. It wasn’t likely he’d have also been able to stake out Beth in Valencia.

Not likely. But possible.

He glanced back at the glowing windows of the house he’d just left as he backed out of the driveway. It appeared warm and cozy and safe. It would be okay, he told himself. Newell was there, and he would be on guard.

His cell phone rang as he drove toward the subdivision entrance.

Kendra.

“You persisted in telling us how busy you are, Kendra,” he said when he picked up the call. “But you seem to have plenty of time to harass us.”

“What a treasure is gratitude,” Kendra said sarcastically. “And you don’t know anything about harassment. It’s an art form. I’ll have to teach you someday.”

“I am grateful,” Joe said quietly. “And Eve is even more grateful than I am. But she wants to keep you out of this. Things are a bit dicey.”

“You mean like Pierce’s ending up smashed into a telephone pole?”

“You saw the news story.”

“Why else would I be calling you? It’s all over the news channels. Look, I know how Eve feels, and I’ve been trying to respect it. On the surface, Pierce’s getting killed could actually seem to make it safer for Beth and Eve. If you tell me that’s true, then I’ll reconsider my plans.”

“What plans?” he asked warily.

She ignored the question. “Is the fact that Pierce bought it going to make Drogan less of a danger to you?”

She wasn’t going to give up until she had the answer. What the hell. Talk to her. That uneasiness was still with him, and he wanted to surround Eve and Beth with every barrier he could find. Kendra could be one hell of a valuable barrier. “No, someone else has entered into the mix.”

“Nelda Avery. Rick Avery. Which one?” Kendra asked. “I was wondering whether they’d come out of their golden shells and take over the action. Pierce seems to have been a royal screwup.”

“I think Nelda Avery is tired of hiding in the shadows and paying hush money. She wants a new deck and is determined to get it. But the stakes are very high for her as well as her son.” He paused. “She committed the murder that started all this business rolling.”

Kendra gave a low whistle. “Yeah, that would give her a giant stake. Should I know anything else before I get there?”

“You’re coming here?”

“I’m on my way. I just got on the San Diego Freeway. Where am I going?”

He chuckled. “Yes, that would be a good thing to know. Valencia. You know that Eve’s not going to be pleased with either one of us.”

“She’ll get over it. Are you going to the site of Pierce’s smashup?”

“I just left the house. I thought I’d see if I could find out anything from examining the wreckage.”

“I’d have a better chance. But I can go to the impound lot later and take a look if you don’t see anything.”

“Which you don’t think I will?” he asked dryly, with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. Kendra was moving with her usual full head of steam. “I’ll try to prove you wrong. How soon will you be here?”

“About an hour, maybe less. Keep me informed.”

“Why, Kendra? Why are you being so determined about this?”

“As I told Eve, I hate leaving anything unfinished. It bothered me that I had to leave without having everything wrapped up.”

“And?”

“Stop pushing me, Quinn. Why should there be anything else?” She was silent a moment. “Except that I like Eve. I’ve never had that many friends. When I was blind, I was always defensive and working hard at overcoming my handicap. Then, after I gained my sight, I’d get impatient when others who’d had their vision all their lives couldn’t see what was right before them. I wanted to shake them. Not exactly an attitude that endears people to you.”

“No, and Eve certainly wasn’t enamored of you in the beginning.”

“But we worked our way through it. I felt close to her. And, when I found out about her daughter, Bonnie, I kept thinking about it. I wanted to help her to find something or someone to replace her.”

“Not possible, Kendra.”

“Oh, I know that, and she’d hate it if she knew I felt … but I thought that if I could give her Beth, it might help a little.”

“Give her Beth. Good God.”

“Too arrogant? Okay, you’re right. Besides, I didn’t get the chance. But now maybe I can do something to help her keep her.” She paused. “If it’s worthwhile. How does she feel about Beth? Was she a disappointment?”

“Eve had no preconceived ideas of what her sister would be or what she wanted from the relationship. But, no, Beth wasn’t a disappointment. I’m not exactly sure what Eve feels for Beth, but she wouldn’t want to give her up.”

“Good, then it’s settled. I’ll see you soon.” She hung up.

Joe was smiling as he pressed the disconnect. That last remark had been typical Kendra, full of confidence and decision. It was her previous words that had surprised him. She had always shown him only her toughness and keen intelligence. Evidently, Eve had managed to reach down and touch another side of her. But, then, Eve was able to touch most people just by being Eve.

His smile faded as he thought about how much Eve had touched and changed him through the years. God, he loved her.

And everything might be settled in Kendra’s eyes, but there was a darkness looming. He just hoped he could keep it from enveloping Eve as well as Beth.

His foot instinctively pressed the accelerator at the thought. Check out that accident scene, then get back to the house.

Keep Eve safe. Keep Eve close to him.

*   *   *

“YOU’VE BEEN VERY QUIET since Joe left.” Eve dropped into the lawn chair beside Beth and handed her a cup of tea. “It’s going to be okay, Beth.”

“You keep saying that.” Beth smiled. “You treat me the way Billy does, as if I’m a little girl. By the way, where is he?”

“Making his rounds. He took Joe’s order about watching out for us seriously.”

“He takes everything seriously.” She lifted the tea to her lips. “He’s a good man, Eve. He doesn’t deserve all that’s happened to him.”

“He’s not complaining. Stop having all these guilt feelings. Though I know everything seems confusing, and it was a shock to realize that Pierce is dead.”

“It is a shock.” Beth looked down into the amber depths of her cup. “But then I seem to be dizzy with shocks. Every time I turn around, something else happens.” She made a face. “But it’s not as if I cared anything about Pierce. If what everyone tells me is true, he was a monster to me. I can’t be sorry he’s dead.”

“Which is an entirely healthy response.”

Beth smiled. “From a woman who everyone was sure was loony as a hoot owl.”

“Are hoot owls loony? I wonder where that saying came from. At any rate, no one will say that about you for long. We’ll make sure they don’t.”

“I can almost believe you.”

She looked her in the eye. “No almost. Believe me, Beth.”

She nodded. “I do believe you, Eve. It’s just that it’s—”

Eve’s cell phone rang. “That must be Joe. I wouldn’t have thought he’d have been able to make it to the accident scene by—” She frowned. “It’s not Joe. No ID.” She accessed the call. “Eve Duncan.”

“Rick Avery, Ms. Duncan.”

She stiffened, stunned. “What?”