Quicksand

NINE

"SHE'S LEAVING," MIGUEL TOLD Montalvo when he reached him on the phone. "She's heading for the airport. Quinn is with her."

"Of course he is," Montalvo said. "He wouldn't let her go into the lion's den alone."

"You think Kistle's gone?"

"If he wanted to go. You could, I could. And I'd bet he wanted out. It was getting too tight for fun. He couldn't spread his wings and swoop like an eagle. And he couldn't get near Eve. The notes were the only way to contact her and there couldn't be much satisfaction if he couldn't see her, hear her."

"Are you staying around to make sure?"

"Eve is sure. I trust her instincts. I'll talk to Cassidy and give him a heads-up that Kistle may have flown the coop. He won't give up the search until he makes sure, but that's his prerogative. I'll meet you at the airport in an hour."

EVE AND JOE ARRIVED AT THE lake cottage at sunset. The sun was casting a scarlet mirror image on the lake. Beautiful, Eve thought wearily. It was good to see beauty when she had come from such ugliness.

Joe parked the car in front of the cottage and jumped out. "Stay here a minute." He took the porch steps two at a time and disappeared inside the cottage. He came out a few minutes later. "It's secure." He opened the car door for her. "Go inside and lock the doors. You know where the pistol is. I'll go and pick up Toby from Jane's friend. I should be back in twenty minutes."

"I don't think Kistle would be that obvious," Eve said as she climbed the steps. She was already feeling a sense of peace and contentment. It was like being in the tranquil center of a hurricane. It seemed impossible that anything bad could happen here, where she'd been happy for so many years. "There's nothing subtle or clever about breaking into a house. I'll rummage through the freezer and see what I can find us to eat."

"Do that." Joe started the car turned and went back down the road.

She went inside and locked the door before taking Carrie over to the easel and setting her up. One more night and she should be finished with the reconstruction. "Sorry, Carrie," she murmured. "It's not that you're not important to me. It's been a hell of a few days."

That was an understatement. Horror and death and ugliness had stalked her from the moment she had taken the call from Kistle that first night.

Forget it. She was home. She needed to take a little time to get her breath and heal.

Megan had talked about healing. Something about hibernating and-

But she didn't want to think about Megan either. To remember Megan was to remember those moments when she had been caught up in that other horror. To remember Megan was to be pulled into wondering about questions she'd avoided for all these years.

She headed for the kitchen. She was sure there was some lasagna in the freezer. Joe liked lasagna. She'd make some garlic bread and they'd eat and talk and maybe the tension between them would ease.

Lord, she hoped it would ease.

MONTALVO CALLED AS SHE WAS putting the bread in the oven.

She hesitated. She didn't want to talk to Montalvo right now. She wanted to keep the fragile serenity she had felt at this homecoming. But if she didn't talk to him now she'd have to talk to him later. She punched the button. "What do you want, Montalvo?"

"Many things. But at the moment I only want to tell you that you did the right thing by coming home. You looked frayed the last time I saw you and you value your home. You'll feel better there."

"Everyone values their home."

"Providing they have one. It takes more than four walls." He changed the subject. "I just wanted to call and tell you that I'm here in Atlanta if you need me. I'm at the Plaza and you have my cell number."

"I won't need you."

"You can never tell. If you don't want to see me, Miguel would be glad to stand in my place."

"You'd let him?"

"If I had to do it. Not willingly. But I have an uneasy feeling that you may need someone."

"I have Joe."

"Who is beyond compare. Call me if you need me." He hung up.

Dammit, she'd known he would manage to disturb her. He had been low-key and said nothing intimate or controversial and yet she was still uneasy.

She turned away from the stove and took down plates from the cabinet. Why did an offer from Montalvo to keep her safe make her feel just the opposite?

Get over it. He was an expert manipulator and those words had probably been carefully calculated.

"Smells good." Joe was on the porch and opened the door to let Toby into the house. The retriever tore immediately over to Eve licked her hand and then went over to his bowl and stared at her accusingly.

"Did Patty feed him?"

"I forgot to ask."

"Bad mistake." She sighed. "Give him some dog food while I dish up the lasagna."

"Right." Joe went to the dog food canister. "Though we could call Patty."

"I don't feel like calling his bluff tonight. Let him be happy." She wished making everyone happy would be that simple. People were a hell of a lot more complicated than dogs. "Was he good at Patty's?"

"Probably not. She doesn't care. She's besotted with the dog and spoils him rotten." He set the table. "We should probably board him."

"Yeah, sure." Joe was as crazy about Toby as the rest of the world was. He'd hire an army of dog-sitters before he'd board him. "And Jane would take a contract out on us. After all, he's her dog."

"He likes us a little too." Joe got the garlic bread and put it on a plate. "We're family, and that makes a difference."

Home and now family. The basic concepts seemed to be popping up in everyone's mind tonight. And Joe was being casual, almost normal, she noticed with relief. It was as if being here in a familiar place was taking the edge off, soothing him, as it had her. She set the lasagna on the table and sat down. "Yes, it makes a big difference."

He didn't look at her as he dished her up a portion of lasagna. "I never really had a family before you and Jane. My parents were always off on a yachting trip or skiing somewhere or other. Not that I had anything to complain about. I had food and good schools and that's a hell of a lot more than you had growing up." He lifted his gaze to stare into her eyes. "I just wanted you to know that I value every day we've been together as a family. Whatever happens between us, I want you to believe that."

"I believe it." She reached across the table to cover his hand with her own. "Likewise." She squeezed his hand and then picked up her fork. "And it's going to go on forever."

"I'll be happy for one day at a time," Joe said. "Because I can't promise you I'll feel any different about Bonnie. I've watched you suffering for too long. And in the end that could break us, not Montalvo."

She could feel the shadows returning, chilling her. "Shut up, Joe." She handed him a piece of garlic bread. "I don't want to talk about Kistle, Montalvo, or Bonnie. I just want to have a good dinner and then go to bed. Can't we put everything else on hold?"

He was silent a moment and then a slow smile lit his face. "Only if you eat a piece of this bread too. I refuse to be the only one in bed reeking of garlic."

JOE WAS SLEEPING.

Eve rolled over on her back to stare into the darkness. She wanted to go to sleep too, but it wasn't going to happen. Perhaps because she desperately wanted to continue on with the same warm, loving mood that had been present all evening. The conversation had been casual but affectionate, the sex had been hot yet heartbreakingly tender. Joe had held her for an hour before he'd drifted off to sleep.

Would it be the same in the morning? Probably not. Life would intrude and peace would vanish. She couldn't lie here brooding about it. She'd get up and get a glass of water and then maybe work on Carrie for a while.

She gently brushed her lips across Joe's shoulder and carefully got out of bed. She pulled on her robe and glided toward the door.

Toby was sleeping on the couch in the living room. He always jumped up there when they weren't around to keep him from it. He lifted his head, wagged his tail, and yawned.

"No, it's not morning." Eve got her glass of water. "And you have no business up there." She glanced at Carrie, then went out on the porch. Toby jumped down, followed her, and settled down on the top step. "But I'm not going to yell at you. I'm feeling mellow tonight." She stroked the retriever's head. "You were a big part in giving us a good evening. But don't think you can do it tomorrow."

He cuddled closer and licked her arm.

She should probably go back inside. Joe wouldn't like her being out on the porch without him. But as she'd told him, she didn't believe that Kistle would stalk her here. It might be unreasonable, but she felt as if she would be able to sense him if he was close to her. Unreasonable? There had been nothing reasonable about anything that had happened to her since Kistle had entered her life. There had only been darkness and threats and death.

And he was still out there, waiting to do it again.

"HE'S NOT GOING TO WAIT long, Mama."

She turned to see Bonnie sitting on the porch swing with one leg tucked beneath the other. "I know, baby. But that may be a good thing. It may be over soon."

She frowned. "I hope it will. Joe is so sad. I used to think you were the only sad one, but Joe is hurting too. I wish I could help him."

"You can't help him. You're the problem. He said he wished you'd never been born."

"Because he loves you. Don't be angry with him."

"I'm not angry. I'm sad. Because he can't love you the way I do." Eve smiled faintly. "Of course, I suppose you could always pay him a visit and let him get to know you."

"You're joking." She shook her head. "But I wish I could, Mama. I don't think it works that way. You're the only one who can see me."

"Because I'm the one who's nuts?"

"Because you open yourself to me. I can feel your mind open and saying welcome. It's like someone rolling out the red carpet at one of those Academy Awards ceremonies."

"Oh, yes, I'd spread the red carpet, strike up the band, and give you any gold statue I had on hand."

"Would you? It sounds like a party."

"The very best party." She looked down at Toby, who was lying with his head on her knee. "If you're a ghost, why isn't Toby barking and cowering? Aren't they supposed to be afraid of spirits?"

"That's a myth. Besides, Toby knows me by now. He'd be silly to be scared of me."

"He's pretty silly most of the time anyway. He thinks he's still a puppy."

"Isn't that wonderful?"

"I guess it is." She looked down at Toby. "Childhood is a special magic time. Every minute should be enjoyed."

"You're thinking about Bobby Joe."

"Yes, his childhood didn't last much longer than yours, baby."

"It was bad for him?"

"Very bad. Don't you know?"

She shook her head. "I know he's happy and not hurting anymore."

She cleared her throat. "You're saying that because that's the way I want it to be."

"Am I?"

"And because I'd rather you be a ghost than a figment of my imagination."

"Then why do you fight me?"

"Because I have to do it. It's the sane thing to do." She smiled. "And because I ran into an authority on the subject lately who told me she'd never met a ghost."

"Oh, the lady with the box."

Eve frowned. "Box? Oh, you mean Megan's medical bag."

"No." Bonnie set the swing to moving gently. "The other box. She doesn't like it, but it belongs to her. She has a good heart, but she can hurt you, Mama. Stay away from her."

"I have no intention of seeing her again."

Bonnie shook her head. "Mama…"

"I just asked her a few questions."

"Don't let her hurt you," Bonnie said. "Don't let her hurt me."

"Why should she be able to-"

"Look at Toby. He's wagging his tail. He hears Joe coming."

She glanced down and saw that Toby's head was lifted and he was staring at the screen door. "Bonnie, what did you mean about-"

Bonnie was no longer sitting on the porch swing.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING out here?"

Joe had opened the screen porch and was gazing at her with a frown.

"Just getting a breath of air." She got to her feet. "I couldn't go to sleep."

"Why didn't you wake me? Or didn't you want the company?"

"I wanted the company. I was just trying to be considerate. You haven't gotten much sleep in the past few days."

"Neither has Kistle."

"I'm sure he's tucked in somewhere taking care of that." She laid her head on his chest. "I'm worried about you, not him."

His hand cupped her throat and he gently rubbed the fine hairs at her nape. "I'm glad I rank above a slimeball like him. Does that mean you'll come back to bed and keep me company?"

She started toward the door. "Good idea." She wanted to stay close and hold him for as long as she could. "I don't want to do anything else." She linked her hand with his. She wished they could always be linked together, with nothing and no one between them. She avoided looking at the swing where Bonnie had been sitting. Feeling as he did about Bonnie, there was no way she could tell him about her visits. To him it would be yet another sign of the damage done to her by Bonnie, not only an emotional but a mental wound.

No wound now. Only love, Joe. She only brings me love…

"SHE'S AT THE LAKE COTTAGE," Miguel said as he came into the hotel suite. "No protection but Quinn. Do you want me to stake the place out?"

"No, Quinn would know and probably break your neck. She's safe with him." Montalvo moved over to the window and looked down at the almost-empty street below. "For the time being. Kistle wouldn't have been able to just jump on a plane as we did. He'll have to make his way down here and set his plans in motion."

"But you think he'll definitely come after Eve?"

"Oh, yes. I believe it's been sort of a game to him from the beginning. He'd already had a fixation on her because of Bonnie and it amused him to make that first contact. But then she began to trip him, get in his way. Then, when we found Bobby Joe, it really bothered him. Now his ego demands that he show her how superior he is, how he can manipulate and hurt her." He paused. "And eventually kill her."

Miguel sighed. "I don't like this standing back and watching and waiting. It's boring. I liked it much better in Colombia where you were in control. I think you did too."

Montalvo shrugged. "Sometimes it's necessary to play a waiting game." But he should have realized that Miguel knew him well enough to see the impatience that was beginning to gnaw at him. He was accustomed to being the one to plan and take action and Eve's reliance on Joe Quinn completely blocked him. His time would come, it always did, but he might have to make an opportunity, as he had when he'd contacted Venable.

"You're thinking about it. Good. You don't like to be bored either. She's an unusual woman, but is she worth it to you?"

Montalvo turned to look at him. "That's none of your business, Miguel."

"Of course it is. You saved my life, that means you belong to me. I must take care of you."

"I believe your reasoning is screwed."

"Whatever." He grinned. "But the fact remains that is a truth to me. I take it you're not going to answer me?"

"I made a promise. I would still go after Kistle no matter who I made it to."

"And?"

He shook his head resignedly. "Yes, she's worth it, you persistent bastard." He headed for his bedroom. "Tomorrow morning I want you to go and look up Murdock, the man who gave us the information about Kistle. He's supposed to still be here in the city. I want to know every little thing he might remember about Kistle. Where he went, what he talked about besides Bonnie."

"It's a long time ago. Years."

"Make him remember. Kistle's proved he likes to go back to old haunts. He returned to Detroit even though he'd made a kill there. If he did kill Bonnie, then he might have disposed of the body in a familiar place. Or he might want Eve to believe he buried her in one of those places. Either way, we'll be ahead of the game if we can check it out."

"What method should I use? Force? Intimidation? Bribery?"

"Just get the information." He glanced back over his shoulder as he opened the door. "And don't damage those hands."

"That means trickery or bribery. No problem. I'm excellent at the first and I'm truly superb at giving away your money."

"I've noticed you have that talent," Montalvo said dryly. "Try not to beggar me. I still have your final operation to pay for."

ATLANTA HAD GOTTEN BIGGER and even more congested since he'd left, Kistle thought distastefully. He hated this traffic. All those bastards flying by him, when he had to keep steady and within the speed limit. He couldn't afford to be stopped, even though this car he'd stolen from a farm outside Chattanooga wouldn't be reported missing for some time. He'd ditched the car he'd stolen in Illinois in a junkyard near the farm and he'd needed wheels and money and a new cell phone. He'd hidden the bodies of the farmer and his wife well enough so that anyone dropping by the farmhouse would just think they were off on a trip.

Another truck zoomed by him in the right lane. Damn, he hated this concrete jail of a city. He wanted to be back in the woods, where he ruled supreme.

Be patient. It wouldn't be long now and he'd be outside the city and ready to roll. He had money and had picked up the special equipment and supplies he needed. But his primary advantage was his own ingenuity.

You're waiting for me, aren't you, Eve?

Just a little longer and I'll come for you.

EVE LOOKED UP FROM PACKING Carrie in a carefully padded box when Joe came into the cottage from taking a call on the porch. "What did you find out from the sheriff?"

"Surprise. Cassidy thinks that Kistle has left Clayborne Forest. If he can wrap up the forensic reports on Bobby Joe, he's planning on going back to St. Louis tomorrow." He went to the refrigerator and took out the pitcher of iced tea. "The deputies and volunteers still haven't given up. They'll probably be in that damn forest for the next six months."

"Why does Cassidy think he's gone?"

"A car was stolen from a Wal-Mart parking lot in a town about thirty miles from Bloomburg. The man suspected of stealing it was seen by one of the greeters and meets Kistle's description. It was abandoned outside Chattanooga." He paused. "And so far we haven't been able to find any story about Bonnie that mentioned her favorite song. But there's still a lot of articles to check."

I made her sing it over and over.

It could still have been a lie. Don't think about it.

Joe's gaze went to the reconstruction. "You finished her?"

"Last night." She took the glass of tea he offered her. "FedEx will pick her up in a few hours."

"And her hometown police can start publicizing and checking comparisons."

She nodded as she dropped down on the couch. "I'm glad it's done. It took longer than it should have."

"You were a little distracted. It's not as if your Carrie is in a hurry."

"I know. I'm the one in a hurry. I want her brought home." She took a sip of tea. "She's a pretty little girl, Japanese descent."

"That should make it easier?"

"It's never easy. On a cold case the police want the identities and suspects served up to them on a platter. Otherwise it's not worth their time. Have they gotten the DNA report on Bobby Joe?"

He nodded. "It's confirmed. I suppose you want to call Megan Blair and tell her?"

She thought about it and then shook her head. "She doesn't have any doubts that it was Bobby Joe. She asked me to call her when we caught Kistle." She paused. "I know you don't want to hear it, but she may be the real thing. How else could she find that little boy?"

"You're right, I don't want to hear it," Joe said flatly. "And I'm sure Cassidy is scrambling to find out how she did it. I'd start out checking the possibility of a connection with Kistle. Then I'd go to the manufacturer of the vat where they found Bobby Joe and see what I could find out there. Or maybe she's been quietly interviewing townspeople and found a witness or a lead of some sort."

Eve shook her head. "I believe her."

"Eve." She could see him trying to subdue his impatience. "Don't let yourself do that. She'll prey on you. She's just cleverer than those other crooks you ran across."

"I believe her," she repeated. "But I won't try to convince you. It's not important now." She picked up the FedEx box. "It's a pretty day. I'm going to go out on the porch and wait for FedEx."

He nodded. "I'll take Toby for a walk. I'm restless."

She could see the nervous energy charging him. Joe would always rather dive into trouble than wait for it to happen. It wasn't that way with her this time. She would rather enjoy these rare moments of peace before the storm. Right now she could sense the dark clouds coming toward her and they'd be here soon enough.

She went out on the porch and settled on the swing, watching Joe as he trotted with Toby down the lake path. In the late afternoon sunlight Joe looked strong and powerful and completely in control. So different than a few months ago in Colombia when he'd been wounded and was fighting just to get out of bed.

Her phone rang and she pulled it out of her pocket. Jane.

"I'm fine, Jane," she said when she answered. "The sun is shining and I'm sitting at home on the porch and watching Joe walk Toby."

"And where is Kistle?"

"Not here."

"Dammit, they should catch that bastard." She sighed. "Am I being a worrywart?"

"Yes, but it's very becoming. How is Paris?"

"Beautiful and full of itself. It's not as easy to get things done over here." She paused. "I could let my agent do all the diplomatic work for the show and come back home. They wouldn't miss me."

"They'd miss you. You can be diplomatic when you want to be."

"Well, I've already antagonized the gallery owner. He wanted to put all the paintings on sale even though I'd put a reserve on one of them."

"Which one?"

"Guilt. The one Montalvo liked." She paused. "Where is Montalvo?"

"I have no idea. He called me yesterday when I arrived and told me he was in Atlanta at the Plaza, but I haven't heard from him since."

"I imagine he'll be in touch." She hesitated again. "I know you want to keep him at a distance, but I'm glad he's there, Eve. Whatever else Montalvo may be, he impressed me as a man you could count on in a pinch."

"Yes, he knows what he's doing." She changed the subject. "We're fine here. Nothing is happening. Your show is in three days. Stick it out and then come flying to my rescue if you feel you have to do it."

"You'll call me if you- No, I'll have to call you. You won't want to worry me. I'll phone you tomorrow. 'Bye, Eve."

"Good-bye, Jane." She was smiling as she hung up. She wouldn't be surprised if Jane appeared on the doorstep tomorrow in spite of the show. Which meant Eve would have to persuade her to turn around and go back. Not an easy task with someone as stubborn as Jane.

The FedEx truck was coming up the road and she picked up the package and went to meet it.

Good-bye, Carrie. I hope I helped you. I hope they bring you home.