The Killing Game

ELEVEN

The desert night was chill, the breeze sharp and cool on Sarah’s face as she ran. Monty ran beside her, pacing her. She could feel the blood pumping through her veins, the muscles of her calves flex with every step.

Monty was getting impatient. She could feel it. He wouldn’t leave without permission, but he wanted to stretch out.

Halfway up the knoll, her pace faltered. Monty looked back at her.

She chuckled. "Go on. Make me look bad. Beat it." Monty flew.

She watched the moonlight brush a silver sheen on his golden coat as he ran straight up the incline. Beautiful… Scientists believed dogs were descended from wolves, but she never associated Monty with wild animals except in moments like these.

He was waiting for her on the top of the knoll. She could almost see his satisfaction. Weakling.

"I have two legs, not four." She stopped, trying to get her breath. "And I think you’re part billy goat."

Excuses.

Monty loped over to lean companionably against her. Silence. Wind. Night.

She closed her eyes, tasting them all. God, this was good. Monty whimpered.

She opened her eyes and looked down at him. "What’s wrong?" He was staring down at the cabin miles below them. "Monty?"

She moved closer to the edge, and then she could see it too. Lights. A car approaching the cabin.

She stiffened. Eve Duncan again? She had thought she’d made herself more than clear yesterday. But Eve had impressed her as being very determined. Maybe she’d decided to drive out and give it another try. She was tempted to just stay up here until the woman got bored and went home.

Monty had other ideas.

He was already on the trail going down. "Did I say we were going down?" Child.

Monty loved kids, and he remembered the little girl Jane. Okay. Face Eve Duncan, be brief, get rid of her. Sarah started down the trail at a trot. "Wait for me, blast it." Child…

It was not Eve Duncan’s car.

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Madden?

She stopped abruptly, her heart pounding. "Monty."

Monty stopped, tensing as he heard the note of panic in her voice. He looked back at her. Fear?

Damn right she was scared. No child.

"I don’t think so."

What should she do? Run? Face Madden?

Even if she and Monty stayed away from the cabin for days, Madden would still be there when she got back. She knew from experience he was totally relentless.

Okay, face him. She could always disappear later.

She strode forward, Monty trotting anxiously beside her.

Help?

"No. It’s okay." Monty whimpered.

"I said it’s okay, dammit."

"Ms. Patrick?" A man was waiting by the cabin door. "I wonder if I can speak to you? My name is John Logan."

Not Madden.

Monty started to wag his tail as he sensed her relief.

"Always the optimist," she murmured. "He could be a bill collector, you know.”

“Ms. Patrick?"

She strode toward him. "It’s after nine at night, and Monty and I keep early hours. Call me in the morning."

"I’ve driven a long way, and I need to talk to you now." He smiled. "I assure you I’m very respectable."

His clothes and shoes were impeccable, but so were a lot of drug dealers‘. "I don’t like people dropping by late at night."

"Eve said you were difficult."

She should have known. "Eve Duncan? She asked you to come?” The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02

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“Not really. It was my idea, but she did ask for a little help." He gazed admiringly at Monty.

"Beautiful animal."

He was a beautiful animal himself. Sleek like a cougar. Cougars could be dangerous. "Yes, he is."

She opened the door. "And he’s tired. Good night, Mr. Logan."

"Wait." His smile faded. "Could I come in? I’m expecting a telephone call.”

“On my phone?"

"I took the liberty. It’s from someone you know. Senator Todd Madden?" She froze.

"May I come in?"

She went into the cabin and slammed the door.

He knocked. "It would really be better if I talk to you before he does. He is very smooth, but he can be unpleasant."

Madden and everything connected to him was never pleasant. Calm down. Face the problem.

She opened the door. "Come in." She sat down in the rocking chair. "Get to the point and then get out."

"I’ll be as quick as I can. Eve needs you to find a body buried somewhere in the area."

“Tell her to get someone else."

He shook his head. "She wants you. I can’t blame her. I had my people do some research on you. You’re quite remarkable."

"Am I?"

"Your work in Oklahoma City was incredible. And that earthquake in Iran last year that killed two thousand—you managed to save twenty-seven people buried in the rubble."

"And found sixty-eight dead.”

“You remember the number?"

"I remember some of the numbers. I remember all the faces.”

“Eve’s not going to make you look at the face of this cadaver.”

“I’ve always hated the word cadaver. It dehumanizes."

"All she wants you and Monty to do is locate the body. Then you can fade back into your little The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02

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home in the desert."

"It’s not that easy."

"You’ve worked with the police before on cadav— body searches. The Salt Lake City Police Department thinks very highly of you."

"Whoop-di-do."

He smiled. "Sergeant Levitz believes you can read that dog’s mind. He said it’s uncanny how you understand each other."

"Levitz isn’t very bright. All dog owner’s will tell you their pet can almost talk. When you’ve been with someone as long as Monty and I, you learn to understand each other."

"Still, you’ll admit it’s an unusually strong bond." He gazed at Monty, who was lying at her feet.

"Even I can see that."

She didn’t answer.

"And you’ve been through a lot together.”

“Yes. No body search."

He sighed. "We really need you. I’m afraid I’ll have to insist.”

“Screw you."

He checked his watch. "Is Madden very prompt? If so, he should be—" The phone rang.

She picked up the receiver. "Is he there?" Madden asked. "He’s here."

"He’s a very important man, Sarah. He has a lot of political connections. I don’t want to antagonize him, especially since pleasing him is such a simple matter."

"Simple for you."

"We’ve discussed this before. Logan assures me the task shouldn’t take more than a day or two."

"That’s too long. An hour is too long if it’s not a case of life and death.”

“I know you don’t like cadaver searches, but it’s necessary.”

“How do you know it’s not illegal?"

A pause. "Logan is a respectable businessman."

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With political connections. Sarah’s hand tightened on the receiver. "I don’t want to do this, Madden."

"But you will do it." His voice lowered to a silky murmur. "Because you know the consequences if you don’t, Sarah."

Son of a bitch.

“Two days. I’ll give them two days."

"That’s all I promised Logan. Good-bye, Sarah. Good hunting." He hung up.

She turned to Logan. "Two days.”

“Eve will be very happy."

"I don’t give a damn if she’s happy. I wish she’d never heard of me. I told her no and then she called you in to do her dirty work."

"Contacting Madden wasn’t her idea. I didn’t even tell her that Madden was the key. She wouldn’t have used it. She just wanted me to find out if there was something she could offer you that would entice you to do the job."

"But you did use it."

"I’m more ruthless than Eve. She wanted you, I got you." He glanced around the cabin. "You don’t have a TV or a radio?"

"I don’t need them."

"It keeps you a little uninformed.”

“Blessedly uninformed."

"Eve mentioned she didn’t see a TV." He held out the manila envelope he’d been carrying. "I believe you should know who you’re dealing with. This is a dossier on Eve Duncan, a newspaper article about Talladega and the murder of a security guard. It won’t tell you everything, but it gives you a good starting place."

"I’m not interested in Eve Duncan unless it will get me out of this job." He shook his head. "But it may make you more willing to do it. Eve’s trying to save a child’s life."

"By forcing me to find a dead body?"

"Unfortunately." He moved toward the door. "By the way, if I were you, I wouldn’t call the police and tell them where to find Eve. That would make me angry and I’d have to call Madden.

My impression is that he doesn’t give a damn about anything except his career. Am I right?"

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"Police?"

"Read the file." He opened the door. "I’ll tell Eve you’re delighted to be of service."

She cursed.

"Eve will be in touch." His lips tightened. "Get the job done. I don’t care if you like it or hate it."

Sarah watched the door close behind him. Her hands clenched into fists on the arms of the rocker. Keep your temper. Losing control won’t do any good. It’s only two days. Maybe there wasn’t even a body.

But if there was, Monty would find it.

He whimpered and got to his feet, looking up at her.

She bent down, put her arms around him, and buried her face in his coat. "I’m sorry, boy," she whispered. She could feel tears sting her eyes. "We have to do it."

Eve received a call from Sarah Patrick later that evening.

"Logan told me you’ll help. That’s very kind of you."

"I want it over as soon as possible," Sarah said. "We’ll start the search tomorrow. Do you have a general area?"

"Maybe. I’m not sure. We may have to try a couple—"

"You have two days," Sarah said. "Try to get me a piece of the victim’s clothing. Sometimes Monty responds more to the scent clinging to clothes than to a body."

"That may take a little while. I don’t know if—"

“It’s up to you. I told you what I need. I don’t care if we find her or not. I’d rather we didn’t.

After you’ve got the clothing, call me and I’ll meet you at the search site." She hung up.

Eve sat there a moment and then dialed Logan. "What the hell did you do to Sarah Patrick?"

"I got her to go to work for you.”

“How? She was cold as ice."

"It’s done. You have her for two days. Make use of her." She should have known Logan would do whatever he had to do to make it happen. He’d been ruthless as hell in getting Eve to work for him. "I didn’t want her hurt."

"She’s not hurt. You’re not hurt. And Jane isn’t hurt. If you’ll use Sarah instead of having The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02

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qualms, you’ll all stay alive and well. That’s what’s important, isn’t it?"

He was right, she thought wearily. That’s what was important. "She wants an article of Debby Jordan’s clothing. Do you suppose you could get it without breaking into her house and scaring her family?"

"I’ll manage. And no thanks are needed for my help with Sarah." She felt ashamed. Why was she blaming Logan? She had made the call that had started him into action. Maybe she’d even subconsciously hoped that he’d go far beyond what she’d asked. "I’m sorry. I guess I’m a little discouraged. I don’t know if Sarah will be able to find the body. I’m not sure where it’s buried.

I’m just taking my best shot."

"I’d like to be with you tomorrow. Any chance?"

"You’ve already done too much. I won’t have you seen with me.”

“There’s no such thing as doing too much."

"Tell that to Sarah Patrick. She’s giving me two days."

"Try to make it within her framework. I’d prefer not to have to squeeze again. As I dodged insults, I actually found myself liking her."

"I don’t think she reciprocates. I got the impression she’d just as soon bury both of us as find Debby Jordan."

"Since you won’t let me come with you, you’ll just have to deal with her. I’ll have your article of clothing by tomorrow morning."

It was a white baseball jersey with the Arizona Diamondback logo on the front. Sarah Patrick took the shirt without looking at it. "Has it been washed since she wore it?"

"No, Logan said she slept in it the night before she disappeared.”

“Then how did he get it?"

"I didn’t ask."

"He probably stole it from a bag for the homeless.”

“He’s not as bad as you think."

"No, he’s probably worse."

"I was surprised you wanted the shirt. She’s been buried for almost a month. The scent can’t be—"

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"I could have used a substance that simulates the decay smell, but that would have upset Monty. Not that the shirt may do any good anyway." She shrugged. "But we’ll try." She glanced around the open field. "Why are we here?"

"This field is in back of the Desert Light subdivision.”

“So?"

"Bodies have been located in two other places associated with light. Dom repeatedly mentioned light in our last conversation. I think he was trying to tell me something."

"Why didn’t he just come right out and say where he buried her?”

“That wouldn’t be as much fun for him. He wants to make me work.”

“You mean he wants to make Monty and me work."

"He doesn’t know about you." Eve wasn’t sure that was true. Dom had not contacted her since she’d arrived in Phoenix, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t here, watching her.

"And you want me to search this field just because of the subdivision’s name?”

“It’s also close to the church where Debby Jordan disappeared." Sarah gazed at her dubiously.

"Okay, it’s not much to go on." Eve’s lips tightened. "But it’s all I’ve got.”

“Whatever you say. I’ll go on any wild-goose chase for two days. That’s all you’re getting from me." She took a canvas bag from her Jeep, then glanced at Jane, who was kneeling beside Monty. "Why bring her along?"

"Dom likes her with me and I can’t chance leaving her alone. She won’t get in the way."

"I didn’t say she would. She seems a smart kid. But Monty’s not going to be able to keep her company." She strode over to Jane and smiled down at her. "Sorry. It’s time for Monty to work."

Jane got to her feet slowly. "May I go with you?" Sarah looked at Eve.

Jane was already there. Was it any worse for her to search actively than sit in a car and wait? At least she’d be busy. She slowly nodded.

Sarah turned back to Jane. "We cover ground pretty fast and I usually take him over the terrain twice just to make sure we don’t miss something."

"I’ll keep up."

"Suit yourself." Sarah knelt down and opened the canvas bag. She pulled out a leash and The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02

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fastened it to Monty’s collar.

He went still.

"He knows something’s happening?" Jane asked.

She nodded. "But he doesn’t know what yet. I’m leashing him for my benefit, so I can better control our steps. I don’t usually put a leash on him at all, only when we’re in an unfamiliar environment or a leash makes people feel safer around him."

"Safer?"

"He’s a big dog. Some people don’t like big dogs.”

“Then they’re crazy," Jane said.

Sarah smiled. "I’m with you, kid." She reached into the canvas bag again and pulled out a denim belt that contained a multitude of pockets.

Monty stiffened.

"Now he knows we’re on the job." Sarah fastened the pack around her waist. "It’s his signal."

Monty lifted his head, his eyes bright and eager.

Sarah reached down and let him sniff the jersey. "Find her, Monty." Eve leaned against the fender of her car and watched Sarah, Jane, and Monty walk the field. They moved fast, as Sarah had said they would, but the field was large and it took time to traverse every foot of it.

Monty held his head down, every muscle tensed as he moved over the terrain. Twice he stopped, hesitated, and then continued on. It was early afternoon before Sarah brought Monty back to the car. "Nothing."

"You’re sure?" Eve asked, disappointed.

“Monty’s sure. That’s enough for me.”

“How good is he?"

"He’s damn incredible."

"Why did he stop those two times?”

“He sniffed something dead." Eve stiffened. "What?"

"Nothing human. Monty knows the difference." She took off the dog’s leash, then her own belt, and turned to Jane. "He’s off duty now. Why don’t you go play with him? He’d like that."

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"Okay." Jane didn’t have to be asked twice.

Sarah watched her run out into the field with Monty at her heels. "Monty likes her."

"She absolutely loves him.”

“She’s got good taste."

"Thanks for letting her trail along with you. She’s had it pretty rough. Being with Monty is good for her."

"It’s not her fault I’ve been railroaded into doing this." She looked pointedly at Eve. "It’s yours."

Eve flinched. "You’re right. So I might as well drive you as hard as I can while I’ve got you.

You’re not going to think any less of me."

"You have other sites in mind?"

"About eleven. They all have light in their names.”

“Eleven?"

Eve got out her city map and pointed to areas she’d circled. "Maybe twelve.”

“You’ll never make it in two days."

"We’ll do the ones closest to Debby Jordan’s church first. Is there any limit to how long Monty will be effective?"

"No, we worked for seventy-two hours straight in Tegucigalpa. But you saw how long it took to rule out just this field."

"Then we’d better get moving." Eve folded the map. "Moonlight Creek is just fifteen minutes from here. We need to search both sides of the bank."

"That will take even longer than this field."

Eve got into her car. "Call Monty and Jane."

Sarah stared at her for a moment and then smiled grudgingly. "You don’t know when you’re beaten, do you?"

"Do you?"

Sarah turned and called, "Jane, bring my dog back. We’ve got work to do."

They searched until almost midnight but managed to rule out only four other sites. Seven left.

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"That’s it." Sarah took the leash off Monty. "We’re calling it a day. I’m so tired, I can’t see anymore."

"You don’t have to see. Monty just has to smell." Sarah shook her head. "God, you’re one hard bitch.”

“I have to be." Eve looked at Jane, who was asleep in the backseat. Sarah’s gaze followed hers.

"He really kills kids?”

“He really does."

"Bastard."

"One more hour."

Sarah shook her head. "We can’t see. I could get Monty hurt. I don’t have that right."

"You said you worked longer in Honduras."

"We were trying to save lives, not find bodies." She gestured to Monty, and he jumped in to the Jeep. "We’re quitting for tonight."

"We didn’t cover as many sites as I hoped.”

“I told you we wouldn’t."

"I know. I just wanted… you’re not giving me enough time.”

“Too bad."

"Yes, it is."

Sarah got into the Jeep. "We’ll start at dawn tomorrow," she told Eve. "Dawn?"

"Don’t you want a full day?"

"Of course I do. But I thought that you—"

"Monty and I don’t work banker’s hours. I promised you two days. You’ll get them."

Before Eve could reply, Sarah’s Jeep was roaring down the road. She got into her car and headed home.

Sarah was tough but not as tough as Eve had first thought. She had worked tirelessly, to the point of exhaustion, and would get only a few hours sleep tonight before starting out again in the morning. Obviously, she had a soft spot for kids. Maybe Eve could persuade her to search more days and—

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Her digital phone rang.

"You’re keeping late hours," Dom said. "Are you becoming a little frantic, Eve?”

“You woke me up."

"Not unless you’re asleep at the wheel."

Don’t panic. It could have been a guess. "You haven’t called in a while. I was hoping I was rid of you."

"It’s been only a few days. I’ve enjoyed watching you scramble to find the lovely soprano."

"You’re bluffing. You don’t know where I am."

"I didn’t for a little while. You slipped out of Atlanta very quietly. But I knew it was only a matter of time before you figured out the identity of my soprano. I only had to stake out Debby Jordan’s home."

"I never went to her home."

"But one of John Logan’s men did. It was easy to track him to Logan and Logan to you. Is he the one who helped you get out of Atlanta?"

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

He chuckled. "You’re trying to protect him. I’m not annoyed with Logan. He’s just made the situation more interesting. Though I admit I was puzzled when you didn’t show up on the grieving widower’s doorstep and question him yourself. But I should have known you wouldn’t do the obvious thing. Using Sarah Patrick is a stroke of genius. Too bad you went to the wrong places."

"I’ll find her."

"I hope not too soon. I’m enjoying the hunt."

"Dammit, tell me where she is. You know you want me to find her.”

“Not yet. Every day is making you more tired, more tense, more angry. I want it to go on."

"I’ll find her tomorrow."

"That would disappoint me. I’d like the search to last at least a week."

“Then why don’t you go dig her up and bury her somewhere else?”

“You know moving a body is a killer’s worst mistake. I could be discovered, leave evidence.

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Anything. No, I think I’d do better to slow you down. Did I mention how much I liked the idea of you taking Jane wherever you go? She’s with you now, isn’t she?"

Eve didn’t answer.

"You’re growing closer, aren’t you? Older children are smarter. You’re able to talk to them.

Bonnie was a little too young for you to—"

"Shut up."

"You see how tense you are? This hunt is terribly exciting. I’m beginning to wonder if little Jane is redundant. Killing her would slow you down, wouldn’t it?"

"It would stop me in my tracks."

"No, I think you’d be angry enough with me to continue. Anger and sorrow are almost as good as fear."

Damn vampire. "I’m hanging up.”

“Maybe I’ll take the little girl tonight." Her hand tightened on the receiver.

“Yes, that would slow you. Look in your rearview mirror." Headlights.

“Do you see me?"

“It’s not you. One of Logan’s security men has been following us all day.”

“He lost you at the last search site. But I felt bound to keep you company.”

“You’re lying."

“How long until you get home?" She didn’t answer.

“You’d better hurry."

She pressed on the accelerator. “Yes, I think it’s time I took Jane." He was only bluffing.

Oh, God, the car behind her was going faster. Her heart was pounding so hard it hurt. Faster.

Ten blocks more to the house. Were the lights closer? Yes.

She went around the corner on two wheels.

Jane murmured something in the backseat as the car jerked. “Did I ever tell you how I kill children? I do it slowly, since every emotion they emit is pure and singing. They’re the only ones who deserve white. Fear and pain aren’t clouded as they are in adults. Do you think Jane will be The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02

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as brave as Bonnie?"

She wanted to kill him.

Four blocks.

"I hear you breathing. How frightened you are." Headlights blinding her in the rearview mirror.

She dropped the phone on the seat.

And stomped on the gas.

Gates up ahead.

The remote. Open the gates.

They were moving too slowly. The car was right on top of her. She almost tore through the gates.

Up the driveway.

The lights were still behind her. Coming through the gates. She screeched to a halt in front of the house and leaned on the horn. Come. Somebody come before he—

Knocking on the window. A face pressed against the glass. "Ms. Duncan. Are you okay?"

Herb Booker.

She rolled down the window.

Headlights were still glaring in her rearview mirror from the car parked behind her. The driver’s door was open.

"Eve?" Jane was sitting up sleepily.

"It’s okay." Her hand tightened on the steering wheel. "Is that your car, Herb?”

“Sure. I’ve been behind you all day. Is something wrong? I got worried when you started speeding."

She slowly lifted the phone to her ear. "Damn you.”

“Just kidding." He hung up.

"You look beat." Sarah’s gaze narrowed on Eve’s face. "You okay?"

"I didn’t sleep well. How are you?"

"Fine. Monty and I are used to getting by with a few hours sleep." Eve got out her map. "We hit The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02

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the areas south of the church yesterday. I thought we’d go west today." She tapped a spot on the map. "This one first. Woodlight Reservoir."

"Are you sure? That will be a lot of ground to cover. You’ve got to pick your best shot," Sarah said. "I’ll give you until midnight tonight."

"You won’t change your mind?"

"No." Sarah turned and tossed Monty’s leash to Jane. "Come on, kid, we’ve got to get this show on the road."

Eve looked at her in despair. After last night, the search seemed futile. Why were they doing it?

Just to entertain that bastard?

No, they were doing it for the same reason Eve had in the beginning. The possibility that Dom might have made a mistake.

God, let him have made a mistake.

"We have to stop now," Sarah said quietly. "Sorry."

Eve’s hands clenched into fists. "It can’t be midnight.”

“It’s one-thirty." She gestured, and Monty jumped into the Jeep. "I suppose I should thank you for the extra time," Eve said dully. "You’d rather spit in my eye."

"That’s not true." Eve was frustrated, but she couldn’t fault Sarah’s work. The woman had worked from dawn until then with only short breaks for Monty to drink and rest. "I only wish you’d give in and let me have one more day."

"I can’t do that." Sarah didn’t look at her. "I know you have good reason to search, but it’s not my reason. My job is to protect Monty. I didn’t want to do this job, and I’ve given you two days."

"It’s not enough."

"I’ve given you all I can. And every hour of the past two days I’ve hoped we wouldn’t find that woman." She shook her head. "So maybe it’s just as well I’m out.

Maybe I’m not working as hard as you want me to work.”

“Bullshit. You’d never cheat."

"Find someone else."

"You know I can’t afford a delay."

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"I can’t help you." She started the Jeep. "Sorry."

"If you were sorry, you’d help me. Finding bodies isn’t pleasant, but I’d think you’d—"

"Pleasant?" Her voice was strained. "My God, you don’t know what you’re talking about."

"I know catching Dom and protecting Jane are more important than any objections you have to working another day or two."

"Your opinion. You have a right to it. I know only that I have to protect my world the way you’re protecting yours." She paused. "Sorry."

Eve watched the taillights disappear. She would feel all right soon. She was just tired and discouraged. She’d go back to the house and hit the Internet and see if she could find another Sarah Patrick.