She stiffened. “Jane?”
“Don’t panic. She’s okay. So is your mother.” He quickly filled her in on what her mother and Galen had told him.
“And you say she’s okay?” Eve’s hands clenched into fists in her pockets. “For God’s sake, that crazy bastard blew up the condo. It’s a miracle they’re still alive.”
“But they are alive.”
“I should never have left her. You should never have left her.”
“Don’t you know that’s what I’ve been telling myself ever since I got that call from your mother? I thought Hebert would concentrate on you, but I still tried to give them enough protection.”
“You didn’t do it. She almost died. You should have—” She shook her head. “Why am I blaming you? It’s just as much my fault as it is yours. I’m the one who took this job. I’m the one who chose to steal the damn skull. I thought he’d go after me, too. I’m the one who’s to blame.”
“Shh. Stop shaking. Nothing happened.”
“What do you mean? Something did happen. He almost killed them. I was so worried about Victor and so busy thumbing my nose at Hebert that I—”
“Hush.” He took her in his arms and pressed her head into his shoulder. “Jane and your mother are fine, and we’re going to keep them that way.”
Oh, God, she needed him. An anchor in a rough sea. A rock that never moved. “Joe . . .” Without thinking, she slid her arms around him. “Jane’s never been sure that I really loved her. She’s always thought Bonnie came first. I do love her. It’s just . . . different.”
“She knows you love her.”
“She’s not sure. I want to tell her again. What if she’d died and I didn’t get the chance to tell her how much she means to me?”
“But she didn’t.”
“There are so many things I didn’t tell Bonnie before she was taken from me. I’m not going to make that mistake again.” Tears were flowing down her cheeks. “But I almost did.
Shit.
”
“Okay, you’re not perfect. Who is? But Jane’s not one of your lost children. She’s strong and smart, and she’s a survivor. She’ll only take so much from you. We’re lucky she lets us as close to her as she does.” His hands cupped her face and he looked down into her eyes. “Are you listening to me, Eve? Jane doesn’t want a mother. She loves you, but you came together too late for all the maternal folderol. She doesn’t expect it. You’re a damn good friend, and that’s great with her.”
“Is it?” Eve smiled with quivering lips. “I never realized you’d made such a study of our relationship.”
“I had to. Anyone who touches you touches me.”
She couldn’t look away from him. His eyes . . .
Joe’s hands dropped away from her and he stepped back. “That’s the way it’s always been; that’s the way it is. I’m just very fortunate that I love Jane, too.”
She drew a deep breath. “Well, neither of us has been very good at showing her we love her by keeping her safe.” She turned back toward the car. “Well, it’s not too late, thank God. It’s time I thought about Jane and Mom instead of my damn job.”
“And that means?”
“I’m going back to Atlanta. I’m not going to let Jane and my mother take the punishment for my actions while I’m hundreds of miles away.”
“Galen said that was what you’d do. He thinks you’ll walk right into Hebert’s hands.”
“Screw Galen. Jane needs me.”
“She needs
us
.” Joe smiled faintly and nodded. “Screw Galen.”
Eve’s phone rang as she reached the car. It was Bart Jennings. “I need to tell you that there was—”
“Damn you,” Eve’s voice was shaking with anger. “You promised me they’d be safe. That’s all I asked, and you fouled up.”
“You have every right to be angry. Galen called you? My men would have appreciated it if he’d been working with us. He didn’t even identify himself to them until they were taking away your daughter.”
“It was a good thing he was there. You screwed up.”
“I’m not making excuses. If it will make you feel any better, we’re working hand in hand with the Atlanta police, and we have the safe house completely covered.”
“You had the condo covered.”
“Hebert’s ID was perfect, and he was in disguise. There was supposed to be an inspection today—the guard at the desk verified it with the superintendent’s office when Hebert arrived. We can’t locate Leonard Smythe, the man who was to do the inspection. We have to assume Hebert got to him.”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“I’m sorry. I said I wouldn’t make excuses. I’m sending two agents to pick you up and bring you—”
“Too late. You blew it.” She hung up. “He’s sorry. He had the nerve to say he was sorry. My mother and Jane were almost blown up, and he’s—”
“Easy. He’s a decent guy. What else could he say?” Joe’s lips tightened. “Not that I don’t want to take a poke at him right now myself. He should have—” His phone rang, and he didn’t wait for Galen to speak. “We’re going back to Atlanta. Don’t argue, Galen. Just find us a way to get home.” He took out his pen and wrote down a name and phone number. “Okay, I’ll see you in Georgia.” Joe hung up and turned to Eve. “He said he knew it would come down to this. He gave me the phone number of a Philip Jordan. He said to call him and he’d pick us up and take us to a very private airport in Metairie, Louisiana.”
“Just so it’s soon.”
“You’re going to Atlanta?” Nathan asked.
“Yes.”
“I want to go with you.”
“What a surprise,” Joe said. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that Hebert may be there? He could be on his way here, you know.”
He shook his head. “Not when he finds out they didn’t get us at Galen’s. Jules Hebert is smart. Take me with you.”
“You’ve become something of an albatross, Nathan.”
Nathan turned to Eve. “I want to come. We’re in this together.”
Eve gazed at him a moment and finally nodded.
“I thought as much.” Joe began dialing his phone. “I’ll tell Jordan there’ll be one more to pick up.”
The plane landed at an airport north of Gainesville, Georgia in the rosy dawn light. Galen met them as the plane drew up before the hangar. “Welcome home.” His brows lifted as his gaze went beyond them to Nathan. “I see you brought your bodyguard.”
“Be quiet, Galen.” Eve moved toward the car on the tarmac. “I’m mad enough at you for not telling me you thought Hebert would go after Jane.”
“Ingratitude, thy name is woman.”
“I am grateful. I just wish I’d known . . .” She turned to face him. “I’m a bitch. You saved their lives. I’ll owe you a debt for the rest of my life.”
“That’s better.” He looked pointedly at Joe. “Now, do you have something to say to me?”
“Yes.” Joe pushed the leather case he was carrying at him. “Stop playing around and put Bently in the trunk.”
“I’m not playing around. I’m trying to garner what’s due me.” He looked down at the box. “It’s really Bently?”
Eve nodded. “Nathan’s certain, but I’ll have to do the usual photo and video comparisons. I’ll get on that as soon as we get settled.” She got into the car. “Where’s Jane?”
“She and her grandmother are in a safe house in Gwinnett.”
“I want to go get them.”
“What a surprise.” He turned to Joe. “I’ve set up security around your lake cottage. I thought you’d want to go there. I’ve hired Bill Jackson and his team to patrol the area around the cottage. I’ve used him before and he’s very good.”
Joe looked at Eve.
She nodded wearily. “I want to take Jane home. She’s been bounced around enough.”
“She’s not going to be pleased,” Galen said. “She wanted you to stay in hiding. She told me to tell you not to be dumb and come home.”
Eve smiled. “That sounds like Jane.”
“And you’re going to ignore her.” Galen put the case with the skull in the trunk. “I can guarantee the safety of the cottage and the immediate area around it, but the hills and the lake are vulnerable. You have a hell of a lot of private acreage. Which means you can’t go outside, and being cooped up nonstop with that dog may be worse than facing Hebert.”
“We’ll confront that problem when we come to it.”
“May I make a suggestion? Hebert has gotten what he wants. You’re out in the open, and you brought him the skull. You’re the target now, not Jane. The danger to her will only increase the closer she is to you. We can have the police switch the safe house to Markum, a town within a five-minute drive to the lake cottage, but she shouldn’t be with you.”
“Don’t tell me that. I want her close to me. I can’t stand the thought of—”
“He’s right, Eve,” Joe said.
She knew he was right. It didn’t make the prospect of being separated from Jane and her mother any easier. She drew a deep breath. “Okay. But you’d damn well better make sure they’re safe.”
“I will,” Galen said. “With the help of Quinn’s friends and four very sheepish FBI agents. I’d never take chances. But as I said, Hebert’s got what he wants. There’s no longer a reason for him to go to the trouble of going after Jane when he can concentrate on going after you. After all, you have the skull.”
“Okay, okay, you’ve made your point.” Eve got into the passenger seat. “But I want you to take me to see Jane right now. I’m not going to have her know I’m in the same city and staying away from her. You can take us to the cottage later.”
“She won’t like it,” Galen said. “But I’ll drive you there.”
Nathan made a face. “Can you drop me off at a rental car agency? I’m tired of being without wheels, and I don’t want to butt in on a tender family moment. I’ll meet you at this lake cottage.”
“Why, Nathan. How sensitive,” Galen said. “I’m touched.”
“Only in that convoluted brain,” Nathan said dryly as he got in the car. “Did I tell you how pleasant these last days have been without you?”
“All good things must come to an end.”
As the car started, Eve gazed blindly out the window. “This is such a damn mess. There has to be some way out of it that’s safe for Jane. I just have to think about it.”
“What do you mean?” Joe asked.
“I mean I may be mad as hell at Jennings, but he could still take this skull off my hands. It was the smart thing to do before, and it’s the smart thing to do now.”
“Does that mean you’re going to hand it over to him?”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t even think straight right now. I just want to keep Mom and Jane safe.”
Chapter 14
The house in Gwinnett was a small brick bungalow with a wide front porch. Jane came out on the porch when she saw Eve get out of the car. “What are you doing here?” She stared accusingly at Galen. “Can’t you do anything right? I told you to keep them away from here.”
“I tried. I had to make a compromise,” Galen said. “She’s almost as tough as you.”
“Yes, she is.” Jane was still frowning. “Joe, you know this isn’t a good idea—Oh, what the hell.” She ran down the steps and into Eve’s arms. “I’ve been so worried,” she whispered as she gave Eve a bear hug. “I’ve missed you.”
Eve blinked back the tears. “Me, too. I’m so sorry you’ve been put through all this.”
“No big deal. But you still shouldn’t be here.” She released her and gave Joe a hug. “You tell her, Joe.”
“We’re only going to be here for a little while,” Joe said. “A few hours maybe. Where’s Sandra?”
“Inside feeding Toby. I’ll be glad when I can get him away from her. She feeds him every time he begs. He’s going to be fat as a polar bear.”
“And where are the detectives that are supposed to be protecting you?”
“Playing cards.” Jane wrinkled her nose. “I like them better than those two FBI guys in the house across the street. They follow me wherever I go.”
“Good. But they shouldn’t have let you come out on the porch.”
“They looked out the window and saw who it was. Detective Brady said he knew you. Come on, let’s go inside.” Jane turned away. “I’ve got to stop Grandma from stuffing Toby.”
“And I’ll take on the job of stuffing us,” Galen said. “I hope you’ve got a well-stocked kitchen?”
“Frozen food. Grandma’s a lousy cook.”
Galen flinched. “Frozen? I’ll improvise. I’m sure I can still provide a superb lunch.”
Jane opened the screen door. “I hope you manage to do
something
without bungling it.”
There was a sound from Joe that might have been a chuckle.
Galen darted him a baleful glance. “Not a word.”
Joe gazed at him innocently. “From the mouths of babes.”
Eve’s mother, Sandra, looked up from the dog bowl she was washing.
“It’s about time you got here.” She hugged Eve. “The only person who doesn’t complain about my cooking is Toby.”
“She actually fed him pancakes this morning,” Jane said. “Come on, Toby. I’ll take you in the backyard to run it off.”
Eve turned from watching Jane leave the room. It was obvious Jane wanted to give Eve and her mother a chance to mend some fences, but it wasn’t necessary. Eve’s relationship with her mother was complicated, but their affection had overcome a multitude of hurdles and still survived. “I’m sorry about all this. How bad has it been?”
“Well, other than having the condo blow up—” Sandra smiled as she saw Eve flinch. “Really. It’s okay, Eve.”
“It’s not okay. I dumped a responsibility on you that should have been mine.”
“Shit happens.” Sandra shook her head. “You’re feeling guilty. Maybe you should. Or maybe it was my turn to be the responsible citizen. I didn’t do a very good job of it when you were growing up. It’s a wonder you’re not serving a sentence in some prison. It’s time I paid my dues.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“Okay, then maybe I like taking care of Jane and that idiot dog. They keep me on my toes.” Sandra’s gaze went to Jane in the backyard. “She calls me Grandma. No one has called me that since Bonnie . . . I thought it was odd, since she calls you and Joe by your given names. But then I realized she sensed that I’d like it. She’s a very smart girl. Like you, Eve.”
“Probably much smarter.”
“No way. You got through a childhood with a mother like me. That qualifies you for Einstein status.” She took Eve’s arm. “Now shut up and let’s go get Jane. She won’t come in until she thinks we’ve had enough time together.”
Eve gazed at her in loving exasperation. “Will you at least let me say thank you?”
“You’ve said it. Or something pretty close. Now you’re getting boring.”
“Heaven forbid.” Eve smiled. “By all means, let’s go get Jane.”
“Someone else has to wash and dry the dishes,” Galen announced after lunch. “I’ve done the creative part and provided you all with a meal par excellence. It’s only fair that you do the drudgery.”
“I’ll wash them,” Jane said. “Galen would probably mess it up.”
“Another blow to my self-esteem.” Galen sighed. “She has great aim, Eve.” He moved toward the living room. “I’ve got to go out on the porch and fill your cop friends in on the relocating change.”
“I’ll help Jane,” Sandra said. “I’ve grown to be an expert over the years. People always rather I do the cleanup than the cooking.”
Eve stood and started stacking the dishes.
Jane shook her head. “You and Joe go sit in the living room with a cup of coffee and let us do the work. You’ll just get in the way.”
Eve hesitated.
“Go,” Sandra said. “And after I finish here, I’ll take Toby for a turn round the yard. He’s been a little lazy today.”
“Because you feed him too much, Grandma,” Jane said as she went over to the sink. “How am I ever going to make him a search-and-rescue dog if he weighs five hundred pounds?”
“You’re exaggerating . . .”
“Come on. We’ve been evicted.” Joe picked up his coffee and Eve’s. “The living room.”
Eve followed him into the living room and sank down on the couch. Lord, she was tired, and Galen’s meal hadn’t made her any less sluggish.
Joe handed Eve the coffee cup and sat beside her. “I’m glad we came to see her. I’ve missed her like the devil.”
“Me, too.” The arched doorway allowed a clear view to the kitchen and Sandra and Jane standing working at the sink. “You’re right, there’s no one like her.”
“Well, maybe one person like her.” Joe’s gaze followed hers. “You.”
Eve shook her head. “Just because we both grew up on the streets doesn’t make us twins.”
“Close enough for me.”
“You said something like that before.”
“Oh, I’m not saying I love her because she’s like you. She deserves better than that. But every now and then I get a glimpse of something that reminds me of you.” Joe smiled. “And I melt.”
“Melt?” Eve quickly looked down into the coffee in her cup. “Not you, Joe.”
“Oh, yes. ‘Melt’ is a good word.” He finished his coffee and stood up. “And now I think I’ll go out on the porch and see if I can help Galen set up that new safe house.”
She watched him until the screen door closed behind him. Those few minutes had been so comfortable and warm that she had almost forgotten the distance between them.
Or was time making the distance lessen?
She didn’t know, but she had felt a closeness that was both familiar and perilously sweet. The events of the last few days had thrust them together and blurred the jagged lines of the break between them. Yet she knew the break was still there. . . .
Stop staring after him. It only disturbed her.
Jesus, it disturbed her.
She jumped to her feet and went into the kitchen to help her mother and Jane with the dishes.
“You should never have come. But I’m glad you did.” Jane gave Eve a final hug after walking her to the car. “Now you know I’m fine and that I’ll take care of Grandma.”
“I know you will. I’m sorry I let you in for all this, Jane.”
“Hey, maybe Toby needed to put on a little weight.”
“Don’t joke.”
“It’s okay. Stop worrying.” Jane paused. “What are you going to do about that creep who blew up the condo?”
“Don’t worry. He won’t get near you again.”
“That’s not what I asked. You’re not going to let him get away with it, are you? You’re going to go after him.”
Eve stared at her. “I’m going to do what’s best for you and my mother.”
“I thought that was the problem.” Jane frowned. “It’s not like you to hide out and let that bastard run around and do a lousy thing like that. He could have killed a lot of people in the condo.”
“He could have killed you.”
“But he didn’t, and now you’re trying to find a place to hide me again. You’re going to crawl into a cave and try to protect all of us. Don’t do it, Eve.”
“What?”
“I’ve been thinking about it. I want you to be safe. But you can’t run away from creeps like that. You’ve got to slug away toe-to-toe. So go after him and nail the asshole.”
“That’s not a wise thing—”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, I’m tripping over all the protection you’ve set up for me. Don’t you dare use me as an excuse. If I could do it, I’d go after him myself. It sucks to be a kid.”
“It’s not an excuse. It’s the right thing to do.”
Jane shook her head. “Hiding isn’t like you. Maybe you’ve forgotten who you are, what you do. It’s partly my fault, and I don’t like it. Promise me you’ll think about it.”
“I promise.” Eve hesitated. “I love you very much, Jane.”
Jane nodded. “Don’t get mushy.”
“I just wanted to make sure you knew.”
“I know. Just get that SOB and take care of yourself.” Jane took a step back and watched Eve get into the car before leaning forward to whisper, “And take care of Joe. He needs it more than he’ll let you know.”
How the hell could Eve answer that? “I’ll call you tonight, Jane.”
Nathan met them as they drove up to the cottage. “Everything okay?”
Eve nodded as she got out of the car. “Okay. Not perfect.”
“Not many things are.” Nathan’s gaze shifted to the lake. “But this place comes pretty close. You were right; your lake is beautiful, Eve. It soothes the soul.”
“We like it.”
“It reminds me that there are still some battles worth fighting.”
“Galen tells us you’re quite a crusader,” Joe said.
Nathan shrugged. “I try. Most of the time it’s a losing battle. I get really tired of going up against the big companies who pollute our lakes and streams. They have money. I have only words.”
“I don’t see how a man who feels so passionately for water can have such a dislike for alligators and snakes.” Galen started to unload the car. “You need to rethink and include our companions in the wild. I bet you never wrote an article about the virtues of the preservation of leeches.”
“No bet,” Nathan said. “I ran into Hughes, the head of your security team, when I showed up here. He said he wanted to see you.”
Galen nodded. “I want to see him, too.” He handed Nathan two suitcases. “So you can play the beast of burden and take these inside.” He pulled out his phone as he started down the path.
Nathan gazed after him. “One of these days . . .” He turned and carried the bags into the cottage.
Eve picked up the leather skull case, but hesitated before following Nathan, gazing out at the lake.
It soothes the soul.
Beauty did soothe the soul, she thought. She could feel some of the rawness and pain of the past few days ebbing away.
“Home,” Joe said quietly.
She looked at him, and then quickly looked away.
But the word lingered with her as she walked up the steps.
Home.
“Where’s Galen?” Eve asked Joe as she came out of the bedroom after talking to Jane on the phone that evening.
“Out on the grounds talking to the security team. He’s complaining the area is one big headache to secure. Nathan is out on the porch communing with nature. How’s Jane?”
“Disapproving.” She made a face. “And making her displeasure known at every opportunity.”
“And that means?”
“She wants us to go after Hebert and try to nail him.”
“That sounds like Jane.” He smiled. “Not a bad idea. I’ve been thinking the same thing.”
“So have I.” She shook her head. “I get so angry when I think of that condo, I want to murder the bastard. But it’s not a responsible thing to do when Jane—”
“It may be the most responsible thing we could do. Get rid of the bastard before he does any more damage. Maybe if we had a lead . . .”
She didn’t answer for a moment. “We may have a lead.”
He looked at her inquiringly.
She emphatically shook her head. “I don’t even want to think about it. It’s not—”
“Okay. Okay. We’ll talk about it when you’re not so upset.” He paused. “Jennings called on my cell phone while you were talking to Jane. He wants to come and pick up the skull.”
“He’ll get it when I decide I want to give it to him. I’m still pissed at him.”
“He was very persistent. Just thought I’d relay the message.” He stood up and moved over to the window. “The sun’s going down. Pretty. I always like autumn sunsets. They seem to be sharper, more defined.”
Like Joe. He was silhouetted against the dim light streaming through the window, and he seemed made of edges and angles. How many times had she watched him at this window? She crossed the room to stand beside him. “It’s beautiful.” Her gaze went to the lake glittering mirrored gold in the twilight. “I’ve always loved it here.”
“I know.” His glance shifted to her face. “But I’m surprised you’re admitting it now. You couldn’t wait to run away from here.”
“I was hurting.” Eve’s gaze went to the hill where she’d thought she’d buried her daughter. “Everything reminded me of what you did.”
He stiffened. “Was?”
She hadn’t realized she’d spoken in the past tense. “I don’t know, Joe. I still feel—It’s not over. I’m not sure if it will ever be over.”
“I don’t know if I want it to be.”
“What?”
“That surprises you.” Joe’s gaze shifted back to the lake. “Do I want to live with you for the rest of my life? Hell, yes. Am I sorry I hurt you? You know I am. Do I want to go back to what we had before? I’d take it, but I think we can do better.”
“Do you?”
“I asked you to marry me two years ago. You said you loved me. Why didn’t you do it?”
“We were both busy. We just didn’t get around to it.”
Joe turned to look at her.
“You never pushed it, dammit.”
“Because I was scared. I was always the supplicant in our relationship.”
“The hell you were.”
“It took me ten years to get you to admit you loved me and agree to live with me. Do you think I’d rock the boat by trying to nudge you anywhere you didn’t want to go?”
“I
did
want to marry you.”
“Then why didn’t you do it?”