“Be for real. I’d be the first one on the suspect list. I had enough trouble explaining why I was the one who found her. They even called the hospital to make sure you’d been checked in with food poisoning.” He thought for a moment. “I have a few friends in New Orleans with forensic backgrounds who might be able to go in and scavenge around and see what else they can come up with.”
“Official friends?”
“Be for real,” Galen repeated as he tilted his head and studied her expression. “You’re taking my theory seriously?”
Eve slowly nodded. She had to take it seriously. She didn’t want to believe any of it, but she had been exposed to brutality and deception for most of her life and certainly all her career. She shuddered. “To sit there and watch her . . . Jesus, it sounds so . . . cold-blooded.”
“No more cold-blooded than trying to kill you.”
“And why would anyone want to kill me?”
“Maybe we should ask Mr. Melton.”
“You think it’s the reconstruction?”
“It’s a logical connection. And I’m not sure I buy this story Melton’s spinning. I don’t like all this secrecy. They know you like working away from the media glare; that knowledge gives them another excuse to bring you here instead of sending you that skull. Don’t you think it might be wise for you to pack your bags and head home?”
Eve rejected that suggestion immediately. No way was she going home. “There’s no proof that this is anything but food poisoning. Maybe there’s no money in that safety-deposit box. Or maybe Marie was saving money for years and just got around to depositing it.”
He lifted a skeptical brow.
“I
liked
her, Galen.”
“Few people are completely rotten. Some just have a streak or two. But those streaks can be enough to hurt you. And what about that missing skeleton? Doesn’t that bother you?”
“Of course it bothers me. It means there’s somebody who doesn’t want Melton to identify this man. But most of the skulls I work on are victims, and it’s not the first time I’ve had this problem. If I stopped work every time I thought there was someone out there who didn’t want me to do it, I’d never finish any reconstructions.”
Galen studied her face. “And you’re curious about this reconstruction, aren’t you? You really want to do it.”
She nodded. “I really do. Harold Bently sounds like a man I’d admire. I hate the idea of him ending up discarded in a swamp like a piece of garbage. I want to know. . . .” She shrugged. “And it’s intriguing.”
“Maybe a little too intriguing.” Galen stood. “Okay, we’ll go with it. I know if you want to do it, there’s no way I’ll be able to talk you out of it. But I’m not going to fade into the background as I’d planned.”
“I’m sure that would have been a first.”
“I can be unobtrusive.” He grinned. “It’s just not so much fun.” He moved toward the door. “But I’m going with you to the church every day. And I’m your official food taster. I stay with you night and day. Agreed?”
“This may all be for nothing.”
“But you feel safer, don’t you? How could you not with me on the job?”
Eve made a rude sound.
“That was indelicate.” He glanced at her over his shoulder. “You’re sure I shouldn’t tell Quinn about this?”
“I’m sure.”
He gave a mock shiver at her tone. “Just checking. The situation between you two seems to be taking on some heat.”
She stared at him challengingly. “What’s the matter? Can’t you handle it, Galen?”
“That was a low blow. You’re a tough lady. I heard you grew up on the streets. I can believe it.”
“Takes one to know one. I’m sure Atlanta is no tougher than Liverpool.”
“No, it isn’t.” Galen nodded. “Okay. No Quinn.”
She watched the door swing shut behind him.
No Quinn.
The words echoed in her mind. Joe Quinn had been a part of her life for so long, the idea of his not being there was practically incomprehensible. It would take time to understand what it meant.
Could she become accustomed to Joe not being in her life? Eve wasn’t sure whether it would hurt more to cut the ties between them or to live with what he had done. She didn’t know and she didn’t want to think about it right now. She didn’t want to think of anything but the work she had come here to do. She would do the reconstruction, and then perhaps send for Jane and go to New Orleans for a while. She should see something besides her little corner of the world. She didn’t have to go home.
And the idea of Marie Letaux making an attempt on her life was as bizarre as the ugly picture Galen had drawn of the way Marie might have died. No one could be that cold-blooded.
Yes, they could. Bonnie’s killer had been that kind of monster, and she had known other murderers equally terrible. She just didn’t want that kind of horror to touch her now when she was trying to work through a horror of her own. She didn’t want it to be true.
Maybe it wasn’t. Galen’s experience had made him suspect everyone and everything. Well, let him be suspicious. Let him protect her. It wouldn’t hurt.
Not if it would allow her the freedom of mind to get her work done.
“I know you didn’t want any interference, Jules,” Melton said. “I attempted to get her to dismiss him, but she’s being very stubborn about it. I wanted you to know that I’m not letting the matter lie. I’m going to call a few people and see what kind of pressure they can put on him to nudge him out of the situation.”
“Leave him alone,” Hebert said. “He’s not going to be a problem for us.”
There was a silence on the other end of the line. “Perhaps I should send you a dossier on him?”
“I already have one.”
“And you don’t think he could be troublesome?”
“I believe he’ll be more troublesome if we try to get rid of him. I want her mind at rest when she’s working on the skull. Galen’s presence will assure that she feels entirely safe and secure.”
“Yes, that’s important.” Melton was silent a moment. “I was uneasy when I heard about the food poisoning. It was an accident?”
“Of course it was.” It was a half-truth. It was an accident that Eve Duncan had not died.
“I’ve just been told that Marie Letaux was found dead of food poisoning a few hours ago.”
“Then that should prove it was an accident to you.”
“Should it? What about those deaths last month? They were supposed to be accidents, too.”
“And probably were.” Hebert added mockingly, “You’re getting paranoid. Have you started looking over your shoulder lately, Melton?”
“I have a right to be concerned, dammit.” A pause. “First Etienne, and now this. Another very curious incident. They seem to be hovering around you like a dark cloud.”
Hebert ignored the implication. “Is she hesitating about doing the reconstruction?”
“Yes, but I believe she’s still eager to do it. We just have to push the right buttons.”
“That’s what we need. Eagerness . . . and speed.”
“She’ll be released tomorrow and I think she’ll want to start work at once.”
“That’s good. I’ll make sure that she does. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.” Hebert hung up.
Melton was suspicious, but not enough to cause Jules any immediate problems. Melton wouldn’t make a move until after Boca Raton. The Cabal needed things to go smoothly, and advance preparations took time and effort. They wouldn’t want to bring in someone new at this point.
Hebert leaned back in his chair and covered his eyes with his hand. He could feel the panic rising within him and he must crush it down. He’d had to lie to Melton, but things were still under control. Events were escalating, and he had to move fast to keep from being caught and drowned in their wake. God, Eve Duncan was strong. He had
felt
her fighting to live. Too bad that her struggle was for nothing, he thought sadly.
Because the way things were going, there was no way he could let her survive.
“You scared me, Mama,” Bonnie said.
Eve looked across the hospital room to see Bonnie curled up in a visitor’s chair by the window. The nurse had turned out the light forty minutes ago, but the moonlight streaming in the window lit Bonnie’s curly red-brown hair. It was too dim to see the freckles marching across her nose. Her small body was dressed in jeans and a Bugs Bunny T-shirt, as it always was when she came to Eve. She smothered the surge of love she felt and said accusingly, “You wouldn’t let me go, dammit.”
“I told you, it wasn’t your time. And you didn’t really want to die.”
“Don’t tell me what I want to do. Who’s the mother around here?”
“I think all these years of ghostdom qualify me to have my input.” Bonnie sighed. “You’ve been very challenging, Mama. You still won’t admit I’m anything but a dream.”
“Because your so-called ghostly powers seem to be rather limited. Ghostdom? What kind of word is that? And if you didn’t want me to die, why did you let me eat that stew? It would have saved me a bellyache.”
“I’ve told you I can’t stop things happening . . . it doesn’t work that way.”
“Convenient. That means you’re never to blame.”
Bonnie giggled. “That’s right. It’s one of the good things about being a ghost.”
“Are there bad things, baby?”
“Look at you. You’re tearing up. Yes, the bad thing is trying to keep you from being so unhappy. I thought maybe you were on the right track, but here you are all depressed and hurting and hundreds of miles away from Joe.”
“Joe lied to me. About you. Your grave. Why didn’t you tell me it wasn’t you?”
“If I’m a dream, how could I do that?” She grinned. “Gotcha.”
“Why?” Eve insisted.
“You know the answer. It doesn’t matter to me where my body is. I’m always with you.” She paused. “And you were happier thinking I was there. So why not let you think it?”
“You sound like Joe. It’s important to me. I want you home, Bonnie.”
“I am home.” She sighed. “But you’re too stubborn to believe it. You make it very hard for me. And I don’t like this depression. You’re a fighter, but you weren’t fighting last night until I nudged you. That’s not to happen again, Mama. Things are very . . . cloudy. You may have to fight hard and I may not be around.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel less depressed?”
“I’ll always come to you like this, but you can’t rely on me, Mama. But you have Joe and Jane and Grandma. Isn’t that lucky?” She made a face. “I could feel you freezing up when I mentioned Joe. Get over it, Mama.”
“Bullshit.”
“Okay, we’ll talk about something else. I want you to feel good in the morning.”
Eve always felt better after the dreams. They had started two years after Bonnie had died, and at times Eve felt as if they had saved her sanity. A psychiatrist would probably have sent her to the nearest funny farm if she told him that. Well, screw them. There was nothing that wasn’t positive about the dreams. “If my ribs are still this sore, there’s no way I’ll feel good in the morning.”
“They’ll be a little better.” Bonnie leaned back in the chair. “This is a nice place. I like all those bayous. Why didn’t we ever come here?”
“I don’t know. I guess I never got around to it.”
“Well, Panama City was nice, too. I loved the water. . . .”
“I know you did, baby.”
“There are lots of things to love. Now tell me about Jane’s new puppy. Sarah gave him to her?”
“Yes, and he’s a complete rascal. Of course, Jane thinks he’s the smartest animal in the universe. She’s talking about going out to the coast and having Sarah help her train . . .”
Chapter 5
“You’re in a better mood this morning.” Galen studied Eve’s expression as he helped her into his car after they’d left the hospital. “And you look much healthier. Did you sleep well?”
“When I wasn’t dreaming.”
“Nightmares?”
She shook her head. “No, good dreams.” She gazed up at the brilliant blue sky. “It’s a pretty day.”
He nodded. “You could probably still use a day of rest. Why don’t you sit out on the balcony and just watch the world go by?”
The church, dark and looming, filling her entire vision as she lay on the balcony floor.
“I want to get to work. Did you find out any more about Marie’s death?”
“Officially food poisoning. Case closed.”
“I see.”
“I don’t. I paid a small bribe to a clerk at the coroner’s department to get a look at the provisional report.”
“And?”
“Food poisoning.” He paused. “The only thing in the least unusual was slight abrasions on her upper arms.”
“Caused by what?”
“No conclusions. But I was wondering . . . ropes?”
“But that’s not what the coroner said.”
“No.” Galen shrugged. “At any rate, the body has been released and the funeral is tomorrow.”
“Her son is coming here?”
“I assume he will. This is his mother’s hometown. Why?”
“I want to see him and express my sympathy.”
“What?” He grimaced. “I believe it’s very bad form to offer condolences to the family of someone who tried to murder you.”
“I don’t believe she tried to kill me, and I think her son would like to know what she told me about their relationship. It could help at a time like this. I’d like to go to the funeral.”
“Okay. I’ll find out when and where. I’m surprised you’re willing to delay the start of your work on the skull.”
“Support means a good deal to the bereaved. This time is a nightmare. No one knows that better than I do.”
“So I’ve heard.” Galen’s voice was sober. “Your Bonnie.”
“My Bonnie.” They had pulled up in front of the house and she got out of the car. “Melton called the hospital and arranged to meet me here at one, then go with me to the church. Are you coming with us?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” Galen watched Eve unlock the front door, and then preceded her into the foyer. He glanced around the foyer and then started up the stairs. Eve followed. “Skeletons are my cup of tea. Mind if I take a look around your bedroom? I was here earlier and did a little cleanup job, but I’d feel better if I just checked it again.”
“You cleaned up that mess?”
“Well, your housekeeper wasn’t able to do it. I didn’t want you to have to come home and face it.”
“Thank you. That was a very kind thing to do.”
“I
am
kind.” He threw open the bedroom door and looked around. “My mum always said if you want to get along in the world, you have to do unto others as they do unto you.”
“That’s not quite the way the quote goes.”
“Makes more sense Mum’s way.” He went onto the balcony and looked out over the bayou. “Seems okay. You rest. I’ll just check the bathroom and the downstairs, and then cook you a light lunch.”
“I’m not an invalid. I’ll do it.”
“Are you trying to eliminate my job? How can I be the queen’s chief poison taster if you do everything yourself?” He headed for the door. “By the way, I moved into the bedroom next door. I checked and I can hear practically everything that happens in this room through those paper-thin walls. I hope you don’t snore. . . .”
Eve heard him running down the steps a few minutes later. She gave one more glance at the church before leaving the balcony. It was difficult to pull her gaze away. She supposed it was natural the ancient structure would command attention, and it was the last thing she’d seen when she’d thought she was going to die. That had guaranteed it would capture her imagination.
Eve forced herself to turn and go back into the bedroom. That wide expanse of bed was very tempting. It was ridiculous to be this sore and tired. She’d thought when she left the hospital that she’d spring back much sooner. She should ignore the tiredness and hit the shower. She’d be okay once she got going.
Well, maybe just a short nap . . .
“The shoes were made by the Norton Shoe Company.” Carol Dunn tossed the report on Joe’s desk. “It’s a southeast company with branches in Alabama and Louisiana. Size nine.”
“Distribution?” Joe asked.
She shook her head. “Pretty heavy in both states, and to a lesser degree here in Georgia. With this kind of flimsy sole, they’re not a high-ticket item so they sell pretty well.”
“That’s just great.” He frowned. “What about the tire tracks?”
“Firestone Affinity HP fifteen-inch. Standard on the new Saturn L-three hundred.”
“Thanks, Carol.” Joe scanned the report. “I owe you.”
“You owe yourself a good night’s sleep,” she said. “Jane called and told me to send you home early.”
“I’m going.” He stood up and started for the door. “Will you call and tell her I’m bringing home Chinese, but I have to make one more stop on the way?”
“Coward.”
“Right. She’s tough.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “Did I get a return call from George Capel when I was out today?”
Carol shook her head. “Don’t you trust voice mail?”
“I’m an old-fashioned guy. I don’t believe in these newfangled gadgets.”
“And you were hoping it wasn’t working.”
“He hasn’t shown up at the DNA lab for a week. I went to his house—the mail is piling up and he didn’t stop delivery of the newspaper.”
“Doesn’t sound good, but he could have taken off on a little jaunt. It’s happened before.”
“Yeah, I know. But I think it’s time I talked to his neighbors.”
“Okay, I’ll call Jane,” Carol said. “But you’d better not forget the Chinese.”
Joe nodded and waved as he left the office. He called Logan when he reached his car. “Have you heard from Galen?”
“He won’t report to me unless he has reason. He runs his own show.”
“So you don’t know if she’s okay.”
“We’d have heard if there was a problem. Galen’s with her.”
And Joe wasn’t with her and it was driving him crazy. “Can you ask him to give regular reports?”
“Galen doesn’t operate that way.”
“Then he should, dammit.”
“You asked for Galen, Quinn.”
Because he was the best, but that didn’t mean Galen’s independence didn’t annoy the hell out of him. He wanted to
know
.
“How are things going with you?” Logan asked.
“Okay. I’m keeping busy.” Not busy enough. Three days had seemed like three hundred since Eve left. “I’m trying to track down Capel. He seems to have disappeared.”
“You think he was paid to send that report to Eve and then skipped town?”
“Could be. He didn’t try to hit me for more money, so he must have another source.”
“Any ideas?”
“Someone who wanted to hurt me or Eve. Probably me. She doesn’t have any enemies. I have case files full of them.”
“Amazing,” Logan murmured.
“And you don’t?”
Logan didn’t answer. “I’ll let you know if I hear from Galen.”
“Maybe I should call him. No, never mind.”
“Good choice. You wouldn’t want Eve to know you’re checking up on her. How’s Jane?”
“Great. Better than I deserve right now.”
“I agree. Good-bye, Quinn.”
Joe hung up and started the car. Interview Capel’s neighbors and then get home to Jane. Don’t think about Eve all those hundreds of miles away in Baton Rouge.
Company branches in Alabama and Louisiana.
Louisiana . . .
Don’t jump to conclusions. The defacement could have nothing to do with Eve’s reconstruction job in Baton Rouge. But he didn’t like the way this investigation was shaping up, dammit.
And he wished to hell he could contact Galen without getting Eve’s back up.
Just do your job. Find Capel and the man who bribed him. Do some more checking on the tire. Keep Jane as happy you can. Try to keep yourself from jumping on a plane and flying to Eve in Baton Rouge.
And hope to hell time was healing the rift he’d torn between them.
“I fell asleep.” Eve came down the stairs, trying to straighten her rumpled hair. “For heaven’s sake, it’s quarter past five in the evening. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Easy. You needed the sleep.” Galen grinned. “And I needed time to prepare a meal par excellence.”
“I’ve got to get over to the church. Didn’t Melton show up?”
“He was here right on time. I told him to go away.”
“You had no right to do that.”
“I told him he could meet us in front of the church at six.” He checked his watch. “That gives you forty-five minutes to eat my fine repast.” He gestured to the dining room. “I don’t like hurried meals; they dull one’s appreciation. But I’ll accept it this time.”
“You should have woken me.”
“You’re wasting time. You don’t want to keep our honorable senator waiting.”
She followed him. “I’ve already kept him waiting for four hours.”
Galen grinned. “He deserved it.” He seated her at the table and shook out her napkin and put it on her lap. “Now start on the spinach salad.”
“No way.” She jumped up. “Galen, I want to go to meet Melton. I couldn’t eat this meal, anyway. My stomach is still upset.”
“What a dunce I am. Of course, you can’t. I got carried away with my sheer culinary genius. Okay, maybe I’ll make you some soup after we get back from the church tonight.”
“I may not come back tonight. I often work at night.”
“And then again you may. You still look pale around the gills.”
“Galen.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not trying to bulldoze you. I sometimes take advantage of circumstances to get my own way, but I respect your free will.”
“You really like to cook?”
“Eating is one of life’s great pleasures. It dulls the roughest edges.”
And Galen’s life had probably had a multitude of sharp edges. Eve’s gaze wandered from the white damask tablecloth to the flickering spring-green candles and then to the delicate bone china. It was as different as night and day from her cozy meal two nights ago in the kitchen.
And that had been his intention, she realized suddenly. He hadn’t wanted to remind her of Marie Letaux or that last meal she’d had in this house.
“I’m sure your meal would have been wonderful. Thank you, Galen.”
“You’re welcome. It’s just too bad I have to wait a little longer to be truly appreciated.” He took her arm. “Let’s get you over to the church so you can stop fretting.”
To her surprise, Melton was waiting impatiently outside the church when they arrived there. “Good, you’re early. You’re better? Galen said you weren’t feeling well.”
“I feel much better.” Her gaze went to the door. “I expected you to be inside.”
“I don’t have a key. I’ve been waiting for— Here he is.” His gaze was on the sandy-haired man hurrying toward them. “This is Rick Vadim. I hired Rick to help you out here. Rick, this is Ms. Duncan.”
The young man nodded and smiled at Eve. “How do you do, ma’am. It’s my pleasure to meet you.”
“Hello. I’m very glad to meet you.” She shook his hand. “This is Sean Galen. He’s—”
“Ms. Duncan’s assistant,” Galen supplied. “I make things run smoothly for her.”
“Then that makes two of us,” Rick said solemnly. “That’s also my assignment.”
“Rick has been hired to assist Ms. Duncan in any way possible,” Melton said.
“You’re a forensic anthropologist?” Eve asked.
“No, I have no scientific background. But I’m very good at acquiring things and smoothing the way.” He unlocked the door. “You’d like to see the skull?”
“That’s why I’m here.” Eve glanced around the vestibule. She’d half expected the interior of the church to be covered with dust, but it was spotless. “Where is it?”
“The main chapel.” Rick gestured to the arched doorway. “This way, please.”
“The chapel?”
“It seemed more respectful,” Rick said. “From what I’ve read about your work, you believe in showing respect for those who have passed on.”
“Yes, I do. But I doubt if I’ll be able to work in your chapel. I require a good deal of light, a worktable, and a pedestal for my equipment.”
“I’ve already set up a room for you. I think you’ll be satisfied.” He threw open the door. “There it is.”
A huge black coffin.
She stopped short in the doorway and stared at it. The coffin dominated the small sanctuary.
“I’ll wait out here,” Melton said.
Eve felt the same strange reluctance to approach the coffin as he obviously did. “I thought you would have already removed the skull from the coffin. I didn’t expect to see—It’s very . . . big . . .”
“The coffin is designed to protect the remains from further damage or decay. We wanted to make sure the skull was perfectly preserved,” Rick said earnestly. “Believe me, I’m very upset that the rest of the skeleton has been misplaced. I wasn’t in charge here when that happened.”
“Misplaced?” Eve repeated. “I don’t believe that’s the term I’d use.”
“It seems incredible to me, too. This entire affair is bizarre. But that’s not my business. My job is to make sure nothing goes wrong from now on.” Rick moved forward until he stood beside the coffin. “And I’ve been told the skull is in very good condition.” He opened the lid and stepped aside. “What do you think?”
“I think I need some light. I can hardly see it. It’s too dim in here.”
“I’m sorry.” Rick quickly lit a candle on the altar. “You have wonderful light and heat in the workroom I set up for you. I didn’t know you’d want to do a close examination of the skull in here. I should have thought . . .”
He was so upset that Eve smothered the impatience she was feeling. “It’s okay, Rick. If there’s a problem, I can take the skull back to the house.”
“No, please don’t do that. Believe me, I’ve made your workroom everything you could ask,” Rick said. “The senator wants the work done here.”
“Why?” Galen asked.
“It’s on an island. Senator Melton was very concerned about the missing skeleton. He wants Ms. Duncan to be perfectly safe, and the security people he hired say the church will be much easier to keep protected. I promise I’ll do everything I can to make the church comfortable for you.”