Hunting Eve (22 page)

Zander reached into his pack and pulled out the small container of instamold modeling compound. He broke the seal and immediately spread it into the footprints, knowing it would harden almost instantly once in contact with the air. It wasn’t ideal; a silicone-based material would be a much better match for Eve’s shoe prints when leaving a false trail, but that would have taken far too long to harden.

After a couple minutes, he pulled out his casts. They would do. He could leave an occasional print in the frost-hardened mud. Just enough to keep Doane on the trail. It would not be foolproof but good enough to withstand scrutiny in the darkness.

Then he took the collar of Eve’s shirt and ripped it into tiny shreds. Large enough pieces for Doane to occasionally catch sight of the material on a bush or tree.

He was back at the fire and erased all signs of himself but kept Eve’s impressions clear. He put out the fire and faded into the forest.

It wouldn’t take long to erase the direction of Eve’s footprints as she’d left the campfire. Then he’d double back and start a new trail for her in the opposite direction that would go deep in the valley and totally away from the log cabin and the road leading to the ghost town.

It would have been easier for him to just go the same route as Eve and try to set a trap along the trail. He had carefully refused to ask himself why he hadn’t done it instead of leading Doane completely away from Eve. Perhaps it was a question of the excitement that was gripping him at the thought of confronting Doane at last. It didn’t matter what the reason. The decision was made.

He started moving, masking his own footprints, laying the Eve trail. He ticked all the boxes that a skilled tracker would be looking for: the occasional stone disturbed and turned muddy side up, vegetation broken and twisted in direction of movement, dew droplets brushed from leaves. He pulled scraps of Eve’s clothing over the thorny branches, careful to leave only a few threads at a time. Mustn’t overdo it.

Come on, Doane. Eve was good for an amateur, but you have no idea how much better I am. You’ll get such an exciting surprise when you find me waiting for you instead of Eve.

Come and get me …

Gwinnett Hospital

“SHOULDN’T YOU BE BACK
in bed?” Caleb’s brows rose as he strolled into Jane’s hospital room and saw her in a chair with the bed table lowered so that she could draw up over her lap. “I know that Trevor has full control of the nursing staff around here, but your orders are for bed rest.”

“I’m resting, that’s good enough.” She didn’t look up from the computer. “And Trevor does not have full control around here. He’s just persuasive.”

“Whatever.” He leaned against the bed. “Where is he, by the way? I left him to watch over you last night, and the sacrifice was for nothing?”

“He went to the Georgia-Pacific head forestry office in South Georgia to look at their maps and talk to a few of their forestry experts. He’s hoping to nudge a few memories.” She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands. The glare of the computer screen had been bothering her for the past hour. She knew she should take a break, but the sense of urgency wouldn’t permit it. “He said he knew a supervisor there.”

“Male or female?” Caleb murmured.

“It doesn’t matter. Stop it, Caleb.”

“I just wanted to judge the possibilities of success.” His gaze was narrowed on her face. “Are your eyes hurting?”

“Just tired.”

“Do you want me to make it go away?”

She looked at him. “What?”

“We all have our own talents. I can’t woo the birds from the trees like Trevor, but I bet I could make any ache in your body vanish … or begin.” He smiled. “I’m particularly interested in your response now that I’ve donated blood to you, and you have my blood coursing through your veins. Don’t you want to experiment? There are all kinds of stories in my family history about instances of cross—”

“Stories or myths?” Jane interrupted dryly.

“If we experimented, we’d know.” He reached forward and gently put his hand over her eyes. “But this doesn’t require any experimentation. This is easy.”

Warmth.

A healing rush of blood.

Revitalization.

Soothing rivers of sensation …

“Easy?” She took his hand away from her face. “I’ve no desire to experiment, easy or not, Caleb.”

“I know. You’re very stubborn. Everything has to be completely normal and reasonable.” He added lightly, “That’s why I had to sneak that one in. But your eyes are better now, aren’t they?”

She couldn’t deny it. They felt totally normal, rested, and as if she’d had a full night of sleep.

“It could have nothing to do with you. I just had a moment of rest.”

“True. And now they feel completely rested and you’ll be able to use them free of strain or pain.” He smiled. “It should last all day if you don’t abuse them too badly.” He took his computer out of his bag. “Now what other area do you want me to scan? I downloaded another site last night that has upper California and—”

He stopped as her phone rang. He glanced at the ID as he picked it up from the bedside table and handed it to her. “Venable.”

She pressed the speaker, and her hand tightened on the phone. “What’s happening, Venable? Have you heard—”

“Nothing about Eve.” He cut her short. “Have you heard from Kendra or Margaret?”

“I haven’t heard from Margaret since she left here. I called Kendra myself earlier. I didn’t talk to her for long. She said she was in the middle of something, and she’d call me back.”

“Oh, she was in the middle of something all right,” he said grimly. “And did she call you back?”

“No.” Jane had actually been glad that Kendra had not done so. She hadn’t wanted to make explanations about asking her to look for that damn dreamscape. “Not yet. Have you talked to her?”

“I’ve been trying like hell to talk to her. She’s not answering her phone.”

“That’s not like her. She’s completely professional. Maybe something’s happened.” Dear God, she hoped that was wrong. She should have spoken longer to her, she should have— “Why are you trying to reach her?”

“To find out what she knows about a dead police officer at Doane’s house in Goldfork.”

“What?”

“You heard me. There was a young officer shot and some kind of explosion at the house itself.”

“What does that have to do with Kendra? Joe called and told me she was heading in that direction, but she would never be involved in a crime.”

“I’m not accusing her. I’m saying that the first agent I sent who arrived at the house checked the entry book and her name was the last one on the page. It was close to the time of the officer’s death. Chances are that she knows something.”

“Or that she may have been hurt or killed or taken captive by the person who killed that officer. Why don’t you send someone to look for her?”

“Do you think I haven’t?” he asked roughly. “We have a dead cop and a house that looks like it’s been bombed. The interior damage could also reflect a search and possible recovery. And all we have on the positive side is maybe Kendra Michaels who
might
have knowledge of what went on there. You’re damn right I’m looking for her.” He paused. “And possibly for Margaret Douglas. Someone of her description was reported to be in the neighborhood earlier in the afternoon. She’s very memorable.”

Yes, everyone remembered Margaret, Jane thought. “Have you tried to phone her?”

“Yes, no answer. That’s when I tried you.”

“I’ll call them both and let you know if I get through. Have you called Joe?”

“He’s next on the list.” He was silent a moment. “If you get in touch with either one, tell them to call me and for God’s sake keep a low profile. Goldfork is a small town, and everyone knows everyone else. They’re not going to take kindly to the killing of one of their own. The West may have its own code toward women, but it might not be pretty if they don’t give the right answers.” He hung up.

“It appears that our Margaret is causing a stir,” Caleb said, as Jane pressed the disconnect. “Explosions and dead bodies?”

“That’s not Margaret. Most of Venable’s suspicions were aimed at Kendra Michaels.”

“I’ve never met the lady. I only know what you’ve told me. However, I do know Margaret, and I’d judge she’s capable of more than you’d think. She’d definitely rise to the occasion.”

“We don’t even know if Kendra and Margaret are together. Kendra never mentioned—” But Jane had not given Kendra the opportunity to tell her much of anything. She’d been too eager to get off the phone. But Jane had known that Kendra was going to Goldfork, and Margaret had told her the same thing before she’d left the hospital that morning. It was logical to assume that they’d run into each other and combined forces.

Maybe.

Her hands clenched at her sides. How the hell did Jane know what had happened stuck in this damn hospital room? “I can’t be sure, can I? I wasn’t there. I should have been there, but I wasn’t.”

“Jane.”

“If you’re going to be soothing, I’ll probably deck you.” Her hand was shaking as she dialed the number for Kendra Michaels that Joe had given her. “There’s a dead man, and Kendra and Margaret are probably in trouble. Do you know what I told Margaret before she left? I said that I was probably a bad person, but that I was glad that someone was going to do what I couldn’t while I was lying here in this hospital. Well, Margaret was in that town, doing what I should have been doing.” The phone was ringing. No answer.

Then the voice mail.

“It’s Jane, call me.”

She hung up.

She dialed Margaret.

No answer.

Three rings. No answer.

Voice mail.

“Margaret, dammit, what’s happening?”

She hung up, completely frustrated.

She was feeling helpless and she couldn’t bear it.

She drew a deep breath and called Joe.

Vancouver Airport

“THANK GOD, YOU ANSWERED.
Did Venable call you?” Jane asked.

“I just hung up from him,” Joe said. “He said you were upset about Kendra and Margaret. Hell, I’m upset, too.” He could tell from Jane’s tone when he’d picked up the phone that Venable was right. Definitely shaky and strained. “But Kendra’s smart. She’ll be okay.” He paused. “It sounds as if she might have made a breakthrough at Goldfork. And I’ll bet she’ll have info we can use when she surfaces.” He hoped to God he’d win that bet. It seemed as if they were spinning their wheels, and it was driving him crazy. “Don’t worry, Jane. After I finish here with Zander, I’ll fly down there and find out what’s going on if they’ve not checked in.”

“Don’t worry?” Jane’s voice had a brittle edge. “Oh, that’s right. Heaven forbid that I have to worry about Kendra or Margaret or you. After all, I’m the important one. Only that’s not true. Eve is the important one.” She drew a long, shaky breath. “I’m sorry, Joe. I’m just stressed, and I shouldn’t take it out on you. Don’t pay any attention to me.”

“I always pay attention to you. That’s what love’s all about.”

“Yeah, but in this case I should fade into the background. It’s the least I can do. No, it appears it’s the
only
thing I can do. Let me know about Zander. Stay safe, Joe.” She hung up.

Joe slowly pressed the disconnect. He had probably said all the wrong things to Jane. He wasn’t thinking too straight at the moment. She must feel chained and terribly ineffectual, and that would be pure torture for a woman of her character. She was like Eve in that.

Eve again. Everything came back to Eve. His every comparison, his every thought. Jane was right, nothing mattered next to the task of finding Eve and bringing her back home to them.

What was happening to her now?

A surge of pure agony.

Fight it off. He couldn’t function if he let it overcome him.

He turned and headed for the airport exit.

Get to Zander.

Do your job.

*   *   *

“OKAY?” CALEB WAS STUDYING
Jane’s expression. “I gather from hearing your side of the conversation with Quinn that it wasn’t particularly satisfactory.”

“It was soothing and concerned and affectionate. Satisfactory? He told me not to worry. He’d take care of it when he had time.”

“Uh-oh.”

“I
am
worried. Something’s wrong with Kendra and Margaret. Something’s happened.”

“On the threat of being decked, may I offer a possible explanation?”

“No. Kendra is professional. She believes in cooperation. Margaret is the furthest away possible from professional, but she has more empathy than anyone I’ve ever met. She’d know what I’m feeling. She wouldn’t ignore me.”

“Very clear reasoning. But what if neither of them wishes to explain what happened at that house at Goldfork? The simplest way to avoid it would be to not answer the phone.” He smiled. “Of course, if you’re bound and determined to think that they’re both at death’s door, there’s nothing I can do about it. But exceptional people generally do survive, Jane.”

“And is Eve going to survive, too?” she asked fiercely. “She’s exceptional. No one is more exceptional than Eve. To keep her alive is the reason Kendra and Margaret went to Goldfork.” She closed her eyes. “I was trying to fool myself that I was doing some good here, but it’s all fairy tales. And you let me do it, didn’t you, Caleb?”

“Yes. Does that make me the bad guy? Okay, I’m accustomed to the role. Sometimes, I even enjoy it.”

“No, I won’t blame you,” she said wearily. “You just went along because you wanted to keep me occupied and docile in this damn hospital.”

“Docile? You?” He chuckled. “That wasn’t about to happen.”

“Well, it worked, didn’t it?” Her eyes opened, and she blinked to stop the stinging. “I wanted to be useful, and I thought it was happening.”

“Maybe it was happening. We don’t know yet.”

“What we do know is that Kendra and Margaret were doing my job and ran into something they couldn’t handle.” She moistened her lips. “And I feel guilty as hell. I’ve got to get out of here, Caleb.”

He shook his head. “There’s no way that those doctors are going to let you go. They said three days, and they meant it. Look at you. You’re shaking. You don’t have a fever right now, but it will come back if you overdo it.”