The Killing Game (31 page)

“Because you can't see farther than the tip of your nose.”

He was silent a moment. “Are you telling me that you love me?”

“I'm not telling you anything, you bastard.”

“It's hard to judge because of the verbal abuse, but I think that's what you're
saying. It . . . heartens me.”

“It doesn't hearten me.”

“I know. It scares you.” He was rocking her back and forth. “If you'll just stop shaking, I promise I'll try to live forever.”

No one lived forever. His heart pounded strong and steady beneath her ear, but it could have been stilled tonight. Her hands tightened on his shoulders. “Idiot.”

“Hush.”

“You'll do it again. I know it. You're a cop.”

He was silent.

She was silent too. Moments passed and she sat there, listening to the beat of his heart. Lover. Best friend. Center.

She gradually stopped shaking.

He gently pressed his lips to her temple. “Someday will you tell me you love me?”

“Probably not.” Her arms tightened around him. “You don't deserve it.”

“True.” He was silent again. “I won't take chances I don't have to, Eve. I've never wanted to live more than I do at this moment. Okay?”

“It has to be okay, doesn't it? I have to accept it. That's life.”

“Yes, that's life. Welcome back.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “You're a mess. I've gotten grease all over you.”

“It will wash off.” But what had happened that night could never be eradicated. Every one of her protective barriers had been stripped away and she'd been forced to face her true feelings for Joe. But they were too intense, almost unbearable. She pushed him away and slowly stood up. “We've got to leave to go to Professor Dunkeil's lab. I'll use the powder room down here. You go upstairs and change. Those clothes are beyond hope.”

“I'm on my way.”

She watched him leave the room, not wanting to let him out of her sight. Get a grip. There were other things in life to worry about besides Joe Quinn. Two men had died tonight. Probably killed by Dom. He was getting nearer.

But so was she.

You haven't beaten us yet, Dom. I'll still find a way to see your face.

C                  H                  A                  P                  T                  E                  R

SEVENTEEN

Eve and Joe were waiting across the street from the lab on Blue Mountain Drive when Spiro drove up.

“Professor Dunkeil's waiting for us. He was upset about Sung.” Spiro studied Eve's face. “You look better.”

“I'm fine. Did you reach Mrs. Cather?”

“Yes.” His lips tightened. “I didn't talk to her very long. She broke down. She's only a kid herself.”

“I know you were close to Charlie.”

“I could have been closer. I thought I had to toughen him up.” He shook his head. “Getting Dom is becoming very personal to me.”

Eve started across the street. “Join the club.”

She felt the tension rise as Joe rang the doorbell of the lab.

Please, don't let those young men have died for no reason. Don't let Dom win this one.

THE IMAGE OF
Kevin Baldridge was still blurred. On the computer screen he was almost ghostlike, like a cadaver floating in a sea of light.

But his face was clear enough.

She couldn't breathe.

“Eve?”

“Tell me I'm crazy, Joe.”

Joe was gazing at the screen and swore softly.

Spiro inhaled sharply. “Grunard.”

Younger, thinner, but the charming, slightly cocky smile was the same.

Eve sank back in the chair, her mind whirling. “No.”

“He's the right age. He's been close to you from the beginning,” Spiro said slowly.

So close. “That guard at the welfare house . . .” She shuddered. “I told him to distract him if he ran across him.”

Joe turned to Spiro. “He thinks he's safe. Pick him up before he learns what we've done here tonight.”

“He may already know.” Spiro took out his phone and punched in a number. “He's made some friends in the precinct the past few days.”

Eve was thinking of the serial killer profile Spiro had given her in Joe's cottage.

They usually are aware of police procedures and may even associate with the police.

Joe had told her that Grunard hung out at the bar all the Atlanta police detectives frequented.

And a reporter could travel from place to place without suspicion. He had contacts and sources for finding out facts other people couldn't.

Mark had delayed going after Jane at the welfare house until eleven o'clock, giving him plenty of time to kill the security guard and make it to the alley where Mike had been. He would have had no trouble gaining access to Fraser all those years ago.

“No answer at Grunard's hotel.” Spiro was punching in another number. “I'll send someone to the hotel.”

Grunard. Dom.

He had wanted to stay at the lab last night. He had given Sung his phone number.

Spiro had finished his phone call and was heading for the front door. “I'll start a background check on Grunard. I don't know how much good it will do. There's no telling how many times he's reinvented himself. Go back to the house and stay there.”

Grunard.

All the way back to the house, Eve couldn't stop thinking about Grunard and Dom being the same person. It was crazy and yet it made perfect sense. He had been there all the time and she had not felt an ounce of suspicion. My God, she had even felt guilty for not keeping him more informed. And he had warned her not to let Dom see Eve and Jane together in Phoenix.

She felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach. “Jane.”

She had left Jane alone.

“How far are we—”

“Shit.” Joe pressed the accelerator. “Take it easy. We're only a block from the house.”

They tore through the gates and she jumped out of the car and ran into the house.

“Eve.” Joe was running after her.

Jane was safe. Jane had two guards to protect her, and Sarah and Monty.

But Dom had gotten to the porch of Joe's cottage at the lake.

She took the stairs two at a time.

She flung open Jane's door.

The bed was rumpled, the covers thrown back.

Jane was not in the bed.

“Let's try Sarah,” Joe said behind her.

Sarah sat up groggily when they barged in her room. “What is it?”

“Jane. We can't find—” Eve sat on the bed in relief. “Thank God.”

Jane was curled up beside Monty on a blanket on the floor beside Sarah's bed.

“She came in a couple of hours ago,” Sarah said. “She said she had a bad dream about Monty and asked if she could stay. It's okay, isn't it?”

Eve nodded, trying to quiet her pounding heart. “It's fine. I was just scared. Sorry I woke you.”

“No problem.”

Eve and Joe walked out. “God, I was afraid,” she said.

“Me too.” Joe put his arm around her. “Come on, let's go make some coffee. I could use a caffeine jolt.”

SARAH CAME INTO
the kitchen almost an hour later. “Okay. What's happening?” She yawned. “I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't because I got to thinking.”

“We didn't want to bother you.” Joe poured her a cup of coffee.

“Well, you didn't bother Jane and Monty. They're sleeping.” She sipped her coffee. “The sleep of the innocent. It's a wonderful thing. Now, why were you scared about Jane?”

Sarah had finished her second cup of coffee by the time they'd filled her in. She leaned back in her chair. “So it's almost over.”

“It's not over until he's dead or behind bars,” Eve said.

“But you have a face and a name now. If he slips through the FBI's hands, put him on
America's Most Wanted
or some show like that. Someone's always finding murderers.”

“You make it sound very simple,” Joe said dryly.

“I have a very simple nature.” Sarah smiled. “It comes from living with dogs. Everything's black and white, and you reach your goal by using the most direct path possible. That's why I work rescue instead of being a cop like you, Joe. I couldn't stand—”

The phone rang. Eve picked up the wall extension.

“Get out of there,” Spiro said. “Tell Joe to get you and Jane away from there.”

“Why? Dom?”

“No, there's no sign of Dom. But the Phoenix PD should be on your doorstep any minute.”

“Why? Was I recognized at the wreck site?”

“They got an anonymous tip about where you could be found. Now, guess who would call that in?”

“Grunard.”

“Right. He evidently wants to blast you out of your fortress.”

“And he's doing it.” She tried to think. “But if they put me in jail, he wouldn't be able to—”

“Jane won't be in jail. She'll go right back into Atlanta welfare custody.”

If Jane was returned to welfare they'd be back to square one. “How much time do we have?”

“Zilch. Get out of there now.”

She hung up. “The Phoenix PD is on their way here. They got a tip about Jane and me.” She turned to Sarah. “You and Monty get out of here. Call Logan and tell him what's happened.”

Sarah headed for the door. “I'm on my way.”

Eve nodded. “I'll go get Jane. Throw some things into a suitcase, Joe.”

THEY MADE IT
only as far as the front gates. As the gates swung open, they saw the blinking lights of patrol cars just turning the corner onto the street.

Joe swore under his breath.

“Get out,” Eve snapped at him.

“What?”

“Get out and hide in the bushes. It's Jane and me they want.”

“And I'm supposed to leave you?”

“I'll be in jail. You're the one who'll have to keep an eye on Jane.”

Joe muttered another curse but dove out the door and into the bushes beside the driveway. Eve slid behind the wheel and drove through the gates.

The headlights of the police car almost blinded her as it blocked her path.

“
WELL, THIS IS
a fine mess you've gotten us into,” Logan said. “And that prison garb isn't at all becoming.”

“You shouldn't have come here.” Eve leaned forward to look at him through the glass. “And it's my mess, not yours.”

“Not correct. Are they treating you okay?”

“As well as they treat any other felon. I've been in here only twenty-four hours, and that's enough to make me never want to even jaywalk. But there is a lot of time for thinking.” Her folded hands clenched together in front of her. “I think that may be what Grunard wanted. He wanted to show me that even if he was on the run, he could still reach out and touch me. He wanted me to feel helpless and wonder what was happening to Jane. It worked. I nearly went crazy last night. Did Sarah call you?”

He nodded. “She gave me orders to make myself useful and bail you out.”

“It's kidnapping, Logan. No one's going to bail me out.”

“It might be possible. Extenuating circumstances. Barbara Eisley isn't being vindictive, and you're usually not a very dangerous character.” He paused. “But it would be better if you told them where Quinn is. They want to question him about his involvement with you.”

“I don't know where he is.”

“And you wouldn't tell if you did.” He stood up. “So I guess I'll see if I can find any judges in this town or in Atlanta I can influence.”

“Logan, where's Jane?”

“She's being held in the local Family Services center. She's being returned to Atlanta as soon as a caseworker comes to pick her up. Spiro told me to tell you that he's got people watching her.”

“That won't be enough.”

“Grunard is on the run.”

“He won't run far. It's getting too near the end of his game. If he ran away completely, it would mean he lost. He'll never admit that.” She paused. “If he can't get to me, he'll kill Jane. It's the logical move for him. He wants both of us, but he'll take Jane because it will hurt me.”

“Are you sure he knows it will hurt you?”

“Oh, yes.” She smiled without mirth. “The bastard even warned me never to let Dom see us together.”

“Nice.” His gaze narrowed on her face. “I'm tempted to let you stay in here for a while. At least you're safe.”

“And Jane becomes the target.”

“I can surround her with protection.”

“She was surrounded with protection in the welfare house and Dom could have gotten to her there.” Her voice vibrated with desperation. “If you can get me out of here, do it, Logan. I don't know how fast he'll move.”

He shook his head. “I don't like—”

“Please.”

He muttered a curse and rose abruptly to his feet. “I'll see what I can do. It may not be today. It could be another twenty-four hours.”

She stood up, and the guard moved forward to take her back to her cell. “Hurry.”

Another twenty-four hours.

The words replayed in her mind as she walked down the long corridor to her cell. The idea of any delay scared her to death. How long would Grunard wait?

It could be all right. Joe would be watching over Jane. He would take care of her.

And Grunard would be watching Joe. He would know that Joe was guarding Jane. Which meant Grunard would try to take out Joe first.

Sheer terror went through her at the thought.

I won't take chances if I don't have to. I've never wanted to live more than I do at this moment.

But she'd sent him to take a terrible chance. She'd made Joe a target.

Panic seared through her as the door of her cell clanged shut behind her. She was trapped there, helpless to do anything.

Calm down. She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. Panicking would be playing right into Grunard's hands. He was probably sitting somewhere now, picturing her in her cell, feeding on her fear and frustration.

Don't give him what he wants. He wants panic. Give him coolness. He wants mindless emotion. Give him logic.

Twenty-four hours.

Spend that time thinking about Grunard, going over every minute, every conversation of the last weeks. See if she could find a lead to him, a weakness that could be exploited. Pretend he was one of her skulls that had to be measured and then reconstructed. Use her mind, talents, and instinct.

She sat down on the bunk and leaned against the wall.

Stay away from the people I love, Dom. Think of me shivering, brooding in this cell. Enjoy it.

Then maybe, just maybe, I'll have enough time to find a way to win your damn game.

SHE WAS RELEASED
on bail at one forty-five the next afternoon. Logan met her outside the jail. “The good news is that I think all the charges will be dropped. Spiro's been discreetly putting pressure on Eisley.” He paused. “But until we get you cleared, you can't go near Jane. One of the terms of your release is that you're not seen within fifty city blocks of her. If you violate it, you get tossed right back in the slammer.”

“I expected that. She's all right?”

“She's okay. I have a man watching the local facility.” He took her arm as they started down the steps. “The caseworker from Atlanta is arriving today to take her back.”

“When?”

“Sometime this evening.”

“Then they'll probably leave tomorrow morning.”

His brows lifted as he held open the car door. “You're very calm.”

“No, I'm not.” She got into the car. “I'm scared shitless.”

“Well, you're different from yesterday.” He strode around to the driver's seat.

She took out her phone and dialed Joe's digital number. God, his voiced sounded wonderful.

“I'm out,” she said.

“Thank God.”

“Things are going to be happening. Soon.”

“If you're out, that goes without saying.”

“I'll call you.” She hung up.

“Quinn?”

She nodded.

He smiled sardonically. “But you had no idea where he is.”

“I still don't. I know only that he's guarding Jane.”

He dropped the subject. “Where do you want to go?”

“Back to the house. I have some work to do.”

“Work?”

“Telephone calls and then I need to get on the computer.”

“You're not planning to hire a hit man to get Grunard, I trust?”

“It's an appealing idea.” She shook her head. “But that's not what I had in mind.”

“Am I allowed to help?”