Hunting Eve

His phone pinged, and he accessed the map Weiner had sent him.

The tower encompassed a hell of a large area. Google it for any likely buildings? No, he could do that on the way. Time to start moving.

He got to his feet and called Stang. “I’m heading for Colorado. Call the airport and tell them to get the plane ready for takeoff.”

Stang was silent. “You’re going after her,” he said softly. “You’re going after Eve, aren’t you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m going after Doane.” He headed for the door. “I’ll call you if I need anything.”

Lake Cottage

KENDRA COULD SEE THE CAR’S headlights jerkily emerge from the lake surface as the crane lifted it. The bank was swarming with people, and it was daylight bright from the floods. A tall, older man appeared to be giving the orders. That must be Venable, she thought; he breathed authority.

She stopped some distance away to avoid getting in the way and watched the crane do its work.

“Hi, you must be Kendra. Joe Qui

Kendra turned to see a young girl step out of the trees. Slim, medium height, light brown hair, probably not over nineteen or twenty. She was tan and glowing with the sheen of sheer vitality. She wore jeans and a shirt, and her bare feet were in thongs. She was smiling, and Kendra instinctively smiled back. “Yes, and you are?”

“Margaret Douglas.”

“Oh, the friend of the family?”

“Is that what they called me?” Margaret’s smile broadened to delighted brilliance. “That’s nice. What else did they say?”

“Not much. Except that you were an informant.” No one could appear less likely in that role than this young, vibrant girl. “Is that true?”

“Well, sort of … more of an interpreter.” She giggled. “Informants hang out in dark parking garages like that Watergate story about Deep Throat, don’t they?”

“I’m not sure. I guess there are informants and informants. Where do you hang out?” She looked down at Margaret’s semibare feet. “The beach?”

“Sometimes. I just came from an island in the Caribbean, and I’m used to my flip-flops. Where’s Joe? Why didn’t he come with you?”

“He had something else to do.” She took a step closer to the bank as the blue car was lifted high by the crane. “Jane MacGuire wasn’t doing too well. I told him to take her to the hospital.”

“Dammit. I thought she looked bad earlier tonight.” Margaret was looking back at the cottage. “And it looks like Joe’s going to do as you suggested. I see the headlights of his car.” She was frowning. “I should be with her.”

“No one can take better care of her than Qui

“You’re wrong. It’s my job. She saved my life and took that bullet for me. When Doane’s partner, Blick, was targeting Jane, she pushed me aside. I owe her.”

“And that’s why you’re here?”

“I owe her,” Margaret repeated. “You have to pay your debts.”

“You must be doing your best to do that if you’re involving yourself to the extent of delving and acting as an informant to—”

“Wait.” Margaret held up her hand. “I can see why Joe was casting around for a way to explain my presence without going into awkward details. He didn’t want to have to defend me. According to what he told me, you’re all high-powered brainpower and logical deductions. You’re going to have problems with me. But I can’t go along with it. I’ve found it easier to be honest with people if I can. Then they can take me or leave me.”

“I don’t have to do either,” Kendra said. “I can’t see that we’ll do much interacting. I work alone.”

“Do you?” Margaret beamed. “So do I. It’s easier, isn’t it? We may be more alike than I thought.” She tilted her head. “Nah, not likely.” She glanced at the suspended car, which was being tilted forward as it was being brought closer to the bank. “They’ll have it down soon and you can get to work. I hope your magic works.”

“It’s not magic, it’s observation.”

“Whatever.” Margaret was looking absently over her shoulder at the receding taillights of Joe’s car going down the drive. “I should be with her. I’m not doing any good here. I’ve told Joe and Venable all I know about this car. It’s up to you now.”

“You told him that there would be a body in that car, the farmer from whom Doane stole the truck.”

“That’s right.”

“You were wrong.” Kendra could see the entire interior of the car because of the tilting of the crane. “No body.”

“It’s in the trunk,” Margaret said with certainty. “Doane wrapped the body in a tarp and stuffed it in the trunk.”

“Who told you that? Did you see it?”

“No, I didn’t see it.” She frowned as she glanced back at Kendra. Joe’s taillights had disappeared from view and with them a little of her patience. “Look, I have to round up one of the officers to give me a lift to go after Jane. Go tell Venable to be careful when he opens the trunk. If there is any evidence left after that dunking, it will probably be there.”

“If you didn’t see it happen, who told you the body was in the trunk?”

“It’s a bullet wound to the head, so I doubt if Venable will be able to get any forensic material after his being under water all that time.” Margaret was already walking away from the bank and back toward the cottage. “But maybe I’m wrong. I’m not like you. I don’t know much about all that scientific stuff.”

“You’re not answering me. Who told you that there was a body in that trunk?”

“A feral.” Margaret’s pace increased. “But he’s pretty reliable.”

“Dammit, what’s that supposed to mean?” Kendra called after her. “Feral? Is that a gang member? Maybe some kind of private-detective organization?”

“No.” Margaret was almost out of sight in the darkness beneath the trees. “Just a cat. I’ll see you later.”

“A cat?” Kendra was standing, riveted, staring after her. “What in hell do you—” Kendra broke off in frustration as she realized Margaret was out of range and couldn’t hear her. The exchange with Margaret had been thoroughly aggravating and bewildering. The girl had a su

Venable. He was no Peter Pan, and she could count on concrete logical answers from a CIA agent.

She turned away and moved toward the agent in a brown leather jacket who was now motioning the crane to lower the blue car on the bank. “Agent Venable?”

“I’m busy.”

“That’s clear. I won’t bother you. I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Dr. Kendra Michaels. Joe Qui

“Yeah, he told me.” The blue car was safely on the bank, and he motioned the crane crew to take off the chains. “Though I don’t know what you’re going to be able to tell from this baby.”

“Neither do I. But at least it’s not salt water. That could seriously damage any remaining evidence.” Her gaze went to the interior of the car, which was still a quarter filled with water that was pouring out of the closed doors. “We’ll just have to see. Qui

Venable frowned. “Shit. I was afraid that would happen. She’s been ru

“He’ll survive. It’s Jane who is fighting the infection.” She walked around the rear of the car. “I ran into Margaret Douglas when I first got here. Interesting.”

“You could say that,” Venable said dryly.

“She said to give you a message. You’re supposed to be careful of damaging evidence when you open the trunk. She said that’s where the farmer’s body has been stuffed. He’s wrapped in a tarp.” She met his gaze. “Though she doubts that you’ll be able to get very much trace evidence. There was no struggle, and he was shot in the head.”