Hunting Eve

“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 disco

“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 spi

“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 disco

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 Qui

“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.”