Hunting Eve

“Yes.”

She didn’t want to ask the question. Her glance shifted to the flames. The fire had spread, jumping from house to house. Soon, the entire town would be ablaze. The final death of a ghost town, she thought.

As if in response, she heard the mournful wail of a wolf somewhere in the foothills. Mourning the end of a town. Mourning the end of Eve …

She braced herself, then looked back at Venable. “What did you tell Caleb?”

“That I wouldn’t stage any attack without attempting to determine the location of the people in the house. Standard operating procedure. We had infrared scopes trained on the building.” He was standing very straight, looking her directly in the eye. “There were two people inside that saloon when it exploded.”

She couldn’t breathe. She felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach.

“Jane.” He stepped forward with hand outstretched. “I can’t tell—”

“Don’t touch me.” She jerked back from him. “I don’t want anyone to touch me.” No one but Eve. But Eve was somewhere in that hideous firestorm that was taking over the town.

Or maybe not. It could be that her Bo

But Joe believed that Bo

She got to her feet. “You’ve told me what you had to say. I don’t want to talk to you any longer, Venable.”

“I realize we had a disagreement about the way to free Eve, but it wasn’t any of my men who set off that explosion. I want you to know that. It’s going down in my report as a probable murder-suicide.”

“Very tidy.” She shook her head. “But I’m wondering how anything as chaotic as what went on here could be that tidy. Are you covering your ass, Venable?”

“I’m just doing my job. It’s the truth and—”

“I don’t want to hear any more,” she interrupted. “Not now.” She started across the distance to Joe. “I’ve got to tell Joe what you just told me, and I’m not looking forward to it.”

Put one foot in front of the other. Look straight at Joe. He was staring at her. Did you see me talking to Venable? Are you hoping against hope?

There’s no hope, Joe.

Except perhaps the hope that there’s a little girl somewhere who will love and take care of our Eve when we ca

She reached Joe and sank down on the ground beside him. “Hi.” Hold on. Don’t cry. Then he’d feel as if he had to comfort her. She leaned against his shoulder, touching, trying to give warmth when there was no warmth. “I have something to tell you, Joe.”

*   *   *

“YOU TOLD HER?”

Venable turned to see Zander standing in the shadows behind him. “Hello, Zander. Why are you lurking around here? Doane is dead. Your hunt is over.”

“You told Jane MacGuire about the infrared?”

“Yes. How did you know about that?”

“I was up the mountain talking to your tech guy five minutes after the saloon blew. I had him show me the recording. I needed to know.”

“Because you had to confirm the kill?”

He smiled faintly. “Of course, why else? You know what a stickler I am.”

“But you’re still here.”

“Because I have a feeling things aren’t quite right. You’re not quite right, Venable.” He glanced at Jane and Joe Qui

“Eve?”

“Yes, who else is this about? She’s the one who appears to reach out and touch everyone. Even you, Venable. Which is why I’m surprised that you’d risk her like that.” He added softly, “Perhaps she even reached out and touched me the faintest bit because I find I’m angry that you’d do that to her.”

Venable stiffened warily. “Is that a threat?”

“I don’t threaten. You wouldn’t even see it coming.” Zander turned away. “But my curiosity is flaring as high as this bonfire of a town. You’ll have to satisfy it, Venable. Or I’ll do it myself.”

The next moment he had faded once more into the shadows.

*   *   *

THE WOLF WAS HOWLING again.

Margaret lifted her head and looked away from the blazing fire to the foothills.

At first, she had thought that the cry sounded mournful, but that was not the case. There was distress and anger and something else in that lonely howl.

And why was the wolf sticking so close to this hellish firestorm? she wondered curiously.

She glanced at Jane, sitting with Joe and trying to hold away the horror that was already upon them. Jane did not need her right now. She probably wouldn’t even know that Margaret was gone.

The wolf howled again.

I’m coming. I’m not the one you want, but I have to know …

She started to walk toward the trees.

By the time she reached the foothills, she realized the wolf was a male, and he was not alone.

Careful. Go slowly. A wolf pack was very dangerous. She could sometimes reason or soothe a single wolf if he proved intelligent. She had also even dealt effectively with packs. But the pack mentality often overcame everything else … and left only carnage.

Where are you? I won’t hurt you. Let me come close, and I’ll show you.

She stopped, listening, reaching out.

The grove of white birch.

She could feel the tiny hairs on the back of her neck tingle and lift as she approached. She could see flashes of gray and white weaving among the trees. How many were there?

She didn’t want to know. Even three could bring you down and make a meal of you.

There were more than three.

She closed out all the wolves but the male who had been howling, calling. Kerak. Was that how he thought of himself? The impression was strong, but his mind was elusive … and very fierce.

But she was getting something else from him now.

Go away. He has to go away.

Not departure. Death. He was talking about death.

Not Margaret’s death. Even though she was an intruder.

He? Who had to die? She formed a picture in her mind. Doane?

A fierce explosion of hate that was completely uninterpretable.

And it was coming not only from the male, Kerak, but from all the wolves skulking in those trees.

She shivered and stopped in her tracks. Should she turn around and go back? This could be fatally stupid. Why was it so important to her? It had started as curiosity, but there was another element present now. She had never joined with any animal that had displayed this complex an emotional response.

And it had something to do with that explosion and fire in the valley.

She had to know what had triggered it.

She addressed Kerak directly.

I can’t be sure you’re not angry with me. Are you?

No answer.

Just that wild flow of hatred.

I’m coming into the grove, and I’m going to sit down. I’ll be very quiet, and I’ll let myself be open to you. Will you let yourself be open to me?

No answer.

She drew a deep breath and entered the birch grove.

I’m here. I’m not going to hurt you.

She sat down on the ground and crossed her legs.

She could hear a rustle in the shrubs, and out of the corner of her eye saw the soft flow of gray and white moving behind her, on either side of her, in front of her.

Green eyes glowing in the dimness.

She could feel her heart pounding. She could count at least six moving bodies encircling her in the trees.

Would they attack?

Too late to worry now. Open your mind. Let the male wolf see.

She closed her eyes.

You see who I am. Now let me see who you are. Why were you watching that ghost town?

No answer.

Who has to die?