Bonnie

There was a silence. “You will?”

“Joe, for Pete’s sake, I told you I wasn’t trying to close you out. It’s just not possible for me to work with you right now.”

“Because of Gallo,” Joe said harshly.

“No, because of Bo

“But how?” he asked through set teeth. “Why?”

“That’s what we have to find out.”

“You told Joe we were going to San Antonio,” Gallo said. “How do you know that they won’t be there before us?”

“I don’t. But it wouldn’t be smart of them now that I’ve explained my position. And Joe and Catherine are both very smart. They don’t like it, but they trust me.” She added quietly, “And I won’t violate that trust, John. They’ve gone through hell, and they deserve to see the end of this. You set the rules, and I had to go by them.” She shook her head. “No, I wanted to go by them. You scared me. I know how you feel about your uncle. I’m not sure how you’d respond if it came to a choice.”

“I didn’t let him hurt Catherine.”

“But Joe said you took a chance on a risky throw. Why?”

“I wasn’t thinking, dammit. I couldn’t believe it was happening. I meant to aim for his back.”

“But you aimed for his hand.”

“It was too late to—” He drew a deep shaky breath. “I could have killed him with that bowie if I’d struck his back. I couldn’t kill him, Eve.”

“I know. And that’s why I don’t want to expose Joe and Catherine if you’re faced with that choice again.”

“But you’re willing to risk yourself,” he added mockingly. “It appears you’re not as smart as Joe and Catherine. Where’s your sense of self-preservation?”

“You’ll do what you have to do. I’m not afraid no matter what choice you make.”

“How fatalistic,” he said. “I’m not sure I like your attitude. You were always a fighter, Eve.”

“Who says I’m not now?” She shrugged. “But I guess I am a fatalist in this. I’ll do everything I can to survive, but this time I may not have any say in it.” She stared him in the eye. “And you might not either. It could be that’s why we’re supposed to be together.”

“Don’t be melodramatic. We’re not going to die,” he said. “I won’t accept any of that bull.” He was silent a moment. “I don’t want to die. There was a time, when I thought I might be the bastard who had killed Bo

“I’m surprised you didn’t latch on to the blame before this,” she said in exasperation. “Dammit, you said he was blaming everyone. Why should it be your fault if you didn’t kill Bo

“But it was my uncle who killed Jacobs. Who might have killed Bo

“Then it was his crime.”

“Maybe.” He pulled onto the entrance ramp for Mobile airport. “We’ll have to see, won’t we?”

CHAPTER

7

“FORGIVE ME, FATHER, FOR I HAVE si

“I know how you’ve fought them, Ted.” Father Barnabas paused before asking, “Just how did you strike out?”

“I don’t remember.” It was not the truth, and he’d have to confess that the next time he came to confession. Lying was only a small sin. But he couldn’t tell the priest what the demon had forced him to do. Father Barnabas was the only one who could save him, and this sin was too great to forgive. He might not intercede for him and he’d be left to burn in hell. That couldn’t happen, God listened to priests. “Forgive me, Father. It wasn’t my fault. I left him alone for years, but I couldn’t do it any longer. It would have destroyed me.”

“Only God can destroy you, Ted.” Another pause. “I haven’t seen you for weeks. I’ve told you before that the confessional is important for you. You need it.”

“I know. But I’ve been good, Father. My thoughts have been pure. I’ve done good deeds. I’ve tried to make amends for my sins. I know I shouldn’t have missed confession.” He whispered, “Nor have fought the demon. Give me a penance. Make me clean again.”

“If you don’t remember what you did, how can I know what penance to give you? Think. Tell me, Ted.”

He could feel himself being swayed by the priest’s persuasiveness as he always was whenever he was near him. All Father Barnabas had to do was stare into his eyes with that look that seemed to have almost hypnotic power, and Ted wanted to do anything, give anything. “I told you, I can’t do that. Why do you keep asking me?” He could feel the rage rising in him, and he had to control it. He had to remember that Father Barnabas wasn’t one of the demons, he was Da

“Ted, it’s not up to me. It’s in God’s hands. Let’s pray and ask Him for forgiveness.”

“He doesn’t listen to me.” His voice was tense with anger. “Why should He? You’re the one who has to get Him to forgive me. I couldn’t help it. It was like a giant wave of flame that was drowning me. I couldn’t see, couldn’t feel anything but the searing of the— He should have stopped me. I didn’t want to hurt them.”

“Them?” Father Barnabas asked slowly. “More than one demon?”

Alligators swarming in the dirty brown pond.

A dark-haired woman, beautiful as a Delilah from Hades, staring fiercely up at him as he had brought the knife down.

Not really demons. But he couldn’t accept that rage, not vengeance could make him do anything so horrible. If he did, then he’d be beyond all forgiveness. “I don’t remember.”

“I think you do, Ted.”

“No.” He wouldn’t remember. Why did the priest keep telling him to remember when it hurt him to do it? Was Father Barnabas his enemy, too? No, that couldn’t be true. Control those thoughts. Change the subject to the reason he was here. He forced a smile. “I’ll try to come here more often, Father. I promise. But I need you to help me now. Did you do what I asked?”

“Of course I did.”

He tensed. “Then tell me what I need to know.”

The priest shook his head.

Da

“I prayed,” Father Barnabas said gently. “I don’t always get an immediate answer. Sometimes, I don’t get the answer you want.”

Da