Bonnie

“Not what it seems,” the priest said. “But you’ll have to accept that if you want to find Da

He tensed. “You’re going to tell me where I can find Da

“I’m going to tell you where we can start.”

“We?”

“I told you, I’m going with you,” Father Barnabas said quietly. “I’m not going to give up my chance of saving Da

Joe frowned. “It’s a lousy idea. You could get hurt. You’d get in my way.”

“Your concern is truly touching. It’s a possibility, but just because I wear a white collar is no sign that I haven’t lived in the real world. I was in the army myself when I was a kid fresh out of high school. I know how to survive.”

“But not how to attack. Or if you did know, you chose to forget it. I don’t believe in turning the other cheek, and I don’t like the idea of having to protect you when you do.”

“Get used to it. I’m going to be with you until we find Da

Joe stared at him in exasperation. The priest’s expression was calm but completely resolute. “We’ll talk about it. What’s your starting point?”

“You mean you’ll try to talk me out of it.”

“What’s the starting point?”

“The little girl.”

“What? Bo

“He never mentioned her name. When I asked who he was referring to when he spoke about a little girl, he never answered. He just continued talking about her.” He frowned thoughtfully. “For a little while, I thought that she was a fantasy in one of his delusions. Then I believed I caught a hint of pain, and I wondered if he couldn’t bear to recognize her, put a name to her. That could be more likely if he killed her as Eve thinks.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe it. He loves children.” Then he said soberly. “Or perhaps I can. A sin like that could turn a man to madness. But I can’t promise that the child Da

“He’s crazy. It’s got to be Bo

“It seems likely. As I said, I believe we have to look to the child. We have to find her, and we may find him.”

“So simple,” Joe said bitterly. “We’ve been trying to find Bo

The priest nodded. “Da

Joe shook his head. “Bo

“Maybe God didn’t want her to be found. He does things in His own time.”

“I can’t be that philosophic. Why do you think that we’ll find Da

“If it’s a hallucination then it has a home, a place where Da

“A home? What do you mean?”

“Four years ago, Da

“How?”

The priest shook his head. “He was usually irrational by the time he started to speak of the child. And his attitude changed as time went on. She was suddenly no longer a child to protect but to fear. Toward the last, he was frightened, agitated. He wanted her to go away. But he said that she wouldn’t go until he gave her what she wanted. He seemed to think that I should be able to know what that was. He’d ask me several times in the periods that we came together.”

“And you believe whenever he left you, he’d go back to the child?”

“I can’t be positive. As I said, he was irrational. But I thought at the time that was what he was doing.”

“And you believe that would be where he would take Eve? How certain are you?”

“Enough so that’s where I was going to go to find Da

Joe began to feel a flare of hope. It was a slim chance, but it was something to go on. “And where is this charity camp? South, you said?”

He nodded. “Near Jasper, Georgia.”

“Will you give me the telephone number of this administrator … Daltrop?”

“I’ll call him myself … on the drive down to see him. I’ve already phoned him and asked him if he could give me an address for Da

“I didn’t say I was going to go down to the camp. As you said, it’s definitely not a sure thing. I don’t have time for mistakes. I’ll talk to—” His phone rang, and he glanced at the ID. Catherine.

“I have to take this, Father.” He punched the button. “Have you zeroed in on him?”

“Yes, Da

“Which direction is he heading now?”

“Due south.”

“Keep me informed.” He hung up and looked at the priest. “South.”

Father Barnabas nodded. “Give me ten minutes to change clothes and grab an overnight bag. I’ve already spoken to Father Dominic about taking over for me.” He got to his feet and smiled. “Don’t be so troubled. I’m not your responsibility. I either go with you or by myself.”

“You know you’re not giving me any choice.”

“There has to be a balance, Detective. Just as there is in a court of law. I’m for the defense.”

“Maybe. But it’s Eve who needs the defense.”

“She has you and all the people who care about her.” He moved down the path toward the sanctuary. “I won’t be long, Detective.”

“Joe.” It was a surrender. “Evidently we’re going to be on fairly informal terms.”

“Kevin. If it will make you more comfortable to think of me in a more secular way.”

“It won’t. You are what you are. And I’m not sure what that is at the moment. Besides, I thought you were supposed to have abandoned that other life entirely.”

He shook his head. “I just tried to add to it and let it enrich me. In most cases, I succeeded.” He disappeared into the sanctuary.

CHAPTER

12

HOW FAR HAD THEY GONE? Eve wondered wearily. She had lost track after the first seven or eight miles. It had been dark for some hours now, and that distance must have increased accordingly. The paths that Da

The path they were on now was particularly bad because it was following a shallow creek bed and her feet were wet and the mud was sucking at her shoes.

She muttered a curse as one shoe was pulled off her right foot. She balanced on the other foot as she reached down to retrieve the shoe.