“Then that will be fine”—Eve looked at the driver's ID on the panel—“Mr. Brendle.” She put her arm around Jane, who was leaning against her. “Anyplace with a bed.”
“Bob. Good beds too. Mrs. Tolvey's been running the place for over twenty years, and she changes all the mattresses every five years.”
“Incredible,” Spiro said.
“Well, they don't get used that often.”
“Twenty years,” Joe repeated, looking at Spiro. “My, what a coincidence.”
“Charlie's a good man. It's a long shot, but still we may find out something from Mrs. Tolvey.”
“Will she have enough rooms for us?” Joe asked the cabdriver.
“Six rooms. All clean as a whistle.” He nodded. “It's right up ahead. Two blocks.”
The bed and breakfast was a large gray house with a wooden swing on the wide front porch. A light gleamed beside the storm door.
“You go on and knock.” Bob got out of the car. “I'll get your bags.”
“Wait,” Spiro said. “Do you have a bar in this town?”
“You've got to be kidding. Four.” Bob pulled the overnight cases out of the trunk. “You want to go get a drink first?”
“Is there one where all the regulars go?”
“Cal Simm's place on Third Street.”
“Take me there.” He turned to Eve. “I want to see if I can find out anything before tomorrow. Check me in and tell Mrs. Tolvey I'll be along in a few hours.”
Eve nodded. To Joe, Spiro said, “You'll talk to Mrs. Tolvey?”
“You'd better believe it.”
The taxi was pulling away when Mrs. Tolvey opened the front door. Dressed in a pale green chenille robe, she was in her late fifties with short, curly brown hair and a wide smile.
“I saw Bob drop you off. I'm Nancy Tolvey. Need a room?”
“Three.” Joe picked up the bags and entered the foyer. “A twin for Ms. Duncan and the little girl, a single next door for me. We have a friend who will be back a little later. We'll check him in too.”
“Fine. But we don't have any twins. A queen okay?”
Eve nodded.
“Suppose you show Eve and Jane upstairs and I'll stay down here to sign us in,” Joe said.
Eve picked up her and Jane's bags, and Nancy Tolvey led the way.
The room she showed Eve was clean and bright with pale green ivy twining on cream-colored wallpaper. “No private bathroom. It's down the hall.”
“You heard her, Jane,” Eve said. “You shower first. I'll bring your pajamas to you as soon as I unpack them.”
“Okay.” Jane yawned. “I don't know why I'm so sleepy.”
“The altitude,” Nancy Tolvey said. “You must not be from around here.”
“We came from Phoenix.”
She nodded. “I visited there once. Too hot. I couldn't ever get used to that kind of climate after living here all my life.”
All her life . . .
Joe had told Spiro he'd talk to Nancy Tolvey, but Eve might as well do it herself. “We're trying to locate a family who may have lived here a long time ago. The Baldridges?”
“Baldridges?” Nancy Tolvey was silent a moment and then shook her head. “I don't think so. I don't recall anyone by that name living here.” She headed for the stairs. “I'll bring you up some more bath towels.”
It had been worth a try, Eve thought. Maybe they'd find out something tomorrow.
NANCY TOLVEY WAS frowning as she came down the stairs.
“Something wrong?” Joe asked.
She sat down at the old-fashioned writing desk in the foyer. “It's nothing.” She opened the guest book. “Sign here, please. Name, address, driver's license.” She was still frowning as she watched him register. “You'll share the bath with your friends. We don't have—” She closed her eyes. “The candles . . .”
“I hoped you had electricity,” Joe said dryly.
Her lids flicked open. “No, that's not what I meant. Miss Duncan asked me about the Baldridge family, and I told her I couldn't remember anyone around here by that name.”
Joe stiffened. “But you do?”
“I didn't want to talk about it, but, yes, I remember.” She smiled bitterly. “There's no way I could forget. And not talking about it isn't going to make it go away, is it? I've done that for years.”
“The Baldridges lived here in town?”
She shook her head. “It was up north of Dillard.”
“Near Jamison?”
“No, the tent was up farther in the mountains.”
“Tent?”
“Old man Baldridge was an evangelist. A real fire-and-brimstone preacher. He had a big tent on this plateau in the middle of the mountains, where he gave his sermons.” She made a face. “When I was in my teens, I slept around a little. Well, maybe a lot. My daddy thought I needed my soul saved. When he heard about Reverend Baldridge's tent show, he drove me up there one night. And believe me, it was quite a show. The reverend scared the daylights out of me.”
“Why?”
“He looked like death warmed over. White face, dirty gray hair, and his eyes . . .”
“How old was he?”
“Sixty, maybe. He looked real old to me. I was only fifteen.”
Then the evangelist couldn't have been Dom, Joe thought.
“He shouted at me,” Nancy Tolvey continued. “He stood up there, waving that red candle, telling me what a whore I was.”
“Red candle?”
“The whole tent was full of candles. No electricity. Just big iron candelabras filled with candles. We all got a candle when we came in. Children got white ones. The rest of us got red or pink.” She shook her head. “I never forgave my daddy for taking me there and letting Baldridge drag me up to the altar and tell everyone what a sinner I was.”
“I can see why it's impossible to forget.”
“I remember crying and jerking away from him. I ran out of the tent and down the hill to our car. My father came after me and tried to make me go back, but I wouldn't go. He finally took me home. I got married and moved out six weeks later.”
“Who else was in the tent that night?”
“There were so many people there. Why are you looking for him? Is he any relation?”
“No. Actually, we're looking for his family.”
She shook her head. “I don't know about that. You'll have to ask someone else.”
“Can you point me to anyone who might remember anything about the reverend?”
“Daddy heard about him through the Bloom Street Baptist Church. A lot of the members were driving up to the revival on weekends. Someone there might know something.” She smiled crookedly. “That was the church where I was baptized, but I never went back. I was too afraid someone had been there when that old devil screamed out what a sinner I was.”
“You never heard about the reverend again?”
“You think I'd want to hear or think about him again? I wasn't a bad kid. What's sex anyway? He shouldn't have done that to me.” She drew a deep breath. “I'm getting all upset over nothing. It was so long ago. I've lived a happy life since then. Funny how the things that happen to you as a kid leave the deepest scars, isn't it?”
“Maybe not so funny.”
She stood up. “I was going to bring up more towels. You're in the room at the top of the stairs, next to Miss Duncan and the kid.”
Joe watched her walk down the hall. He had struck pay dirt.
“AN EVANGELIST,” EVE repeated. “Dom's father?”
Joe shrugged. “Or grandfather. She said he was nearly sixty.”
“Everyone over thirty looks decrepit to a fifteen-year-old.”
“True.”
“Candles had some sort of significance for the preacher. His flock's state of grace?”
“More likely degree of sin.”
“And Dom carries on the judgment?” She shook her head. “He's very smart. He knows why he's killing. He likes it.”
“But, as Nanc
y Tolvey says, things that happen in your childhood scar and stay with you.”
“So what happened to him that could have turned him into a mass murderer?”
Joe shrugged. “Who knows? We'll go to the Baptist church tomorrow and see if we can find out anything else.”
“Could Dom's father still be alive?”
“Possibly. He'd be pretty old.” He bent his head and brushed a kiss on her nose. “Go to sleep. I'll wait up for Spiro and tell him what we've learned.”
“It's more than I expected.” Excitement tingled through her. They were getting close. Dom was no longer a complete enigma. “And tomorrow we'll know more.”
“Don't get your hopes up.”
“Don't be silly. Of course I'll get my hopes up.”
Joe smiled. “I shouldn't complain. Hope's very healthy for you.”
“Stop sounding as if I'm a nutcase and you're my psychoanalyst.”
“Sorry. I've become accustomed to analyzing every move you make. It comes of standing wistfully on the sidelines.”
“Wistful isn't in your vocabulary.” She hurriedly looked away from him. “Jane's in bed. Will you keep an eye on her while I shower?”
“I won't take a step away from your door.”
She could feel his gaze on her as she walked down the hall, feeling weak-kneed. Since the trip had begun, Joe had fallen back into the role of old friend. He hadn't said anything too personal until just then, and his words brought the memory of the previous night rushing back to her.
It was very unsettling to realize her feelings for Joe could almost overwhelm her eagerness at what they'd learned about Dom.
JOE WAS WAITING when Eve and Jane came down the stairs the next morning. “I'm afraid we'll have to skip Mrs. Tolvey's breakfast. I have a taxi outside. Spiro's waiting for us.”
“He's not here?”
“No, he called me about three in the morning. At the bar he got a lead on Reverend Baldridge, and he's been up all night.”
“Did you tell him we should go to the Baptist church?”
Joe nodded. “He said it's not necessary. After he found out about the tent revival, he tracked down Reverend Piper, who's the pastor of the Bloom Street church, and woke him up.” Joe shrugged as she stared at him in surprise. “Nobody said Spiro isn't ruthless when he's on the trail.”
“He found out something?”
“He found the place where the reverend gave his sermons. It's a fairly long drive. We're going to meet Spiro there.”
SPIRO WAS STANDING alone on top of a hill. Patches of snow dotted the ground and gray clouds hovered over the mountains in the distance.
The driver parked at the bottom of the hill.
“Pay off the taxi, Joe,” Spiro called out. “I'll drive you back. I commandeered Reverend Piper's car.” Spiro smiled sardonically as he nodded at the brown Ford parked some distance away. “There are times when being FBI comes in handy.”
Jane ran up the hill and looked around. The ground was utterly barren; tatters of seared cloth clung to the numerous blackened stakes driven into the earth. “A fire?”
“Yes,” Spiro answered.
Eve felt suddenly cold. “What happened here?”
“Do you want to send the child to the car?” Spiro asked.
Jane was wandering slowly some distance away.
“No, I won't shut her out. She deserves to know everything we know.”
“And what do we know?” Joe had joined them. “When did this happen?”
“Twenty-nine years ago.”
“An accident?”
“It was presumed to be an accident. Everyone knew about all the candles. The tent was a fire waiting to happen.”
“Any fatalities?”
“No bodies were found. Services were held here every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The fire must have happened earlier in the week, because the site was found exactly like this when the first carload of people came that weekend.”
“Was there an investigation?”
“Of course. But no one could find Reverend Baldridge. It was decided that he had moved on. Evangelists are usually traveling men, and he wasn't very popular with the authorities anyway. He'd been warned about the candles being a fire hazard.”
“Did he move on?”
“We'll have to find out, won't we?” Spiro glanced around. “Christ, this place is weird.”
Eve felt the same way. “If the fire happened that long ago, why hasn't the grass grown back?”
“What else did you find out?” Joe asked. “What about his family? What did Reverend Piper tell you about Kevin Baldridge?”
“He doesn't remember a Kevin. His father was the pastor of the Bloom Street Baptist Church when Reverend Baldridge was preaching here. He was only a boy when his father brought him up here for services. He met Mrs. Baldridge once, but the only sons he recalls are Ezekiel and Jacob. He never met Kevin.”
“But we know there's a Kevin. Mrs. Harding met him.”
“If he was here, he was kept out of sight.” Spiro shook his head. “Though why is a mystery. It seems old Baldridge kept everyone in the family busy at the services, handing out candles, passing the collection plates . . .”
“I don't like it here.” Jane was standing beside Eve. “When can we go?”
Even Jane was feeling bad vibes, Eve realized. “Soon. Want to go wait in the car?”
Jane shook her head and moved closer. “I'll wait for you.”
“We might as well all go,” Spiro said. “There's nothing we can do right now. We'll hop back to Phoenix and I'll get a team to come here and go over the site.”
“After two decades and a fire?”
“No one searched for graves in the area.”
“You don't think Reverend Baldridge just moved on, do you?”
“I have to investigate every possibility. The old man seems to have been pretty unpleasant.”
“Yes.” Joe's gaze wandered around the campground. “Fanatics usually cause a lot of misery.”
“Well, if Kevin Baldridge is Dom, he's created more than his share of misery.” Spiro started down the hill. “Like father, like son.”
“Maybe it isn't Kevin. Maybe it's one of the other brothers.” Eve followed Spiro.
“But where was Kevin when the services were going on?” Spiro said. “It smacks of rebellion against the old man.” He glanced over his shoulder. “What are you doing, Quinn?”
Joe was kneeling, digging into the soft soil with a hand. “Just checking something.” He lifted a palmful of dirt to his mouth and touched his tongue to it. “Salt.”
Eve stopped in her tracks. “What?”
“Like you, I was wondering why nothing had grown back.” Joe brushed his palm clean as he stood up. “Someone plowed the area with salt either before or after the fire. He didn't want anything to live in this place again.”
IT WAS EARLY evening when they arrived back in Phoenix. Spiro left them at the airport and Joe, Eve, and Jane arrived at Logan's house after nine o'clock.
To Eve's surprise, Logan himself was sitting on the couch, playing cards with Sarah, when they walked into the living room.
“It's about time.” He threw down his cards and stood up. “Why the hell didn't you tell me you were leaving town?”
“I'm glad you're back,” Sarah said. “He's been here for hours driving Monty and me bats. He wouldn't leave and then he wanted me to amuse him.”
Logan scowled at her. “You cheated.”
“I'm just a better poker player than you are. What do you think rescue teams do between searches?” She rose to her feet. “You deal with him, Eve. Monty and I are tired of watching him brood.”
“I don't brood.”
Sarah didn't argue. “Come on, Jane. You look as tired as I feel. Rough trip?”
“It was creepy there.” Jane stooped to pat Monty. “Come on, boy. Let's go to bed.”
The retriever stretched and then followed Sarah and Jane from the room.
Logan's gaze
followed Sarah. “She's still holding a grudge.”
“She played cards with you,” Joe said.
“Because she wanted to beat my ass.” He turned to Eve and went on the attack. “Didn't it occur to you that I'd be worried when Booker told me you'd left the house?”
“I was in a hurry. Spiro had a lead. I honestly didn't think of it.” She supposed she should have called Logan, she thought wearily. “I'm sorry, Logan.”
“Leave her alone.” Joe was behind her, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders. “She has enough problems without trying to pacify you.”
“Be quiet, Joe. He's been trying to help me. I shouldn't have made him worry.”
“I don't mind worrying if I can get my teeth into a problem. I can't stand being shut out of—” Logan stopped, staring at Eve and then at Joe standing behind her. “It's over, isn't it? He's done it.”
“What?”
“He's won. He's finally got what he wants. God, it couldn't be more clear.” He smiled without mirth. “I should have known that I was fighting a lost cause. I could fight Quinn, but I can't fight you, Eve. From the time he came to the island, you wanted to follow him home.”
“Because of Bonnie.”
“Maybe.” Logan looked at them for a long while. “You take care of her, Quinn.”
“You don't have to tell me that.”
“Yes, I do. Because I'm warning, not stating. If I can help, call me, Eve.”
“She won't need your help,” Joe said.
“You can never tell.”
She couldn't stand it. She wouldn't let him leave like this. “Joe, I want to talk to Logan alone.”
Joe didn't move.
“Joe.”
“Okay.” He left the room.
“Why do I feel that he's lurking in the hall?” Logan asked.
“Because he probably is.” She tried to smile. “You should take it as a compliment.”
“Should I?”
“He realizes how much you mean to me. How much you'll always mean to me.”
“But evidently not enough.”
“What's enough? It hurts me when you hurt. It makes me happy when you're happy. If you ever need me, I'll be there for you. Isn't that enough?”
“It's a lot. Not as satisfying as what I wanted, but I'll take it.” He paused. “Just for my own curiosity, how did Quinn do it?”