The Killing Game

  “Easy.” Joe took her hand and gently squeezed it. “Take it easy, Eve.”

  “Don't tell me to take it easy. Bonnie might have been found and you expect me to be calm about it?”

  “I don't want you to get your hopes up. The kid might be older. The time she was in the ground might be longer or shorter.”

  “It might be her.”

  “It's a possibility.”

  She closed her eyes. Bonnie.

  “And it might not.”

  “I could bring her home,” she whispered. “I could bring my baby home.”

  “Eve, you're not listening. It's far from a sure thing.”

  “I'm listening. I know that.” But she was closer than she'd come all these years. It could be Bonnie. “Can we check dental records?”

  He shook his head. “No teeth in any of the skulls.”

  “What?”

  “We think the killer pulled the teeth to prevent identification.”

  She flinched. Smart move. Brutal but smart. Fraser had been smart. “There's still DNA. Could you get enough samples for tests?”

  “We got some from the bone marrow. The lab's processing it. But you know the results could take a while.”

  “What about using the same private lab we used last time?”

  “Teller's not doing DNA profiling any longer. He wasn't pleased with all the publicity his lab got on the job he did for us.”

  “Then how long?”

  “Four weeks minimum.”

  “No. I'd go crazy. I have to know.” She drew a deep breath. “Will they let me reconstruct her face?”

  “Are you sure you want to?”

  “Of course I want to.” Seeing Bonnie's face come to life beneath her hands . . .

  “It's going to be traumatic for you.”

  “I don't care.”

  “I do,” he said roughly. “I don't like to see you bleed.”

  “I won't bleed.”

  “The hell you won't. You're bleeding now.”

  “I have to do it, Joe.”

  “I know.” He looked out at the sea. “That's why I came.”

  “Can you get them to let me do it?”

  “I've already set it up.”

  “Thank God.”

  “It could be the biggest mistake I've ever made.”

  “No, it's the right thing, the kind thing.”

  “Bullshit.” He started back for the house. “It's probably the single most selfish thing I've done in my life.”

  “What do you know about the killings?”

  “I'll fill you in on the details on the plane. I have tickets for both of us on a flight tomorrow afternoon from Tahiti. Is that too soon?”

  “No.” Logan. She had to tell Logan. “I'll pack tonight.”

  “After you tell Logan.”

  “Yes.”

  “I could tell him.”

  “Don't be stupid. Logan deserves to hear it from me.”

  “Sorry. You're a little overwrought. I only meant to—”

  “What a puny word. Southern belles are overwrought. Scarlett O'Hara might be overwrought. I'm not overwrought.”

  He smiled. “Well, you're better than you were a few minutes ago.”

  Was she? The dread of facing Logan and telling him she was leaving had superseded other emotions, but as soon as the job was done and she was alone, the pain would come flooding back.

  Then face it. Let the pain come. She had faced it for years. She could face it again. She could face anything now.

  She had a chance to bring Bonnie home.

  Phoenix, Arizona

  Dom placed the candle in Debby Jordan's hand and rolled her into the grave he'd dug for her.

  He had hurt her. He'd thought he'd evolved beyond the primitive need for the victim's pain. But in the middle of the kill he'd suddenly realized he wasn't feeling enough and he'd panicked. He'd pierced and torn in a frenzy of frustration. If the pleasure of the kill disappeared, what was left for him? How could he go on living?

  Smother the panic. It would be all right. He had always known this day would come, and the problem was not unsolvable. He just had to find a way to bring freshness and challenge back to the kill.

  Debby Jordan was not a portent of the ultimate boredom and deadness he feared most. It didn't matter that he had hurt her.

  DAMMIT, SHE HAD hurt him.

  Eve gazed out at the surf gently rushing against the shore. She'd run out to the beach after she'd spoken to Logan hours ago, and she'd been sitting there ever since, trying to regain her composure.

  There was already so much pain inflicted by strangers in this world; why did she have to hurt someone she cared about?

  “You told him?”

  She turned her head to see Joe standing a few yards away. “Yes.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Not much. Not after I told him it might be Bonnie.” She smiled sadly. “He said you'd played the one card he couldn't top.”

  “He's right.” Joe sat down beside her. “Bonnie's always the indisputable factor in all our lives.”

  “Only in mine. You never knew her, Joe.”

  “I know her. You've told me so much about her that I feel as if she's my child.”

  “Really? Did I tell you how much she loved life? Every morning she'd come and jump on my bed and ask me what we were going to do, what we were going to see that day. She radiated love. I grew up choking on bitterness and poverty and I used to wonder why I was given a child like Bonnie. I didn't deserve her.”

  “You deserved her.”

  “After she came I tried to deserve her.” Eve forced a smile. “I'm sorry, you're right. I shouldn't burden you with this.”

  “It's no burden.”

  “Sure it is. It should be only my albatross.”

  “Not possible. When you're hurting, everyone around you feels it.” He picked up a handful of sand and let it slowly sift through his fingers. “Bonnie's still here. For all of us.”

  “You, Joe?”

  “Sure, could it be any different? You and I have been together for a long time.”

  Since that nightmare time after Bonnie had disappeared. He had been an agent with the FBI then, younger, less cynical, capable of being shocked and horrified. He had tried to comfort her, but there had been no comfort in the world during that hideous period. Yet he had somehow managed to pull her back single-handedly from a nearly fatal depression until she could function on her own. She grimaced. “I don't know why you stick around. I'm a lousy friend. I never think about anything but my work. I'm selfish as hell or I would have known you and Diane were having trouble. Why do you put up with me?”

  “I wonder sometimes.” He tilted his head, as if considering. “I suppose I'm used to you. It's too much trouble to make new friends, so I guess I'll have to keep you.”

  “Thank God.” She drew up her knees and linked her arms around them. “I hurt him, Joe.”

  “Logan's tough. He'll get over it. He knew you weren't going to be a sure thing when he lured you here.”

  “He didn't lure me here. He was trying to help.”

  Joe shrugged. “Maybe.” He stood up and pulled her to her feet. “Come on, I'll walk you back to the house. You've been out here long enough.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I saw you run out. I've been waiting on the terrace.”

  “All this time?”

  He smiled. “I didn't have any other pressing engagements. I figured you needed the time alone, but now you should go to bed.”

  He had stood there in the darkness, silent, strong, waiting patiently until he could help her. She suddenly felt stronger herself, more optimistic. “I'm not going back to the house but you can walk me back to the lab. I have some work to do and then I have to pack.”

  “Do you need help?”

  She shook her head. “I can manage.” She headed toward the small house a hundred yards away. “I've just been putting it off.”

  “Second thoughts?”
/>
  “You know better.” She opened the door of the lab and turned on the light. “But sad thoughts. Regretful thoughts.” She moved toward the computer on the desk. “Go away. I have to finish this age progression. It's been a long time for Libby's mother. She's almost given up hope.”

  “Nice place.” Joe's gaze was wandering around the room, from the beige couch heaped with orange and gold pillows to the framed pictures on the bookcase. “You've made it yours. Where's the sculpture you've been working on?”

  She nodded at the pedestal beside the large picture window. “Your bust is a work in progress. But there's a finished one of Mom in the armoire beside the door.”

  “My bust?” He stared at it. “Good God, it is me.”

  “Don't be flattered. I didn't have any models, and I know your face almost as well as I do my own.”

  “Jesus, I can see you do.” He touched the bridge of the nose. “I never realized anyone noticed that little bump. I broke it playing football.”

  “You should have had it taken care of at the time.”

  He grinned. “But then I would have been too perfect.” He paused. “I'd have thought you'd do one of Bonnie.”

  “I tried. I couldn't do it. I just found myself staring at the clay.” She adjusted her glasses and brought up the picture of Libby on the monitor. “Maybe later.”

  “But you think you can reconstruct the little girl's skull?”

  He was being very careful not to refer to it as Bonnie's skull, she noticed. “I have to do it. I can do whatever I have to do. Go away, Joe. I have to work now.”

  He strolled toward the door. “Try to get some sleep.”

  “After I finish the progression.” She pulled up the photographs of Libby's mother and maternal grandmother. Study them. Don't think about Bonnie. Don't think about Logan. Libby deserved her entire attention. She had to age the eight-year-old girl to fifteen. It wasn't going to be easy. Block everything else out.

  Don't think about Bonnie.

  “TOO BAD YOU don't have time to finish Joe,” Bonnie said.

  Eve turned over on the couch and saw Bonnie standing staring up at Joe's bust. She looked as she always did when she came to Eve: blue jeans, T-shirt, red hair a riot of curls. But she appeared smaller than usual next to the pedestal.

  “I have more important work to do now.”

  Bonnie wrinkled her nose as she glanced at Eve over her shoulder.

  “Yeah, you think you've found me. I keep telling you I'm not there anymore. It's just a bunch of bones.”

  “Your bones?”

  “How do I know? I don't remember any of that anymore. You wouldn't want me to remember.”

  “God, no.” She paused. “But I think you know where he buried you. Why won't you tell me? I just want to bring you home.”

  “Because I want you to forget the way I died.” Bonnie moved over to the window and gazed out at the sea. “I only want you to remember me when I was with you and how I am now.”

  “A dream.”

  “A ghost,” Bonnie corrected. “Someday I'm going to convince you.”

  “And then they'll lock me up in the nuthouse.”

  Bonnie giggled. “No way. Joe wouldn't let them.”

  Eve smiled and nodded. “He'd cause a ruckus. I'd rather avoid the entire scenario if you don't mind.”

  “I don't mind. It's probably better that you don't tell anyone about me.” She tilted her head. “It's kinda nice having these times all to ourselves. Like a very special secret. Remember the secrets we used to have? The time we surprised Grandma on her birthday with that trip to Callaway Gardens. We made her get in the car and then we took off. The flowers were so pretty that spring. Have you gone there since?”

  Bonnie running around Callaway Gardens, her face alight with joy and excitement . . . “No.”

  “Stop that.” Bonnie frowned. “The flowers are still beautiful, the sky is still blue. Enjoy them.”

  “Yes, ma'am.”

  “You say it, but you don't mean it.” She gazed back out at the sea. “You're glad to be leaving the island, aren't you?”

  “I have a job to do.”

  “You'd have left the island soon anyway.”

  “Not necessarily. It's been very peaceful here. I like the sunlight and the tranquillity.”

  “And you like Logan and didn't want to hurt him.”

  “I did hurt him.”

  “He'll be sorry to see you go, but he'll be okay.” She paused. “I knew Joe would come for you, but I didn't know—I don't like this, Mama.”

  “You've never liked the idea of me searching for you.”

  “No, I mean . . . I have a feeling . . . there's a darkness.”

  “You're afraid I won't be able to survive working on your skull.”

  “It's going to be bad for you, but that's not what . . .” She shrugged. “You'll go anyway. You're so stubborn.” She leaned against the wall. “Go back to sleep. You have all that packing to do. You did the age progression very well, by the way.”

  “Thank you,” she said mockingly. “Talk about self-praise.”

  “I can't compliment you about anything,” Bonnie said plaintively. “You think you're doing it yourself.”

  “Since you're a dream, that's the logical conclusion.” She was silent a moment. “Libby's father was supposed to be a violent man. He took her as a revenge kidnapping. Is Libby still alive? She's not with you?”

  Bonnie lifted her brows. “In your dreams or the other side? You can't have it both ways, Mama.”

  “Forget it.”

  A smile illuminated Bonnie's face. “She's not here with me. You have a chance of bringing her home.”

  “I knew that.” Eve turned over on her side and closed her eyes. “I wouldn't have done all that work if I hadn't known there was a good chance.”

  “A logical supposition?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Not instinct?”

  “Sorry, I hate to pop your bubble, but these dreams of you are the only foolishness I'll lay claim to.” She paused. “Are you coming with me?”

  “I'm always with you.” A silence and then haltingly, “But it may be difficult for me to get through. The darkness . . .”

  “Is that skeleton you, baby?” Eve whispered. “Please. Tell me.”

  “I'm not sure. I can't tell if the darkness is for you or for me. . . .”

  WHEN EVE WOKE, the palest glimmer lightened the horizon. She stayed in bed for another twenty minutes, watching the dawn creep over the ocean. Strange, she didn't feel as rested as she usually did after dreaming of Bonnie. She was a little uneasy. A psychiatrist would say the dreams were a catharsis, a way of handling her loss without going insane—and he'd probably be right. The dreams had started about a year after Fraser was executed, and their effect was positive. So she'd be damned if she'd go to some shrink to try to rid herself of them. A memory of love never did anyone any harm.

  She swung her legs to the floor. Time to stop brooding and get moving. She had to pack and meet Joe at the house at eight.

  And say a final good-bye to Logan.

  “YOU LOOK LIKE you're visiting a dying friend.” Logan was coming down the stairs when she reached the hall. “Are you ready to go?”

  She braced herself. “Yes.”

  “Where's Quinn?”

  “Waiting in the Jeep. Logan, I never—”

  “I know.” He waved dismissively. “Come on, let's get going.”

  “You're coming with us?”

  “Don't look so wary. Only as far as the heliport.” He took her elbow and nudged her toward the door. “I won't be left here like a forlorn lover. That's bullshit. I'm hereby kicking you off my island. Don't ever come back.” He smiled crookedly. “Unless it's tomorrow, or next month or next year. Come to think of it, I might accept you if you hurry back in the next decade. Otherwise, forget it.”

  She smiled with relief. “Thanks, Logan.”

  “For making it easy for you? Hell, there's no way I'd tain
t your memory of our time here. We were too good together.” He opened the front door. “You're a special woman, Eve. I don't want to lose you. If you don't want me as a lover, I'll be your friend. It will take a little while for me to adjust, but it will happen. I'll make it happen.”

  She reached up and kissed his cheek. “You're already my friend. I was a mess when I came here with you. No one could have been more generous or done more for me than you during this last year.”

  He looked down at her and smiled. “I haven't given up, you know. I want a hell of a lot more. This is just the first stage of a sneak attack.”

  “You never give up. That's one of the things that's so wonderful about you.”

  “See, you're already appreciative of my sterling qualities. I intend to capitalize on that and move forward.” He pushed her toward the Jeep, where Joe waited. “Come on, you'll miss your helicopter.”

  THE HELICOPTER WAS already sitting on the tarmac when Joe pulled into the heliport.

  “May I speak to you a moment, Quinn?” Logan asked politely.

  Joe had been expecting it. “Get on board and buckle up, Eve. I'll be right with you.”

  She gave them both a wary glance but didn't interfere.

  When she was in the helicopter Logan asked, “It's not Bonnie, is it?”

  “It could be.”

  “You son of a bitch.”

  Joe didn't respond.

  “Do you know how much this is going to hurt her?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you don't care. You wanted her to come back and you used Bonnie to do it.”

  “She wouldn't have thanked me if I hadn't told her about the skeleton.”

  “I could break your neck.”

  “I know. But it wouldn't be the intelligent thing to do. You've done a good job of making Eve grateful as well as sad. The last thing you want is for her to leave on a sour note. That would make it much more difficult to draw her back.”

  Logan drew a deep breath. “I'll be coming back to my office in Monterey next week.”

  “I thought that would be the next move.”

  “I'm keeping an eye on you. You won't be able to blink without me knowing it. If this reconstruction does any damage to Eve, I'll decimate you.”