"Eve. She's just sitting there. She told me nothing was wrong, but she's just sitting there."
"Maybe nothing is wrong."
"Don't you tell me that." Her voice was shaking. "You come home, Joe."
"I'm on my way."
-------------------
"Eve?"
It was Joe. She curled up tighter at the end of the couch. Go away. Go away.
"What the hell's wrong?"
She put it into words. "Go away."
He sat down beside her. "Stop closing me out. I'm not going anywhere. Now what's wrong?"
"I don't want... to talk about it right now."
"Well, I do. That's what a relationship is about. Sharing."
"Sharing what? Sharing lies?"
He went still. "What are you talking about?"
"I told you, I don't want to talk at all." She just wanted to close herself away and try to heal the raw wound. "Go and see about Jane. I think I scared her."
"You're scaring me. Did something happen to Bonnie's grave again?"
"I don't know," she said dully. "It doesn't matter."
"Jane said you got a FedEx. May I see it?"
She got to her feet. "Not now."
He was silent a moment. "Let me help you. You're not being fair to me, Eve."
She whirled on him, her eyes blazing. "I'm not being fair? My God, how do you have the nerve to say that after what you've done to me?"
He went still. "And what have I done to you?"
"Lies. You lied to me, Joe. The cruelest lie, the cruelest thing you could have done to me." She drew a deep breath, her gaze fixed desperately on his face. "You're not asking what that was. Because you know, don't you, Joe? I wasn't really sure until I saw your face. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe you'd do this to me."
He glanced around the room. "Is that the FedEx?" He crossed to the desk and picked up the single sheet of paper and scanned it. She could see the line of his spine stiffen as if he was bracing himself before he turned to face her. "Was there a return address?"
She stared at him, stunned. "Christ, is that all you have to say?"
"No, but I have to know who wanted to hurt you this much." He grimaced. "And who wanted to hurt me."
"I don't care who it was. All I care about is that you lied to me." She closed her eyes as waves of fresh pain broke over her. "And that the little girl I buried on that hill is not my Bonnie. Jesus, I can't believe it."
"But you clearly do believe it. And I'm sure you verified this particular scrap of poison."
"It's not a scrap." She opened eyes glittering with tears. "It's the official report from the Georgia forensic lab stating that the DNA of the little girl found in Chattahoochee National Park did not match Bonnie Duncan's. It was signed by Dr. George Capel."
"And you called George Capel?"
"I tried, but he was out of the office. So I talked to the head of the department. He couldn't find the official paperwork on the results, but he finally tracked down some of the transcripts from the work in progress. Shall I tell you what they were?"
"Don't bother."
"I was in Atlanta and you took the call that day. When I came home, you told me that Bonnie had been found."
"Yes, I did."
"You deliberately lied to me."
"Yes."
The agony was exploding inside her. "How could you do that?" she whispered.
"How could I not do it?" Joe's voice was harsh with pain. "I'd watched you suffer for twelve years. I'd seen you search for Bonnie in every one of those faces you re-created. It was a wound that never healed, that would never heal until you found Bonnie. Sarah Patrick searched all through that National Forest, and we'd almost given up hope when they found the skeleton. The chances of another skeleton being found there were practically nil at that point. So I prayed every night that skeleton would be Bonnie's." He threw the report on the desk with barely controlled violence. "And then it didn't happen, goddammit. It was going to go on and on. But it didn't have to. All I had to do was tell one lie, and you'd be at peace."
"A terrible lie. You ... cheated me."
"You want me to say I'm sorry? I'm not sorry. Yes, I am. I'm sorry you found out and it's hurting you. But I'd do it again if I thought I had a chance of keeping it from you." His words came fast, hard, and full of passion. "I love you. You've been the center of my life for over twelve years. I'd do anything to take you away from the hell you've been going through all that time. I'd lie. I'd kill. Anything to keep the pain away."
"Well, you didn't do it."
"No, I didn't do it."
Eve raised a shaking hand to her lips as she thought of something else. "Jesus, I received an official notification two weeks later, verifying the telephone call. You did that, too?"
"I bribed someone in the lab to do it for me. I knew you'd expect it."
"You were very ... thorough."
"It was important to me. Maybe the most important action I'd taken in my life." Joe was silent a moment, his face pale, strained. "So now what?"
"I don't know. I trusted you, and you betrayed me in the most terrible way possible. I can't even think." Eve moved heavily toward the bedroom. "I'm going to bed. All I want to do is sleep."
"You won't sleep. You just want to get away from me."
"I can't look at you right now."
"You love me, Eve."
She did love him. She doubted if that could ever go away, and that was part of the pain she was feeling. "But could I ever trust you again? You don't lie to people you love."
"The hell you don't."
She shook her head and closed the bedroom door. She leaned back against it. Jesus, she felt empty. It was as if everything had been drained out of her, leaving nothing but an aching hole. Was Joe feeling this emptiness? No, he'd be full of sorrow for her, and anger and desperation at the situation. She knew him so well, his mind, his character, his body...
But not well enough. She'd never have guessed he'd do this.
She moved over to the bed and lay down, staring into the darkness.
-------------------
"I made you some coffee." Jane handed Joe the mug and sat on the porch step beside him.
"Thanks." He set the coffee down on the step.
"Do you think we have a chance of getting Eve to eat something?"
He shook his head.
She didn't look at him. "I eavesdropped, you know. I had to know why she was hurting."
"Me."
"Yeah. You shouldn't have done it, Joe."
He didn't answer.
"Unless you were sure you wouldn't get caught."
He looked at her.
"I was sitting out by the lake with Toby, thinking that maybe I would have done the same thing if I hadn't been scared of her finding out. She's been really happy since we brought Bonnie home. I mean ... that other little girl. So is it better for her to be happy or to be sad?" She shook her head. "I don't know...."
He should have known that Jane wouldn't see everything in black or white. She had been in and out of foster homes since she was a baby and had seen too much in her short life. "Let me clarify. It was a wrong thing to do for a right reason."
"You told her you'd do it again."
"I probably would." His lips twisted. "And that wasn't a lie."
"Well, be smarter about it next time."
"There may not be a next time. I may not get the chance to be close enough to her to—" He rubbed his aching temple. "And I thought I was being smart, or at least careful. I bribed the supervisor who ran the test very well to lose that result sheet."
"But he sent it to Eve. Did you make him mad?"
Joe shook his head. "And he didn't even try to hit me up for more money."
"What would you have done if he had?"
"Scared the hell out of him. Capel was money-hungry, but not stupid." He sat up straighten "I shouldn't be talking like this to you. The welfare people would whisk you away from us in a heartbeat if they coul
d hear me."
"I wouldn't go." She leaned against his shoulder. "Screw them all."
"And that comment would be another mark against me." He put his arm around her. "I want to make sure of something, Jane. Don't ever take my side against Eve. I'm wrong and she's right. Do you understand?"
"Sure."
"Then hadn't you better go in and talk to Eve?"
She shook her head. "She won't want me. Not when it's about Bonnie. She's never been sure how I... She'd worry about not hurting my feelings, and she's hurting enough herself right now."
He closed his eyes. "God, you've got that-right." He had felt her pain as if it were his own. It was his own.
She took his hand. "So maybe I'll just stay out here with you for awhile. Okay?"
His hand tightened around Jane's. "Okay."
-------------------
Eve was still awake when Joe came into the bedroom a few hours later.
He knelt beside the bed. "Don't stiffen up. I won't stay long. I won't even touch you." He was silent a moment. "I just want you to remember a couple things while you're thinking what a bastard I am."
"You're not a bastard."
"I want you to remember what we have together. I want you to remember what we are to each other." He paused. "And sometime it's going to occur to you that I lied because I wanted Bonnie out of our lives. It's not true. If I'd thought you could heal and live a halfway normal life, I'd have kept searching for her till the day we died. But it's still an open wound for you." Eve could see his hand clench in the half darkness. "And it hurts me. I wish I'd known her. I wish she'd been our daughter. Then maybe you'd forgive me for doing this. Because I would have done the same thing if Bonnie had been mine. Do you believe me?"
"I believe ... you believe it."
Joe bent and rested his forehead on the bed only an inch from her hand, but not touching her. "I guess that's all I can ask right now. The ball's in your court, Eve." He got to his feet and moved toward the door. "I'll see you in the morning. Try to sleep."
Not likely. Every word he'd spoken had been like little knives, tearing her apart. He was tearing her apart. She was so full of anger and a bitter sense of betrayal, and yet she had wanted desperately to reach out and comfort him. It seemed impossible that those conflicting emotions could exist side by side.
How could she stand this?
Jesus, she wished she could cry.
-------------------
Jane knocked, then opened the door. "Hi, do you want me to fix some breakfast?" Her gaze went to the suitcase on the bed. "Uh-oh."
"It's after eight. You've missed the school bus." "Joe said it was okay if I stayed home today. He told me to take care of you." She came into the room.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm glad you didn't go." Eve put a smock and pair of jeans into the suitcase. "I thought we'd go and spend a week or two with my mother. Why don't you go pack a bag?"
"Can I take Toby?"
"Of course. Mom loves that silly mutt." She threw tennis shoes and socks into the bag. "We'll do all kinds of neat things. Maybe go to the zoo to see the new pandas. What do you think about that?"
Jane didn't answer; Eve glanced at her inquiringly.
Jane moistened her lips. "I know what Joe did. I listened last night. He feels real bad about it, Eve."
"I know." Eve went to the bathroom and brought back her toothbrush and an armful of toiletries. "I know he does, Jane."
"Are you going to come back?"
"I don't know right now. I can't seem to think. I have to put some space and time between us. It was a ... terrible thing he did, Jane." She closed the suitcase. "I know you love Joe, but I can't look at him every day without—" She swallowed hard. "Why don't you go get packed?"
Jane slowly shook her head. "I'm going to stay here."
"What?"
She crossed the room and put her arms around Eve. "You said you needed to think. I'd only get in the way. If I were you, I'd want to just hide my head under a blanket and not see anyone or anything." She stepped back. "And besides, Joe needs me. He needs me a lot."
"And you think I don't?"
"Not now. Maybe later." Jane smiled. "It doesn't mean I don't want to be with you or don't love you. You know that?"
"I know that."
"Good." Jane turned away. "I'll fix you some breakfast before you leave. Bacon and eggs?"
"Fine." Eve's gaze followed Jane as she left the room. Jesus, the girl's instincts were on target. Eve had felt guilty for wanting to run away and isolate herself from Joe and everything that reminded her of him. She had responsibilities, and Jane was one of them. But it seemed Jane had made her mind up, and Eve wasn't included in that decision.
She was on her way to the closet to get another armful of clothes when the phone rang.
"Ms. Duncan, I'm sorry to trouble you," Melton said when she picked up the phone. "But I felt bound to try one more time, since the task is so extremely urgent. I wonder if you'd reconsider your decision..."
-------------------
"You won't change your mind?" Joe asked. "I don't like the idea of you traipsing off somewhere without my knowing more—" He stopped as he saw Eve's expression. "Okay, it's none of my business." He frowned. "The hell it's not. You'll always be my business."
Eve ignored the last remark. "Take care of Jane. I've told her I'll call her every three days and touch base." She picked up her suitcase. "I've called Mom and asked her to take Jane whenever you're working."
"Very efficient."
"I'm trying to be." She met his eyes. "It's not easy right now, and concentrating on this job will help."
"You won't phone me?"
"Probably not. That would defeat the purpose." She moved toward the door. "Good-bye, Joe."
He watched her get into the car and drive down the road.
He felt hollow and lonely ... and scared.
"Shit." He turned, got out his phone, and dialed. "She's gone," he said when Logan picked up. "What did you find out about Melton?"
"Nothing really bad. Politically savvy. Elected to the Senate two years ago from Louisiana and done a fairly good job. He has friends in high places and may be up for the presidential nomination in a few years."
"Why would he be connected with a hush-hush job like this reconstruction?"
"Search me." Logan paused. "If you're that concerned, you could follow her."
"I told you what happened. Unless I have a damn good reason, she's not going to want me on the same continent. Maybe not even then."
"Well, I can't give you a good reason yet. I'll keep checking. Maybe you should just give her some time to herself. That would be the smart move."
"I'm not feeling very smart right now. And I don't want advice. Do you think I would have called you if I hadn't known you knew every politician in Washington?"
"No, you've never forgiven me for that year I lived with Eve. You should know that's water under the bridge. We're just friends now." Logan paused.
"Which appears to be more than I can say for your relationship at the moment."
"If you're friends, then find a way to protect her. God knows I can't do it right now."
"She may not need protection."
"I don't like what was done to that grave. And Capel hasn't shown up for work for the last four days."
"I don't see a connection with Eve's trip."
"I don't, either. I just don't like it. And I don't like not being able to make sure there's no connection." Joe paused. "Get Galen to go to Baton Rouge, will you?"
"The U.S. government doesn't exactly approve of Galen."
"Tough."
"And Galen is freelance. He takes jobs where he pleases."
"You're friends. Use it."
"An order?"
"Please," Joe said through gritted teeth. "Send Galen."
"That's better. I'll ask him and call you back."
Joe went back to the window, but Eve was already out of sight. Soon she'd be on that pl
ane for Baton Rouge, traveling far away from him at jet speed.
She couldn't be any farther away from him than she'd been a few minutes ago in this very room. She couldn't wait to get away from him. The wall she'd put between them had been almost tangible, and her expression...
Forget the hurt. He couldn't expect anything else. He should even have anticipated Eve would take this reconstruction job. Whenever she was in pain or lonely, she always submerged herself in her work.
And that's what he should do. He'd take that tire print down to the precinct and then go see what he could find out about Capel.
Maybe if he kept himself busy enough, he might be able to block out the memory of Eve's face before she'd walked out the door.
Maybe.
Chapter Three
A BIG, PORTLY MAN IN A DARK BLUE SUIT HURRIED UP to Eve as soon as she got off the plane. "Welcome to Baton Rouge, Ms. Duncan. I'm Paul Tanzer with the mayor's office. Senator Melton thought you'd be more comfortable with a fellow southerner. He asked me to meet you and make sure you were comfortable. Did you have a good flight?"
"Fine." It was a lie. It had been a lousy flight. The air had been smooth, but she'd felt hollow and alone and completely depressed every mile of the way. "I thought Senator Melton was going to be here."
"He'll be here tomorrow. He has to attend a fund-raiser dinner tonight in New York." Tanzer was guiding her toward his Cadillac in a parking space. "But I'm going to get you settled. Don't you worry, little lady."
Eve gritted her teeth at that patronizing last sentence. "I'm not worried. I just want to get to work. That's what I consider settled."
"Very admirable." Tanzer helped her into the car.
"But I know you'll want to see a little of Baton Rouge while you're here. Actually, you're very lucky the senator picked me to take care of you. I know everything that's going on in this city. Is this your first visit?"
"Yes. I'm not much of a traveler."
"Then by all means we must see that you get a taste of Baton Rouge."
Tanzer wasn't listening to her. "What hotel did you book me into?"
"Senator Melton decided it would be better if you didn't stay at a hotel. We've rented a wonderful plantation house about an hour outside the city. It's close to the church where you'll be working. It will be much more pleasant for you to just stroll over the bridge, and I'm sure you'll like your quarters. The house is very old and elegant. Of course, many things are old here in Baton Rouge. It has a real atmosphere of—"