But Cara, where was Cara …
Eve was praying that the child hadn’t taken that same terrible fall as Walsh.
“Help … me.”
She looked down, and her heart plunged. Cara was seven or eight feet below her, holding on for dear life. She had one foot wedged in the rock wall, but Eve could see that it was slipping even as she watched.
And Cara was dangling over the same sharp rocks that had impaled Walsh.
“Cara, hang on!”
“I’m trying,” Cara yelled. “But I’m slipping. I’m going to fall!”
“No you’re not.” Eve threw her legs over the ledge, still trying to fight that dizziness. “I’m coming down to you. Hang on just another few seconds.”
“No!” It was Joe’s voice.
Eve looked at the cave’s opening. Joe waded quickly through the water, which was now thigh deep.
Joe. What was he doing here? She was torn between joy and sheer terror.
Joe ran underneath Cara and called up to her. “I’m going to catch you.”
“I’m afraid.”
“It’ll be okay. I need you to let go.”
Okay? Eve’s hands dug into the rocks of the ledge. If Joe caught Cara from that height, he could tear those stitches and bleed to death. If he didn’t, Cara might fall on those rocks and die. Either way, there was a terrible risk.
Cara was looking down at the dead man just feet from Joe.
“Don’t look at him,” Joe said. “Just look at me. I’m going to catch you. Okay? You can trust me.”
She nodded, gazing into Joe’s eyes as he smiled up at her. “Okay.”
Who wouldn’t trust Joe, Eve thought painfully. Who wouldn’t trust a man who might be giving his life for you? But Cara didn’t know that, she only saw the strength and the warmth and the safety.
“I won’t let anything bad happen to you, Cara. That’s all over. I’m going to count to three, then I’ll need you to let go. Understand?”
Again she nodded.
“Ready? One … two … three!”
She let go, and Joe leaped to meet her. He twisted his body, cradling her in his arms as they both plummeted into the water. Seconds later, they broke the surface.
Joe whispered something to Cara, and the little girl nodded. Joe looked up at Eve with a weary smile.
“Are you both all right?” Eve shouted. “Joe, tell me!”
He gave her a thumbs-up.
And the next moment, Eve collapsed, as the darkness overcame her.
* * *
Swirling darkness.
Pain.
Jenny.
Jenny standing there in the darkness, her eyes shining and filled with triumph.
“Cara…” Eve said or perhaps only thought. “Safe?”
“Yes.” Jenny smiled. “We did it, Eve. You and me and your Joe. Walsh can’t hurt her any longer. He can’t hurt anyone ever again.”
“Good…” Profound relief soared through her. “It was so close … I was terrified when Walsh took Cara with him off that ledge.”
“Not that close. I knew I could keep Cara from falling for a little while. And I knew Joe was almost here.”
“You seem to have taken huge strides since I saw you last. Walsh certainly … seemed to think so.”
“I had to do it. I had to keep Walsh from hurting Cara until someone could help her.” She smiled. “You said I had to reach down into myself for strength. Instead, I reached out to you.”
“I think we reached out to each other.”
“I guess that’s true.” She took a step closer to Eve. “I was right, I was sent to you for a reason, and it wasn’t only to save Cara. But that was the big thing, and we did it. I had to stay to say thank you.”
“That sounds like good-bye.”
“Sort of. Not really. It’s kind of confusing.”
“My entire relationship with you has been kind of confusing.” She felt a wrenching sadness. “I thought you’d be able to cross over once this was done. Is that what’s happening?”
“Maybe not yet. I’m not sure, but I think that something special is happening. I’m going to be with Elena for a while, but later…” She shrugged. “Whatever it is, it’s not over.”
“I don’t doubt that something special is going to happen to you. You’re a very special person. Wherever you’re going, I’ll miss you, Jenny.”
“You’re sad. Don’t be sad. I’ll miss you, too. But I’m not sad. I’ll always be close to you.” Her voice was soft, intense, and her expression glowing. “Remember, I feel what you feel. It’s not going to end.”
She shook her head. “Jenny … don’t hold on to me. I want you to be happy. Take that next step.”
“I am happy. Can’t you see?”
Eve could see. Jenny’s expression was serene and certain as Eve had never seen it. “Jenny, I don’t know—”
“Neither do I. But I know everything is changing, and it’s all good.” She was beginning to fade into the darkness. “I have to go. Your Joe is fighting to get closer to you. I think he’s going to bring you back to consciousness by sheer will alone. I’ll leave you now. Thank you again, my dear, Eve…”
* * *
“Eve!” Joe’s voice was rough and demanding. “Open your eyes. I’m not going to let you go.”
By sheer will alone, Eve thought hazily. Jenny had been right.
“Eve!”
“Okay.” Her lids slowly opened. “I heard you.”
Joe’s face close to her own, pale in the moonlight. Joe’s hand tightly holding hers. “Then pay attention. I think you probably have a concussion. The ambulance is on its way. You’re not going to black out like that again. Do you hear me?”
“I … hear you. You’re one … to talk. All … this is … very familiar. You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Thanks to the miracle of duct tape.”
“Duct tape? Never mind, I don’t want to know.”
“Then be quiet. This isn’t about me. Nothing is supposed to happen to you. Not ever.” He kissed her, hard, fast. “Or don’t be quiet if it keeps you awake.”
She suddenly realized she was lying on the sand, outside the cave. “Margaret…”
“She’s with the kid. She and Nalchek are trying to comfort her. The first thing she asked after she knew she was safe was about Elena.”
“She was … the only … family Cara knew. Elena loved her. She felt terribly guilty that she’d told Walsh where to find her.”
“Maybe she somehow knows that Cara is safe now.”
“I have to go and be with Elena for a while.”
“Oh, yes, she knows.”
“You seem certain.”
“I am.” She looked up at him. “I think it’s over. Thank God.”
“Maybe not quite. There’s still Nalchek to consider.”
“Nalchek?”
He shook his head. “Not now. You probably couldn’t comprehend anything clearly at the moment. That was quite a hit you took.”
She wasn’t going to push it. He was right, she was still bleary. It was a struggle just to keep awake and not go back to the darkness.
But she wouldn’t have to struggle long. She could hear a siren and see the flashing lights of the ambulance somewhere near the strip. “I’ll be fine. A couple aspirins, and they’ll let me go home.”
“Screw it. You were out almost thirty minutes. I’m going to have them go over you from head to toe with a fine-tooth comb. Then, if they don’t find anything wrong, I’ll let you leave the hospital.”
“You’re not doing that because I wouldn’t let them release you? Payback?”
“It’s a thought. No, I’m doing it because you scared me shitless.”
“Then I guess I’ll let you get away with it.”
“Let me? No choice. You know we both signed over medical powers of attorney years ago because we weren’t married and were always running into red tape.” His hand tightened on hers. “The minute you enter that emergency room, you’re mine.”