“And how you’d like it.”
Eve nodded. “We’re pretty much strangers. I don’t see why we wouldn’t get along, but it’s better that we make it a trial run.”
“You wouldn’t send me back to Mexico?”
“No, that wouldn’t be best for you. Why? Do you wish to go back?”
“No, Elena told me that I mustn’t ever go back there.” She shook her head. “I don’t remember anything about it except being with Jenny and Elena. But she said it would be bad for me, that I would be hurt.”
“Joe and I think that’s true. But it might be difficult for us to keep you from being sent back. That’s why we thought that you should change your name. Okay?”
“Again?” Cara nodded. “If that’s what you want. I don’t care.”
“Does that mean that you’re willing to come to live with us?”
“Of course it does. I told you that I wouldn’t leave you, that I’d hold on as long as you let me.” Her voice was suddenly fierce. “And I don’t care about all that trial business. I’ll be so good that you’ll want to keep me. Jenny told me that you’ll need me, and I have to be there for you.”
“Cara, come here.” She held out her hand. “It goes two ways.” She drew the girl into her arms and held her. Cara didn’t fight her, but her body was stiff and unyielding. It might be a long time before she would be able to physically respond to anyone after the death of her Elena. She had told Joe it might be difficult to bring her into their home. Don’t force her. Everything must be slow and easy. She released her and smiled into her eyes. “I know you love Jenny, but this is between you and Joe and me. Can you start thinking of it like that?”
Cara nodded jerkily. “If that’s what you want.”
“That’s what I want.” She kissed her on the cheek and released her. “Now let’s make a list of everything that you’ll need from your apartment. Don’t worry about clothes. We’ll take care of that when we get home to Atlanta. Any personal items?”
She shook her head. “I don’t need anything. Only my violin. Elena would have taken it, but you said everything in her car was burned.”
“Yes, it was. We’ll get you another violin.”
A brilliant smile lit her face. “Thank you.”
They couldn’t take away the music, Jenny had said.
And no one must take away Cara’s music, either.
“You’re welcome. I look forward to hearing you play.”
She nodded eagerly. “Yes, that’s something I can give you. It’s part of me and—”
“Hi, everything settled?” Joe came into the room. “Yes, I can see that it is.” He smiled at Cara. “We’ll get everything finalized before Eve leaves here today. But there are a few things I have to go over with Eve first. Would you run out to the hall, where Margaret is waiting?”
Cara didn’t move. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
But there was something wrong, Eve realized. Cara’s instincts were right. She recognized the tension in the way Joe was carrying himself. “Whatever it is, it has nothing to do with you, Cara.”
Cara slowly got to her feet. “If it’s me, I’ll make it right, Eve.”
“It’s not you,” Joe said shortly. “I promise.”
Cara gave him another troubled look as she left the hospital room.
“She has good instincts. You’re not easy to read,” Eve said. “I’m glad that it wasn’t about her. It would have been difficult explaining a sudden change of heart. Do you know, I’m starting to look forward to having Cara staying with us.” She shook her head. “Bonnie was talking about a change in my life. This may be what she meant.”
“Not necessarily.”
Eve went still. She couldn’t miss that jerky roughness in his tone. “What are you talking about? What is wrong?”
“Not wrong. Strange. Bizarre.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what else.”
“Stop playing around with words. Talk to me.”
“I don’t know how to say it.”
“Just tell me.”
“The hospital has the results from all the tests. The doctor stopped me in the hall to go over them.”
“The results? Joe, I know you’ve been ramrodding everything connected to my treatment since you brought me to this hospital, but that’s going a little too far. Why go over them with you and not with me?” She tried to smile. “Some terrible disease popped up that he thought you should break to me?”
“God, I’m not doing this right. No terrible disease. You’re very healthy and ready to go home. He just didn’t want you to leave the hospital without knowing.”
“Joe, what are you trying to tell me?”
“In my completely clumsy and inadequate fashion”—He reached out and took her hand.—“I’m trying to tell you that you’re going to have a child, Eve.”
READ ON FOR A BONUS SCENE FROM JOE QUINN’S POINT OF VIEW!
LAKE COTTAGE
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
“You have a FedEx package,” Joe Quinn said as Eve came into the cottage. “It’s on your worktable. It came from somewhere in California.”
She nodded. “Yeah, Sonderville. Sheriff Nalchek called me last night and asked me to bump his reconstruction to the top of my list.” She made a face. “I almost told him to forget it. I’m swamped right now, and I don’t need any more pressure.”
Something was wrong, Joe realized instantly. Eve never complained about pressure, even to him. She just did her job and kept on moving to the next poor kid whose skull ended up on her worktable. But if something was wrong, she wouldn’t want him probing. Keep it light, and let her tell him when she was ready.
“You’re always swamped.” Joe smiled teasingly. “You thrive on it. And it’s natural that you’re in demand. Everyone wants the world-famous forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan, to solve their problems.”
“Bullshit.” She went to the kitchen counter and reached for the coffee carafe. “There’s usually no urgency about putting a face on a skull that’s been buried for years anyway. It has to be done, but there’s no reason that I can’t do it an orderly fashion. Every one of those children is important.”
He had heard that many times before, but it was clear she needed to express it again. “So why did you give in to Sheriff Nalchek?”
“I don’t know.” She poured her coffee and came back to Joe. “He wore me down. He sounded young and eager and full of the horror that only comes the first time that you realize that there are vicious people out there who can do monstrous things to innocent children. I got the impression that he was an idealist who wanted to change the world.” She sat down beside Joe and nestled close, her head against his shoulder. Her cheek felt right, absolutely perfect against him. He wanted to hold her closer, but he could wait. He could sense the slight tension of her body, the disturbance that made her want to touch him. She probably didn’t even realize that she was in need and wanted his touch to be comforting. But he knew it and would give her what she needed.
“He kept telling me that this little girl was different,” she said. “That he was sure that he’d be able to find out who she was and who had killed her if I’d just give him a face to work with. Who knows? Maybe he’s right. In cold cases like this, the chances are always better if the officer in charge is enthusiastic and dedicated.”
“Like you.” Joe’s lips brushed her forehead. “Maybe he thinks he’s found a soul mate.”
“Oh, I’m dedicated. Enthusiastic?” She wearily shook her head. “Not now. I’m too tired. There have been too many children in my life who have been killed and thrown away. I’m not as enthusiastic as that young officer is. I’m only determined … and sad.”
“Sad?” Joe straightened and looked down at her. “Yes, I’m definitely feeling the sad part. But it’s not only about that skull in the box over there, is it?” His hand gently cupped her cheek. “Jane?” He had thought the root of Eve’s depression might be Jane MacGuire, their adopted daughter who Eve had just dropped off at the airport to catch her flight to London. “I could have taken her to the airport. I thought you wanted to do it.”