“Of course I did. That’s why I didn’t call you right away. It took time to get the results.”
“Which were?”
“Zero. Nothing.” He added harshly, “But that doesn’t mean that I’m not right. It just means he cleaned up after himself.”
“And left those dossiers in full view for you to draw conclusions.”
“Maybe he heard me coming back and panicked.”
“You didn’t draw me a picture of a killer who would panic.”
“Or maybe he left them so that you’d be the one to panic and refuse to do the reconstruction.”
“That’s more likely.” She paused. “And that’s another reason why you didn’t call right away. You wanted to give me time to work on Jenny before you scared me off.”
“Jenny?”
“I had to call her something. It’s the way I work.”
“Jenny … Yeah, that kind of suits her.”
“I’m glad you think so. I have no idea what suits her.”
But Jenny had known.
Jenny. I … think … my name is Jenny.
“You’re working on her?”
“Yes, I’m doing fairly well.”
“When will you be finished?”
“I don’t do estimates.”
“I believe it would be safer for you if you’d do it very quickly.”
“Because you think that your killer is going to go after me because I’m working to put a face on his victim?”
“Yes.”
“But you’re the only one who thinks that.”
“I sent that skull to you,” he said harshly. “I’m responsible. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.”
She was silent. “I agree. It’s between the two of us. And Jenny, of course.” And Nalchek was in pain and still trying to do what he thought was right. She was beginning to like John Nalchek. “And I’ll get you a face for Jenny as quickly as I can. It shouldn’t be too long.”
“Thanks,” he said tersely. “And you won’t take any chances?”
“I won’t take chances,” she assured him. “And I’ll tell Joe Quinn what you’ve said if it will make you feel better. I’m sure that dossier you have on me stressed Joe’s importance in my life. He’s very good at eliminating threats, real or otherwise.”
“I told Ron that Quinn was tough.” He paused. “If you need me, I’ll come there. Just call me. I don’t like the idea that bastard could be on his way to you right now.”
“Likewise,” she said dryly. “But once I finish the reconstruction and get it back to you, I should be safe. Then it’s up to you to find Jenny’s murderer.” She was looking out at the lake, and it seemed colder than a moment ago, the shadows of the trees darker, more threatening. If the deputy’s death had happened early last night, then he might not be on his way to her, he might be here.
“Good night, Sheriff.” She moved toward the door, and the next moment, she was inside the house. “I’ll keep you posted.” She hung up.
She drew a deep breath, locked the door, and set the alarm.
Whoever had killed that deputy wasn’t stupid. The threat had been there, and it was aimed at her. There might not have been anyone out there in the woods tonight, but there might be tomorrow. Or any other night while she was working on Jenny.
That was the key. Jenny. As she’d told Nalchek, once she was done with the reconstruction, the threat was gone.
So do her job and let Nalchek do his.
As quickly and efficiently as possible.
She tightened the belt of her robe and went to get a cup of coffee.
“You didn’t win, Jenny.” She took her coffee over to the worktable. “But I’m going to work very hard, and you’d better help me. I’ve got to find out what you look like.” She sipped her coffee and looked down at the skull. “You’ve already caused a good deal of trouble and hurt. Let’s get this done.”
No answer.
But … sorrow. Overwhelming sorrow.
Eve closed her eyes. “Okay, I guess I forgot for a moment that you’re the victim here. You’re so strong, little girl, that it’s easy to forget. I got upset when I thought you were trying to control me. It brought back memories of that time I told you about when I had to fight off that monster whose skull I was working on.”
Pain.
“Am I … a monster?”
She seemed to be constantly hurting this child, Eve thought in frustration. But at least Jenny was talking to her again.
“No,” Eve said quickly. “I didn’t say that. I just said it reminded me of— I was very defensive during that time.” She grimaced. “And evidently I still have lingering aftereffects that make me—” She stopped and then said, “And I’m finding it awkward talking to you. I don’t know whether I’m speaking to this skull or if you’re a spirit floating around somewhere.”
“I don’t really feel any connection to that skull. But I’m not floating around, either. I’m … just here.”
“But you didn’t contact me until I took that skull out of the box.”
“But I knew I was coming … to someone who was important. I knew that you were waiting for me.” She paused. “And I was waiting for you.”
“Because you knew that I could help that sheriff find out who you are?”
“I guess that was why. It’s all coming back to me in bits and pieces. I only know what I have to do. But I … don’t really know what your part is going to be.”
“That’s not very helpful. And what do you have to do, Jenny?”
She didn’t answer.
“Okay. I may not need to know your motives. You told me your name was Jenny. What’s your last name?”
“I don’t remember. Only … Jenny.”
“But you remember that you want to know more. That it’s important to you that I finish this reconstruction.”
“Yes. I have to know. I have to stop him. Because it’s going to go on. When the sheriff pulled me out of that grave, I could feel him watching me.”
“Him? Who?”
“I don’t know. I just know … he was watching. And he was angry.”
“The man who killed you?”
Silence.
“Surely you remember that, Jenny.”
“I don’t,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, Eve. It’s all a blur until I came to you. I think it’s supposed to come to me slowly. I remember being angry and telling myself that I mustn’t show him I was afraid. He likes me to be afraid. I remember thinking that it had been a long time, and maybe I wasn’t ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“What was coming. But nothing good can come until it’s finished.”
“Double talk. Until what’s finished?”
Silence.
“Okay, I’m being impatient. Let’s go through this slowly and logically. I’ll ask you questions, you try to answer. You think your name is Jenny but you don’t know the last name?”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember your mother or father?”
“No.”
“Brothers? Sisters?”
“No.”
“A place, a house?”
“No.”
She hesitated. “You do know that you’re not … as you were? That you’re not the Jenny who was born in … You’re a spirit, Jenny.”
“Yes, what they call a ghost. I’ve known that for a long time.” She paused. “But it confused me. Because I couldn’t understand why. I was just there, in that place, and I was alone. All I understood was that I had to be patient. I had to wait.”
“To find the person who took your life?”
“That was a part of it.”
“I would think it would be a big part.” She stopped, hesitating again. She didn’t want to go down this path. She was getting the impression that Jenny was being truthful but that the girl was lost and bewildered, and Eve didn’t want to add pain to the mix. “You don’t remember how you were killed?”
“No.” A pause. “Am I supposed to remember?”