He fell to his knees beside her. Tell me.
She shook her head. My heads messed up. Maybe later.
Maybe?
She changed the subject. I want you to call the hospital.
To check on Quinn? Your mother said she
No, I want you to call the nurses station. I want you to tell her that you intend to kill Joe.
What?
I want you to be obscene and ugly and explicit. I want you to tell her how youre going to pretend youre hospital personnel and slip into his room and cut off his life support. Or maybe give him a shot hed never wake up from. I want you to sound crazy and homicidal.
He slowly nodded. Theyll report the anony-mous call to the cops hanging around the hospital and theyll be on the lookout.
Id do it myself, but a man is usually perceived as more lethal.
Perception can be faulty as hell. Ill call right away. He frowned. What are you doing?
She was on her knees, reaching for Bens case on the ground beside her. I just want to hold Bens skull case.
Why?
Im not going to run away with it. I just want to have it in my hands.
He didnt like that any more than he liked the way Eve was acting. Maybe we should think about leaving here. We need to find somewhere to sleep.
Okay, well go back to Gainesville later tonight. She looked away from him and down at the case on her lap. Make the call.
Sandra called Eve at eleven that night. Joes vital signs have stabilized. Hes still critical but its looking better.
Hope surged through Eve. When will they know for sure?
I dont know. Tomorrow morning, maybe. How are you?
Okay.
You dont sound okay.
Im fine, Mom. Are you with Ron?
Yes, hes right here. He says hes not going to move two feet from me until this is over. He thinks you should come in and talk to the police. So do I. Youve got to get this mess straightened out.
It sounded so easy, she thought tiredly. Deposit everything in the arms of the police and let them take care of it. Call me back when you find out more about Joe. Take care of yourself, Mom.
Quinns better? Logan asked.
She nodded. But not out of the woods. She opened the car door. Im going to walk down to the pond. You dont have to go with me.
In other words, my companys not wanted. He glanced at Bens case in her hand. But evi-dently our skeletal friend is. You havent set it down all evening. Are you going to tell me why youre toting that thing around?
She wasnt sure herself. Maybe she thought it would give her the answer. God, she needed an an-swer. I just want it with me.
Weird.
Yes, havent you heard? I dont have all my marbles.
Crap. Youre one of the sanest people I know.
But look at the company you keep. She moved down the moonlit slope. The leather of the case was smooth beneath her touch.
Help me, Ben. Im lost and I need someone to find me.
Eve had been sitting underneath that tree for over two hours.
And she was hugging that leather case like it was a baby.
He couldnt stand it any longer. Logan got out of the car and stalked down the slope.
Im sick of being patient and understanding. You tell me whats happening. Do you hear me? I want to know what the hell Lisa Chadbourne told you.
She didnt speak for a moment, and then she whispered, Bonnie.
What?
She offered me Bonnie. She offered to find Bonnie for me.
How could she do that?
She said that shed have the cases reopened, that shed send an army of police and military to question and search. She said shed been thinking about it. The search couldnt be obviously for Bonnie. It would look too suspicious for her. Theyd choose one of the other children to publicly focus on, but the searchers would have their orders. It would be Bonnie theyd be looking for.
My God.
She said that theyd spend years if they had to. She promised to bring Bonnie home to me.
And all you have to do is give her the skull and the DNA report? Its a trick. Shed never follow through.
Just the skull. She said I could leave the country and keep the DNA report until she delivers Bonnie.
A pretty weak hold.
She closed her eyes. Bonnie.
She wouldnt keep her word.
Maybe she would.
I wont let you do it.
Her eyes flicked open and she said fiercely, Listen to me, Logan. If I decide to do this, neither you nor anyone else is going to stop me. Ill run right over you. If anyone can find Bonnie, Lisa Chadbourne has the power to do it. Do you know what that means to me?
Yes, he said harshly. And so does she. Dont let her use you like this.
She shook her head. You dont understand.
He did understand and he ached for her. Lisa Chadbourne had used the one lure that was irre-sistible to Eve. When do you have to let her know?
Shes going to call me at seven in the morning.
It would be a terrible mistake.
She said Joe and Mom would be safe, that all the killing would be over. Shell even try to get Timwick to stop looking for you.
Fat chance. Youd be crazy to believe her.
I believe she doesnt want any more killing. I dont know if she can stop it, but I think she wants it over.
When she calls, let me talk to her.
She shook her head.
I thought we were in this together.
Together? Youve already said youd try to keep me from doing it.
Because I know its a mistake.
Its a mistake to leave Bonnie alone out there.
Eve, the stakes are too high to let
Shut up, Logan. Her voice was tight. Just leave me alone to think. Youre not going to convince me. I already know every argument against it.
But every cell in her mind and body was telling her to do it, Logan thought. He wanted to strangle Lisa Chadbourne.
Okay, I wont try to persuade you right now. Just think about it. He rose to his feet. And remember Kessler and Joe Quinn.
I havent been thinking about anything else.
Thats not true. I dont believe you can think of anyone but Bonnie. Just weigh
She wasnt listening to him anymore. She was looking down at the skull case but he didnt think she was seeing that either.
She was only hearing the siren call that Lisa Chadbourne had sung.
And she was seeing only Bonnie.
TWENTY-TWO
Lisa Chadbourne called at seven on the dot the next morning. Well?
Eve drew a deep breath. Ill do it.
Im glad. Believe me, its best for everyone.
I dont care about everyone. If I did, I wouldnt be dealing with you. Listen to me. I want you to set me and my mother up somewhere out of the country, as you promised. I want you to call off your dogs after Logan and I want you to leave Joe Quinn alone.
And you want Bonnie.
Oh, yes. Her voice was shaking. You have to find her and bring her to me. Thats absolutely non-negotiable.
Ill find her. I promise you, Eve. Ill arrange for Timwick to pick up the skull and then
No. I dont know if your promise is good enough. Im taking a big chance. Whos to say you wont go back on your word once you have the skull?
Youll still have the DNA records. You know they could cause me a great deal of trouble.
Perhaps not enough without the skull.
Then, what are you asking?
Im not asking, Im demanding. I want to see you. I want you to pick up the skull.