She couldn’t deny it. They felt totally normal, rested, and as if she’d had a full night of sleep.
“It could have nothing to do with you. I just had a moment of rest.”
“True. And now they feel completely rested and you’ll be able to use them free of strain or pain.” He smiled. “It should last all day if you don’t abuse them too badly.” He took his computer out of his bag. “Now what other area do you want me to scan? I downloaded another site last night that has upper California and—”
He stopped as her phone rang. He glanced at the ID as he picked it up from the bedside table and handed it to her. “Venable.”
She pressed the speaker, and her hand tightened on the phone. “What’s happening, Venable? Have you heard—”
“Nothing about Eve.” He cut her short. “Have you heard from Kendra or Margaret?”
“I haven’t heard from Margaret since she left here. I called Kendra myself earlier. I didn’t talk to her for long. She said she was in the middle of something, and she’d call me back.”
“Oh, she was in the middle of something all right,” he said grimly. “And did she call you back?”
“No.” Jane had actually been glad that Kendra had not done so. She hadn’t wanted to make explanations about asking her to look for that damn dreamscape. “Not yet. Have you talked to her?”
“I’ve been trying like hell to talk to her. She’s not answering her phone.”
“That’s not like her. She’s completely professional. Maybe something’s happened.” Dear God, she hoped that was wrong. She should have spoken longer to her, she should have— “Why are you trying to reach her?”
“To find out what she knows about a dead police officer at Doane’s house in Goldfork.”
“What?”
“You heard me. There was a young officer shot and some kind of explosion at the house itself.”
“What does that have to do with Kendra? Joe called and told me she was heading in that direction, but she would never be involved in a crime.”
“I’m not accusing her. I’m saying that the first agent I sent who arrived at the house checked the entry book and her name was the last one on the page. It was close to the time of the officer’s death. Chances are that she knows something.”
“Or that she may have been hurt or killed or taken captive by the person who killed that officer. Why don’t you send someone to look for her?”
“Do you think I haven’t?” he asked roughly. “We have a dead cop and a house that looks like it’s been bombed. The interior damage could also reflect a search and possible recovery. And all we have on the positive side is maybe Kendra Michaels who might have knowledge of what went on there. You’re damn right I’m looking for her.” He paused. “And possibly for Margaret Douglas. Someone of her description was reported to be in the neighborhood earlier in the afternoon. She’s very memorable.”
Yes, everyone remembered Margaret, Jane thought. “Have you tried to phone her?”
“Yes, no answer. That’s when I tried you.”
“I’ll call them both and let you know if I get through. Have you called Joe?”
“He’s next on the list.” He was silent a moment. “If you get in touch with either one, tell them to call me and for God’s sake keep a low profile. Goldfork is a small town, and everyone knows everyone else. They’re not going to take kindly to the killing of one of their own. The West may have its own code toward women, but it might not be pretty if they don’t give the right answers.” He hung up.
“It appears that our Margaret is causing a stir,” Caleb said, as Jane pressed the disconnect. “Explosions and dead bodies?”
“That’s not Margaret. Most of Venable’s suspicions were aimed at Kendra Michaels.”
“I’ve never met the lady. I only know what you’ve told me. However, I do know Margaret, and I’d judge she’s capable of more than you’d think. She’d definitely rise to the occasion.”
“We don’t even know if Kendra and Margaret are together. Kendra never mentioned—” But Jane had not given Kendra the opportunity to tell her much of anything. She’d been too eager to get off the phone. But Jane had known that Kendra was going to Goldfork, and Margaret had told her the same thing before she’d left the hospital that morning. It was logical to assume that they’d run into each other and combined forces.
Maybe.
Her hands clenched at her sides. How the hell did Jane know what had happened stuck in this damn hospital room? “I can’t be sure, can I? I wasn’t there. I should have been there, but I wasn’t.”
“Jane.”
“If you’re going to be soothing, I’ll probably deck you.” Her hand was shaking as she dialed the number for Kendra Michaels that Joe had given her. “There’s a dead man, and Kendra and Margaret are probably in trouble. Do you know what I told Margaret before she left? I said that I was probably a bad person, but that I was glad that someone was going to do what I couldn’t while I was lying here in this hospital. Well, Margaret was in that town, doing what I should have been doing.” The phone was ringing. No answer.
Then the voice mail.
“It’s Jane, call me.”
She hung up.
She dialed Margaret.
No answer.
Three rings. No answer.
Voice mail.
“Margaret, dammit, what’s happening?”
She hung up, completely frustrated.
She was feeling helpless and she couldn’t bear it.
She drew a deep breath and called Joe.
Vancouver Airport
“THANK GOD, YOU ANSWERED. Did Venable call you?” Jane asked.
“I just hung up from him,” Joe said. “He said you were upset about Kendra and Margaret. Hell, I’m upset, too.” He could tell from Jane’s tone when he’d picked up the phone that Venable was right. Definitely shaky and strained. “But Kendra’s smart. She’ll be okay.” He paused. “It sounds as if she might have made a breakthrough at Goldfork. And I’ll bet she’ll have info we can use when she surfaces.” He hoped to God he’d win that bet. It seemed as if they were spinning their wheels, and it was driving him crazy. “Don’t worry, Jane. After I finish here with Zander, I’ll fly down there and find out what’s going on if they’ve not checked in.”
“Don’t worry?” Jane’s voice had a brittle edge. “Oh, that’s right. Heaven forbid that I have to worry about Kendra or Margaret or you. After all, I’m the important one. Only that’s not true. Eve is the important one.” She drew a long, shaky breath. “I’m sorry, Joe. I’m just stressed, and I shouldn’t take it out on you. Don’t pay any attention to me.”
“I always pay attention to you. That’s what love’s all about.”
“Yeah, but in this case I should fade into the background. It’s the least I can do. No, it appears it’s the only thing I can do. Let me know about Zander. Stay safe, Joe.” She hung up.
Joe slowly pressed the disconnect. He had probably said all the wrong things to Jane. He wasn’t thinking too straight at the moment. She must feel chained and terribly ineffectual, and that would be pure torture for a woman of her character. She was like Eve in that.
Eve again. Everything came back to Eve. His every comparison, his every thought. Jane was right, nothing mattered next to the task of finding Eve and bringing her back home to them.
What was happening to her now?
A surge of pure agony.
Fight it off. He couldn’t function if he let it overcome him.
He turned and headed for the airport exit.
Get to Zander.
Do your job.
* * *
“OKAY?” CALEB WAS STUDYING Jane’s expression. “I gather from hearing your side of the conversation with Quinn that it wasn’t particularly satisfactory.”
“It was soothing and concerned and affectionate. Satisfactory? He told me not to worry. He’d take care of it when he had time.”
“Uh-oh.”
“I am worried. Something’s wrong with Kendra and Margaret. Something’s happened.”
“On the threat of being decked, may I offer a possible explanation?”