But after he’d taken the sixth of his six. This would be the victim that defied everything they’d suspected. The victim who didn’t follow the rules of the game.
Wednesday, February 24, 3:45 p.m.
Olivia followed Eve and a nurse to a small room where David Hunter lay, his eyes closed. His face was bruised, one eye swollen shut, and he had a big bandage on his temple. One arm was immobilized in a splint, but other than that, he looked whole.
Olivia let herself breathe. Beside her, Eve did the same. Eve had held herself together remarkably well. Better than I might have, under the circumstances.
“See,” Olivia murmured with more calm than she felt, “I told you he’d be okay.”
“Is he conscious?” Eve whispered to the nurse.
“Yes, he is,” David said. He opened one eye, squinting. “Ow. Bright light.”
Eve grabbed the bed rail and held on. “Where are you hurt?”
“Cuts, bruises, and a fractured arm. They’re checking my back and neck, but so far, so good.” He looked past Eve and his open eye flickered with surprise. “Olivia.”
Olivia moved next to Eve, keeping her smile friendly. “Long time no see.”
“How are you?” he asked soberly and her heart did a slow twirl, as it had the first time she’d seen him.
“About the same. You, on the other hand, have looked better. Last time I saw you, you were wearing a tux with a carnation in your buttonhole, making every woman in the church wish you’d escort them to their seats and making them swoon when you did.”
“You didn’t see me the morning after Mia’s wedding,” he said. “I think my head felt almost as bad as it does now, although my face wasn’t so ugly.”
“Too much champagne will do that.” She watched his eyes shadow and wondered how much he remembered of that night, of the things he’d said. And done. “But I wouldn’t worry about your face,” she added lightly. “You were way too pretty before.”
“Thank you,” he said dryly, then glanced at Eve. “She drove you down, kid?”
Eve nodded. “She kept me calm. You had me scared. No, terrified.”
“I’m just glad I had the car and not you.”
“Oh, yeah.” Eve attempted a scoff, but it came out more like a sob. “Mr. Mario Andretti of the virtual world. More like Mario Brothers.”
He looked mildly annoyed, which was encouraging. “I’ve raced in the real world, too.”
“When you had your body shop,” Olivia said quietly. Before you gave it up for the fire department. She remembered every word he’d said that night, but she could see she’d surprised him again. “You told me you rebuilt classic cars and drove them too fast.”
“The secrets champagne unlocks,” he said gruffly. “I guess I’m lucky you didn’t cite me for speeding.” He closed his eye. “You realize he was gunning for you, Evie.”
“Yes,” Eve whispered. “I’m-”
“If you say you’re sorry I’m going to kick your ass,” David said. “After I’m able to stand up. What’s Webster doing to catch this SOB?”
“Webster’s not on this case,” Olivia said. “I am.”
David opened one eye again. “Okay. What are you doing to catch this SOB?”
“Right now I’m trying to understand this SOB’s motives. Why Eve? Why now?”
“I think he’s really gunning for Noah,” Eve said again. “I’m just in the way.”
Olivia wasn’t so sure about that. “If that’s true, I still don’t understand why Noah.”
“You don’t think that’s why?” David asked. “That Eve’s just a byproduct?”
“I might have before this. And before we found the real Buckland went missing. The guy that came after Eve isn’t a reporter. We think he assaulted the real Buckland, maybe killed him.”
David paled further than he already had. “Oh my God.”
“We’ll make sure Eve’s safe,” Olivia said. “But I didn’t want to lie to you.”
“Thank you.” He glared at Eve. “You better not go to the john without protection, kid.”
“I’ll do what they say, David. I promise.” Tentatively Eve brushed the hair from his forehead. “I’ll call your mom. Let her know what’s happened.”
“No,” David said firmly. “That will stir up the whole family. They’ll drop everything and come out here. All of them. It’ll be like Chicago, without the Cubs.”
Eve hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. “All right. If the doctor says you’ll be fine, I won’t call your mom. I did call Tom. Got his voice-mail. I’ll keep trying.”
“Thanks. You’re not planning to work tonight, are you?”
“No. Callie’s taking my shift. I’m… I’ve got plans.”
David’s eye narrowed shrewdly, then his gaze lifted over their heads.
Olivia looked over her shoulder. Noah was here, making the room instantly smaller, and if she’d doubted how he’d felt about Eve before, there was absolutely no doubt now. It was written all over his face. Poor guy had it real bad. I can sympathize.
“I need to talk to David,” she said to Noah. “Can you get Eve a cup of coffee?”
“Of course.” Noah put his arm around Eve’s shoulders, tenderly. “Come on.”
Without argument Eve leaned against him. “I’ll be back later, David.”
When they were gone, Olivia pulled a chair next to David’s bed and took out her notepad. “Okay, tell me what happened. Everything you can remember.”
David’s shoulders sagged wearily. “There’s not much. I was taking Eve’s car to get a few parts. I was going to tune it up. I had Hank on the radio and I was singing along.”
She looked up, her lips curving. “You gotta sing to Hank. I think it’s a country music law or something. What next?”
“The road was only one lane each way and I was going the limit. This black SUV acted like it was going to pass me, then it swerved and hit me. Just once.”
“Did you see the plate?”
“No. He hit his front right to my back left. I did see a broken headlight. I went into a ditch, rolled and ended up upside down. I want Eve to get protection, 24/7.”
“I’ll see to it. You have my word.”
“Your word is good. I… I’m glad it’s you, looking for this guy. Thank you.”
His hand lay on the edge of the bed, just inches away and she wanted to touch him. Touch that face nearly every woman he’d ever met found impossible to resist. Including me. But because she remembered every word he’d said that night, she knew the one woman who’d somehow failed to fall at his feet was the only one he’d ever wanted.
Because she had her pride, Olivia kept her hands to herself. “We’ll take care of Eve,” she said briskly. “I’ll leave my number with the nurse. Call if you remember anything.”
She’d turned to go when he stopped her.
“Olivia, wait. There’s something else you need to know.”
Eve hadn’t needed anyone to tell her Noah had entered David’s room. She’d felt him watching her, just as he’d watched her all those months. When they were in the hall, she turned to him, her hands slipping under his coat, holding on to the warmth of his back. His arms closed around her like steel bands and he held her, saying nothing.
Her cheek pressed against his chest, she rested. He laid his cheek against her head and she felt him settle. This is what I’ve missed, she thought. This is what they found. Caroline, Dana, Mia. They found a place to rest. To be safe. To not be alone.
Deep down Eve wished it could last. Deep down she let herself hope, just a little.
“I was scared to death when you didn’t answer your phone,” he murmured. “Please don’t do that to me again.”