She nodded. “Jenny said that he meant to kill me, but he didn’t have time after he stole the skull.” She grimaced. “It’s clear he didn’t like my chasing after him.”
“On the contrary, I think he did like it. Now he doesn’t have to go back to the lake to finish you off. He thinks he can do it here.”
Her e-mail pinged, and she looked down at the phone. “That’s probably the location.”
“The trap, you mean,” Joe said. “Give me your phone and let me handle it.”
“Joe.”
“He wants to kill you.”
“It’s a chance to get the reconstruction.” She looked at him. “It may be a chance to get Walsh. We have to get him, Joe. It’s not only Jenny. I sat there all afternoon and read all those case files about those murdered children and their families.”
“Too much risk.”
“I can work around it.”
“Good God, you’re going to do it.”
“I’m going to try. I’m not going to do anything suicidal. As soon as I can, I’ll notify Nalchek and try to bring him up there to trap Walsh. But I’m going to see if I have any way I can retrieve that skull. If I can’t, I’ll see if I can learn anything, do anything to bring me closer to catching Walsh before he kills again.”
He met her gaze for a long moment, then glanced at her phone. “Pull up the damn e-mail.”
She pushed the e-mail access. “It has to be Walsh. It’s a map.” She scanned it and handed it to Joe. “Somewhere near Tahoe. No X marked the spot. He’s probably going to contact us later.”
“When he’s sure you’re going to meet his challenge,” Joe said bitterly.
“I can’t do anything else, Joe,” she said.
“Do you think I don’t realize that?” he asked as he took her elbow and led her toward the car. “I was sitting right there beside you today. Do you believe I wasn’t sick to my stomach? I wanted to kill the son of a bitch by the time I jerked you away from that computer.” He opened the car door for her. “So I’ll take you to Walsh. I’ll try to keep you safe while you get that reconstruction. But if there’s a choice between getting the skull or taking out Walsh, it will be Walsh. I won’t care if you can’t bring Jenny home.” He slammed the door and strode around to the driver’s seat. “She’ll have to be satisfied with my sending her killer straight to hell.”
CHAPTER
9
SONDERVILLE
He was coming.
He would be here soon.
Margaret sat absolutely still beside the creek, waiting. She was excited, she realized. Was there an element of fear with that excitement? Maybe. Strange. She was seldom afraid.
But everything she’d been feeling since she’d arrived in these woods was somehow … different.
He had stopped just beyond the trees. He was looking at her.
Excitement again.
Don’t let him see it. “Are you going to stand there and gape at me? I promise I don’t have any explosives strapped to me tonight, either, Nalchek.”
“How do I know that?” He came toward her. “You’re an unknown quantity. Eve may trust you, but I don’t.” He stopped a few yards from where she sat. “And I don’t know how she can trust you, either, with what little she knows about you.”
Margaret chuckled. “We have a sort of history, and I was able to help her when she needed me. That must count for something in the balance.” She tilted her head. “Haven’t you ever run into a situation that warranted a little faith in the face of suspicious circumstances?”
“No.”
“I think you have.” She studied him. He was all lean hardness, and his eyes were cool and intent. But there was a barely contained explosiveness beneath that restraint. She knew how strong he was, and she could sense that at the moment, he was barely able to stop himself from lashing out. “Maybe not lately. Why are you here, Nalchek?”
“Because you’re here.” He dropped to his knees beside her. “I could ask you the same thing. You know you shouldn’t be in these woods.”
“And how did you know I was here?”
“I assigned a man to watch the hotel and report if you left it.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to keep my eye on you.” He added roughly, “And you hitchhiked here again, dammit. How stupid can you get? That’s inviting an attack.”
“I’m a pretty good judge of character.” She smiled. “And I can take care of myself.”
“I didn’t notice that last night.”
“You surprised me. Besides, I knew right away that you were probably no threat.”
“Then you were wrong. I am a threat to you.”
She went still. The fear was back. Her gaze flew to his face. Then she relaxed. “You’re bluffing. You just want to be in control. You wouldn’t hurt me unless you had to.” She paused. “But I’m surprised you would want me to believe it. I don’t think it’s what you’d ordinarily—” She nodded suddenly. “You want something from me, and you’re not sure I’ll give it to you. What is it?”
His expression didn’t change. “What do you think I want?” He reached out and touched her cheek. “Yes, I do want to be in control. Why do you think I became sheriff?”
Her cheek was tingling beneath his fingers. She could feel a tightness in her chest. “Because you’re one of the good guys?”
“How do you know? Oh, that’s right, you’re such a great judge of character.” His hand moved down to cup her throat. “Bullshit, Margaret.”
She could feel her pulse beating hard against his hand. It felt strange and rhythmic and completely sexual. “I am a good judge of character.” She moistened her lips. “And you would never use your office to either hurt me or for sexual gratification. You’re just angry or frustrated about something, and I’m handy to vent.” She took his hand from her throat and leaned back. “And the fact that you can’t put me in a convenient pigeonhole is making it worse.” She met his gaze. “But I’m no one’s whipping boy, so tell me why you’re being an ass. What do you want from me?”
He stared at her for a moment. “I’m beginning to think of all kinds of things.”
“Don’t start that again. I’m not your type. You thought I was a college kid. You probably like them tall, leggy, and sophisticated. I’m not any of those things.”
He smiled faintly. “No, you’re not. But you’re undoubtedly interesting.”
“You’re damn right.” She got to her knees, her hands clenching into fists. “Why did you come looking for me? I’m sure it wasn’t to make sure I made it safely here to the woods.”
The corners of his lips deepened. “You look like you’re going to take a swing at me.”
“I’m tempted. I don’t like being used.”
“I didn’t use you. Well, maybe a little.”
“I don’t like being manipulated, either.”
He shrugged. “I only tried, I didn’t succeed. I guess I didn’t appeal to you.”
He knew that wasn’t true. That moment had been brimming with sexual tension, and Margaret was aware she was usually transparent as glass. “Why?”
His smile faded. “I’m tired as hell of being the outsider. This is my town, my case, and Eve would never have been involved with that little girl if I hadn’t sent her the skull. Then she brings Quinn and you into it and leaves me out in the cold. That’s not going to happen.”
“She doesn’t regard it as a competition. She’s grateful for your help.”
“As long as she calls the shots.”
“You weren’t this angry earlier today.” Her eyes narrowed on his face. “What happened?”
“She phoned me from Sacramento and wanted to know Jenny’s blood type. When I asked her why, she said she’d call me back.”
“And she didn’t do it?”
“No, and when I tried later, the call went to voice mail.” He smiled crookedly. “So I decided I’d go and search for answers from someone else who belongs to the club.”
“Me?” She shook her head. “I don’t know why she’d want to know that. I haven’t heard from Eve since she left the hotel.” She frowned. “She doesn’t want to involve me any more than she has to, Nalchek. At least, she doesn’t feel guilty about contacting you.”
He didn’t answer.