"As you ordered." He handed Eve a key. "I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Thanks, Mark."
"For what? I’d like to say I’m doing everything to save the kid, but I’m really interested only in the story."
"Thanks anyway."
She pushed Jane into the room and locked the door. "Bathroom. Wash up." Jesus, it was cold.
She turned up the thermostat. "You can sleep in your underclothes tonight. I’ll get you something else to wear tomorrow."
Jane yawned. "Okay."
She called Joe’s digital number as soon as she was sure Jane was asleep in the twin bed next to her.
"Joe?"
"Where the hell are you?"
"I’m fine. And I have Jane MacGuire. She’s safe."
"I’ve been hunting all over the city for you. Sandra wouldn’t tell me a damn thing."
"Are the police bothering her?”
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“Of course they are. What do you think?”
“Help her, Joe."
"As much as I can. She’s not the one they want. Where are you?" She didn’t answer the question. "I just called to tell you there may be usable evidence in the alley off Luther Street.
Dom left a message in blood on a cardboard box and a child’s finger bone on the ground."
"Whose bone?"
Bonnie.
Close it out. Don’t think about Bonnie.
"I don’t know. And I don’t know who the blood belongs to either.”
“I do. The security guard at the welfare house you busted her out of.”
“Christ." She shivered as she realized Dom might have already been preparing to go after Jane.
"How long has he been dead?"
"We don’t know yet. It was cold tonight. Time of death can be hard to determine when the body’s been exposed to low temperatures. The last time anyone saw him was about eight-fifteen."
So his death could have occurred in the early evening, hours before she appeared on the scene.
The eerie feeling she’d had as she had stood beneath Jane’s window could have been imagination.
"Which makes you both a kidnapper and a suspect in a murder," Joe said. "Murder?"
"You were at the scene. Though I don’t believe anyone’s going to seriously believe you’re a murderer."
"That’s comforting."
"But you’ll be considered at least a material witness, and you’ll be wanted for questioning. And then there’s the kidnapping. There’s an APB on you.”
“You know why I had to get Jane out of there. Dom told me if I didn’t, he’d go in after her."
"I thought as much." His voice was without expression. "It would have been nice if you’d called me and talked it over."
God, he was angry. "I had to do it myself."
"Did you? If I recall, I’m involved up to my neck. Why did you decide to cross me off your list?"
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"You know why. I had to get Jane away even if I broke the law. You’re a cop, Joe.”
“You think that would have stopped me from helping! I’d have done it for you, dammit."
"I know." She swallowed to ease the tightness of her throat. "I couldn’t allow it.”
“You couldn’t allow—" He had to stop to temper his tone. "Who the hell gave you the right to make my decisions for me?"
"I took the right."
"And you shut me out.”
“I shut you out. Stay out, Joe."
"Oh, no. I’ve let you sweep me into the background too many times. I can take that but I won’t have you walk away from me."
"I wouldn’t be a good friend to you if I let you—"
"Screw friendship." His voice was hoarse with barely contained violence. "I’m sick to death of it.
Just as I’m sick of standing on the sidelines and having you treat me like some old hound that needs nothing more than an occasional pat on the head."
Shock surged through her. "Joe.”
“It’s happened too often, Eve.”
“The hell it has."
"The hell it hasn’t. You’re not even aware of it. You block everything out, and what you don’t block out, you interpret to suit yourself. You’ll hang up the phone tonight and you won’t look beyond what you want to see."
In an uneven voice, she said, "I’ve never taken you for granted, and I’ve never treated you as anything but my very dear friend."
"Then why didn’t you tell me? Why don’t you tell me where you are?" He took a deep breath and then his voice lowered persuasively. "Last chance. Let me come to you now. Afterward I’ll step back. I’ll let your bury your head and not—"
"I can’t. You can’t help me. Not this time."
He didn’t speak for a moment, and she could sense his emotions seething in that silence. "Your choice. You know, I’m almost relieved. But I’ll find you. I’m not going to let you close me out, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let that son of a bitch kill you."
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"I don’t want you to look for me. If you call me, I’ll hang up. Do you understand?"
"I’ll find you." He hung up.
She was shaking as she punched the off button. Joe was one of the bedrocks of her life, and she felt as if that rock had exploded beneath her feet. She had seen him angry before, but this was different. He had attacked her. He had said terrible, false things. She had never taken him for granted. She didn’t know what life would be like without Joe. Why couldn’t he understand she was doing only what was best for him?
Smother the hurt. Go to sleep. Try to forget.
She turned off the light on the nightstand. I’ll find you.
His words had sounded like a threat. The intimidating Joe she had spoken to tonight was the tough cop, the ex-SEAL. Relentless, unswerving, deadly.
Nonsense. Joe would never threaten her. Joe was closer than a brother, more protective than a father.
You treat me like a hound that needs nothing more than an occasional pat on the head. She couldn’t think of Joe. She didn’t need any more turmoil in her life.
You block everything out.
She’d block out Joe for now and she’d be damned if she’d feel guilty. She closed her eyes, ignoring the stinging behind her lids. Go to sleep. Tomorrow she would find a way to make sure Jane was safe from Dom. That was much more urgent than Joe’s hurt feelings and lack of understanding. That could be solved later. It was Jane who was important now.
I’m sick of standing on the sidelines.
God, it wasn’t that she thought Joe was less import—
Don’t think of him. The message beneath those words was as disturbing as a volcano ready to erupt. She’d always known it was there but had chosen not to see it. And she couldn’t permit herself to see it now.
She turned over, willing herself to go to sleep. I’ll find you…
Her phone rang in the middle of the night, rousing her from sleep.
Joe? She wouldn’t answer. She couldn’t face any more arguments or— It rang again.
Dammit, she had to answer or risk Jane being woken up. She kept her voice to a whisper.
"Hello."
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"Did you go to the alley off Luther Street?" Dom.
"Yes."
"Then you must have our sweet Jane. I thought she’d insist on going to help her little friend.
She appears very fond of him. It’s the kind of thing you would have done as a child, isn’t it? Did I mention how much alike you are?"
"You killed the security guard."
"Just helping you a little. He would have gotten in your way. How did you get her out? The drainpipe? I had considered it, but—"
"Why are you calling?"
"I like to hear your voice. Do you realize how full of tension and emotion you are? I can hear every nuance of it. It’s very exciting."
"I’m hanging up."
"Then I guess I’d better get down to the business of guiding you in the direction I want you to go. It’s too dangerous for either of us to remain in Atlanta. They could arrest you for kidnapping, and that would spoil everything. You wouldn’t be able to bond with Jane and I’d have to slit her throat. I’m sure you’d surround her with protection, so it would be a very difficult kill."