She cursed.
"Eve will be in touch." His lips tightened. "Get the job done. I don’t care if you like it or hate it."
Sarah watched the door close behind him. Her hands clenched into fists on the arms of the rocker. Keep your temper. Losing control won’t do any good. It’s only two days. Maybe there wasn’t even a body.
But if there was, Monty would find it.
He whimpered and got to his feet, looking up at her.
She bent down, put her arms around him, and buried her face in his coat. "I’m sorry, boy," she whispered. She could feel tears sting her eyes. "We have to do it."
Eve received a call from Sarah Patrick later that evening.
"Logan told me you’ll help. That’s very kind of you."
"I want it over as soon as possible," Sarah said. "We’ll start the search tomorrow. Do you have a general area?"
"Maybe. I’m not sure. We may have to try a couple—"
"You have two days," Sarah said. "Try to get me a piece of the victim’s clothing. Sometimes Monty responds more to the scent clinging to clothes than to a body."
"That may take a little while. I don’t know if—"
“It’s up to you. I told you what I need. I don’t care if we find her or not. I’d rather we didn’t.
After you’ve got the clothing, call me and I’ll meet you at the search site." She hung up.
Eve sat there a moment and then dialed Logan. "What the hell did you do to Sarah Patrick?"
"I got her to go to work for you.”
“How? She was cold as ice."
"It’s done. You have her for two days. Make use of her." She should have known Logan would do whatever he had to do to make it happen. He’d been ruthless as hell in getting Eve to work for him. "I didn’t want her hurt."
"She’s not hurt. You’re not hurt. And Jane isn’t hurt. If you’ll use Sarah instead of having The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
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qualms, you’ll all stay alive and well. That’s what’s important, isn’t it?"
He was right, she thought wearily. That’s what was important. "She wants an article of Debby Jordan’s clothing. Do you suppose you could get it without breaking into her house and scaring her family?"
"I’ll manage. And no thanks are needed for my help with Sarah." She felt ashamed. Why was she blaming Logan? She had made the call that had started him into action. Maybe she’d even subconsciously hoped that he’d go far beyond what she’d asked. "I’m sorry. I guess I’m a little discouraged. I don’t know if Sarah will be able to find the body. I’m not sure where it’s buried.
I’m just taking my best shot."
"I’d like to be with you tomorrow. Any chance?"
"You’ve already done too much. I won’t have you seen with me.”
“There’s no such thing as doing too much."
"Tell that to Sarah Patrick. She’s giving me two days."
"Try to make it within her framework. I’d prefer not to have to squeeze again. As I dodged insults, I actually found myself liking her."
"I don’t think she reciprocates. I got the impression she’d just as soon bury both of us as find Debby Jordan."
"Since you won’t let me come with you, you’ll just have to deal with her. I’ll have your article of clothing by tomorrow morning."
It was a white baseball jersey with the Arizona Diamondback logo on the front. Sarah Patrick took the shirt without looking at it. "Has it been washed since she wore it?"
"No, Logan said she slept in it the night before she disappeared.”
“Then how did he get it?"
"I didn’t ask."
"He probably stole it from a bag for the homeless.”
“He’s not as bad as you think."
"No, he’s probably worse."
"I was surprised you wanted the shirt. She’s been buried for almost a month. The scent can’t be—"
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"I could have used a substance that simulates the decay smell, but that would have upset Monty. Not that the shirt may do any good anyway." She shrugged. "But we’ll try." She glanced around the open field. "Why are we here?"
"This field is in back of the Desert Light subdivision.”
“So?"
"Bodies have been located in two other places associated with light. Dom repeatedly mentioned light in our last conversation. I think he was trying to tell me something."
"Why didn’t he just come right out and say where he buried her?”
“That wouldn’t be as much fun for him. He wants to make me work.”
“You mean he wants to make Monty and me work."
"He doesn’t know about you." Eve wasn’t sure that was true. Dom had not contacted her since she’d arrived in Phoenix, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t here, watching her.
"And you want me to search this field just because of the subdivision’s name?”
“It’s also close to the church where Debby Jordan disappeared." Sarah gazed at her dubiously.
"Okay, it’s not much to go on." Eve’s lips tightened. "But it’s all I’ve got.”
“Whatever you say. I’ll go on any wild-goose chase for two days. That’s all you’re getting from me." She took a canvas bag from her Jeep, then glanced at Jane, who was kneeling beside Monty. "Why bring her along?"
"Dom likes her with me and I can’t chance leaving her alone. She won’t get in the way."
"I didn’t say she would. She seems a smart kid. But Monty’s not going to be able to keep her company." She strode over to Jane and smiled down at her. "Sorry. It’s time for Monty to work."
Jane got to her feet slowly. "May I go with you?" Sarah looked at Eve.
Jane was already there. Was it any worse for her to search actively than sit in a car and wait? At least she’d be busy. She slowly nodded.
Sarah turned back to Jane. "We cover ground pretty fast and I usually take him over the terrain twice just to make sure we don’t miss something."
"I’ll keep up."
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fastened it to Monty’s collar.
He went still.
"He knows something’s happening?" Jane asked.
She nodded. "But he doesn’t know what yet. I’m leashing him for my benefit, so I can better control our steps. I don’t usually put a leash on him at all, only when we’re in an unfamiliar environment or a leash makes people feel safer around him."
"Safer?"
"He’s a big dog. Some people don’t like big dogs.”
“Then they’re crazy," Jane said.
Sarah smiled. "I’m with you, kid." She reached into the canvas bag again and pulled out a denim belt that contained a multitude of pockets.
Monty stiffened.
"Now he knows we’re on the job." Sarah fastened the pack around her waist. "It’s his signal."
Monty lifted his head, his eyes bright and eager.
Sarah reached down and let him sniff the jersey. "Find her, Monty." Eve leaned against the fender of her car and watched Sarah, Jane, and Monty walk the field. They moved fast, as Sarah had said they would, but the field was large and it took time to traverse every foot of it.
Monty held his head down, every muscle tensed as he moved over the terrain. Twice he stopped, hesitated, and then continued on. It was early afternoon before Sarah brought Monty back to the car. "Nothing."
"You’re sure?" Eve asked, disappointed.
“Monty’s sure. That’s enough for me.”
“How good is he?"
"He’s damn incredible."
"Why did he stop those two times?”
“He sniffed something dead." Eve stiffened. "What?"
"Nothing human. Monty knows the difference." She took off the dog’s leash, then her own belt, and turned to Jane. "He’s off duty now. Why don’t you go play with him? He’d like that."
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