"It has to be okay, doesn’t it? I have to accept it. That’s life."
"Yes, that’s life. Welcome back." He brushed her hair away from her face. "You’re a mess. I’ve gotten grease all over you."
"It will wash off." But what had happened that night could never be eradicated. Every one of her protective barriers had been stripped away and she’d been forced to face her true feelings for Joe. But they were too intense, almost unbearable. She pushed him away and slowly stood up. "We’ve got to leave to go to Professor Dunkeil’s lab. I’ll use the powder room down here.
You go upstairs and change. Those clothes are beyond hope."
"I’m on my way."
She watched him leave the room, not wanting to let him out of her sight. Get a grip. There were other things in life to worry about besides Joe Quinn. Two men had died tonight. Probably killed by Dom. He was getting nearer.
But so was she.
You haven’t beaten us yet, Dom. I’ll still find a way to see your face.
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SEVENTEEN
Eve and Joe were waiting across the street from the lab on Blue Mountain Drive when Spiro drove up.
"Professor Dunkeil’s waiting for us. He was upset about Sung." Spiro studied Eve’s face. "You look better."
"I’m fine. Did you reach Mrs. Cather?"
"Yes." His lips tightened. "I didn’t talk to her very long. She broke down. She’s only a kid herself."
"I know you were close to Charlie."
"I could have been closer. I thought I had to toughen him up." He shook his head. "Getting Dom is becoming very personal to me."
Eve started across the street. "Join the club." She felt the tension rise as Joe rang the doorbell of the lab.
Please, don’t let those young men have died for no reason. Don’t let Dom win this one.
The image of Kevin Baldridge was still blurred. On the computer screen he was almost ghostlike, like a cadaver floating in a sea of light.
But his face was clear enough.
She couldn’t breathe.
"Eve?"
"Tell me I’m crazy, Joe."
Joe was gazing at the screen and swore softly. Spiro inhaled sharply. "Grunard."
Younger, thinner, but the charming, slightly cocky smile was the same. Eve sank back in the chair, her mind whirling. "No."
"He’s the right age. He’s been close to you from the beginning," Spiro said slowly. So close.
"That guard at the welfare house…" She shuddered. "I told him to distract him if he ran across him."
Joe turned to Spiro. "He thinks he’s safe. Pick him up before he learns what we’ve done here tonight."
"He may already know." Spiro took out his phone and punched in a number. "He’s made some The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
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friends in the precinct the past few days."
Eve was thinking of the serial killer profile Spiro had told her in Joe’s cottage. They usually know police procedures and may even associate with the police. Joe had told her that Grunard hung out at the bar all the Atlanta police detectives frequented.
And a reporter could travel from place to place without suspicion. He had contacts and sources for finding out facts other people couldn’t. Mark had delayed going after Jane at the welfare house until eleven o’clock, giving him plenty of time to kill the security guard and make it to the alley where Mike had been. He would have had no trouble gaining access to Fraser all those years ago.
“No answer at Grunard’s hotel." Spiro was punching in another number. "I’ll send someone to the hotel."
Grunard. Dom.
He had wanted to stay at the lab last night. He had given Sung his phone number. Spiro had finished his phone call and was heading for the front door. "I’ll start a background check on Grunard. I don’t know how much good it will do. There’s no telling how many times he’s reinvented himself. Go back to the house and stay there."
Grunard.
The thought of him being Dom occupied Eve on the drive back to the house. He had been there all the time and she had not felt an ounce of suspicion. My God, she had even felt guilty for not keeping him more informed. And he had even warned her not to let Dom see Eve and Jane together in Phoenix.
She felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach. "Jane." She had left Jane alone.
"How far are we—"
"Shit." Joe pressed the accelerator. "Take it easy. We’re only a block from the house."
They tore through the gates and she jumped out of the car and ran into the house. "Eve." Joe was running after her.
Jane was safe. Jane had two guards to protect her, and Sarah and Monty. But Dom had gotten to the porch of Joe’s cottage at the lake. She took the stairs two at a time.
She flung open Jane’s door.
The bed was rumpled, the covers thrown back.
Jane was not in the bed.
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"Let’s try Sarah," Joe said behind her.
Sarah sat up groggily when they barged in her room. "What is it?”
“Jane. We can’t find—" Eve sat on the bed in relief. "Thank God." Jane was curled up beside Monty on a blanket on the floor beside Sarah’s bed. "She came in a couple of hours ago," Sarah said. "She said she had a bad dream about Monty and asked if she could stay. It’s okay, isn’t it?"
Eve nodded, trying to quiet her pounding heart. "It’s fine. I was just scared. Sorry I woke you."
"No problem."
Eve and Joe walked out. "God, I was afraid," she said.
"Me too." Joe put his arm around her. "Come on, let’s go make some coffee. I could use a caffeine jolt."
came into the kitchen almost an hour later. "Okay. What’s happening?" She yawned. "I tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t because I got to thinking."
"We didn’t want to bother you." Joe poured her a cup of coffee. "Well, you didn’t bother Jane and Monty. They’re sleeping." She sipped her coffee. "The sleep of the innocent. It’s a wonderful thing. Now, why were you scared about Jane?"
Sarah had finished her second cup of coffee by the time they’d filled her in. She leaned back in her chair. "So it’s almost over."
"It’s not over until he’s dead or behind bars," Eve said.
"But you have a face and a name now. If he slips through the FBI’s hands, put him on America’s Most Wanted or some show like that. Someone’s always finding murderers."
"You make it sound very simple," Joe said dryly.
"I have a very simple nature." Sarah smiled. "It comes from living with dogs. Everything’s black and white, and you reach your goal by using the most direct path possible. That’s why I work rescue instead of being a cop like you, Joe. I couldn’t stand—"
The phone rang. Eve picked up the wall extension.
"Get out of there," Spiro said. "Tell Joe to get you and Jane away from there.”
“Why? Dom?"
"No, there’s no sign of Dom. But the Phoenix PD should be on your doorstep any minute."
"Why? Was I recognized at the wreck site?"
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"They got an anonymous tip about where you could be found. Now, guess who would call that in?"
"Grunard."
"Right. He evidently wants to blast you out of your fortress.”
“And he’s doing it." She tried to think. "But if they put me in jail, he wouldn’t be able to—"
"Jane won’t be in jail. She’ll go right back into Atlanta welfare custody." If Jane was returned to welfare they’d be back to square one. "How much time do we have?"
"Zilch. Get out of there now."
She hung up. "Phoenix PD is on their way here. They got a tip about Jane and me." She turned to Sarah. "You and Monty get out of here. Call Logan and tell him what’s happened."
Sarah headed for the door. "I’m on my way."
Eve nodded. "I’ll go get Jane. Throw some things into a suitcase, Joe."