He started for the door that led to the waiting room. “I’ll make some calls to the precinct while I’m waiting for forensics to finish. You don’t have to stick around. I’ll take the kid home.”
Take her home. The phrasing had been unconscious. Eve’s phrase. Perhaps it was because Nicole was so young that he identified her with Eve’s lost children. “And I’ll talk to her parents.”
“Thanks, Joe.” Schindler headed for the door. “I’m not about to refuse. This one is tough.”
And so was Schindler, but there was always a case that hit too close to the heart. He was probably identifying Nicole with his twelve-year-old daughter, Cindy. “Yeah. But you’re not off scot-free. I’ll let you do the paperwork.”
“No problem.” Schindler was already heading for the parking lot.
Joe dropped down in a waiting-room chair and wearily stretched his legs out before him.
No goblet. Nicole hadn’t been found worthy. Son of a bitch.
For some reason that omission was pissing Joe off. He almost wished that Nicole would pop out of that exam room so that he could tell her that she was worthy, and loved, and all the other good things to which a young girl had a right.
How long he’d come in such a short time. Now he was wishing for a ghostly visit? No, but it wouldn’t blow him away if it happened.
Evidently it wasn’t going to happen. Maybe Nicole was happy to move on. Good for you, kid. Maybe you could have a few words with my friend Nancy Jo.
And in return she could tell you that you shouldn’t pay any attention to that murdering bastard.
You’re damn worthy.
NICOLE SPELLING WAS PROVING worthy after all, Jelak thought as he watched the medical examiner’s van drive away from the doctor’s office. Not in the most splendid sense but still very useful.
It was what he had planned, but plans often went awry.
Not this time.
He watched Joe Quinn get in his car and drive out of the parking lot. He’d accompany Nicole to the morgue as if she were someone of importance instead of a mere trifle.
Go on, Quinn. Do your duty. Be her honor guard.
I’ll be right behind you.
NO USE HURRYING, JOE THOUGHT. He’d let the M.E. van get to the morgue and the techs ready Nicole Spelling for the final visit from her parents.
Neither Joe nor Nicole’s parents would be eager for that final confirmation.
He took his foot off the accelerator and braked to slow down.
Nothing happened.
He pressed the brake again.
Nothing.
Shit.
No brakes?
Joe stomped on the brake again.
Nothing. Completely gone.
Okay. No reason to panic. He wasn’t driving through the hills any longer. It was pitch-dark out here in the country, but he could barely make out dirt on the far side of the road. No deep gullies or ditches. He’d wait until he came to a level stretch, then drive off the road into the dirt that bordered it.
There. Up ahead.
He eased the car off the road and bumped along the rough dirt, gradually slowing. Then he swerved and came to a stop.
He sat there for a moment, getting his breath. The situation might not have been life-threatening, but it hadn’t been pleasant.
And it shouldn’t have happened.
There had been no problem on the drive up here. He kept the cars in great shape, and there should have been no—
“Need a lift?”
He tensed. His gaze shifted to the man walking toward him in the darkness. He could see only a dark silhouette framed against the headlights of the car parked several yards away.
“I’d say you might.” Ed Norris smiled as he got close enough for Joe to identify. “Judging by that vehicular swan dive I saw you pull. It looked like your brakes are shot. You should really have them examined regularly. I could give you the name of my mechanic.”
Joe got out of the car. “Should I ask what you’re doing here, Norris?”
“I told you that I’d be the only one tailing you from now on. When I heard about Nicole Spelling, I naturally decided I had to see what was happening.”
“And you didn’t by any chance tamper with my brakes?”
Norris’s smile vanished. “Hell, no. Why would I do that?”
“I don’t think you did. It’s not your style.” His gaze searched the darkness behind Norris. “So it might be a good idea for us to get in your car and get the hell out—”
A motion behind Norris in the darkness, black on black.
“Down!” Joe pushed Norris to the ground.
A bullet tore past Joe’s ear as he dropped on top of him.
The second bullet didn’t miss.
EVE WAS STILL UP WORKING when her phone rang at eleven forty that night.
Joe? He’d called earlier to tell her he’d be late.
It wasn’t Joe.
“Eve, Caleb. I’m going to pick you and Jane up in fifteen minutes. Be dressed and ready to go.”
“I’ve already told you, I’m not taking any orders from you. I’ve discussed it with Jane and we’re not at all pleased about the way you—”
“Don’t argue. I’m taking you to the hospital. Damn, I guessed wrong. I never thought he’d go for Joe.”
Her heart stopped. “Joe? Joe’s in the hospital?”
“No. I’ll explain on the way. Get Jane and be ready.” He hung up.
She wanted to murder him. Throwing that out about Joe, then hanging up. She didn’t know if Joe’s not being in the hospital was bad or good.
She was scared to death it was bad.
She headed down the hall to wake up Jane.
“TELL ME ABOUT JOE,” SHE said, as she and Jane got into Caleb’s car. “Now.”
“I don’t have anything to tell. I wish I did.” He pulled out of the driveway. “I’ve been in contact with Detective Schindler at the precinct. He came back early from Dahlonega to do paperwork. Quinn was accompanying the body to the morgue later. They got a call from Georgia State Patrol that Joe’s car was found at the side of the road about ten miles out of Dahlonega. Ed Norris was lying near it. He’d been shot. His car was nearby too.”
“What about Joe?” Jane asked.
Caleb shook his head. “No sign of him. They took Norris to Northside Hospital for treatment. Shoulder wound. He was unconscious, but the EMTs didn’t think the wound was life-threatening.”
“Joe,” Eve said. “If Norris was there, he has to know what happened to Joe. I have to talk to him.”
“That’s why we’re on the way to the hospital,” Caleb said. “I knew that would be your first reaction. I already checked with the hospital. They’re not allowing anyone to see him yet. And he has a whole platoon of security camping out in the hall to protect the great man.”
“I have to see him.”
He nodded. “I’ll see to it. Let me go in first.”
“Dammit, we’ve got to talk to him,” Jane said. “You have to make it happen, Caleb.”
“I said I’d do it. Have a little faith.” Caleb glanced at her. “I want to find Quinn as much as you do.”
“No way.”
“Perhaps not for the same reasons, but I’m very heavily invested in Quinn’s well-being. I promise we’ll find out everything Norris knows within a few minutes of getting to the hospital.”
“Providing he’s not still unconscious,” Eve said.
“Then it may take a few minutes more,” he said absently.
Eve stared at him, startled.
“I won’t hurt him,” Caleb said, as he noticed her expression. “Trust me.”
She had to trust him. She had to know about Joe.
FOURTEEN
“HE’S AWAKE.” CALEB WAS whisking Eve and Jane through the crowd of security and police in the hall outside Norris’s room.
The crowd was parting like the Red Sea, Eve thought. Smiling at Caleb as if he was their best friend and politely at her and Jane. One of the aides even opened the door and stepped aside to let them enter.
Ed Norris’s shoulder was bandaged, and he was very pale. His gaze fastened on Eve’s face. “You’re Eve Duncan. I’ve wanted to meet you ever since I heard about that goblet that bastard left at your place. He wants to kill you too.”
“Where’s Joe Quinn?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I stopped because Quinn was having car trouble. He asked me if I’d tampered with his brakes, then told me to get back in my car.”
“You were shot. Was Joe shot too?”
“I wish I could tell you. He saw someone behind me and told me to get down. Then he pushed me down and dropped on top of me.” His lips tightened. “The bullet hit my shoulder on my way down. If he hadn’t pushed me, it would probably have been a chest or heart wound. He saved my life.”
“But what happened to Joe?”
“I passed out almost immediately.” He paused. “I thought I heard another shot.”
Eve inhaled sharply.
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure,” Norris said. “Damn, I feel helpless. I’ve got to get out of this hospital.”
Eve felt helpless too. Helpless and scared and panicky. “Thank you.” She turned toward the door. “If you remember anything more, call me.”
“I will.” He added as she reached the door, “It was Jelak, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, I’m sure it was.”
She left the room and let Caleb carve a path for them through the crowd to the elevator. She didn’t speak until the doors of the elevator closed behind them. “It had to be Jelak.”
Caleb nodded. “That goes without saying.”
“He stalked Joe and shot him,” Jane said. “Revenge for the bullet he took from Joe?”
“He was terribly angry with him,” Eve said. “He said Joe was in his way.”
“Not revenge. At least not the major motivation.” The doors opened, and Caleb stepped aside for them to exit. “Which may be a lucky break.”
Eve’s gaze flew to his face. “What?”
“Jelak may want him alive.” He was leading them through the reception to the parking lot. “Norris said he heard a bullet. It didn’t necessarily have to be a fatal bullet.”
“You think he’s still alive?” Eve stopped to look at him as they reached his car. Desperate hope was soaring through her. “Why?”
“Get in the car. Let’s talk this out.”
“Why?” Jane repeated, after they’d settled in the car.
“Jelak was stalking you to lure Eve into a trap. Quinn put all kinds of safeguards around you to keep that from happening.” His lips twisted. “And I was working around those safeguards to pull Jelak into a trap.”
“I noticed.”
“But Jelak decided to go around a different way to get what he wanted.”
“Joe,” Eve whispered.
Caleb nodded. “You’ve been with Quinn a long time. He’s important to you. If you thought his life was in danger, he’d have his bait.”
“Then he wouldn’t kill him,” Eve said quickly. “He wouldn’t be able to get what he wanted if Joe was dead.”
“If you’re right,” Jane said.
“Quinn was taken from the scene. Why? Unless Jelak intended to use him for something.”
“Or make us think he was alive and still use him,” Jane said.
“That’s true. I won’t deny that’s a possibility. We’ll have to see.”
“You expect him to call me,” Eve said.
“Oh, yes. I don’t think there’s any doubt about it.” Caleb started the car. “But since we don’t know when, I’ll take you home to wait in comfort.”
“Comfort? Not likely.”
“Comparatively speaking. May I wait with you?”
Why not? Caleb might be able to help if worse came to worst. “As long as you don’t try to move us all like puppets.”
Caleb shook his head. “The pieces are in place through no manipulation by me. I’ll just try to keep them in play and help you survive.”
“Help Joe survive,” Eve said fiercely. “I’m not going to let Jelak kill him.”
“And that’s what Jelak is counting on.”
She knew that, but it didn’t matter. “He’s not going to die, Caleb.”
“I hear you.” Caleb drove out of the parking lot. “And Jelak will be delighted to hear it too.”
“Be quiet, Caleb,” Jane said curtly. “We know what you’re saying. We know what you want. We’ll work it out.”
“I’m sure you will. That’s why I want to be on-site to watch you.” He looked away from her. “But I’ll try to keep my own counsel while I’m doing it. Mum’s the word.”
“GO TO BED, EVE,” JANE SAID gently. “It’s almost dawn. I know you can’t sleep, but you could stretch out and rest.”
“Why doesn’t he call, dammit?” Eve shook her head. “I couldn’t lie down. I feel as if I’m wound so tight that I’m close to breaking.”
“Then work for a while. At least it will keep you occupied.”
Eve nodded jerkily. “Okay. You’re right.” She moved across the room to her work area. “It won’t keep my mind from going into high gear, but it will keep my hands busy.”
Jane watched her for a few minutes before she turned and went out on the porch.
Caleb was coming down the lake path toward the cottage. Toby was trotting beside him. It was odd how Toby had taken such a liking to him.
“What were you doing?” she asked, as Caleb came up the steps a few minutes later.
“Walking. Thinking. Guarding.” He sat down on the top step, and Toby plopped down on the porch above him. “Keeping out of your way so that you and Eve can comfort each other. I’m not a very comforting person.”
“You have quite a few edges.” She sat down beside him. “Guarding?”
“It would be like Jelak to stage an elaborate scenario, then hit hard when you weren’t expecting it. I was just making sure he was nowhere around.”
“But you weren’t expecting him.”
“No, I’m expecting Eve to get a call.” He looked out over the lake, which was mirroring delicate pink and gold. “Dawn’s breaking. He’s making her wait a long time.”
“Bastard.”
“Smart bastard. The longer you worry, the more eager to pay the price.”
“You said his taking Joe was a complete surprise to you. You’re not easily surprised, Caleb.”
“I was expecting it to be you. I was almost certain that he’d try until he got you. He would recognize Joe’s value on a cerebral level but not on an emotional one. Jelak operates almost entirely on his emotions.”
“Why doesn’t he feel that Joe’s valuable?”
“He’s male.”
Her brow knitted. “So is Jelak.”
“Not really. He’s a vampire god in training. Or so he perceives himself.”
“And men have no value for him? Why not?”
“The blood. It’s too dominant and aggressive. He can’t take the elements he needs from it. A woman’s blood is smooth and complex, and the strength will blend like a river running to the sea.”