Silencing Eve

by Iris Johansen

  Caleb shook his head. “We didn’t run across anything in the letters, but we were practically speed-reading. You’ll have to go over them again. We didn’t find any other letters or documents with his name on them in the apartment.” He grimaced. “Except the divorce decree. She didn’t lie about that.”

  “What else did you find?”

  Caleb shrugged. “Damn if I know. We were moving so fast that we were pulling and photographing everything in sight. We’ll have to go through the camera roll later and see if we got anything important. Oh, one thing, she told you that she saw none of the media coverage of Doane’s death. Not true. The first thing I did when I arrived at the apartment was to check her TIVO, and she had set that memorial service to record. She knew exactly what had happened to Doane and Eve. She probably knew who you and Joe were, too. That set up red flags that we should go over everything in the apartment very carefully.” He took a bite of the sandwich the waitress had placed before him. “I ran a disk on her computer for current entries to see if anything interesting showed up. That will take some time to scan.”

  “You were gone a long time. You just searched her apartment?”

  “Just? We did a magnificent job of searching her apartment and putting everything back exactly the way we found it.” He shrugged. “But when we found out that our Harriet was not what Venable thought she was, I took time to run out to the nearest mall and bought a few bugs to keep track of what she was up to.” He gazed at her inquiringly. “Okay?”

  “More than okay. You both did everything right. I’m the one who screwed up,” Jane said bitterly. “If she lied about Kevin, she could have lied about Doane. Which means that she might know where he is now.”

  “You didn’t let her know that Doane and Eve might still be alive?” Trevor asked.

  “Of course not. I admit I felt a little sorry for her. She was faced with a terrible decision, and, in my opinion, she made the wrong one. But there’s no way I’d trust her enough to confide in her.” She added harshly, “Though it appeared that Kevin had no such problem.” Her hands clenched into fists. “She works with children every day of her life. How could she stand to hear what he did to them?”

  “Just because she works with them doesn’t mean she holds them in particular affection,” Margaret said. “I’ve heard that some people can only care about one or two people in their entire lifetime. Maybe her one love was her child, Kevin.”

  “Well, she married Doane, and they had a child. Evidently, they both loved Kevin above anything else in the world. If they shared that passion, then Doane must mean something to her. She has to know something about him.” She was trying to control her rage. “Let me out of this booth, Caleb.”

  “I was waiting for that.” Caleb got to his feet and helped her out of the booth. “But, at least, I got my sandwich down.” He smiled down at her. “You’re going to go see Harriet Weber again?”

  “You bet I am.” She looked at her watch. “It’s past time for school to be over. I’ll go to her apartment and talk to her.”

  “I’ll go with you.” Margaret started to slide out of the booth.

  “No. I’m going by myself.” She grabbed her bag. “This is between the two of us. She played me.”

  “Let me go with you,” Trevor said quietly. “Anyone who would welcome letters that were that sick could be off-kilter herself. She could not only be a liar, but something much more dangerous.”

  “Are you trying to protect me again? I can take care of myself, Trevor. Have you forgotten that I grew up on the streets until I was ten and that after Eve and Joe took me in, he taught me martial arts?”

  “I haven’t forgotten. You’re tough. I just think that you lack the killer instinct. I don’t know if Harriet Weber does or not. Let me go with you.”

  “Hell, no. I don’t want to be protected from that barracuda. If I don’t have the killer instinct, what I’m feeling is pretty damn close. I feel like an idiot. She had me feeling sorry for the poor mother who was forced to give up her child. I thought she was in agony. I was even fighting to understand how she could walk away without finding a way to safeguard those children who were threatened by Kevin.” She could feel the fury surge through her. “Understand? I could never understand her. She didn’t care about those victims. She was only worried that Kevin might get in trouble by killing them.” She started across the terminal toward the exit. “Well, she’s not going to play me again. I’ll find out why she lied and cram it down her throat. If she knows anything about Doane, she’s going to tell me.”

  Starlite Motel

  Casper, Wyoming

  “WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO FIND?” Zander asked as he threw open the door of the room Eve and Doane had formerly occupied. “We already know it was Eve who was here with Doane.”

  “Eve is smart.” Catherine went into the room. “If you’d spent more time with her, you’d realize that, Zander. She left those clay bits on the bed as ID, but she’d try to tell us more than that.”

  “Where she was going,” Zander said. “She’d find out from Doane where he was going to take her and try to let us know.” He gave Catherine a level glance. “And I didn’t have to spend much time with her to know that she’s clever. She fought Doane on his own terms up in those mountains, and she would have won if she hadn’t gone soft.”

  She frowned. “Gone soft?”

  He shrugged. “I was in somewhat of a quandary, and Eve decided that she had to distract Doane from me. I could have handled it. I told her I didn’t need her. She did it anyway.”

  “And Doane recaptured her.” Catherine shook her head in wonder. She repeated, “Gone soft. Is that what you call it? Why, you son of a bitch.”

  “Yes. I’ve never denied it. Just as I’ve never denied that I don’t think the same way that other people do.” He smiled. “Like you, Catherine. You have a great deal of trouble with my not being sentimental about Eve’s deplorable lack of instinct for self-preservation.”

  “I may just test your self-preservation instinct,” she said through her teeth. “I wonder how you’d—” She stopped. “You’re laughing, dammit. Stop it.”

  He nodded. “I’m just amused by how easily you’re aroused to anger in defense of Eve. She must be a very good friend to you. I admit that I yielded to temptation to see how you’d respond. It’s my eternal curiosity.”

  “Screw your curiosity.” She stared at him. “And I don’t think you’re as detached as you’d like everyone to believe about Eve. I’ve been watching you today, and you’ve been … intense.”

  “I’m on the hunt for Doane.”

  She gazed at him for a long moment and slowly shook her head. “Have it your way. But there were moments when you might have had Doane, but it would have put Eve in danger. You’re not quite as ruthless as you pretend.”

  “I never pretend.”

  “Then you may be a split personality. I don’t have time to psychoanalyze you.” She headed for the bathroom. “I’ll check out the cabinets and the shower for anything Eve might have left. You search this room.”

  “If I find something, do I get a prize?”

  She gave him a glance and started looking through the lower cabinets. He was deliberately trying to annoy her. He didn’t like orders, and she was probably lucky that his response had been verbal.

  Nothing in the cabinets.

  She went into the shower.

  Nothing written on walls or soap.

  Not good.

  Nothing on the washcloths.

  “Catherine,” Zander called from the other room. “I won the prize.”

  She ran out of the bathroom. “What did—” He was kneeling beside the table and peering underneath it. “What is it?”

  “I noticed the surface of the table was faintly discolored and it would have been natural to use it as a worktable.” He had taken out a small penlight and was shining it underneath. “There’s a small piece of clay stuck to the underside of the table. Can you think of any reason why anyone woul
d do that?”

  “Only one.” She held her breath as he started to pry the clay from the table. “Be careful…”

  “I’ll not answer that useless bit of—” He stopped. “Part of it is hanging loose. I have to take my time, or it will break in two when I take it down.”

  “If you’ll move, I could try—”

  “I’ve got it.”

  “I meant my hands are smaller.”

  “I didn’t think you meant I was inadequate to the task.” Zander’s fingers were moving with exquisite delicacy on the clay, working it away from the table. “I’m sure you’d never be so rude.” The next moment, he’d extracted the clay and brought it from beneath the table. “There we are. Now let’s see what we’ve got here…”

  She opened the drapes to let more light into the room and hurried back to the table. “What is it?”

  “Your extraordinary Eve,” he murmured. “Four letters…”

  “The last two are a W and an A preceding a period. The second one is an e. The first one is…” She frowned. “What? It’s messed up.”

  “The clay is ultrathin at that edge,” Zander said. “And it appears that she had to rework it. But the indentation should be clear.” His index finger moved along the indentation. “It’s difficult as hell…” He closed his eyes. “Give me a minute.”

  “You look like a safecracker.”

  “Only when necessary to my profession.” His finger continued to move on the indentation. “It’s an S.” He opened his eyes. “And a dot following the e.”

  “You’re certain?”

  “Stop questioning me.” He was gazing in concentration down at the clay. “You just don’t want to admit I found the treasure. Only this time it may be the grand prize.” He pointed to the WA. “She tried to make it easy for us. WA. The state of Washington.” His index finger once more caressed the misshapen curve. “Se. What large city would be a likely target in Washington?”

  “Seattle,” Catherine said tensely. “The second city is Seattle.”

  “And that’s where Doane is taking her.” He got a tissue from the bathroom and carefully wrapped the piece of clay. “So why don’t you get on the phone to Venable. Tell him to put everyone on alert for a possible landing in that area of the plane with the registration number we gave him.”

  “I will.” She gazed in bewilderment at the tissue-wrapped clay. “What are you doing with that clay? Do you think we’ll need it again? I thought you were sure that you were right about the destination.”

  “It’s exceptionally rare that I’m wrong.” He put the tissue in his jacket pocket. “But it’s obvious that it took a great effort on Eve’s part to get that message to us. She might like to have it for a souvenir.”

  “I doubt it.” Her gaze narrowed on his face. “And I’m wondering if perhaps you might be the one who wants a souvenir.” She held up her hand as he opened his lips to speak. “You’re right, what am I thinking? Forget I said that. Not you. Not Lee Zander.” She took out her phone and started dialing Venable. “That would speak of a trace of sentimentality, and that would be totally absurd.”

  He smiled and nodded slowly. “Totally.”

  Muncie, Indiana

  HARRIET WEBER’S APARTMENT building was only a two-story brick structure, and her apartment, 1B, was on the first floor.

  And Jane noticed there was a Jeep Cherokee parked directly in front of the entrance that was packed with dozens of boxes, clothes, and even a small TV.

  Not a good sign, Jane thought, stiffening. If that was Harriet’s car, then she was trying to escape to keep Jane or anyone else from asking any more awkward questions. Perhaps it wasn’t Harriet’s vehicle.

  But that question was soon settled. As Jane hurried down the hall, a door opened, and Harriet came out carrying a suitcase.

  She stopped short as she saw Jane. Her expression became suddenly wary. “What are you doing here? I told you that I was through talking to you. I don’t care what you do.”

  “But I care what you do,” Jane said grimly. “I’m not satisfied with your answers. I want to ask a few more questions.” She glanced at the suitcases. “For instance, where are you going?”

  “None of your business. I’m upset, and I felt the need of a few days off work to recover.” Her eyes filled with tears. “It wasn’t easy reliving those horrible years. I would think you’d be more sympathetic.”

  Crocodile tears, Jane thought, intended to make Jane feel guilt. So clever.

  Not this time, Harriet.

  “I’m finding it hard to believe that you didn’t see either your ex-husband or Kevin after the divorce,” Jane said coldly. “From what you said, it was clear that you had great love for your son. How could you resist remaining in contact with him?”

  “I have a conscience.”

  “You’ll forgive me if I doubt that. Letting that monster have free rein to attack and kill children hardly gives credence to your code of conduct.”

  “Think what you like.” She tried to step past her, but Jane moved sideways to intercept. “Get out of my way. Venable has nothing with which to charge me. You’re interfering with a private citizen.”

  “I told you, I don’t care about Venable. I want to know what you know about the movements of your ex-husband during the past years.” She took a step closer to her. “And you will tell me. You bet I’m interfering with you,” she said fiercely. “If you’d have interfered with what Doane and your son were doing, you could have saved lives. You could have prevented Doane from kidnapping Eve. Now tell me what you know.”

  Harriet’s cheeks were suddenly flushed with rage. “If you don’t get out of my way, I’ll make you sorry you were ever born,” she said harshly. “I know how to defend myself. My boy you call a monster taught me what he learned in the military. I could kill a soft little thing like you without any problem at all.”

  “But how could Kevin do that if you left him when he was only fifteen before he went into the Army? Remember, you never saw him again.”

  “I’d deny that I said that, and everyone would believe me. People do believe me. I’ve had a good deal of practice.” She tried to push past Jane. “You’re the one they’d think was lying.”

  Jane wasn’t moving, and she stretched out her arm to block her.

  Harriet finally lost the last vestige of control.

  “Bitch!”

  The edge of her hand shot out in a karate chop to Jane’s arm blocking her way.

  Jane blocked it and grabbed Harriet’s arm and twisted it behind the woman’s back. “Talk to me.”

  Harriet’s heel shot back and struck Jane’s knee.

  Pain.

  Her grip loosened, and Harriet tore away from her. She whirled, and her fist punched into Jane’s abdomen.

  Jane’s breath left her, but she recovered and delivered a karate chop to the side of Harriet’s neck.

  Harriet staggered back, her eyes glazing over.

  Not good enough, Jane thought. If she’d done it the way Joe had taught her, it would have put the woman out.

  But it was enough to stop her for a moment. Jane dove forward, brought her down, and straddled her. Harriet struggled with ferocious strength, and Jane had all she could do to fight off several vicious blows to the head and body. “Give up,” she said through her teeth. “Admit that this ‘soft little thing’ was enough to beat anything your Kevin taught you.”

  “The hell I will.” Harriet’s fist shot up and connected with Jane’s lip. Then she rolled to the side and jumped to her feet. She snatched up her suitcase and started running down the hall.

  Jane was only a few yards behind her as she ran out the front entrance to the Jeep Cherokee parked in front of the building.

  “Stay away from me,” Harriet hissed as she jumped into the Jeep. “Or so help me God I’ll kill you.”

  “I won’t stay away. I’ll follow you to hell and back.” Jane ran around to the passenger side. “Lock the door, and I’ll break the damn windows.”

 
; “No, you won’t.” Harriet was fumbling in the glove box.

  Jane caught a glimpse of metal. A gun.

  The glass of the passenger side window shattered.

  Jane felt the heat of a bullet whistle past her cheek.

  She dodged to the side and fell to her knees.

  Another bullet sparked the concrete beside her as Harriet pulled away from the building and raced toward the street.

  Close. Both bullets had come very, very close, Jane realized.

  And Harriet Weber had not only tried to kill her, but she was getting away!

  She jumped to her feet and ran toward her car.

  And was almost run over by Caleb and Trevor as they drove into the apartment parking lot.

  “For God’s sake.” Trevor screeched to a halt. “You look like you’ve been through a train wreck.” He jumped out and ran over to her. “Are you hurt?”

  “I’m fine, but she’s getting away. I have to—” She stopped and drew a deep breath. Get control. The violence and heat of the last minutes were still with her, and she had to think. “It’s too late. She was driving fast, and I won’t be able to catch her.”

  “Harriet Weber?” Caleb asked as he got out of the car. His gaze was raking over Jane, taking in the bruises and cuts. “She did that to you?”

  “I’m fine.” She ran her hand through her hair. “She wanted to leave, and I didn’t want her to. I came off better than she did until she decided to grab a gun out of the glove box and try to shoot me.”

  “I’d say that would qualify as an unfair advantage,” Caleb said. He gently touched her lip with his index finger, and it came away bloody. “I saw photos of her in the apartment, and she looked pretty tough. The fact that she was taller and stronger than you might be considered—”

  “No excuses. She was good,” Jane said curtly. “Why not? She told me her dear son had taught her self-defense. He must have also taught her to shoot if she couldn’t talk her way out of a jam.” She added, “But I’m good, too. I almost had her. That gun was not—” She stopped. “Okay, she’s gone. Forget everything but the fact that she as much as admitted to me that she’d seen and interacted with Kevin during those years. It wasn’t only letters.”