Sleep No More

by Iris Johansen

  “I know you are. It’s very obvious in that skimpy towel.” And so was she. It only took a touch, a look, and the heat started to climb. They had been together for so long that it shouldn’t have been that way, passion was supposed to fade or become comfortable. It was a miracle that their passion was as strong and ever-changing as when they had first come together. Her arms slid around his neck, and her nails bit into the muscles of his shoulders. “You should really take it off. It’s not doing you any good.”

  “You take it off.” His hands were cupping her breasts. “I’m busy. Why the hell are you still dressed? It’s inconvenient as hell. I should have—” His cell phone rang on the coffee table in front of the couch. “Shit. Not now.”

  Her feeling exactly. “Ignore it. Let them call back.” Then she had a thought. “Were you expecting a call?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he muttered, his lips buried in the hollow of her throat.

  The phone rang again.

  “Who…”

  “The doctor’s office at the ski resort in Maine where Beth had her accident. They said they’d call me back. Forget it.”

  It was what she wanted to do, dammit. But she pushed herself away from him and hurried across the room before she changed her mind. “It’s three hours later in Maine than we are here. You may not be able to get in touch with them.” She pressed the access button on his phone and took it to him. “Talk to them. Make sure you get everything out of them that you need so they won’t call back.” She headed for the door. “I’m going outside to cool off.”

  “Not too much.”

  She grinned at him. “No way.” She followed up with a mock Schwarzenegger imitation. “I’ll be back.”

  “You’d better.” Joe was already talking on the phone as the door closed behind her.

  She drew a deep breath of the cool, salt-laden air as she paused on the walk outside the motel room. She was shaking, she realized. Trembling and hot and ready. Calm down. It was only a postponement. She was acting like a teenager whose eagerness was as explosive and uncontrolled as a lightning bolt. Just take a break, then go back to him. That was the way it always was with them. Separation and reunion but always ending together.

  She moved toward the deck chairs on the verandah overlooking the ocean. It appeared to be unoccupied. No surprise. The wind was too strong and cool for it to be inviting, in spite of the view. Just as well. She didn’t feel like being sociable, and she needed that coolness at the moment.

  She dropped down in the blue-and-white lounge chair and gazed down at the beach. Beach …

  Run.

  The security man cursing as he stumbled down the dune after her.

  The memory of the dream was suddenly there before Eve.

  Had Beth gotten away from him that night?

  And why in hell was Eve so sure that dream was more than a wisp of fantasy?

  “Where’s Quinn?”

  Eve stiffened and turned to see Kendra standing a few yards away. She was dressed in slacks and a navy Windbreaker, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She dropped down in the chair next to Eve. “I’m surprised he lets you out of his sight.”

  “What?” Eve frowned. “Don’t be ridiculous. We’re two mature people, and we’ve been together a long time.”

  Kendra raised her brows but didn’t comment.

  “Why are you out here?” Eve asked. “I thought you were going to call your mother, then go to bed.”

  “I’m restless.”

  “Playing your guitar didn’t help?”

  Kendra shook her head. “Not tonight. I finally gave it up and came out here. I always have to get used to new places before I can sleep. I get bombarded.”

  “Bombarded?”

  “Sensory overload. My mind is always automatically trying to absorb, isolate, and identify. After I settle into a place, I can usually accept and block the parts I don’t need from the mix.” She looked at the sea. “But there’s so much life out there that it’s hard to do. Listen…”

  Eve tilted her head, concentrating. “Seagulls, the surf … That’s all I hear. Is there something else?”

  Kendra nodded. “There are two dolphins jumping and playing just offshore, and the fish … so many fish … And I was watching the crabs in the sand there on the beach. A little distance down the way, there’s a hot dog stand and the smells of the sausage dogs and onions are wonderful. Do you want me to go on?”

  “Good God, I had no idea,” Eve said, staring at her. “I can see how distracting that would be.” She had another thought. “Joe said that right after your operation, you traveled all over the world like a gypsy. If you’re that sensitive, going from place to place must have been a nightmare.”

  She shook her head. “It was magnificent. It was the first time I was able to combine all my senses. I loved every minute of it. I felt drunk on life.” She made a face. “But I liked it too much. I was dizzy, and I lost my balance quite a bit. You tend to do that when every moment is a new adventure. I stretched my boundaries way beyond the rules. I’m lucky to still be alive and out of jail.” She smiled. “Not that I regret it. I tried never to hurt anyone but myself. And I had to accept that every experience made me what I am.” She looked back at Eve. “Bad or good. Just as your experiences made you what you are. But you didn’t get off as lucky as I did.”

  “You mean my ‘darkness’?” Eve’s lips twisted. “You may be ultrasensitive, but I think you’ve been doing more than talking to your mother this evening. A little computer research on me?”

  “I was curious,” Kendra said. “As I told you, forensic sculpting interested me, but I was more interested in the actual technical process or I would have known who you are. I found out you’re quite famous.” She added, “And the reason that it doesn’t mean a damn to you. I’m sorry for your loss, Eve.”

  “So am I. But my work means more to me than you could imagine.”

  “Oh, I can imagine.” She looked back at the surf. “And I can see why you’re so desperate to find your sister. You’ve lost too much already.”

  “I’m not desperate. I don’t even know her. It’s just a question of what is right.”

  “If you say so.” She was silent a moment. “I’ll give you what you need from me, Eve. You’ll find your Beth.”

  “You’re damn right I will.” Then she added haltingly, “But thank you for your cooperation. I appreciate it.”

  “That was hard for you.” Kendra was suddenly chuckling. “You like to handle everything on your own. And you say you’re not desperate? I think you protest too much.”

  Eve opened her lips to protest again, then said grudgingly, “Maybe I’m a little assertive. But, then, so are you.”

  “True.” Kendra leaned back in her chair. “But it shows up on you like a red flag. We have to tamp that down tomorrow. Put your hair up in a chignon and wear those glasses I saw you with in some of the newspaper articles on the Net. Stay in the background. No confrontation.”

  “I’m not usually confrontational.” She smiled faintly. “You were one of the exceptions.”

  “Oh, I’m an exception all right,” she said wryly. “It’s the story of my life.”

  “Do you regret it?”

  “People trying to use me? Occasionally. The ability to use every sense to the max? Not for a minute. After all these years, I’m still drunk with the sensation. I wish I could share it, but it doesn’t work that way. You have to concentrate and let the senses come alive. You should try it sometime.”

  “Maybe I will.”

  “And maybe you’ll get busy and think it’s not worthwhile. But that will be your loss.” She drew her jacket closer around her. “It’s getting cooler. I’m going to stay out here a while longer, but you’d better go on in. Quinn’s probably going crazy with frustration by now.”

  “What?” Eve was startled. “Frustration? How do you—” She broke off as she saw Kendra’s expression that contained both slyness and a touch of mischief. She wasn’t sure that she w
anted to probe how Kendra had known about the passion that was driving Joe and Eve that night. It could be simple guesswork or that damnable highly tuned sensitivity that was anything but simple. If it was the latter, she didn’t want to be told what physical or psychological signs had made that sexuality so transparent. She got to her feet. “It is chilly.” She started across the verandah. “Good night, Kendra. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Good night.” Then Kendra called after her, “Why did he stop? Were you interrupted? Is it something I should know about?”

  Eve gazed back over her shoulder in exasperation. “Do you have to know everything?” Then she reined in her temper. This wasn’t only about Joe and her. Of course, Kendra should know everything concerning Beth Avery. She was going to help them, and they should share information. “Joe had to take a call from the ski resort where Beth had her accident. I’ll give you a report in the morning if he found out anything important.”

  “Thanks,” Kendra called as Eve left the verandah. “I was … out of line. I’m sorry.”

  “Yes, you were.”

  “Well, it wasn’t that bad. I’ve been worse. Have a nice time.”

  Eve wanted to shake her, but she had an idea Kendra’s puckish humor would cause her to enjoy the reaction. Just face her down. “Oh, I will.” She found that her annoyance was fading as she strolled back toward the room. It was clear that she was going to have to learn to deal with Kendra Michaels on her own terms. For a short time back there, she had actually felt in tune with the woman. No, admit it, she had genuinely liked her. It was only when Kendra had invaded her space that she had become defensive. How many people in her life had Kendra turned away because she had been able to unable to resist letting them know that she could see far beyond their comfort level? If Kendra was as intuitive and sensitive as Eve was beginning to believe, she must have tremendous restraint that she had learned at great cost over the years.

  But she had also enjoyed life to the max. Eve recalled her shining eyes, her lips slightly parted.

  I’m still drunk with the sensation.

  You have to concentrate and let the senses come alive. You should try it sometime.

  Joe was lying naked in bed when she opened the door of the room. “It’s about time. What kept you?”

  “I ran into Kendra. We talked a little.”

  “Too long.” He held out his hand. “Come here.”

  “In a moment.” She started to undo the buttons on her blouse. But only a moment. She could feel the tension mounting every second. They had waited too long already. “What did you find out from the resort?”

  “That Beth had gone skiing alone and the resort sent a team out to investigate when she didn’t come back to the lodge. They found her unconscious at the bottom of a hill next to a tree and assumed she’d hit her head. They airlifted her to a clinic near Boston for treatment.”

  “Clinic? Not the local hospital?”

  “Family request. Later, the personnel at the resort heard that she was in a coma and had been sent to California for more tests.”

  “So there was a serious legitimate injury.”

  “There was an injury,” Joe said. “We still don’t know how serious.” He paused. “Or how legitimate. The rescue team said that the head wound was to the back of the head. If she crashed into that tree, wouldn’t the injury have been to the front of the skull?”

  An attack from behind? “Strange things happen in accidents. I suppose a back skull wound is possible.” But it was another red flag. “What about the clinic?”

  “I checked. It went out of business ten years ago. All records on Beth Avery were sent out to Santa Barbara. Everything seems to be centered around that hospital on the hill.”

  “Then it’s good that we brought Kendra to help make some sense of what happened here.” She was naked now and walking toward him across the carpet. “I think we may be lucky to have her, Joe.”

  “I wasn’t lucky to have her keep you away from me so long tonight.” He made a face. “Evidently, you may be on board, but I’m beginning to think that she may not be as valuable as I first thought.”

  “Oh, she’s valuable. There may be a lot we can learn from her.”

  You have to concentrate and let the senses come alive.

  Joe’s eyes were suddenly narrowed on her face. “Such as?”

  Concentrate. Heighten every sense, the scent of him, the sound of his breathing. She reached out and touched his shoulder, the warmth of his skin, the play of muscles beneath her fingers. The sensation was almost too intense.

  He inhaled sharply as he sensed something new, something different. “What are you doing?”

  “Concentrating…”

  She climbed on top of him and slowly rubbed her breasts against his chest. She tried to isolate every separate sensation, the warmth, the faint roughness of his hair against her nipples, the tensing of his muscles. She felt an explosion of heat. More. Give more. Take more. “Slowly. Think about it. Feel.”

  He shuddered as his hands grasped her shoulders.

  Don’t ignore one motion, one feeling, build on it, share it.

  Maybe you’ll get busy and think it’s not worthwhile. But that will be your loss.

  No way, Kendra …

  * * *

  “YOU LOOK VERY SUBDUED, EVE,” Kendra said as she strolled toward the car at eight the next morning. “And those glasses are a good touch. I knew they would be.” She tossed her duffel and guitar in the backseat of the car and got into the passenger seat. “I’ll try to keep attention off you, but stay in the background.”

  “I’m hardly a riveting personality,” Eve said dryly as she started the car. “It’s not as if I was flamboyant before.”

  “But people look at you, then look again.” She was studying her face. “Particularly this morning. There’s a glow…”

  Eve gave her a forbidding glance. “Don’t go there.”

  She grinned. “I wasn’t. I’m more subtle than that.” Her gaze shifted to the hospital in the hills, and her smile faded. “And, besides, it’s time I got down to business.”

  “And start to concentrate?”

  Kendra nodded soberly. “That’s the name of the game.”

  Eve smiled faintly. “Oh, I definitely agree.”

  * * *

  “DR. MICHAELS, DELIGHTED TO MEET YOU.” Harry Pierce’s smile was a flash of white in his tanned face as he crossed the marble foyer at the hospital to shake her hand. Late forties or early fifties, he had a shock of excellently barbered thick gray hair, gray eyes, and slightly heavy but regular features. “Such a pleasant surprise. We had no idea we were under consideration for a grant. We do our best, but mental health always seems to be at the bottom of the list.”

  “Not this time,” Kendra said with a smile as bright as Pierce’s. “Evidently someone thinks that your hospital deserves help, and musical therapy is the wave of the future.”

  Pierce nodded. “I understand you’re responsible for much of the research in this field, Dr. Michaels. I have to admit I’ve always been a bit skeptical of its effectiveness since most of the success stories have been anecdotal. But I’m impressed with your evidence-based approach.”

  “I’m not a believer in woo-woo. Music therapy is a scientific discipline even if some of its practitioners don’t look at it that way.” She waved a casual hand toward Eve. “My assistant, Lucy Coran.” She stepped in front of Eve before he could greet her or get a good look at her. “She’ll take my notes and give questionnaires to your staff. Could you assign someone to show us around right away? We’d really like to finish this job before the end of the day. We have another inspection in San Francisco tomorrow.”

  “Joseph Piltot can do it.” Pierce waved at a thin man in a sleek navy suit who was getting off the elevator. “He’ll be able to show you the most likely candidates for your therapy. He has all their records on tap.”

  “Excellent. But I also want to see the entire facility and the grounds. And I don’t
expect to be limited to the dog-and-pony show you give families. I trust that won’t be a problem.”

  “Of course not.” He smiled again, but this time it appeared pasted on his face. “If you need anything at all, please call on me. I’m at your disposal.”

  “Thank you, but I doubt that will be necessary. As I said, this is just the first inspection. We only want to get a feel for the facility and your long-term patients.” She turned to Piltot after he was introduced. “Let’s start outside, shall we?”

  “Certainly.” Piltot led them out the glass doors.

  As they strolled through the beautiful, well-manicured lawns, Eve and Kendra only half listened to Piltot’s overly rehearsed spiel. He pointed out the faculty’s sleek structures, then stopped so they could watch a croquet match supervised by the predominantly youthful staff.

  Eve and Kendra casually moved several yards away from Piltot, well out of earshot. “So what did you think of Pierce?” Eve asked quietly, her gaze on the croquet players.

  “A total sleazebag,” Kendra said. “And a phony all the way. How much plastic surgery do you think he’s had? I’d bet at least an eye job and work on that chin.”

  Eve smothered a smile. “You’re the expert on observation. My only impression was that I didn’t like him. But you were very tactful. I was surprised.”

  “I can be diplomatic. Not often. It’s not worth the effort.”

  Piltot walked over to them, smiling. “Ready to go inside?”

  “Not just yet,” Kendra said. “I want to go around to the other side of the complex.”

  “Not much to see there, I’m afraid. Loading dock, staff entrance, garbage Dumpsters … Surely your time would be better spent.”

  “Just a quick look around,” Kendra said. “Then we can go inside.”

  Piltot shrugged. “This way.”

  He led them around the facility’s north side, where a keycard opened a tall iron gate. The concrete walkways, skillfully hidden from the nearby roads by bushes and tall trees, possessed a barren, institutional quality. Eve glanced at Kendra and saw the woman’s eyes flicking from the windows to the roofline, then down the entire length of the main building. What had that amazing mind latched onto now?