Shadow Play

by Iris Johansen

  “No, I don’t recall hearing that,” Eve said. “But I’m sure she has a good reason.” She glanced at Margaret. “Do you?”

  “Not what he’d consider good.” She took another drink of coffee. “It’s just my way of analyzing trace evidence. And I didn’t eat it, I merely tasted it.”

  “That makes all the difference,” Eve said solemnly.

  “Yes, it does.” She chuckled. “Though I would have eaten it if it had been necessary. It turned out that it wasn’t.”

  “I’m through here,” Nalchek said shortly. “And so is she. I might have accepted your expert if you could have proved she would contribute but I’m not wasting my time.”

  “Proof.” Margaret’s smile faded. “That’s difficult for Eve. She has no firsthand information about me or what I can do. She has to trust her daughter, Jane, and a few other friends who have put their trust in me.”

  “But I wouldn’t have asked you to come if I hadn’t believed in you,” Eve said. “Jane told me that your knowledge of those wolves in the forests of Colorado helped to save me.”

  “Wolves?” Nalchek was frowning. “What the hell—”

  “Another time. Not important now,” Margaret said quickly. “It would just get in the way.” She finished her coffee. “And this has nothing to do with a wolf.” She frowned. “Or maybe it does. I’m not really clear on it. I didn’t have much time before you got here, Eve.”

  “Enough to kneel by that grave like a ghoul communing with a demon,” Nalchek said grimly.

  “A demon?” Margaret broke out laughing. “You don’t really believe that. You’re just uneasy and trying to get a handle on what makes me tick and why a smart woman like Eve would be taken in by me.” She got to her feet and moved toward the grave. “No demons.” She fell to her knees as she reached the taped-off area. “Actually, it may be the opposite.”

  Eve had followed her and was gazing down at the grave. “This is Jenny’s grave?” She blinked back tears. “All those years she was here, Nalchek?”

  He nodded. “So the medical examiner says. He says that she was killed in these woods and buried. She wasn’t transported from any other place.”

  “Jenny?” Margaret repeated. “Jane told me that you named all the skulls you work on, Eve. You call her Jenny?”

  Eve nodded.

  “It’s a pretty name.” She tilted her head. “It has a sort of … cadence. Musical.”

  Eve stiffened. “What? It’s a nice name, but I never thought it was particularly musical.”

  Margaret shrugged. “Everything strikes people differently.”

  Eve was silent. “Yes, it does. So what did you mean about the opposite of demons?”

  “I believe the grave might have been protected.”

  “What?” Nalchek said roughly. “Why would you think that? She was in that grave for eight years until we took her out of it. It was left to the elements and buried so deep, we might never have found it if there hadn’t been flash floods in the area that eroded the dirt so that some Boy Scouts eventually found her.”

  “That doesn’t mean that the grave wasn’t protected.” Margaret made a face. “I guess I have to explain. You’re not ready, but then, no one is really ready for me.” She shot a wary look at Eve. “I could have avoided this if I hadn’t come here tonight. Mistake?”

  “No, if anyone made a mistake, it was me,” Eve said quietly. “I asked you to come. But it wasn’t a mistake. By all means, explain to the sheriff that you may be weird, but not anything like what he faced with that crazy woman in Afghanistan.”

  “I can hardly wait,” Nalchek said sarcastically.

  Margaret nodded. “Okay, here goes. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been able to communicate with animals. I can kind of merge and read them.”

  Silence. “Read them?” Nalchek repeated. “Read their minds?”

  “No, not usually. Oh, sometimes. It depends on the species. I have real trouble with serpents. Of course, that might be my fault because I have problems with their lack of—”

  “Wait.” He held up his hand. “This is bullshit.”

  “No, it’s true. I found out that I had the knack when I was just a little kid. My father didn’t believe me, and I was beaten whenever I tried to tell anyone I was communicating with their dog or cat or whatever. Later, it got pretty bad, and I ran away from home and lived in the woods for a couple years.” She met his eyes. “I learned a lot while I was there.”

  “A real nature girl.”

  She ignored the sarcasm. “Something like that. But it was mainly survival, just like it was at home. Survival and learning to adapt and come out on top.” She stared him in the eye. “You know about survival, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but I never claimed to learn it from a wolf or not-wolf, or whatever.”

  “There are all kinds of wolves in the world. All kinds of animals. And the worst is the one who put that little girl in that grave. I think maybe you believe that, too.”

  “And what about your precious balance of nature?”

  “Sometimes it becomes unbalanced when a rogue comes along.”

  “He’s not believing you, Margaret,” Eve said impatiently. “Drop it. I need to know your impressions.”

  “I’ll give it to you. It was just easier to face the obstacle than avoid it.”

  “And I’m the obstacle,” Nalchek said mockingly. “Of course I am. But by all means proceed.”

  “Because you’re curious,” Eve said. “And you want all the help you can get, or you would never have sent me Jenny’s skull.” She asked Margaret, “Who was protecting the grave and how do you know?”

  “I’m not sure.” She frowned. “I keep getting flashes of a dog or wolf or … something. But I don’t think that it was either one. But he’s near, he’s close, he thinks he has to stay close.”

  “Why?”

  “He needs to protect the grave. Even though the bones are gone. He still has to do it. Though I don’t believe he knows why.”

  “Why would any animal feel obligated to—”

  “I don’t know. I’m only getting flashes of what he’s feeling in connection with the grave. But it’s very strong. I felt it the minute I came near the grave. He’s been here all along. Since the night she was put in that grave, he’s been standing guard over it.”

  “Guard?”

  “I know. I know. But that’s what he’s feeling. He doesn’t like it, but he thinks he has to do it.” She grimaced. “That’s all I know right now. Maybe when I get closer to him.”

  “Or he comes closer to the grave?” Eve asked.

  “Possibly.”

  “How do you know he was protecting the grave?” Nalchek asked bluntly. “Maybe he wanted to devour the remains.”

  Margaret shook her head. “That was my first thought. It would be a natural reaction for most wild animals. But not for this one, not in this case. He has memories of chasing off predators who were digging at the grave. He was definitely on guard all these years.”

  “That’s the most unbelievable part of your entire ‘impression,’” Nalchek said. “And makes any other aspect of the story suspect.”

  “Yes, and you didn’t have to go very far to discover reasons to discount it,” Margaret said. “You’re both cynical and suspicious because of your profession and your background. I know that what I do and what I’m telling you is hard to comprehend for anyone. I’ve faced that all my life. It would be incredible if you believed my story with no proof.” She thought about it. “And I can’t give you proof, but I might give you cause to question.”

  “By all means.”

  “This animal saw Jenny buried. He has a good memory because he still recalls it.”

  “If he wanted to guard her, why didn’t he stop her from being killed?”

  “I have no idea. Maybe he wasn’t there for the actual killing. I know you’re trying to trip me, but it doesn’t work that way. May I go on?”

  He shrugged. “Why not?”

  “
Jenny was buried very deep in the ground. That should have made her safe from most predators that would generally dig her up and tear her body to pieces. It wouldn’t happen right away, but over the years, the odds of her skeleton’s remaining intact would be very slim.” She glanced at Eve. “Do you agree?”

  “Yes.”

  “And Eve would know. She deals with skeletons and skulls all the time.” She turned back to Nalchek. “But her initial burial kept that from happening, and there was a double safeguard later, when no predators were allowed near Jenny’s grave. Only time and the wear and tear of nature caused her to eventually be found. Right?”

  “So it would seem,” he said warily. “But it wasn’t as if she was in pristine condition. She was a skeleton, and her white dress and black slippers were in tatters.”

  “What about the green plastic tarp she was wrapped in?”

  He went still. “Tarp?”

  “Green plastic tarp,” she repeated. “What kind of shape was that in?”

  “Tarp,” Eve repeated. “You never mentioned a tarp, Nalchek.”

  “You didn’t ask me. You asked what she was wearing.”

  “Was the tarp still intact?” Margaret asked.

  “Better than her dress,” Nalchek said. “How did you know about the tarp? We never released any details to the press.”

  “He saw Jenny wrapped and put into the ground with it around her.”

  “We’re talking about your mythical guardian animal?”

  “I think we should consider him entirely Jenny’s guardian,” she said. “Don’t you?”

  “I’m not swallowing any of this. You could have talked to someone who was at the scene when we found her and saw that tarp.”

  “That’s true. But I just found out about all this today and very few details. Would I have had a chance to look up witnesses and question them?” She shook her head. “And you could find a reason for anything else I happen to tell you about that little girl. I’m through with trying to prove myself to you. You’ll have to take me or leave me.”

  “No, he doesn’t,” Eve said. “I’m taking you, and he’ll just have to put up with it.” She put out her hand and helped Margaret to her feet. “Now, unless you’re going to have any other revelations, I’m going to take you back to my hotel and let you get to sleep after a nice hot shower.”

  “Wonderful.” Margaret smiled. “I left my knapsack at the edge of the forest. We’ll have to stop and pick it up. Okay?”

  “No problem.” She turned to Nalchek. “I don’t mean to be discourteous. I know this is your case, and you’re doing your best, but I asked Margaret to come and help, and I intend to make it as easy as I can for her.” She grimaced. “I’m not like you. I’ve found that sometimes you have to look beyond the obvious of so-called reality to find answers. I believe her.”

  He was silent. “I believe that she thinks she’s telling the truth. And, for your information, Eve, I’ve batted around the world and run into a lot of things that have no basis in reality. I might not have spent years in the woods hiding out from a son of a bitch of a father like she did, but I know enough to realize that nature in all its forms can be unpredictable as hell. Though a wild animal that guards a grave for eight years like a hound dog grieving for his master is really reaching. Which means that she could be completely delusional, and all this is bullshit. You’ll have to prove it to me.” He turned away. “I’ll walk you back to your vehicle.”

  “And then what will you do?” Margaret asked curiously as she fell into step with him as they started to follow Eve.

  “Do what I meant to do when I found you trespassing. My job as sheriff.”

  “Which includes wandering around in the forest in the middle of the night?” She tilted her head. “Are you guarding that grave, too?”

  “I’m just trying to find additional evidence, anything we might have missed.”

  She gazed searchingly at him. “No, I think there’s more to it than that.”

  “My deputy was murdered here. I think it was by the same person who killed that little girl. There’s always a possibility that he’ll come back.”

  “And you want to be here.”

  “I’m going to be here.” His lips thinned. “And tonight, I’m going to take soil samples and see what or who has been messing around that grave. Then I’m going to examine the area around that oak tree for any signs of animals or humans that might tell me anything.”

  Margaret’s eyes widened. “You do believe me.”

  “No, but I never discount anything.” They had reached a silver-gray Toyota and he watched Eve unlock the car. “Call me when you get back to the hotel, Eve.” He added grimly, “And don’t come back here without letting me know you’re going to do it.”

  “I won’t. I didn’t intend this to happen.” She said, “Margaret evidently can be impulsive.”

  “I was curious why you’d want me,” Margaret said as she got into the passenger seat. “And I thought I’d get a head start. It was a beautiful night, and I wasn’t tired.” She looked at Nalchek. “If you find out what animal is guarding that grave, will you tell me?”

  “Maybe.”

  “You’re still angry with me?”

  “No.” He gestured impatiently. “Okay, I’ll let you know. Why not?” He added sarcastically, “After all, it might help you to communicate with him.”

  She beamed. “My thought exactly. I knew we were getting on the same page.”

  He jerked his thumb. “Out of here.”

  “We’re going.” Eve quickly started the car and pressed on the accelerator. “Good night, Nalchek. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “No, not tomorrow.” He was walking back into the trees. “I told you to call me when you get back to the hotel.”

  “Of course, it slipped my—” She stopped. Nalchek had disappeared. “It appears he’s washed his hands of us for the moment, Margaret.”

  “No.” Margaret was looking back over her shoulder. “He stopped when he reached the trees, and he’s watching us leave.”

  “You can see him?”

  “No, I can feel him. And the birds flew out of that tree where he’s standing only seconds ago. He’ll probably stay there until he’s sure we’re well on our way back to the highway.” She turned around and leaned back in the seat. “He’s very protective. It’s no wonder he’s in law enforcement. And when he lost those men in Afghanistan, it must have torn him apart. Even if he’s irritated with us, he can’t stifle that instinct.”

  “You like him?”

  “I think he’s one of the good guys. But that doesn’t mean he won’t cause us trouble.” She turned around and faced the road. “He likes to be in charge. He’s learned he can get hurt if he trusts other people. These days, he tends to bulldoze over anyone who gets in his way.”

  “Like he bulldozed you?”

  She chuckled. “He tried. But he was smart enough to step away when he had an inkling he was facing something he didn’t have a complete handle on. Not many people would do that.”

  “Particularly when confronting you.”

  “Yes.” She glanced back over her shoulder. “Do you think he’s gone back to that grave?”

  “Sure; Nalchek is obsessed with everything connected with Jenny.”

  “And so are you?” Margaret asked softly, her gaze on Eve’s face. “Not your usual M.O. where your reconstructions are concerned?”

  “That FedEx driver was killed because someone wanted that reconstruction. That act throws ordinary out the window.”

  “But that isn’t all?”

  Eve shook her head. “I won’t lie to you. I’m like Nalchek, I feel … differently about Jenny.”

  “So does that creature who was protecting her grave.” She smiled faintly. “Fascinating. I can hardly wait to learn more.” She shook her head as Eve opened her lips to speak. “No, I’m not going to nag you to tell me stuff you’re not ready to talk about. I can see that you’re hesitating. That’s okay with me. I’ve been
there.”

  “I’m sure you have,” Eve said dryly. “Does that mean you’ll help me?”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t have come if I hadn’t intended to find out what you want to know.” She grinned. “But it helps that everything is so interesting. When can I go back to the woods?”

  “Tomorrow. You need to rest, and we need to let Nalchek adjust to your being here to help. You heard him—he doesn’t want us in his woods without him.”

  “Which would probably not mean anything to you if you thought it was urgent.”

  Eve nodded. “But I promised Joe I wouldn’t go off on my own without Nalchek until he could get here. Tomorrow is soon enough.”

  “And you keep your promises to Joe Quinn.”

  “Always,” Eve said as she pulled off the road at the driveway leading to a charming redwood building, overflowing with flower boxes filled with geraniums. “I was feeling guilty about running out in the middle of the night when Nalchek called me. That might not have met the letter of the promise I made to him.”

  “Close enough.” Margaret grinned. “And it was a lifesaving operation. I was fading fast without that hot coffee.”

  “Considering your affinity toward animals, perhaps I should have sent a St. Bernard to rescue you.”

  “Nalchek wouldn’t have understood.” She opened the car door and looked up at the hotel. “Nice place. Cozy. But I don’t have any credit cards and only twenty bucks. You’ll have to lend me the money.”

  “My treat,” Eve said as she came around the car. “I’m putting you on retainer. I wouldn’t expect you to do this for—”

  “It’s a favor, Eve,” Margaret interrupted. “I take all kinds of jobs to survive but not from my friends. Just pay the bill, and I’ll send you the money next time I have it.”

  “That’s not what I—” She shrugged. “We’ll work it out.” She took Margaret’s arm and pulled her toward the front entrance. “Come on. I need to get you to bed.”

  “You’re treating me like a kid.” Margaret’s eyes were gleaming with amusement. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, Eve.”

  “Since you were a kid. That doesn’t make it right.”