Shadow Play

by Iris Johansen

  “Do you think I’m stupid? You’re not an angel. You’re a horrible, horrible man.” Her voice was suddenly defiant. “I was afraid of you, but I’m not any longer. She won’t let you hurt me.”

  He stiffened. “She?”

  “All the nightmares, all the running. And you call yourself an angel? I know what you are. You’re a coward and a—”

  He lunged for her and snapped his arm around her neck. “Don’t fight. I’ve waited too long. One minute, and it will be over.”

  She was struggling fiercely but couldn’t even summon the breath to scream.

  He squeezed tighter. She was making him angry. He’d thought she’d be easier. “I said stop fighting me. Or I’ll hurt you, just like I hurt your sister. Do you hear me?”

  He froze. He was hearing that sound again.

  Laughter.

  What in the hell…?

  At first he thought it was behind him, but the sound traveled around to the space in front of him.

  It was a child’s laughter.

  It was coming from the little girl he was holding.

  No! How could Cara—?

  He looked down.

  It wasn’t Cara anymore.

  It was Jenny.

  Blood ran from her green eyes and nose, just as it had all those years ago after he’d struck that final blow.

  But she was looking up at him and laughing.

  His hands fell away from her, and he took a hurried step back.

  What was happening? This couldn’t be real.

  He continued to back away, squinting at her in the cave’s dim light.

  Then, she was suddenly Cara again. She was clutching her throat, coughing and gagging.

  “No,” he said harshly. “You’re trying to play your tricks, but you can’t stop me. Nobody can.”

  Cara looked at him, puzzled, as she scrambled back to get away from him. But even she seemed to realize he wasn’t talking to her. “Horrible and crazy. Just like Elena said.”

  He moved back toward Cara. “You can’t stop me. I’m finishing this, and there’s nothing you can do to keep me from sending her straight to—”

  “Stay away from her!”

  Walsh spun around. Eve Duncan was now climbing on the ledge with them, holding a gun.

  He grabbed Cara and lifted her in front of him as a shield. “After I’ve gone to all this trouble? Put that gun down, or I’ll break her neck.” He smiled. “I’m actually glad to see you. It’s going to save me a good deal of time and trouble.”

  Eve took aim with her gun. “Let her go. Right now.”

  He shifted in place, moving Cara back and forth in front of him. “Go ahead. Maybe you’ll kill us both.”

  “And maybe I won’t have to do it,” Eve tilted her head. “Listen.”

  Walsh was listening. It was raining harder outside the cave, but there were new sounds accompanying the thunder and crashing waves. Son of a bitch. There was a powerboat in the distance. And a helicopter.

  Fury tore through him. “What have you done, you bitch?”

  Eve kept the gun leveled at him. “You’re not getting out of here. Where’s that knife you used before, Walsh? Throw it out.”

  “I got bored using that knife today.” He smiled savagely. “I wanted my hands on this one.”

  “If you even look like you’re going to hurt her, I will shoot you.”

  Laughter, again.

  He went still. “No.”

  Eve turned around.

  “You hear it, too!” he shouted. “You can hear it?”

  “Of course I can hear it. She has a lovely laugh, doesn’t she? I haven’t heard her laugh very much.”

  Jenny stepped from the shadows behind Eve. Still laughing, still bleeding from the eyes, nose, and mouth. Her clothes were dirty and rotting, as if buried for years.

  Still holding Cara, Walsh hurriedly stepped back. “You can see that … creature?”

  Eve turned back. “I see a beautiful young girl. Hello, Jenny.”

  “She’s hideous. Rotting … Bleeding from her eyes.”

  “I don’t see any of that. Jenny?”

  Jenny moved past Eve and continued her slow walk toward Walsh. “He sees what he made me. Or what he thinks he made me. We know better, don’t we, Eve?”

  “Yes, Jenny,” Eve said gently. “We do.”

  His grip tightened on Cara as he backed toward the edge of the ledge. “Stay away from me. Whatever you are.”

  “Why? Are you going to hurt me?” Jenny asked. “You fool, you can’t hurt me now.”

  “No, but I can hurt her.”

  “No.” Jenny’s face suddenly twisted in anger, her green eyes blazing. “Never again.”

  Jenny sprang forward and flew toward his face with teeth bared!

  CHAPTER

  15

  “No!” Eve lowered her gun and leaped toward the edge, where Walsh had stumbled back away from Jenny, with Cara still in his arms.

  She was too late. She barely stopped herself from going over, sliding on the damp ledge. She struck her head on the rock wall.

  Stars. And blood.

  Stay awake. Don’t pass out.

  Eve finally crawled to the edge, afraid of what she would see below on the cave floor. She froze.

  Walsh was splayed on the rocks below, impaled by two of the stalagmites. He was looking up at her, struggling to free himself. Blood was bubbling from his wounds. “You.” Rage and anger and terrible pain were all reflected in his face. “You did this to me.”

  “I wish it had been me.” She shook her head. “But I only helped. It was Jenny.”

  “No!” He writhed in pain for a long moment. Then he fell back, dead. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth.

  But Cara, where was Cara …

  Eve was praying that the child hadn’t taken that same terrible fall as Walsh.

  “Help … me.”

  She looked down, and her heart plunged. Cara was seven or eight feet below her, holding on for dear life. She had one foot wedged in the rock wall, but Eve could see that it was slipping even as she watched.

  And Cara was dangling over the same sharp rocks that had impaled Walsh.

  “Cara, hang on!”

  “I’m trying,” Cara yelled. “But I’m slipping. I’m going to fall!”

  “No you’re not.” Eve threw her legs over the ledge, still trying to fight that dizziness. “I’m coming down to you. Hang on just another few seconds.”

  “No!” It was Joe’s voice.

  Eve looked at the cave’s opening. Joe waded quickly through the water, which was now thigh deep.

  Joe. What was he doing here? She was torn between joy and sheer terror.

  Joe ran underneath Cara and called up to her. “I’m going to catch you.”

  “I’m afraid.”

  “It’ll be okay. I need you to let go.”

  Okay? Eve’s hands dug into the rocks of the ledge. If Joe caught Cara from that height, he could tear those stitches and bleed to death. If he didn’t, Cara might fall on those rocks and die. Either way, there was a terrible risk.

  Cara was looking down at the dead man just feet from Joe.

  “Don’t look at him,” Joe said. “Just look at me. I’m going to catch you. Okay? You can trust me.”

  She nodded, gazing into Joe’s eyes as he smiled up at her. “Okay.”

  Who wouldn’t trust Joe, Eve thought painfully. Who wouldn’t trust a man who might be giving his life for you? But Cara didn’t know that, she only saw the strength and the warmth and the safety.

  “I won’t let anything bad happen to you, Cara. That’s all over. I’m going to count to three, then I’ll need you to let go. Understand?”

  Again she nodded.

  “Ready? One … two … three!”

  She let go, and Joe leaped to meet her. He twisted his body, cradling her in his arms as they both plummeted into the water. Seconds later, they broke the surface.

  Joe whispered something to Cara, and t
he little girl nodded. Joe looked up at Eve with a weary smile.

  “Are you both all right?” Eve shouted. “Joe, tell me!”

  He gave her a thumbs-up.

  And the next moment, Eve collapsed, as the darkness overcame her.

  * * *

  Swirling darkness.

  Pain.

  Jenny.

  Jenny standing there in the darkness, her eyes shining and filled with triumph.

  “Cara…” Eve said or perhaps only thought. “Safe?”

  “Yes.” Jenny smiled. “We did it, Eve. You and me and your Joe. Walsh can’t hurt her any longer. He can’t hurt anyone ever again.”

  “Good…” Profound relief soared through her. “It was so close … I was terrified when Walsh took Cara with him off that ledge.”

  “Not that close. I knew I could keep Cara from falling for a little while. And I knew Joe was almost here.”

  “You seem to have taken huge strides since I saw you last. Walsh certainly … seemed to think so.”

  “I had to do it. I had to keep Walsh from hurting Cara until someone could help her.” She smiled. “You said I had to reach down into myself for strength. Instead, I reached out to you.”

  “I think we reached out to each other.”

  “I guess that’s true.” She took a step closer to Eve. “I was right, I was sent to you for a reason, and it wasn’t only to save Cara. But that was the big thing, and we did it. I had to stay to say thank you.”

  “That sounds like good-bye.”

  “Sort of. Not really. It’s kind of confusing.”

  “My entire relationship with you has been kind of confusing.” She felt a wrenching sadness. “I thought you’d be able to cross over once this was done. Is that what’s happening?”

  “Maybe not yet. I’m not sure, but I think that something special is happening. I’m going to be with Elena for a while, but later…” She shrugged. “Whatever it is, it’s not over.”

  “I don’t doubt that something special is going to happen to you. You’re a very special person. Wherever you’re going, I’ll miss you, Jenny.”

  “You’re sad. Don’t be sad. I’ll miss you, too. But I’m not sad. I’ll always be close to you.” Her voice was soft, intense, and her expression glowing. “Remember, I feel what you feel. It’s not going to end.”

  She shook her head. “Jenny … don’t hold on to me. I want you to be happy. Take that next step.”

  “I am happy. Can’t you see?”

  Eve could see. Jenny’s expression was serene and certain as Eve had never seen it. “Jenny, I don’t know—”

  “Neither do I. But I know everything is changing, and it’s all good.” She was beginning to fade into the darkness. “I have to go. Your Joe is fighting to get closer to you. I think he’s going to bring you back to consciousness by sheer will alone. I’ll leave you now. Thank you again, my dear, Eve…”

  * * *

  “Eve!” Joe’s voice was rough and demanding. “Open your eyes. I’m not going to let you go.”

  By sheer will alone, Eve thought hazily. Jenny had been right.

  “Eve!”

  “Okay.” Her lids slowly opened. “I heard you.”

  Joe’s face close to her own, pale in the moonlight. Joe’s hand tightly holding hers. “Then pay attention. I think you probably have a concussion. The ambulance is on its way. You’re not going to black out like that again. Do you hear me?”

  “I … hear you. You’re one … to talk. All … this is … very familiar. You’re sure you’re okay?”

  “Thanks to the miracle of duct tape.”

  “Duct tape? Never mind, I don’t want to know.”

  “Then be quiet. This isn’t about me. Nothing is supposed to happen to you. Not ever.” He kissed her, hard, fast. “Or don’t be quiet if it keeps you awake.”

  She suddenly realized she was lying on the sand, outside the cave. “Margaret…”

  “She’s with the kid. She and Nalchek are trying to comfort her. The first thing she asked after she knew she was safe was about Elena.”

  “She was … the only … family Cara knew. Elena loved her. She felt terribly guilty that she’d told Walsh where to find her.”

  “Maybe she somehow knows that Cara is safe now.”

  “I have to go and be with Elena for a while.”

  “Oh, yes, she knows.”

  “You seem certain.”

  “I am.” She looked up at him. “I think it’s over. Thank God.”

  “Maybe not quite. There’s still Nalchek to consider.”

  “Nalchek?”

  He shook his head. “Not now. You probably couldn’t comprehend anything clearly at the moment. That was quite a hit you took.”

  She wasn’t going to push it. He was right, she was still bleary. It was a struggle just to keep awake and not go back to the darkness.

  But she wouldn’t have to struggle long. She could hear a siren and see the flashing lights of the ambulance somewhere near the strip. “I’ll be fine. A couple aspirins, and they’ll let me go home.”

  “Screw it. You were out almost thirty minutes. I’m going to have them go over you from head to toe with a fine-tooth comb. Then, if they don’t find anything wrong, I’ll let you leave the hospital.”

  “You’re not doing that because I wouldn’t let them release you? Payback?”

  “It’s a thought. No, I’m doing it because you scared me shitless.”

  “Then I guess I’ll let you get away with it.”

  “Let me? No choice. You know we both signed over medical powers of attorney years ago because we weren’t married and were always running into red tape.” His hand tightened on hers. “The minute you enter that emergency room, you’re mine.”

  “Bully.” Mine. Wonderful word that could mean so many things when spoken between them. “I’ll see about that.” She was having to force her lids to stay open. “And it might not have been that I was really blacked out. Might have been Jenny…”

  COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OF THE MONTEREY

  PENINSULA, CARMEL, CALIFORNIA

  “Eve?”

  Margaret’s voice, Eve realized drowsily as she fought to rouse herself from sleep. She slowly opened her eyes to see Margaret standing beside her bed. The hospital room was dark except for the light streaming in from the hallway. “Hi, what are you doing here?”

  “Sneaking in where I’m not supposed to be.” She smiled down at her. “Joe helped me, but he’s not pleased. I wouldn’t have done it except that the doctors said that you’re not nearly as fragile as you looked right after you got that knock on the head.”

  “It must be important if you’re barging in here in the middle of the night.” Eve yawned. “Is everything okay?”

  “No. But I think it might be something you can fix.” She turned her head. “Cara.”

  Cara Delaney moved out of the shadows in the far corner of the room. “Is it all right that I’m here? I won’t be any trouble.”

  “Cara.” Eve held out her hand to her. “It’s all right as long as we don’t get caught. They seldom have middle-of-the-night visiting hours at hospitals.” She glanced at Margaret. “But she’d be better off in bed.”

  “No, she wouldn’t,” Margaret said. “Nalchek pulled strings to keep her out of a child-care facility, so she could stay in my hotel room tonight. But she kept waking up with nightmares. The last time she woke up, she said she had to come here to you. She was getting upset, so I stopped arguing and decided to try to negotiate our way in here.”

  “You evidently succeeded,” Eve said dryly.

  “I won’t be any trouble,” Cara repeated. “Just let me stay.”

  “She’s very good,” Margaret said quietly. “I wouldn’t have brought her if I’d believed she’d be a hassle for you.”

  “I’ll just sit here and be with you,” Cara said. “Like Jenny would want me to do.”

  Eve went still. “What?”

  “She didn’t tell me that,” Margaret said
.

  “No?” She was gazing at Cara. She looked so much like Jenny, yet there were differences. Her features were not as delicate, and her eyes were hazel, not green. She had Jenny’s exotic cheekbones but they looked stronger, more defined. There were other differences; the years of living and being on the run had given Cara a reserve and quiet strength unusual in a girl her age.

  And she was gazing steadily at Eve as if she were trying to tell her something.

  Perhaps she was, and whatever it was, Eve wanted to hear it. “You can leave her with me, Margaret. We’ll be fine together.”

  Margaret nodded and fetched a chair from against the wall and set it beside the bed. She turned on the lamp on the bedside table that cast a low glow in the room. “I believe you will.” She headed for the door. “But you can expect Joe to peek in shortly just to make sure.” She glanced over her shoulder at Cara. “Don’t wear her out.”

  “I won’t.” The little girl settled in the chair, and added gravely, “I know I have to take care of her.”

  Margaret’s brows rose. “Really?” She shrugged. “Whatever.” She left the room.

  “Do you want me to turn out that light? I don’t want to keep you awake,” Cara said. “I just wanted to be here.”

  “No, it won’t bother me.” She smiled. “And I’d like to see you. You’ve been the mystery in this puzzle. Joe and I have been searching for you and looking at hundreds of pictures to try to locate you. We couldn’t find one until we saw you in that choir photo.”

  “Elena didn’t want me to be in that photo. But she found out too late to stop it.” Her lips were suddenly tight with pain, her eyes glittering with tears. “She always told me that we still had to be careful. Sometimes, I didn’t believe her. I should have believed her.”

  “The young always believe the best,” Eve said gently. “Elena considered it her duty to protect you from the possibility that the best wouldn’t happen. She loved you very much.”

  Cara nodded. “I loved her, too.” Two tears rolled down her cheeks. “Now she’s gone, Eve.”

  She wanted to reach out and hold her. Instead, she took her hand. “Not really gone.”