Monty whined.
"I know. But we have to get out of the Jeep and go inside." She put the leash on him. "Come on, Monty."
He finally got to his feet and jumped down from the Jeep. His tail tucked between his legs, he moved slowly toward the front door.
"Are you sure he didn’t get any poison?”
“I’m sure."
"Then what’s wrong with him?"
"What do you think’s wrong? He’s sad. I had a devil of a time getting him away from that dead coyote. It must have been alive when Monty found it. Monty has trouble dealing with death."
She shrugged. "Don’t we all?"
"You’re saying he has psychological problems?" Sarah glared at her. "What’s odd about that?"
Eve held up a hand. "Not a thing." Looking at Monty, she could tell something was drastically wrong. His ears were pressed to the sides of his head, and his expression was terribly woebegone. "What can we do?"
“He’ll be okay. He just needs a little time." She led Monty to the hall. "Is it okay if I take him to Jane’s room?"
"She’s asleep."
"He won’t wake her."
"But what good would that do?"
"There’s no one more alive than a child. It will help Monty to be near her.”
“Therapy?"
Sarah stuck out her chin. "Jane won’t mind. She’s crazy about Monty." Who wouldn’t be crazy The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
Page 184 of 286
about Monty? Eve thought. Those big, soft eyes were so sad, it almost broke her heart. "Up the stairs. First door."
"Thanks."
Eve watched her lead Monty up the stairs, then went to the kitchen and started brewing a pot of coffee.
The coffee was almost done when Sarah appeared in the doorway. "Get him settled?"
She nodded. "Sorry. Jane woke up.”
“She’ll go back to sleep."
Sarah said hesitantly, "He’s in bed with her. But he’s clean. I washed him off after I brought him home tonight."
"Do you take cream or sugar?" Sarah shook her head.
Eve handed her a cup of coffee. "Stop looking so guilty. It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. Monty and I don’t like to depend on other people.”
“I don’t think Monty minds as much as you do."
"You’re right." She made a face. "He’s probably better adjusted than I am.”
“Why did you come here, Sarah? I don’t think it’s because Monty needed therapy."
"I was mad." Her lips tightened. "I wanted to kill the bastard. I still do.”
“You’re sure it was Dom?"
"Aren’t you? I’ve no near neighbors who could be annoyed by Monty. He always stays close to me. No one ever tried to hurt him before he started to look for Debby Jordan. Someone wants to stop you from finding her."
Eve shook her head. "Just slow me down. Dom’s having too much fun to stop me cold. He didn’t realize that you’d refused to help me any longer."
"So he tried to kill Monty."
Eve nodded.
Sarah’s grip on her cup tightened. "I won’t stand for it. I’m going to get the bastard and hang him out to dry."
The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
Page 185 of 286
"I thought you were through?"
"Don’t be stupid. He tried to kill my dog. He might try again. The only way to protect Monty is to catch that son of a bitch." She took one more sip of coffee and set the cup down. "Time to get to bed. We have only a few hours to sleep. We’ll set out at dawn."
"We will?"
"I’m staying here. It’s safer for Monty. I’ll need a room. Or if that’s not possible, I can go get my sleeping bag. I’m used to roughing it."
"I can give you the bedroom across the hall from me."
"Thanks. I’ll get my bag and Monty’s things out of the Jeep." Sarah left the kitchen. "You go on to bed. I’ll lock up."
Eve stared after her. An angry, protective Sarah Patrick was clearly a power to be reckoned with.
She turned out the light and started up the stairs. Well, this was what she’d wanted. She’d asked Sarah to continue to help. But she hadn’t imagined the woman would barge in and take over.
She stopped at Jane’s door and opened it. Jane was asleep again. Monty was in bed with her and she had an arm flung over the big dog.
What the hell. She could hold her own with Sarah Patrick. The dog was good for Jane, and the attack on him pointed out how close Dom was. He was getting tired of staying in the background and watching and waiting.
She shivered as she closed the door of Jane’s room. It might not be bad having Sarah and Monty in the same house. She was feeling very much alone right now. "Get to bed." It was Sarah passing her in the hall.
"Go to hell."
Sarah stopped at her bedroom door. "Sorry. I’m used to running things and I’ve been feeling pretty helpless lately. I’ll try to watch it."
Eve smiled faintly. "Do that."
It was going to be all right. She and Sarah would adjust to each other. After all, they had a common goal now.
You made a mistake, Dom. You’re not perfect. If you’d left it alone, Sarah would have stopped helping me. Now I have an ally.
The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
Page 186 of 286
Did you make another mistake with Debby Jordan?
"Nothing?" Eve asked, disappointed.
Sarah shook her head. "Not a sign." She gestured to Monty, and he jumped into the car. "He thought there was something beneath that fallen tree, but then he changed his mind."
"Should we go back? Monty must be as tired as we are. Maybe he made a mistake."
"He doesn’t make mistakes. He’ll know it when he runs across it.”
“It’s been three days."
"She’s not there." Sarah paused and then tempered her tone. "Sorry. It’s been a long day."
They had all been long days. From dawn to midnight and sometimes later. Sarah had a right to be annoyed. While she had sat in the car or stood watching, Sarah and Monty had hunted. It was a wonder they kept pushing.
Sarah was silent until they were almost back at the house. "How many sites are left?"
"Four."
"That’s not many. Could he have lied to you?"
"He’s capable of anything. But if we aren’t on the right track, why did he try to kill Monty?"
"To make the scenario more believable?"
"It’s possible," she said. "Maybe he likes seeing me run in circles.”
“But you don’t believe it."
"No, I think there has to be a payoff. He likes the excitement, the ups and downs. Hope and then disappointment. Tension and then release. If we found Debby Jordan, it would be a tremendous release for him."
"You sound like you know the bastard."
Sometimes Eve felt as if she did know him. He was always on her mind. And there were moments when she felt that if she turned around quickly, she would catch sight of him.
Imagination. Since that night he’d phoned her in the car, Juan Lopez and Herb Booker had been very much on guard and had assured her no one had been following her.
Maybe.
The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
Page 187 of 286
She turned the corner and saw the familiar gates of home. "We’ll find her tomorrow," she told Sarah. "He didn’t lie to me. I know that—"
"Watch out!"
Eve stomped on the brakes when she saw the man in the street. "Christ." Lopez had stopped his car behind her and was running toward the man, gun drawn.
"No!"
Then Lopez was down, lying in the middle of the street. My God, he was going to kill Lopez.
She jumped out of the car.
"Eve, are you crazy?" Sarah shouted.
"Stop it. Do you hear me? Dammit, stop it. You’ll hurt him."
"I feel like hurting someone." Joe released his hold on Lopez’s neck and stood up. "He was stupid to run
at me."
"He was trying to protect me."
"He didn’t do a good job. Logan’s wasting his money.”
“He does a very good job."
The gates were swinging open and Herb Booker was running out into the street.
Joe whirled, immediately on the offensive.
Eve stepped in front of him. "No, it’s okay. I know him, Herb." Herb looked at his partner, who was on the ground, slowly sitting up, and then at Joe. "It’s not okay to me."
"He’s a police detective."
"Since when do cops use Rambo tactics?"
"Joe’s a little different." She turned to Joe. "Go on up to the house." He smiled sardonically.
"You’re actually letting me in?”
“Shut up. I’m mad as hell at you. There was no call for hurting Juan.”
“He had a gun."
"And you nearly killed him?"
He shrugged. "Like I said, I was annoyed."
The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
Page 188 of 286
"Well, so am I." She got back in the car. "No one invited you here.”
“Oh, I’m well aware of that." He turned and strode through the gates. " Who is that?" Sarah asked Eve. "Herb was right. He reminded me of Rambo too."
"Joe Quinn." She drove up the driveway. "An old friend.”
“Are you sure? The vibes he’s giving off are more explosive than friendly.”
“He’s upset with me." Her lips tightened. "But no more upset than I am with him."
"He was at Fay’s," Jane said from the backseat. "He jumped on me.”
“You jumped on him first. With a baseball bat."
"You’re defending him," Sarah noticed.
"It’s habit." She parked and got out of the car. "You all go on to bed. I’ll deal with him."
“He’ll take some dealing," Sarah murmured. "But Monty and I are too tired to volunteer, and Jane doesn’t have her baseball bat."
Jane chuckled. "Can Monty sleep with me tonight, Sarah?"
"Not tonight. You know that’s only on special occasions." Sarah nodded at Joe, who was waiting by the door. "Be nice to Eve, or I’ll set my dog on you."
She didn’t wait for an answer as she ushered Jane and Monty inside. "Who is she?" Joe asked Eve.
"Sarah Patrick. Monty is her cadaver dog. If you knew where I was staying, I’m surprised you didn’t know about Sarah. Didn’t Logan tell you what was going on?"
"You’ve got to be kidding." He followed her into the house. "Logan told me no more than he had to, just that you were safe, he had two men guarding you, and that I should go jump in the lake."
"Then how did you find me?"
"Mark told me you were heading for Phoenix and that he thought you had an ace in the hole. I immediately thought of Logan. I started looking for him and learned that he’d left Monterey and was staying at the Camelback Inn. I’d also discovered that he owned this house, and I thought it logical that he’d provide you and Jane with a place to stay."
"How astute of you."
"I wouldn’t be sarcastic if I were you." His tone was thick. "I’ve gone through hell trying to find The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
Page 189 of 286
you and not knowing if I’d get here before Dom did. I don’t know how much control I have left."
"Not very much judging by that display you put on outside.”
“Did it upset you? Too bad. But then, I’ve always known that violence upset you.
You’ve had too much of it in your life. So I kept that part of me turned low. I’m tired of it, Eve.
Accept me as I am." He looked around the foyer. "Very nice. Very cozy. Logan did you proud."
"He’s been a great help."
His lips tightened. "Oh? How great a help? Lots of sympathy and intimate little chats?"
"Of course I talk to him. I call him whenever I get a chance, to tell him how things are going.
Was I supposed to just drop him after he helped me get Sarah and all the other— Why am I defending myself? It’s none of your—"
"There’s only one thing I want to know. Has Dom contacted you since you’ve been here?"
"Yes."
He muttered a curse. "How does the bastard do it? He must be sticking as close as molasses to you."
"Why are you surprised? He’s had decades of experience in stalking, and he must know every trick in the book. It wouldn’t be any fun for him if he couldn’t check my pulse." She walked into the living room and turned to face him. "I’m tired, Joe. Say what you’ve got to say to me and let me go to bed. We’ve got to get up at dawn and start searching again."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that." She lost patience with him. "Dammit, Joe, do you expect me to apologize to you for trying to save your job? I’d do it again. This is my concern, not yours."
"Your concerns have been mine since the day I first met you. They’ll be mine until the day I—"
He shook his head. "You’re backing off, closing me out. I can feel it, dammit. How long do you think I can—" He took two steps forward and grasped her shoulders. "Look at me. For God’s sake, look at me and see me as I am, not what you want me to be."
His eyes…
Her chest was so tight, she couldn’t breathe. "Yes." His voice vibrated with intensity.
"Let me go." Her voice sounded faint even to her ears.
His grasp tightened and then he slowly released her. "I’m not stupid. After all these years, I’m not going to rush it. But you’ve kept me chained too long by pity. I can’t take it anymore."
The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
Page 190 of 286
"Pity? I’ve never wanted your pity."
"How could I not feel pity? I ached with it. I ate and slept with it. It was dry as dust, but it was all I had. And every time I thought I couldn’t take one more minute of it, you made me bleed again and I was caught." He held her gaze. "No more pity, Eve."
"I’m going to bed." She backed away from him. "We’ll talk in the morning." He shook his head.
"No, we don’t have to. I can wait now." He glanced at the couch. "I’ll bunk down here."
"There’s another spare bedroom."
"You can show me tomorrow. Go escape now."
She needed to escape. She was confused and panicky and there was a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. And Joe, damn him, knew her so well, he was probably aware exactly what she was feeling. "I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“It will be okay, Eve," he said quietly. For the first time, a faint smile lit his face.
"Don’t think about it. Ride with it, live with it for a while. I’m the same man you’ve known for the past ten years."
But he’d been almost a stranger during those moments when he was looking down at her.
When he was touching her…
How many times had he held her in the last ten years? In friendship, in sympathy, quieting the pain, helping her through nights of torment and loneliness.
Never like this.
"Good night," she murmured, then fled the room.
It was crazy, she thought as she took off her clothes and slipped into bed. It shouldn’t be happening. Damn you, Joe. You shouldn’t be feeling like this.
She shouldn’t be feeling like this.
Her breasts were taut, aching against the coolness of the sheet, and there was an unmistakable tingling between her thighs.
Oh, shit.
Not for Joe. She didn’t want to feel this animalistic lust for Joe. It didn’t have any place in the compartment she’d given him in her life.
Compartment. Where had that thought come from? Because she couldn’t bear to let him go, The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
Page 191 of 286
had she kept Joe in the one area of her mind and heart where she could accept closeness? How incredibly selfish.
It couldn’t be true. She wouldn’t let it be true. Yet that night at the motel in Elijay, hadn’t she known there was some
thing else between them, something she wouldn’t permit to come to the surface?
Perhaps tonight was only a temporary aberration on Joe’s part. Maybe tomorrow he’d be back to normal.
But what about her? Could she ever look at Joe again in the same way? When he’d touched her and stared down at her with such intensity, he seemed to have changed before her eyes. She’d suddenly become aware of him. The physical, sexual Joe Quinn.
The broadness of his shoulders, the slimness of his hips, his mouth…
She’d wanted to reach out and touch that mouth.
Heat. Tingling. Hunger.
Stop thinking of him that way. She had to regain her balance so she could convince Joe how destructive going in a new direction could be. Be logical, be cool…
She was so upset, there wasn’t any way she could be logical or cool. Damn you, Joe.
Joe, dressed in jeans and sweatshirt, his hair wet from the shower, met her in the hall when she came downstairs the following morning. "Coffee’s made. Sarah, Jane, and Monty are in the kitchen. You’re late." He smiled. "Didn’t sleep well?"
She stiffened. "I slept fine."
"Liar." He started toward the kitchen. "Sarah filled me in on your progress, or lack of it."
His manner was casual, she noticed with relief. This was the Joe she knew. It was almost as if last night had never happened. "We still have a chance.”
“If Dom didn’t lie to you. Don’t bank too much on there being evidence even if we find Debby Jordan. Spiro says nothing of value has been uncovered at the graves at Talladega."
"What about the cardboard box in the alley?"
"The same. The blood belonged to the security guard at the welfare house.”
“And the two graves in Phoenix?"
"Spiro sent Charlie here to help look into that. Nothing yet.” The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
Page 192 of 286
“That doesn’t mean we won’t find something."
"He wouldn’t have told you about Debby Jordan if it had a chance of incriminating him."
"Yes, he would. He’s tired of being safe. He needs— I don’t know what he needs, but I’m part of it. And he’s made at least one mistake since I came here."
"Sarah’s dog."
She nodded. "If he made one mistake, he may have made another.”
“And if he didn’t?"
"Then we’ll find a way to get him. I can’t let this go on indefinitely. I won’t be made to hide and I won’t be taunted by that bastard." She grimaced. "I can’t stand it. He’s feeding on me, Joe."
The Killing Game ed-2 Page 21
