personnel and slip into his room and cut off his life support. Or maybe give him a shot hed never wake up from. I want you to sound crazy and homicidal.
He slowly nodded. Theyll report the anony-mous call to the cops hanging around the hospital and theyll be on the lookout.
Id do it myself, but a man is usually perceived as more lethal.
Perception can be faulty as hell. Ill call right away. He frowned. What are you doing?
She was on her knees, reaching for Bens case on the ground beside her. I just want to hold Bens skull case.
Why?
Im not going to run away with it. I just want to have it in my hands.
He didnt like that any more than he liked the way Eve was acting. Maybe we should think about leaving here. We need to find somewhere to sleep.
Okay, well go back to Gainesville later tonight. She looked away from him and down at the case on her lap. Make the call.
Sandra called Eve at eleven that night. Joes vital signs have stabilized. Hes still critical but its looking better.
Hope surged through Eve. When will they know for sure?
I dont know. Tomorrow morning, maybe. How are you?
Okay.
You dont sound okay.
Im fine, Mom. Are you with Ron?
Yes, hes right here. He says hes not going to move two feet from me until this is over. He thinks you should come in and talk to the police. So do I. Youve got to get this mess straightened out.
It sounded so easy, she thought tiredly. Deposit everything in the arms of the police and let them take care of it. Call me back when you find out more about Joe. Take care of yourself, Mom.
Quinns better? Logan asked.
She nodded. But not out of the woods. She opened the car door. Im going to walk down to the pond. You dont have to go with me.
In other words, my companys not wanted. He glanced at Bens case in her hand. But evi-dently our skeletal friend is. You havent set it down all evening. Are you going to tell me why youre toting that thing around?
She wasnt sure herself. Maybe she thought it would give her the answer. God, she needed an an-swer. I just want it with me.
Weird.
Yes, havent you heard? I dont have all my marbles.
Crap. Youre one of the sanest people I know.
But look at the company you keep. She moved down the moonlit slope. The leather of the case was smooth beneath her touch.
Help me, Ben. Im lost and I need someone to find me.
Eve had been sitting underneath that tree for over two hours.
And she was hugging that leather case like it was a baby.
He couldnt stand it any longer. Logan got out of the car and stalked down the slope.
Im sick of being patient and understanding. You tell me whats happening. Do you hear me? I want to know what the hell Lisa Chadbourne told you.
She didnt speak for a moment, and then she whispered, Bonnie.
What?
She offered me Bonnie. She offered to find Bonnie for me.
How could she do that?
She said that shed have the cases reopened, that shed send an army of police and military to question and search. She said shed been thinking about it. The search couldnt be obviously for Bonnie. It would look too suspicious for her. Theyd choose one of the other children to publicly focus on, but the searchers would have their orders. It would be Bonnie theyd be looking for.
My God.
She said that theyd spend years if they had to. She promised to bring Bonnie home to me.
And all you have to do is give her the skull and the DNA report? Its a trick. Shed never follow through.
Just the skull. She said I could leave the country and keep the DNA report until she delivers Bonnie.
A pretty weak hold.
She closed her eyes. Bonnie.
She wouldnt keep her word.
