holding her, Joe talking, Joe holding back the night.
Joe. She had to call Joe. She hadnt spoken to him since before the night theyd gone to the cornfield. She had deliberately avoided calling him and pulling him deeper into this morass. But if she didnt call him soon, hed be storming Barrett House with a SWAT team.
The wind was coming up and blowing the surf into whitecaps before they reached the shore.
Bonnie had liked the ocean. Eve and Sandra had taken her to Pensacola a few times and she had streaked up and down the shore, laughing and chat-tering and looking for seashells.
She closed the car door and walked down to the pier.
Eve.
She didnt turn around at Logans call. She didnt want to go into the house. She didnt want to face him or anything else just then. She needed time for herself.
She pulled off her sandals, sat down on the low pier, and dangled her feet. The water was cool and silken as it flowed against her skin.
She leaned her head against the post, listening to the rush of the sea.
And remembering Bonniehellip;
Are you going after her? Gil said. Shes been out there almost an hour, John.
Soon. God, she looked lonely. I dont think she wants company.
You dont want her to think too much. Thinking can be a dangerous thing. Shes already resentful.
Im tired of driving her, dammit. Let her have some peace.
I doubt if she allows herself to be driven in a di-rection she doesnt want to go.
But its possible to block out every other path so shes forced to take the only one left. Logan had done that since the moment he had met her. He was doing it now.
So was he going to stop because he was having a few twinges of conscience?
Not likely.
So repair her broken trust and use her again. Ill go get her. He went down the porch steps and strode across the sand to the pier.
She didnt look at him as he approached. Go away, Logan.
Its time you came in. Its getting chilly.
Ill come in when Im ready.
He hesitated and then sat down beside her. Ill wait for you. He took off his shoes and socks and dangled his feet in the water.
I dont want you here.
You know, I havent done anything like this since I was in Japan. He gazed out at the ocean. There doesnt seem to be time enough in the day to relax.
Are you trying to bond with me, Logan?
Maybe.
Well, youre not doing it.
No? Too bad. Then, I guess I might as well just sit here and relax.
Silence.
What are you thinking about? he asked.
Not Chadbourne.
Your daughter?
She stiffened. Dont use Bonnie to try to get close to me, Logan. It wont work.
Just curious. I guess I dont understand your ob-session with identifying skulls. Oh, I know your daughter was never found, but you cant expect to
I dont want to talk about it.
I watched you with Mandy and then with Ben Chadbourne. Theres almost ahellip; tenderness.
So Im a little crazy. Everyones a little bonkers on some subject or other, she said jerkily. I assure you I dont think their souls are hanging around those bones.
Do you believe in an everlasting soul?
Sometimes.
Only sometimes?
Okay, most of the time.
He was silent, waiting.
When Bonnie was born, she wasnt like me or Mom or anyone. She was justhellip; herself. All completehellip; and wonderful. How could that be if youre not born with a soul?
