'Last night. They’re faxing the full report to me at Talladega. They were surprised I knew nothing about your request that they call you directly.'
Charlie grimaced. 'Sorry. I guess I was being a hot dog.”
“Well, eagerness is better than apathy.'
'Did they find any cases that matched?' Joe asked.
'Two possibles. Two skeletons were found three months ago in San Luz, a suburb of Phoenix.
No teeth. Wax sediment in the right hands.'
'Children?' Eve asked.
Spiro shook his head. 'Adults. One man. One woman.”
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“Arizona,' Joe repeated. 'That’s a long way.”
“Who says Dom is a local boy?' Spiro said. 'He was here ten years ago,' Eve said. 'He’s here now.'
'It’s a mobile society, and organized serial killers are known to be particularly mobile.' Spiro turned toward the door. 'At any rate, I’ll send a man to Phoenix to see if he can find out anything more from the local PD. We’ll probably have to organize an interstate task force now.'
'Could I go?' Charlie asked.
'No, you may not,' Spiro said. 'You stay here and guard Ms. Duncan. I don’t want you out of sight of the cabin, and you make sure those other perimeter guards are on their toes.'
'Eve,' she said dryly. 'Formality is pretty silly under the circumstances.”
“Eve.' Spiro smiled. 'I suppose you’re right. We all may become more intimate than we’d like before this is over. Good-bye. I’ll let you know if I find out anything else.' He paused at the door. 'Stay inside, Eve. I evidently have more faith in my guys and your friend Quinn than you do.'
As soon as the door closed behind Spiro, Charlie grinned. 'I’d better get outside. I could see Spiro wasn’t pleased with me for going over his head. It will take a little groveling and strict obedience for me to redeem myself.'
She smiled back, then returned to her bedroom to shower.
Phoenix, Arizona. Two bodies.
Eleven at Talladega. Two in Phoenix. How many more had Dom killed? How could a man murder that many people and remain human? Was he human? How much evil could he commit without his soul becoming twisted and—
She was cold and starting to shake. Stop it. It didn’t matter what manner of monster Dom had become. All that was important was that they catch him and keep him from murdering again.
The hot water poured out of the showerhead onto her body. But it didn’t banish the chill.
'For heaven’s sake, stop prowling, Joe,' Eve said. 'It’s after midnight. Why don’t you go to bed?'
‘’You go to bed. I’m a little tense, okay?”
“You don’t have to bite my head off.'
'Yes, I do. It’s one of the few things that I’m allowed. There’s damn few of them that I can—'
He stopped. 'Sorry. Maybe I’m getting cabin fever waiting for something to happen.'
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So was she, and she didn’t feel like being sweet and generous about Joe’s nerves. 'If you won’t go to bed, make yourself useful and go out and give Charlie a cup of coffee.'
'Maybe I will.'
She drew a deep breath as the front door shut behind him a few minutes later. She had never seen Joe this explosive. Ever since that afternoon he’d been—
Her phone rang.
'Did I wake you?' Dom asked.
Her heart was pounding. 'No, I wasn’t asleep.'
'Oh, yes, you must have slept after you finished working on little Johnny Devon. It was him, wasn’t it?'
'I told you I wouldn’t tell you anything.'
'Defiant. That means I guessed right. I knew you’d do a fine job. You have great pride in your work.'
'Why are you calling me?'
'It’s important that I stay in touch with you, that we get to know each other better. I’m sure that’s what Agent Spiro told you. Draw the bastard out. Find out everything you can for the FBI profile. Isn’t that right?'
'Something like that.'
