'It can’t be that important. We need you,' Eve told him.
'It’s important enough.' He paused. 'We found another body on the bank across the falls.
They’re digging up the entire area to see if there are any more.'
'God.' That made twelve bodies. How many more?
'But I’ll try to break away tonight and drive down. I won’t be able to stay long.”
“When can you get here?' Eve asked.
'I’ll be there before nine, and we’ll go to see the lady together,' he said wearily. 'Is that all right?'
'It will have to be if you can’t get here before that.'
Joe took the phone from her. 'We’re not going back to the cottage tonight. Send Charlie down here in case I have to leave Eve for any length of time.' He listened. 'No, we don’t want Charlie to talk to Fay Sugarton. He has about as much presence and authority as one of her foster kids.
We need you to impress her. What about Spaulding from CASKU? Okay, if he’s gone back to Quantico, you get down here yourself. I don’t care if it sounds like an order. It is an order.' He hung up. 'You didn’t handle him very diplomatically,' Eve said. 'He’s trying to help us.”
“As long as it means catching Dom.'
'It’s his job to catch killers.'
'Not quite. He’s a profiler. He’s supposed to analyze and report, not join in the chase.' His lips tightened. 'But now he wants that bastard almost as much as we do.'
'We should be grateful for that.'
'I’m grateful.' Joe scowled. 'Sometimes. When he doesn’t put Bureau business in front of protecting—'
'Shut up, Joe.'
He made a face. 'Okay, Spiro’s only doing his job. I suppose I’m a little uptight.' He wasn’t the only one. Eve’s nerves were strung taut.
He started the car. 'Come on, I’ll buy you a hamburger at the Varsity and then we’ll go on to the school.'
'My God, I’d forgotten how fast kids can move when they get out of school.' Joe chuckled.
'They’re like a herd of buffalo heading for water. Did you go to this school?'
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'No, it wasn’t here when I was growing up.' Her gaze searched the crowd of children. 'I don’t see any redheads. Where is she?'
'You have a photograph.' He paused. 'I’ve been wondering why you haven’t looked at it since you got it.'
'I didn’t think of it.'
'Sure?'
She glanced at him. 'Of course I’m sure. Stop reading significance into a simple oversight.'
'There’s nothing simple about you. It’s rime to look at the photograph, Eve.”
“I was going to do that.' She pulled the picture out of her purse. It’s only a little girl. She has nothing to do with Bonnie.
Relief rushed through her. 'Not very pretty, is she?' The child in the photo was not smiling and had short red hair curling around a thin, triangular face. The only attractive feature she could claim were large hazel eyes, and even they were glaring out of the photograph. 'She obviously didn’t want her picture taken.'
'Then she must have character. I never wanted my picture taken either.' Joe’s gaze shifted to her face. 'You’re relieved. You were afraid she’d look like Bonnie.'
'It seems Dom has a bad eye. She and Bonnie are nothing alike. Hell, maybe he’s lying about everything. Maybe he never saw Bonnie.'
'If he was around here then, he would have seen at least a photo of her. The media plastered her face all over.'
Because she was pretty and sweet and loved life so much, she touched everyone who saw her, Eve thought. Not like Jane MacGuire, who was prone to strike out. 'That Dom thinks I’d identify with her only proves how crazy he is. You didn’t need to worry, Joe.'
'That’s nice. Maybe.' He straightened in the driver’s seat. 'There she is. She just came out of the front entrance.'
Jane MacGuire was small for ten, dressed in jeans, T-shirt, and tennis shoes. She wore a green book bag on her back and strode straight ahead without looking to either side.
No dawdling. No stopping to talk with friends as Bonnie had done. Bonnie had so many friends…
She wasn’t being fair. Bonnie had always been surrounded by love and trust. Jane MacGuire had a right to be wary. But, God, she was glad the child was nothing like Bonnie. 'She’s reached The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
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the street. Start the car.'
