“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.'
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'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.
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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.'
