“And does she have a name?”
“Of course. Bonnie.”
He had been expecting it, but he still felt the shock. “And when did she come to you?”
“The night after you came with that Megan person. Bonnie wasn’t like the others. She knew I had to stay.”
“Because of your father.”
“She said that if their need is too strong, then you have to help them.” She moistened her lips. “She knew how I felt.”
“Yes, she would.” He looked at her. “And you know why, don’t you?”
“She didn’t tell me. But I felt it. It’s Eve. She’s trying to save Eve, isn’t she?”
“Yes.” His lips twisted. “We’re all trying to save Eve.”
“Me too. Because if he takes Eve’s blood, then everything is going to change. He may be too strong. It will be harder to kill him.”
“What are you talking about? All this crap about blood making him stronger. You sound like Caleb.”
“It does make him stronger. I made him stronger. Not as much as Eve would, but I gave him some strength he would never have had.” She looked away from him. “And it’s not crap. Ask Seth Caleb. Make him tell you.”
“I’ve heard enough from him. He said that this cult group Jelak belonged to had certain beliefs. Even Caleb didn’t say they were valid.”
“Make him tell you,” she repeated. “He’s not what you think.”
“I have a suggestion. Why don’t you go visit Caleb and ask him to team up with you to go after Jelak? You seem to have similar thoughts on the subject.”
She shook her head. “There’s too much darkness all around him. I couldn’t get near him. I have to rely on you.”
“Great.”
“I don’t like it either.” She paused. “But I may be able to help you. I found out that I may be able to tell where Jelak is.”
“How?”
“I can feel him.”
He snorted. “Now you do sound like Caleb.”
“It’s true. I don’t know how he feels Jelak, but with me it’s the blood. It’s my blood in him that calls to me.”
Joe was silent. “Then do you know where he is right now?”
“No.”
“Then I can’t say that you’re a reliable source.”
“I’m the most reliable source that you have,” she said. “I thought I felt him last night. He was excited, and his blood was pounding. It went on for a long time.”
The time when he was killing Heather Carmello?
“I didn’t know about her,” Nancy Jo said as if he’d put the thought into words. “Not until you started thinking about her.”
“She’s not one of your buddies in the afterworld?”
“Stop being sarcastic. I don’t even know if we can have friends. I hope so. I hate being this lonely.”
“I imagine there’s some provision for them.” He paused. “What about Bonnie?”
“She was nice to me, but I think she wanted to rush me along so that I would be able to help Eve. Is Eve her mother?”
“Yes.”
“My mother died a long time ago. I only have my dad.” She added unevenly, “And he only had me. He’s not happy, and I don’t know how to help him.”
“I think you have to let him find his way himself.”
“I will not. I need to help him. I’ll find a way.” She looked at him. “Are you Bonnie’s dad?”
“No, I never knew her.”
“She knows you. She said I could trust you.” She glanced out the window. “The Camry has dropped back. They must know you’re going to get off the freeway here.”
“Why is your father having me followed? I’d turn any information I found in to the department.”
“He found out about the goblet that Jelak put in your cottage. He knows about Eve. He thinks that if he’s close to you, he may get close to Jelak.”
“Evidently, someone did take one of his bribes.”
“You can’t blame him,” Nancy Jo said fiercely. “He’s hurting. Someone has to help him.”
