She had learned the trick.
TEN
JANE’S CELL PHONE RANG AT TWO thirty in the morning, waking her from a deep sleep. She didn’t recognize the ID.
She did recognize the voice.
“Sorry to wake you,” Caleb said. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“And I was sleeping very well.” She got up on one elbow. “It couldn’t wait until morning?”
“Probably. But then I’d have to run the gauntlet with Eve and Quinn. I want to talk to you.”
“So talk.”
“Meet me on the porch in five minutes.”
“Why?”
“I want to see your face, your expressions. I don’t like telephones.”
“Why choose me? Why not Eve?”
“You’re more open to me. I could tell that the moment I met you.”
“You mean you think you could talk me into something.”
“No, I wouldn’t make the attempt. I pick and choose.”
“What did you do to Patty’s grandfather?”
“Meet me outside, and we’ll talk about it.”
“If you come near the porch, the police officers in that squad car will stop you.”
“I’ll drop by and have a talk with them. I’ll show them how harmless I am.”
“You’ll get your ass shot.”
“Five minutes.” He hung up.
She slowly hung up. She should stay in bed and ignore Caleb. He was a disturbing influence, and Joe was right in treating him warily.
To hell with it. She had never been afraid of disturbances. They were what made life interesting. And Caleb was a disturbance that would have a gigantic payoff if she could find a way to use him to help Eve. He was right, she was open to him, to anyone who could end this hellish situation.
Besides, she was curious. He was an enigma, and she wanted to know more about him. She threw back the covers and got out of bed. She drew on her terry robe and headed for the door. Toby was running ahead of her as she tried to move quietly through the house.
Caleb was sitting on the top step of the porch when she opened the screen door.
“Turn on the porch light. It will make the cops in the squad car feel better. And I’ll be able to see your face.” He looked at her and smiled. “It’s beautiful up here. You must love to visit. Come sit down.”
She switched on the light and glanced at the squad car. “I can’t believe they didn’t stop you. The least they could do was to call us and check.”
“I told you, they could see I was harmless.”
“Yeah, sure.” Even leaning casually against the porch rail, he looked anything but harmless. She dropped down beside him, then had to shift over as Toby squeezed between them. “Did Patty’s grandfather think you were harmless?”
“You won’t let that go. It must have upset you.”
“I don’t like puzzles. What happened with her grandfather was a puzzle.”
“And I like puzzles. It keeps the wits sharp. That’s important.”
“Patty’s grandfather,” she prompted.
He smiled. “I just talked to him. I reminded him what a wonderful granddaughter he had in Patty. I suggested he mellow out and enjoy life a little more.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
“And he accepted your suggestions even though you’re a stranger to him?”
“Sometimes it happens like that.”
“You’re not telling the truth.”
“Actually I am.”
“Not all the truth.”
“You do dig deep.” He chuckled. “No, not quite.” He looked out at the lake. “I told you I was a hunter. I have certain talents that make me valuable in that area. I’m very persuasive.”
“What does that mean?”
