“I haven’t heard anything about—” But a call was coming in now from Gary Schindler. He punched over to the call. “What’s happening?”
“Margaret Selkirk. Killing. Throat slit. Seems like the same MO as the other murders.” Gary paused. “There was a goblet in her hand.”
“I’m on my way.” He switched back to Norris. “I’m heading for midtown. Keep your damn spies out from under my feet.”
He hung up and got out of bed. “Another victim. Margaret Selkirk, a researcher with the CDC. Ed Norris is raising hell. I feel like raising hell too. It’s pissing me off that he’s finding out about Jelak’s moves before I do.”
“Bribery?”
“No doubt about it.”
“Any change from the Heather Carmello murder?”
“They found a goblet.” He headed for the bathroom. “I’m sure that bastard, Caleb, would be able to interpret the significance of that.”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to ask him.” Eve slipped on her robe. “I might as well make coffee, then get to work. I won’t be able to go back to sleep.”
“Sorry.”
“I’m not.” She headed for the door. “Actually, I’d go with you, but you’ll have enough to contend with dealing with Norris.”
“I don’t want you at the crime scene. I don’t want you anywhere near those victims.”
“Because you think Jelak may be hovering? Caleb said he probably wouldn’t have stayed at Piedmont Park after the killing.”
“I don’t want you there,” he repeated. “I don’t care what Caleb said.”
“Okay, for now.” She added quietly, “But I can’t bury my head in the sand. Three victims, and Patty could have been one of them if she hadn’t been lucky. I seem to be the eye of the storm. It has to stop, Joe.”
“It will stop.” He closed the bathroom door behind him.
EVE STOOD ON THE PORCH watching Joe’s Jeep go down the drive.
She clasped her arms across her chest as she felt chill at the thought of that poor woman who had died tonight. Margaret Selkirk, who had done nothing but happen to cross Jelak’s path.
It will stop, Joe had said.
But how long would it be? How many victims would Jelak take before they’d manage to bring that monster down?
Joe would do his job with his usual intelligence and efficiency, but he wouldn’t tolerate even a slight risk to her.
But that risk might have to be run eventually. In the meantime, they’d have to explore every single avenue.
Starting with Margaret Selkirk’s death.
She turned and strode back into the house.
“HER FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER found her,” Schindler said, when Joe arrived at the small, white house on Peachtree Circle. “The kid is almost hysterical. She said she’s a restless sleeper and woke up because she thought she heard a car start outside.”
“What time?”
“Two forty. She got up and noticed her mother’s door was open and her bed hadn’t been slept in. Her mother had been working late for the past two weeks, but she thought she’d heard her come in. So she started looking for her.”
“And found her in the backyard?”
Schindler nodded. “Naked. By the garden shed at the end of the yard.” He was leading Joe around the house. “With the goblet in her right hand. The kid called 911, then went upstairs to take care of her little brother and keep him from seeing their mother.”
“Good move on her part. Did you call any of their relatives to come for the kids?”
“Margaret Selkirk has a sister in Helen, Georgia. She’s on her way.” He opened the gate. “And that expert you sent arrived about five minutes ago. He’s with forensics examining that goblet.”
“Expert?” Joe frowned. “What expert?”
“Seth Caleb,” Schindler said. “Good man. We should have had him on the case earlier. Where did you get him? FBI?”
“What?” Joe’s gaze flew across the yard to the man standing over the body. “He told you I sent him? You believed him?”
“Of course I believed him,” Schindler said. “What’s wrong? Are you trying to keep it confidential?”
Schindler was not easily deceived, but he had obviously been taken in by Caleb’s story. Even now he didn’t want to believe anything but the lie Caleb had told him.
“Oh, yes,” Joe said grimly as he moved quickly across the yard. “Caleb’s connection with the case is definitely confidential.”
“Quinn.” Caleb was turning away from the body. “I’m glad I arrived before you. I had a chance to examine the
