She shook her head.
“Try.”
“I can’t see it,” she said through her teeth.
“Anything else? Newspapers?”
She shook her head. She was starting to pant. “I can’t stand it. I have to leave him.”
“Just another minute. The desk. Is there stationery on the desk?”
“Just a leather folder.”
“With the name of the hotel?”
“No.” Her chest was lifting and falling with the harshness of her breathing. “No.” She tensed. “But there’s a telephone book on the desk. It’s the yellow pages. It’s thin . . .”
“Atlanta?”
“No, Roswell. Roswell yellow pages. I can’t see anything more. Jelak is closing out everything but the feel of the goblet in his hand. No, he’s thinking about her. The way she’s going to taste, the triumph she’s going to bring him.” She shook her head. “Don’t let him do it. Don’t let him do it. Don’t let him do it again.”
“Who is he thinking about?”
“You know. Eve. It’s always Eve. None of us really mattered to him. I do matter. My life mattered.”
“Yes,” he said gently. “Let go. Get out of the car, Nancy Jo.”
“I do matter.”
“You matter very much. Now get out of the car.”
She nodded jerkily and her hand slowly left the fabric of the passenger seat. She slumped against the steering wheel like a broken doll. “It hurts. It makes me feel sick and scared. I can’t do this again, Joe.”
“I won’t ask you.”
“You will if it would save Eve.” Her lips twisted. “But I don’t think I could do it.” She got out of the car. “I just hope that—” She broke off and moved toward the front of the car. “It was very hard. I don’t remember ever going through anything as terrible as that. Don’t let it be for nothing.”
“I promise that I—”
SHE WAS GONE.
TWELVE
“AM I TO ASSUME THAT YOU’RE finished?” Caleb asked. “I don’t wish to interrupt, but my curiosity is off the charts. Considering, I believe I’ve been very patient.”
Joe had almost forgotten Caleb was there. He turned and braced himself. “Well? Say it. Not that I give a damn.”
“Don’t be on the defensive. Who could understand better?” He smiled. “And now I know what Megan confided in Renata about you. Ghosts? Very interesting. But not a talent I’d like to have.”
“Neither do I.” He paused. “But I’m beginning to accept it.”
“And use it. Touchy-feely?”
“Nothing so light. She went through hell.”
“Nancy Jo Norris?”
“Yes.”
“And was it worthwhile?”
“I’d better make sure it is.” He headed for his car. “I’ll call forensics and get them back here, but I need to get on the computer.”
“Am I invited this time?”
He nodded. “I may need you. I don’t know his exact location. Nancy Jo said he’s probably in a motel somewhere in Roswell. That’s about forty minutes from here. Sparse furniture. Flowered cotton bedspread.”
“Not very helpful.”
“Exterior door is painted red.”
“Better.” He got into Joe’s car. “You drive. You know the city.” He reached for Joe’s computer on the seat. “I’ll search for any motels in Roswell with red doors.”
IT WAS TIME TO MOVE, JELAK thought, as he reluctantly put the goblet back in the case. Perhaps a hotel somewhere outside the city. He’d always thought that losing himself in the center of a city was safer, but everything was changing now. That photo Quinn had released to the media was dangerous. He might be recognized. He’d been forced to make very public kills, and not only Joe Quinn but Seth Caleb was after him.
But he’d shown them both they couldn’t stop him. Margaret Selkirk had been a triumph, and soon he’d be beyond this running. Soon no one would be able to stop him.
He gave the perfect twelve goblet a final caress before he slowly shut the case. He could almost feel the power it was radiating.
