decided I had to see what was happening.”
“And you didn’t by any chance tamper with my brakes?”
Norris’s smile vanished. “Hell, no. Why would I do that?”
“I don’t think you did. It’s not your style.” His gaze searched the darkness behind Norris. “So it might be a good idea for us to get in your car and get the hell out—”
A motion behind Norris in the darkness, black on black.
“Down!” Joe pushed Norris to the ground.
A bullet tore past Joe’s ear as he dropped on top of him.
The second bullet didn’t miss.
EVE WAS STILL UP WORKING when her phone rang at eleven forty that night.
Joe? He’d called earlier to tell her he’d be late.
It wasn’t Joe.
“Eve, Caleb. I’m going to pick you and Jane up in fifteen minutes. Be dressed and ready to go.”
“I’ve already told you, I’m not taking any orders from you. I’ve discussed it with Jane and we’re not at all pleased about the way you—”
“Don’t argue. I’m taking you to the hospital. Damn, I guessed wrong. I never thought he’d go for Joe.”
Her heart stopped. “Joe? Joe’s in the hospital?”
“No. I’ll explain on the way. Get Jane and be ready.” He hung up.
She wanted to murder him. Throwing that out about Joe, then hanging up. She didn’t know if Joe’s not being in the hospital was bad or good.
She was scared to death it was bad.
She headed down the hall to wake up Jane.
“TELL ME ABOUT JOE,” SHE said, as she and Jane got into Caleb’s car. “Now.”
“I don’t have anything to tell. I wish I did.” He pulled out of the driveway. “I’ve been in contact with Detective Schindler at the precinct. He came back early from Dahlonega to do paperwork. Quinn was accompanying the body to the morgue later. They got a call from Georgia State Patrol that Joe’s car was found at the side of the road about ten miles out of Dahlonega. Ed Norris was lying near it. He’d been shot. His car was nearby too.”
“What about Joe?” Jane asked.
Caleb shook his head. “No sign of him. They took Norris to Northside Hospital for treatment. Shoulder wound. He was unconscious, but the EMTs didn’t think the wound was life-threatening.”
“Joe,” Eve said. “If Norris was there, he has to know what happened to Joe. I have to talk to him.”
“That’s why we’re on the way to the hospital,” Caleb said. “I knew that would be your first reaction. I already checked with the hospital. They’re not allowing anyone to see him yet. And he has a whole platoon of security camping out in the hall to protect the great man.”
“I have to see him.”
He nodded. “I’ll see to it. Let me go in first.”
“Dammit, we’ve got to talk to him,” Jane said. “You have to make it happen, Caleb.”
“I said I’d do it. Have a little faith.” Caleb glanced at her. “I want to find Quinn as much as you do.”
“No way.”
“Perhaps not for the same reasons, but I’m very heavily invested in Quinn’s well-being. I promise we’ll find out everything Norris knows within a few minutes of getting to the hospital.”
“Providing he’s not still unconscious,” Eve said.
“Then it may take a few minutes more,” he said absently.
Eve stared at him, startled.
“I won’t hurt him,” Caleb said, as he noticed her expression. “Trust me.”
She had to trust him. She had to know about Joe.
FOURTEEN
“HE’S AWAKE.” CALEB WAS whisking Eve and Jane through the crowd of security and police in the hall outside Norris’s room.
The crowd was parting like the Red Sea, Eve thought. Smiling at Caleb as if he was their best friend and politely at her and Jane. One of the aides even opened the door and stepped aside to let them enter.
Ed Norris’s shoulder was bandaged, and he was very pale. His gaze fastened on Eve’s face. “You’re Eve Duncan. I’ve wanted to meet you ever since I heard about that goblet that bastard left at your place. He wants to kill you too.”
“Where’s Joe Quinn?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I stopped because Quinn was having car trouble. He asked me if I’d
