Pandora's Daughter

from him.

She couldn't live like this. She had to know if her mother had been murdered as Grady claimed. She couldn't bear the thought of never really knowing whether she was a mental case or not. She couldn't stand the thought of being under Grady's thumb.

And she couldn't let those damn voices rule her life.

She threw the cover aside and jumped out of bed. Get dressed. Stop shaking. You know what you have to do.

You know where you have to go.

PANIC!

Grady jerked upright in the chair at his computer as he felt Megan's jarring terror.

What the hell…

His cell phone rang. Phillip.

He picked up the phone. 'Dammit, what's happening, Phillip?'

'You tell me,' he said curtly. 'She's gone.'

'Where?'

'I don't know. I heard a car starting and I ran down to check it out. My Camry was gone and so was Megan. Molino?'

'Possibly.' No, the fear Megan was feeling wasn't focused on a person. 'I don't think so. But she's scared almost witless about something.'

'You? She said she felt helpless and didn't like the idea of you being able to call the shots.'

'She was angry with me, not afraid.'

'Then why did she run? She was okay with me when I left her. Dammit, all that psychic crap you're supposed to have and you can't even use it when you need it?'

'I told you I wasn't a mind reader. Occasionally, I get a drifting ribbon of thought but I can't-'

'Then how can we find her?'

'I don't need to be a mind reader to be in contact with Megan. Her every emotion is screaming and I may be able to get a fix on her. We've been together mentally for twelve years and she'd broadcasting loud and clear.'

'Then where is she going?'

'It's not that easy. I can feel her, so I may be able to track her but otherwise I'm as blind as you are.' He got up from his chair. 'And I don't have time to argue with you. I'll pick you up in fifteen minutes. We have to go after her. I may need you along to act as buffer when I find her. If she's not afraid of Molino yet, she may be soon. I'd bet your house was being watched tonight at the time she left.'

Phillip muttered a curse. 'I'll be waiting.' He hung up.

Grady grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. The terror Megan was feeling was increasing every minute. He could feel the tension, the cold chill that was attacking her every limb.

DEAR GOD, SHE WAS cold, Megan thought.

She clenched her hands on the steering wheel to keep them from shaking. Take deep breaths and don't think of what she was going to do when she reached her destination.

Think of something pleasant, something happy.

She hadn't realized until this minute how difficult it was to zero in on something carefree and pleasant in her life. Since her mother had died everything had been all work and duty.

Davy.

Davy running, Davy begging her to ride the elephant, Davy smiling at her.

Yes, she could hold the fear at bay if she could just keep thinking of Davy.

'WHERE IS SHE?' PHILLIP ASKED THROUGH set teeth. 'You've been driving around for the last hour.'

'Shut up, Phillip.' Grady was just as on edge. 'If I knew, I'd be-She's calmer. She's not as frightened. I can't locate her, blast it.'

'And what if Molino finds her first? You said he probably had a tail on-'

Oh, God, I don't want to do this.

'East.' Grady interrupted, stomping on the accelerator. 'Somewhere near the Carolina border. She doesn't like where she is. It's scaring her.'

'Carolina?' Phillip turned to look at Grady. 'Why should she-' He broke off. 'The cottage where her mother died?'

'No,' he said grimly. 'That wouldn't scare her. She's going to the cave.'

'Why?'

'Why do you think? It's the place her mother sent her that last day. Maybe she believes that it's safer for her.'

'Safer?'

Grady was cursing softly. 'The damn woman is going to issue an invitation.'

It's not safer, Megan. Don't do it. Let me help you.

He couldn't reach her. She was too focused on what she was doing.

'Invitation?'

'She's going to let in the voices.'

'No,' Phillip whispered. 'It'll be like Nora. She'll go crazy. Stop her.'

'I can't stop her. She's too damn strong. She's fighting me as much as she's fighting the voices. I can't help her. Maybe once I reach her I can do something.'

'If it's not too late,' Phillip said dully. 'Nora tried to commit suicide three times before I finally had her committed and she'd lived with her voices for years. Facing that kind of trauma with no preparation is-'

'Stop talking about it,' Grady said roughly. 'I know what could happen. But Megan's mother survived without anyone to help her. Maybe Megan will be able to-' He shook his head. 'I don't know what she's able to do. We have to get to her.'

HE'D LOST HER, DARNELL THOUGHT with annoyance, as he saw Megan Blair's Camry parked on the beach. She wasn't in the car and nowhere in sight. He'd been afraid to get too close while he was following her. She'd proved to be a little too sharp when he'd tried to run her off the highway. He'd seen her pull off the road a few minutes ago and drive toward the beach. He'd parked his truck behind a deserted hot dog stand near the road and walked down.

Had she gone into one of the beach cottages? There were no lights on in any of them. He couldn't barge in and search for her.

He glanced at the surf rushing against the shore several yards away. Drowning could be accidental or suicidal. Either way it would be a convenient method of disposal.

Why try to stalk her? She would come back for her car.

And he would be waiting.

TWELVE YEARS.

She didn't want to walk into that cave.

Stop shaking. Do it.

So many times she had come here with her mother during those years they'd lived on the beach, but she could only remember running up the hill that last time.

She sank to her knees and huddled against the cold stone.

I'm here, Mama.

But Mama wasn't here. No one was here but Megan.

And perhaps the voices.

Did you lie to me, Mama?

Okay, let's see if I can find out. How do I do it?

Relax. Open your mind. Let's see what happens.

Voices. Shrieks. Pain.

She flinched and tried to back away.