He nodded understandingly. 'I'll shut up. I didn't mean to upset you.' He followed her into the elevator and then shook his head and frowned as he faced the elevator panel. 'I'm strong as an ox, smart as a fox, and I'd fight like a tiger to protect you. But would you please press the button for the lobby? Buttons are hard for me right now.'
THE COMMAND SITE WAS BRIGHTLY lit and a medical examiner's SUV was parked beside the road when Miguel and Eve arrived.
Joe strode over to the car and opened the door. 'Okay, you're here. Let's get on the move.'
'Excuse me, Eve,' Miguel said. 'I believe Quinn considers me
Eve got out of the car. It was the first time she'd been here and the bustle and number of searchers amazed her. 'It's like a military camp.'
'They liked their sheriff in this town,' Joe said. 'And with every death more volunteers poured into the area. More doesn't necessarily mean better. It's hard to keep track of everyone. I think it's out of control, but it's not my show. The town is up in arms and the interim sheriff is trying to satisfy them.' He took her arm and led her toward the woods. 'And now we've got the FBI to stumble over and Cassidy is going like a steamroller.'
'I still think it was right to bring them in.'
'Except that he killed one of the trackers Cassidy brought in, to thumb his nose at us.' Joe shrugged. 'But it doesn't make much difference. A kill is a kill to him. It would have been someone.'
'I'm not sure. His pride was hurt because we found Bobby Joe. He had to make the kill different. He had to make certain that we knew he was superior, that we couldn't stop him.'
He gave her a glance. 'You're talking as if you know him.'
'I'm on my way. He wants me to-' She stiffened as they came out of the brush into a small clearing. There were several people milling about, but she barely noticed them. Her gaze went immediately to the man dressed in camouflage who was propped against a pine tree. He was staring straight ahead, blue eyes wide open. She could barely see the note staked through his heart, for the blood covering his chest.
'Steady,' Joe said quietly. 'You wanted to see him. It's not pretty, is it?'
'I didn't expect it to be.' It seemed terrible referring to this man who had been alive only hours ago as 'it.' 'What's his name?'
'Ellis.'
She moved forward. 'And who is that red-haired man kneeling in front of him?'
'Cassidy.'
'He's looking at the note.' And so was she, trying desperately to make out the words on the bloodstained note.
Cassidy looked up as Eve and Joe approached. 'You're Eve Duncan? I was going to come to the hotel and talk to you. Why the hell is he doing this?'
'Back off. I've told you what connection he has with Eve,' Joe said. 'There's no reason to bother her.'
Eve shuddered as she looked at the dead man. 'The note. Can you make out what it says? Is it the same?'
Cassidy shook his head. 'It's longer than the others. But it's still addressed to you.'
'What does it say?'
His gaze went back to the note. 'Look for yourself.'
She was looking, staring, making out word by word until she had the entire message.
She flinched back. 'My God.'
Joe's arm slid around her in support. 'Will you get away from here now? Have you had enough?'
She nodded numbly. 'I'll go.' She turned and started back through the woods.
Joe was silent for a moment. 'It's just his way of putting a stake through your heart, Eve. Don't let him do it.'
'Only partly,' she said. 'By killing that man he was taunting the searchers, but he was also sending me a message. He's gone. He's left the forest, Joe.'
His gaze narrowed on her face. 'Why do you think that?'
'He told me to go home. He's luring me away with the one bait he knows I can't resist. And he's impatient and doesn't want to have to wait until all of these searchers decide that he's no longer here. He wanted to tell me that if I go home he'll be waiting for me.'
'It's possible,' he said slowly.
'No, it's more than possible. He's telling me to go home to Atlanta where Bonnie was taken. He's teasing me with the idea that he might lead me to where he buried her.'
'He'll never do it.'
'Not if he can help it. But I told you what he said about giving me clues about where to find her. He could have decided to open a new game. But if he's left this forest, then we may never find him if he disappears as he's done in the past. We know more about him now and he's going to be even more careful. This may be our only chance.'
'A chance to have him butcher you.'
'A chance to bring Bonnie home.'
'What if he decides it's not safe to leave the forest with all the guards around the perimeter?'
'You told me once you thought he'd be able to break through.'
He started to curse. 'You're going to do it, aren't you?'
'Why even ask? You know I will.' She opened the door of the car. 'I'm going home, Joe.'
NINE
'SHE'S LEAVING,' MIGUEL TOLD Montalvo when he reached him on the phone. 'She's heading for the airport. Quinn is with her.'
'Of course he is,' Montalvo said. 'He wouldn't let her go into the lion's den alone.'
'You think Kistle's gone?'
'If he wanted to go. You could, I could. And I'd bet he wanted out. It was getting too tight for fun. He couldn't spread his wings and swoop like an eagle. And he couldn't get near Eve. The notes were the only way to contact her and there couldn't be much satisfaction if he couldn't see her, hear her.'
'Are you staying around to make sure?'
'Eve is sure. I trust her instincts. I'll talk to Cassidy and give him a heads-up that Kistle may have flown the coop. He won't give up the search until he makes sure, but that's his prerogative. I'll meet you at the airport in an hour.'
EVE AND JOE ARRIVED AT THE lake cottage at sunset. The sun was casting a scarlet mirror image on the lake. Beautiful, Eve thought wearily. It was good to see beauty when she had come from such ugliness.
Joe parked the car in front of the cottage and jumped out. 'Stay here a minute.' He took the porch steps two at a time and disappeared inside the cottage. He came out a few minutes later. 'It's secure.' He opened the car door for her. 'Go inside and lock the doors. You know where the pistol is. I'll go and pick up Toby from Jane's friend. I should be back in twenty minutes.'
'I don't think Kistle would be that obvious,' Eve said as she climbed the steps. She was already feeling a sense of peace and contentment. It was like being in the tranquil center of a hurricane. It seemed impossible that anything bad could happen here, where she'd been happy for so many years. 'There's nothing subtle or clever about breaking into a house. I'll rummage through the freezer and see what I can find us to eat.'
'Do that.' Joe started the car turned and went back down the road.
She went inside and locked the door before taking Carrie over to the easel and setting her up. One more night and she should be finished with the reconstruction. 'Sorry, Carrie,' she murmured. 'It's not that you're not important to me. It's been a hell of a few days.'
