Quicksand

someone rolling out the red carpet at one of those Academy Awards ceremonies.'

'Oh, yes, I'd spread the red carpet, strike up the band, and give you any gold statue I had on hand.'

'Would you? It sounds like a party.'

'The very best party.' She looked down at Toby, who was lying with his head on her knee. 'If you're a ghost, why isn't Toby barking and cowering? Aren't they supposed to be afraid of spirits?'

'That's a myth. Besides, Toby knows me by now. He'd be silly to be scared of me.'

'He's pretty silly most of the time anyway. He thinks he's still a puppy.'

'Isn't that wonderful?'

'I guess it is.' She looked down at Toby. 'Childhood is a special magic time. Every minute should be enjoyed.'

'You're thinking about Bobby Joe.'

'Yes, his childhood didn't last much longer than yours, baby.'

'It was bad for him?'

'Very bad. Don't you know?'

She shook her head. 'I know he's happy and not hurting anymore.'

She cleared her throat. 'You're saying that because that's the way I want it to be.'

'Am I?'

'And because I'd rather you be a ghost than a figment of my imagination.'

'Then why do you fight me?'

'Because I have to do it. It's the sane thing to do.' She smiled. 'And because I ran into an authority on the subject lately who told me she'd never met a ghost.'

'Oh, the lady with the box.'

Eve frowned. 'Box? Oh, you mean Megan's medical bag.'

'No.' Bonnie set the swing to moving gently. 'The other box. She doesn't like it, but it belongs to her. She has a good heart, but she can hurt you, Mama. Stay away from her.'

'I have no intention of seeing her again.'

Bonnie shook her head. 'Mama…'

'I just asked her a few questions.'

'Don't let her hurt you,' Bonnie said. 'Don't let her hurt me.'

'Why should she be able to-'

'Look at Toby. He's wagging his tail. He hears Joe coming.'

She glanced down and saw that Toby's head was lifted and he was staring at the screen door. 'Bonnie, what did you mean about-'

Bonnie was no longer sitting on the porch swing.

'WHAT ARE YOU DOING out here?'

Joe had opened the screen porch and was gazing at her with a frown.

'Just getting a breath of air.' She got to her feet. 'I couldn't go to sleep.'

'Why didn't you wake me? Or didn't you want the company?'

'I wanted the company. I was just trying to be considerate. You haven't gotten much sleep in the past few days.'

'Neither has Kistle.'

'I'm sure he's tucked in somewhere taking care of that.' She laid her head on his chest. 'I'm worried about you, not him.'

His hand cupped her throat and he gently rubbed the fine hairs at her nape. 'I'm glad I rank above a slimeball like him. Does that mean you'll come back to bed and keep me company?'

She started toward the door. 'Good idea.' She wanted to stay close and hold him for as long as she could. 'I don't want to do anything else.' She linked her hand with his. She wished they could always be linked together, with nothing and no one between them. She avoided looking at the swing where Bonnie had been sitting. Feeling as he did about Bonnie, there was no way she could tell him about her visits. To him it would be yet another sign of the damage done to her by Bonnie, not only an emotional but a mental wound.

No wound now. Only love, Joe. She only brings me love…

'SHE'S AT THE LAKE COTTAGE,' Miguel said as he came into the hotel suite. 'No protection but Quinn. Do you want me to stake the place out?'

'No, Quinn would know and probably break your neck. She's safe with him.' Montalvo moved over to the window and looked down at the almost-empty street below. 'For the time being. Kistle wouldn't have been able to just jump on a plane as we did. He'll have to make his way down here and set his plans in motion.'

'But you think he'll definitely come after Eve?'

'Oh, yes. I believe it's been sort of a game to him from the beginning. He'd already had a fixation on her because of Bonnie and it amused him to make that first contact. But then she began to trip him, get in his way. Then, when we found Bobby Joe, it really bothered him. Now his ego demands that he show her how superior he is, how he can manipulate and hurt her.' He paused. 'And eventually kill her.'

Miguel sighed. 'I don't like this standing back and watching and waiting. It's boring. I liked it much better in Colombia where you were in control. I think you did too.'

Montalvo shrugged. 'Sometimes it's necessary to play a waiting game.' But he should have realized that Miguel knew him well enough to see the impatience that was beginning to gnaw at him. He was accustomed to being the one to plan and take action and Eve's reliance on Joe Quinn completely blocked him. His time would come, it always did, but he might have to make an opportunity, as he had when he'd contacted Venable.

'You're thinking about it. Good. You don't like to be bored either. She's an unusual woman, but is she worth it to you?'

Montalvo turned to look at him. 'That's none of your business, Miguel.'

'Of course it is. You saved my life, that means you belong to me. I must take care of you.'

'I believe your reasoning is screwed.'

'Whatever.' He grinned. 'But the fact remains that is a truth to me. I take it you're not going to answer me?'

'I made a promise. I would still go after Kistle no matter who I made it to.'

'And?'

He shook his head resignedly. 'Yes, she's worth it, you persistent bastard.' He headed for his bedroom. 'Tomorrow morning I want you to go and look up Murdock, the man who gave us the information about Kistle. He's supposed to still be here in the city. I want to know every little thing he might remember about Kistle. Where he went, what he talked about besides Bonnie.'

'It's a long time ago. Years.'

'Make him remember. Kistle's proved he likes to go back to old haunts. He returned to Detroit even though he'd made a kill there. If he did kill Bonnie, then he might have disposed of the body in a familiar place. Or he might want Eve to believe he buried her in one of those places. Either way, we'll be ahead of the game if we can check it out.'

'What method should I use? Force? Intimidation? Bribery?'

'Just get the information.' He glanced back over his shoulder as he opened the door. 'And don't damage those hands.'

'That means trickery or bribery. No problem. I'm excellent at the first and I'm truly superb at giving away your money.'

'I've noticed you have that talent,' Montalvo said dryly. 'Try not to beggar me. I still have your final operation to pay for.'

ATLANTA HAD GOTTEN BIGGER and even more congested since he'd left, Kistle thought distastefully. He hated this traffic. All those bastards flying by him, when he had to keep steady and within the speed limit. He couldn't afford to be stopped, even though this car he'd stolen from a farm outside Chattanooga