wouldn't be reported missing for some time. He'd ditched the car he'd stolen in Illinois in a junkyard near the farm and he'd needed wheels and money and a new cell phone. He'd hidden the bodies of the farmer and his wife well enough so that anyone dropping by the farmhouse would just think they were off on a trip.
Another truck zoomed by him in the right lane. Damn, he hated this concrete jail of a city. He wanted to be back in the woods, where he ruled supreme.
Be patient. It wouldn't be long now and he'd be outside the city and ready to roll. He had money and had picked up the special equipment and supplies he needed. But his primary advantage was his own ingenuity.
You're waiting for me, aren't you, Eve?
Just a little longer and I'll come for you.
EVE LOOKED UP FROM PACKING Carrie in a carefully padded box when Joe came into the cottage from taking a call on the porch. 'What did you find out from the sheriff?'
'Surprise. Cassidy thinks that Kistle has left Clayborne Forest. If he can wrap up the forensic reports on Bobby Joe, he's planning on going back to St. Louis tomorrow.' He went to the refrigerator and took out the pitcher of iced tea. 'The deputies and volunteers still haven't given up. They'll probably be in that damn forest for the next six months.'
'Why does Cassidy think he's gone?'
'A car was stolen from a Wal-Mart parking lot in a town about thirty miles from Bloomburg. The man suspected of stealing it was seen by one of the greeters and meets Kistle's description. It was abandoned outside Chattanooga.' He paused. 'And so far we haven't been able to find any story about Bonnie that mentioned her favorite song. But there's still a lot of articles to check.'
It could still have been a lie. Don't think about it.
Joe's gaze went to the reconstruction. 'You finished her?'
'Last night.' She took the glass of tea he offered her. 'FedEx will pick her up in a few hours.'
'And her hometown police can start publicizing and checking comparisons.'
She nodded as she dropped down on the couch. 'I'm glad it's done. It took longer than it should have.'
'You were a little distracted. It's not as if your Carrie is in a hurry.'
'I know. I'm the one in a hurry. I want her brought home.' She took a sip of tea. 'She's a pretty little girl, Japanese descent.'
'That should make it easier?'
'It's never easy. On a cold case the police want the identities and suspects served up to them on a platter. Otherwise it's not worth their time. Have they gotten the DNA report on Bobby Joe?'
He nodded. 'It's confirmed. I suppose you want to call Megan Blair and tell her?'
She thought about it and then shook her head. 'She doesn't have any doubts that it was Bobby Joe. She asked me to call her when we caught Kistle.' She paused. 'I know you don't want to hear it, but she may be the real thing. How else could she find that little boy?'
'You're right, I don't want to hear it,' Joe said flatly. 'And I'm sure Cassidy is scrambling to find out how she did it. I'd start out checking the possibility of a connection with Kistle. Then I'd go to the manufacturer of the vat where they found Bobby Joe and see what I could find out there. Or maybe she's been quietly interviewing townspeople and found a witness or a lead of some sort.'
Eve shook her head. 'I believe her.'
'Eve.' She could see him trying to subdue his impatience. 'Don't let yourself do that. She'll prey on you. She's just cleverer than those other crooks you ran across.'
'I believe her,' she repeated. 'But I won't try to convince you. It's not important now.' She picked up the FedEx box. 'It's a pretty day. I'm going to go out on the porch and wait for FedEx.'
He nodded. 'I'll take Toby for a walk. I'm restless.'
She could see the nervous energy charging him. Joe would always rather dive into trouble than wait for it to happen. It wasn't that way with her this time. She would rather enjoy these rare moments of peace before the storm. Right now she could sense the dark clouds coming toward her and they'd be here soon enough.
She went out on the porch and settled on the swing, watching Joe as he trotted with Toby down the lake path. In the late afternoon sunlight Joe looked strong and powerful and completely in control. So different than a few months ago in Colombia when he'd been wounded and was fighting just to get out of bed.
Her phone rang and she pulled it out of her pocket. Jane.
'I'm fine, Jane,' she said when she answered. 'The sun is shining and I'm sitting at home on the porch and watching Joe walk Toby.'
'And where is Kistle?'
'Not here.'
'Dammit, they should catch that bastard.' She sighed. 'Am I being a worrywart?'
'Yes, but it's very becoming. How is Paris?'
'Beautiful and full of itself. It's not as easy to get things done over here.' She paused. 'I could let my agent do all the diplomatic work for the show and come back home. They wouldn't miss me.'
'They'd miss you. You can be diplomatic when you want to be.'
'Well, I've already antagonized the gallery owner. He wanted to put all the paintings on sale even though I'd put a reserve on one of them.'
'Which one?'
'
'I have no idea. He called me yesterday when I arrived and told me he was in Atlanta at the Plaza, but I haven't heard from him since.'
'I imagine he'll be in touch.' She hesitated again. 'I know you want to keep him at a distance, but I'm glad he's there, Eve. Whatever else Montalvo may be, he impressed me as a man you could count on in a pinch.'
'Yes, he knows what he's doing.' She changed the subject. 'We're fine here. Nothing is happening. Your show is in three days. Stick it out and then come flying to my rescue if you feel you have to do it.'
'You'll call me if you- No, I'll have to call you. You won't want to worry me. I'll phone you tomorrow. 'Bye, Eve.'
'Good-bye, Jane.' She was smiling as she hung up. She wouldn't be surprised if Jane appeared on the doorstep tomorrow in spite of the show. Which meant Eve would have to persuade her to turn around and go back. Not an easy task with someone as stubborn as Jane.
The FedEx truck was coming up the road and she picked up the package and went to meet it.
Good-bye, Carrie. I hope I helped you. I hope they bring you home.
TEN
SHE WAS CLIMBING THE PORCH steps when her cell phone rang again.
'Who is Montalvo?'
She went still. 'Kistle?'
'Who is Montalvo and why does your Jane feel safer that he's with you?'
Her heart started to pound and her gaze darted around her. 'How did you know what Jane-'
'I decided I needed to be closer to you. There's such wonderful equipment available these days to encourage intimacy.'
'You have a machine to let you listen in on my phone conversations?'
'Who is Montalvo?'
'Never mind him.' Her gaze searched the woods. 'You must be nearby if you can tune in on my phone.'
'Not that near. Ask Quinn. I don't need to have you within touching distance yet. That's for later. I'm anticipating it.'
'You're crazy. It's not going to happen.'
'Then why did you accept my invitation? You knew why I told you to go home.'
'You said… Bonnie.'
