'Not like this. Find her in any other way. You don't want to know how she died. You don't want to see me going through it with her.'
Eve could feel the blood drain from her face at the thought. 'No, I don't want that.'
'It will happen. I can't control it.'
Eve shuddered. 'I have to bring her home, Megan.'
Megan gazed at her helplessly. 'Eve, find another way.'
'It's not only Bonnie, it's Laura Ann now. There's no other way for Laura Ann. And Joe was nearly killed when we walked into one of Kistle's traps last night. I can't let that happen again. Come with us, Megan.'
'Leave her alone.' Phillip Blair stood in the doorway carrying a tray with a carafe and cups. 'She helped you before. That's enough.'
'You don't understand Mr. Blair,' Eve said. 'It's an emergency. We need-'
'And what about what she needs?' Phillip asked harshly. 'She can't go on like this. This damn Listening isn't her only problem and she can't cope with-'
'I can cope with it.' Megan got to her feet. 'But I don't want to do it if I can think of any other way. Just give me a minute and let me pull myself together. I'll be back in…' She left the room.
'Don't
'I don't want to hurt her. I don't want to hurt anyone. But I don't see how I can-'
'Then work at it, find a solution that doesn't concern-'
'I have to do it, Phillip,' Megan said quietly from the doorway. 'God knows I don't want to be pulled into this again, but I don't have a choice. Did Eve tell you that Kistle has that little girl we saw on the news?'
Phillip muttered a curse beneath his breath. 'Shit.'
Eve let out her breath in a sigh of relief. 'Thank you, Megan. I was afraid you'd-'
'Wait a minute.' Megan held up her hand. 'I just want you to know I'm going into that swamp to get Laura Ann Simmons out and that's all. If I hear any other voices, I may or may not tell you about them. I'm the one who is going to be in control. This isn't for you or your Bonnie.' She wearily shook her head. 'Because I have a feeling that me finding your daughter would be the worst possible thing for you.' She got to her feet. 'I'll get dressed and pack a bag.' She turned to Phillip. 'The little girl is alive, Phillip. I have to try to help keep her that way.'
'Okay, okay. I know you're caught.' He scowled. 'Take a cup of coffee into your room and drink it while you're packing.' He set the tray on the glass coffee table. 'I'll pack my bag and meet you in the hall in ten minutes.'
'You're not going, Phillip,' Megan said. 'I have to go into the swamp and I won't let you go with me.'
'Then I'll check into a hotel and wait until you come out.' He glanced at Eve. 'And you'd better take care of her. I don't want her hurt again.' He strode out of the room.
'I'll take my own car and drive down with Phillip,' Megan said as she rose to her feet. 'He's obviously going with us. There's no use arguing with him. Phillip can be very stubborn.'
'He cares for you,' Eve said. 'And he's not at all pleased with me. Who can blame him?' She rose to her feet. 'Joe is waiting in the car and Montalvo is coming too. We'll wait outside for you.' She hesitated. 'I should tell you that Joe may not be… friendly. He was with me years ago when we were dealing with those psychics. He won't believe you can help.'
'Smart man.' Megan poured her coffee and carried it out of the sunroom. 'I don't know whether I believe I can help either.'
PHILLIP MET MEGAN IN THE hall and took her duffel. 'I don't suppose I can talk you out of this.'
'I wish you could.' She opened the door. 'I was all set to turn her down if she came knocking on my door. My heart ached for her, but I know it will be a mistake for all of us. But I can't turn away from Laura Ann. I wasn't able to help Bobby Joe, but I have a chance of saving her.' She braced herself as she saw the man sitting beside Eve Duncan in the SUV. 'Get in the car, Phillip. I'll be right with you. I have to talk to Joe Quinn.'
Quinn's gaze was cool and his face without expression as he watched her walking toward them.
'Joe,' Eve said. 'This is Dr. Megan Blair.'
Quinn inclined his head. 'I'm not going to pretend that I want you to come along,' he said curtly. 'Or that I think you can offer any help. And since you'll probably end up either dead or getting in our way, I'd suggest you change your mind and go back to reading tea leaves.'
'I told you what to expect, Megan.' Eve grimaced. 'I just didn't expect Joe to be quite so rude. I apologize.'
'I don't care if he's rude.' She stared him in the eye. 'But if we have to put up with each other, I wanted to lay all the cards on the table before we start out. I don't want to go with you. I have to do it. I don't give a damn what you think of me. I'd probably think the same thing if I were in your shoes. Voices and the dead reliving their last moments? It's nuts. But it's true and I have to live with it. And now you have to live with it too. All you have to do is take me into that swamp and pay attention to what I say. It's up to you if you act on it. Then you bring me out and you never have to see me again.'
Joe's smiled sardonically. 'Not quite all. I understand you have a habit of dramatically casting yourself down in a faint. I'll probably have to carry you out on my back.'
'No,' Megan said sharply. 'You don't touch me. No matter what happens in that swamp, none of you touches me.' She turned to Eve. 'That's a deal-breaker, Eve.'
Eve nodded. 'I understand.' She made a face. 'No, I don't understand, but I'll go along with whatever you say. I owe you.'
'Yes, you do.' Megan turned and started toward her car, where Phillip waited. 'I'll get Phillip settled in a hotel at Waycross, Georgia. That's on the outskirts of the Okefenokee. He usually likes to stay at Best Westerns. If I can't book him there, I'll call and let you know. It should take us about five hours to get down there. Where do we go from there?'
'The visitors' bureau. Kistle said he would let me talk to Laura Ann again when we reached the swamp, but that will be later. He said he'd fasten a photo on the bulletin board in the visitors' bureau. We'll meet Montalvo's friend, Miguel, there. He should have some information for us about the swamp.'
'We could use it.' Megan got into her car. 'I've never been tempted to go sightseeing in a swamp. Snakes and alligators don't appeal to me.'
JOE WATCHED MEGAN BACK OUT of the driveway. 'She's smart. She didn't try to persuade me that she was something she's not. I can see how the contrast between her and those other crooks we ran into would tip the scales for you.'
'You mean blind me?' Eve shook her head. 'As you said, she's smart. I didn't lie to her about what she'd have to face in that swamp. Neither did you. She'd have to be crazy to go along with us just to run a con.'
'So maybe she's a little nuts.' Joe started the car. 'And neither you nor she can expect me to listen to her when we get into that swamp.'
'You don't have to listen to her. But I will, Joe.' She looked straight ahead. 'I'll be listening very closely.'
A TALL YOUNG MAN DRESSED in khakis and boots straightened away from the wall of the Best Western when Megan and Phillip drew up to the registration area. His dark, Hispanic good looks reminded Megan vaguely of Antonio Banderas. His hands were bandaged, but his smile was bright. 'You must be Megan Blair. I'm Miguel Vicente. Montalvo called and told me to meet you all here.' He grimaced as he looked down at his bandages. 'And since Montalvo says you have trouble with the civility of shaking hands, we'll get along fine. I'm having problems in that area right now myself.' He looked at Phillip. 'How do you do, sir? It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Blair.'
'Phillip.' Her uncle got out of the car. 'I'll check in, Megan. I imagine you're going to want to discuss matters without me being in the way,'
'You're never in the way, Phillip,' Megan said.
He gave her a glance over his shoulder. 'Then why aren't I going with you into that swamp?' He didn't wait for an answer but went into the hotel.
Miguel gave a low whistle. 'Do I detect a hint of indignation?'
Megan got out of the car. 'He's very protective.'
