not even be near there.'
'And then he might,' Eve said. 'And if he's planning on killing Laura Ann, then he might take her to the same place where he took other kills. He's very careful, very thorough. Look at all the preparations he made for disposing of Bobby Joe. He's familiar with that particular area and he probably hasn't had time to scope out any other places in this godforsaken place. He's been moving fast since he left Clayborne Forest.'
He shrugged. 'I was just trying to eliminate a useless member of our little party.'
'Thank you,' Megan said sarcastically. 'I appreciate your concern.'
'And I'm probably more useless than Megan will be,' Eve said. 'Except I'm the bait and that may have value.' She looked out over the tea-colored water at the trees that were wreathed now in a bloodred glow from the setting sun. He was in there somewhere. He was waiting. She could
Call me, bastard.
Let me know that little girl is alive.
'ARE YOU ENJOYING THE BOAT ride, Laura Ann?' Kistle asked as he dipped his oar into the water. 'It's beginning to get dark. See all the shadows. That cypress tree looks like a monster, doesn't it? With its roots spreading like an octopus beneath the water.' He felt the excitement building as he looked around him. It had been a long time since he'd been to this swamp. What pleasure he had experienced here. The fear, the blood, the power… 'There are all kinds of monsters here. There's an alligator hiding near that island waiting to be fed. Perhaps I'll decide to feed you to him.'
Laura Ann tried to keep from sobbing. He always smiled when she cried. He liked it.
'You see how the water is moving, shivering? Some say that's the peat masses on the floor of the swamp trembling. But I know better. Even the water knows about the monsters.'
She wouldn't look at the water. She was afraid she'd see what he wanted her to see. She stared straight at him.
'I'm getting tired of you not talking to me. There's no one around now, so I'm going to take your gag off. If you scream, I'll throw you off the boat and let the monsters have you.' He leaned forward and cut the ropes binding her wrists and then ripped the tape off her mouth. 'Did that hurt? An alligator's teeth can rip and hurt much more.'
Her mouth was swollen and stinging. Don't let him know. 'Didn't hurt,' she said defiantly. 'And I don't think there are any monsters in this swamp. You're a liar.'
'Yes, I am,' he said. 'And you're very smart to realize it. I'd only throw you to the alligators as a last resort. Because I'm the only real monster in this place and I want to spend a long time ripping and tearing at you.'
Don't cry. Don't cry. 'The police will get you and burn you up in one of those electric chairs. Or that lady will come and help me.'
'Eve. Yes, she'll come and try to help you.' He took out his phone. 'And it's about time I called her and told her how safe and happy you are. I'm sure she'll want to speak to you. But, little bitch that you are, you aren't going to reflect the mood I wanted to show her.' He dialed quickly. 'Here I am, Eve. I was just telling Laura Ann about the monsters that live here in the swamp. She thinks you're the knight who can come and slay them. I'm waiting for you to come and try.' He listened for a moment and then handed the phone to Laura Ann. 'Like you, she thinks I'm liar. Talk to her.'
'Hello.'
'Listen, baby, I know you're in a scary place, but try not to be afraid of it. He's the one you have to be afraid of,' Eve said. 'I don't know how long it's going to be before we find you, but we will do it.'
'He says he wants to hurt me.'
'And that means he needs time to do it. You'll be safe for a little while. But if you find any way, get away from him. He's worse than anything in that swamp, Laura Ann. We'll find you.'
'He's a bad man,' she said fiercely. 'I wish I could push him off the boat and let the alligators eat him.'
Kistle took the phone away from her. 'Charming, isn't she? She's going to be a real pleasure. Now I have to take her to Bonnie's haven. I'm sure that your little girl is lonely, aren't you?' He hung up. 'What a vicious little girl you are.' He picked up the paddle again. 'You've been a real disappointment to me, but I'm sure that will change.'
Get away from him.
He's worse than the swamp.
He hadn't tied her up again. Maybe she'd get a chance soon.
But she could see a black alligator slide away from the island and into the water.
Don't cry.
'SHE'S STILL ALIVE.' EVE hung up the phone. 'But I think the only thing that's keeping him from killing her is that she's annoying him. He's not used to defiance and it's infuriating him. He wants to break her slowly.'
'As he did Bobby Joe.' Megan's lips tightened. 'You were right, he's worse than anything else she'd face in that swamp.'
'Except drowning, quicksand, snakes, and alligators,' Miguel enumerated. 'She's only a little girl, Eve.'
'What was I supposed to tell her?' Eve asked fiercely. 'If we corner him, he'll kill her. There's no question about that. Even if we get too close, he might do it. She's safer anywhere than with him.'
'You did the right thing,' Joe said. 'Shut up, Miguel.' He moved toward the boat. 'Let's get moving. Eve, you and Megan come with me. Montalvo, you and Miguel take the other boat. I'll head north and you head south to the other spot Garfield indicated. Call if you see anything that looks like that island. Okay?'
'I'm glad you asked for assent,' Montalvo said dryly. 'I was beginning to get a little pissed at all those orders.' He turned and headed for the other boat. 'But it's intelligent to split up. If you get into trouble, call me.'
Megan gave Phillip a quick hug. 'I'll be back before you know it,' she whispered. 'It will be fine, Phillip.'
'The hell it will. Take care of yourself.' Phillip looked at Joe and said coldly, 'And you take care of her. I don't give a damn if you believe her or not. She's risking more than any of you by going after Kistle. She deserves your support.'
'She'll get it,' Joe said curtly. 'As long as she doesn't get in my way.' He jumped in the boat. 'Let's get going. I want to make a little headway before we lose daylight entirely.'
THEY WERE ONLY A FEW MILES into the swamp when full darkness fell.
The blackness was smothering. It was like being buried alive. No, even though she was blind, she could still use her other senses. The sounds and smell of the swamp were all around her. Night-bird calls, the rustling of snakes, the smell of decayed vegetation. Eve struggled for breath, her heart beating hard. 'Should we turn on the flashlights?'
'Only if you want to be a target.' Joe pitched them goggles. 'Infrared night glasses. There's a full moon and we'll only need them while we're under this canopy of trees. Put them on. If you see something, tell me.'
Eve handed a pair of goggles to Megan and put on a pair herself. 'Are we almost there?'
'Close. Maybe a mile or two. Negotiating these waterways is slow going. In a few minutes I'm going to cut the motor and use the paddle.'
Because it would be quieter, Eve thought, and Kistle would not hear them coming. 'He'll probably have night glasses too, won't he?'
'Yes. He'll have all the equipment that will give him an advantage.'
Even with the glasses it was still dark, but she could see the creatures of the night as red phantom shadows. That was almost as frightening as the stygian blackness.
She suddenly realized that Megan had not spoken for a long time and turned to look at her. 'How are you doing?'
'I've done better.' Her voice was uneven. She tapped the glasses. 'These help.'
Joe glanced back at her. 'No psychic vibrations? I'm disappointed. I could use a little help right now.'
'So could I.' She gazed at him. 'This isn't a good place. It reminds me of a cave near where I grew up. Too much has happened here. I'm having trouble keeping the voices away.'
'Voices?' Eve whispered.
'Nothing to do with Kistle. At least, I don't think so.' Megan looked down at the water. 'A man drowned about a mile back. He had a heart attack and fell off the boat. His wife was with him and she jumped in after him and tried to revive him, but it was too late. His name was Ray Ebert. She kept screaming over and over. 'Ray Ebert, you
