Shadow Play (24 page)

“That's what we thought,” Eve said. “How soon can you publish the photo?”

“A few days.”

Eve shook her head.

Terry Brandell grimaced. “Pushy. Very pushy.” She turned to Nalchek. “Tomorrow. Give me an hour to get my photographer on it.” She added brusquely, “And I want an exclusive if you come up with the kid's killer.”

“Done,” Nalchek said.

“And you can come back later today to pick up the reconstruction.”

“No, we'll wait,” Eve said. “She's not going to be out of my sight until you've taken those photos. Things sometimes get … misplaced.”

“I don't imagine skulls are high on that list,” Terry said dryly.

“You'd be surprised.” Eve sat down in a chair by the door. “I won't get in your way.”

“Suit yourself.” She asked curiously, “Are you always this intense?”

“It depends on the job. This one seems to require it.”

Terry turned to Nalchek. “I'm beginning to become intrigued. Want to have dinner and discuss it?”

“No,” Nalchek said. “I'll take a rain check. Thanks for helping, Terry.”

“I won't give up, you know.” Her gaze went back to the reconstruction. “Now that I study it, there's something familiar…”

“Someone compared her features to those of a young Audrey Hepburn,” Eve said. “That's probably what you're seeing.”

“Maybe.” She stared for a moment, then shrugged. “Maybe not. I'll think about it.”

“Why else would she be familiar?” Eve asked. “She's been buried for eight years, and she was only nine. You said that missing children weren't your cup of tea.”

“They're not. And I'm probably imagining things.” She reached for her telephone. “I'll get my photographer up here and get those shots. Fill me in on the backstory about where she was found, Nalchek.”

 

CHAPTER

11

They didn't leave Terry Brandell's office for another three hours. By that time, the photographs had been taken and the story written.

“She's right,” Nalchek said as he opened the passenger door of the car for Eve. “Pushy. Very pushy. We're lucky she didn't tell us to hit the road.”

“We didn't have time to be diplomatic.” She settled herself in the seat. “But I wasn't rude, merely insistent. And I saved you from having to be the one to pressure her. You might need to use her services later. I don't have to deal with her after she publishes that photo tomorrow.”

“So you did it out of the kindness of your heart.”

“I did it because I have to get this wrapped up before Joe gets out of the hospital.” She fastened her seat belt. “And before Walsh decides to move on that little girl in Carmel. That child must have parents or guardians, and I'll bet that the photo will look like their child. All of the other victims bore a definite resemblance to Jenny. Maybe seeing the article will cause something to click. Or it could be that they'll make some kind of connection with Jenny.” She wearily shook her head. “If they just see it, and it scares them about the possibility of something like that happening to their own child. If it makes them a little more careful, I'll take that, too.”

“So would I,” Nalchek said grimly. “And if we don't hear anything in a week after Terry's article, we'll go to another reporter.”

“Old news,” Eve said. “It will be harder the second time.”

“I'll get it done.”

Eve could imagine he would. There wasn't much that Nalchek wouldn't be able to accomplish if he put his mind to it. “Let's hope Terry's article will do what it's supposed to do.” She paused. “She said that she looked familiar. She's a journalist, is it possible that—” She broke off. “Not likely. I'm reaching … I'm just hoping that something is going to go right for a change.”

“Maybe someone else will think she looks familiar,” he said quietly. “That's what this is all about.” He started his car. “Where do you want to go? Back to the hospital?”

“Not yet. I've made reservations at the Fairmont Hotel. I want to check in and have a shower and change of clothes before I go back to the hospital.”

“Sounds like a good idea. Anything else I can do?”

“Yes, you can bring Margaret to see me. Ask her to stop in my room at the inn and get my other suitcase.”

“Today?”

“Yes, please.”

He shrugged. “Okay, it will take an hour or so.”

“Whatever. It will give me a little time to myself.”

“Then you'd better call her and tell her to make herself available.” His lips twisted. “She's probably back in the forest communing with that coyote.”

“I don't like her being there alone. That's not what I meant to happen when I asked for her help.”

“I can't keep an armed guard on her constantly. I've told her not to go into the forest, but she's not listening.”

“She's listening. But probably not to us.” She shook her head. “And I'm the one who set her to trying to find out what was happening in that forest. But now it scares me.”

“Me, too.”

Eve looked at him. “You?”

“I don't give a damn about the fact that she thinks she talks to— Hell, maybe she does. Or maybe she's just nuts. I don't care. I don't want her running around that forest and getting herself killed. That's my county, my town.” He said fiercely, “Keep her out.”

“I'll try,” she said. “I'll tell her I want her to leave the area. Okay?”

“If she listens to you.”

“I don't know if she will,” Eve said ruefully. “And, if I tell her to go, I don't know where that will be. She seems to drift from place to place. She makes friends, but Kendra Michaels, who found her and sent her here, and my adopted daughter, Jane, are the only ones who appear to be close to her. I don't know how much they even know about her.”

“I'll find out before this is over.”

“You haven't yet.” She waved a dismissive hand as she saw him frown. “It's not important. I only want to keep her safe and make sure that she's not collateral damage from our going after Walsh.”

“She wasn't the target in Tahoe. You were the one Walsh wanted to lure to your death. Joe Quinn was the one who took the bullet, but it could have been you. Didn't you tell me that he said he had orders to take you out?”

She nodded. “I was getting in his way. I was too close.” She shivered. “God, I hope I'm close. I don't seem to know anything.” They had pulled up to the front entrance of the hotel, and the doorman opened her car door. “That's got to change, Nalchek.” She got out and nodded at the reconstruction she'd placed on the backseat. “Take good care of that skull. I hope we don't need to use it again. Tomorrow will tell the tale, won't it?”

“I hope so,” Nalchek said soberly. “There's something I should tell you. I've persuaded the SFOPD to assign an officer to keep an eye on you while you're at the hotel or hospital. If you go anywhere else, call me, and I'll make sure you're safe. Don't be alarmed. We both know that Margaret isn't the only one who is at risk.” He smiled faintly. “I'm sure Quinn would approve.”

“Without a doubt.” She added, “I won't argue. Anything to get Walsh.” She turned and headed for the front entrance. “I'll call Margaret and have her ready for you.”

“You can try,” he said dryly. “So far, I've found that she's not only ready, she's a step ahead.”

“Then I'll tell her to be kind to you.” Eve wrinkled her nose at him. “Poor Nalchek, so put upon…”

SONDERVILLE FOREST

Margaret felt a chill as she closed her eyes and tried to delve through the confusion she was sensing in the coyote's mind. It was difficult. She had been struggling to understand what Sajan was trying to communicate since she had made contact over an hour ago.

“He's coming.”

“Why are you afraid of him, Sajan?”

“Same as the other one. Rage. Violence. Just like the other one.”

“What other one?” she asked patiently.

“The grave.”

The chill was spreading. “The one who put the little girl in the grave?”

“Shouldn't have done it. Shouldn't have killed. His fault I have to be here.”

“Whose fault?”

“Shouldn't have done it. Don't like any of this. Why should I be here?”

“I have no idea. Talk to me. Maybe we can figure it out. Whose fault? I need—”

“Coming now! Hide!”

He was gone.

And she was left alone in the darkness of the forest.

Coming.

Who was coming? Walsh?

Or the other one Sajan said was the same.

“Margaret?”

The other one.

Nalchek.

It could be a mistake. Sajan was confused, and she hadn't been able to clarify anything in the short time she'd had to work with him.

But the image she'd gotten from him was definitely Nalchek. The power, the tiger ferocity, the sleekness.

“Margaret.” More impatient now.

Trust her own instincts? Or Sajan's jumbled memory?

In the end, she always had to trust herself. If she was wrong, she was now prepared to deal with it.

“Here!” She stepped out of the trees. “It's about time you got here.” She strolled toward him. “I've been waiting for you.”

“Then you should have told me where to find you. I guess that didn't occur to you.” He was frowning. “The officer I had watching you told me you were still in your room at the hotel. It took a little while to determine you'd given him the slip.”

“And you came immediately here.”

“I told Eve that this was where you'd probably be.” He shrugged. “But there was a chance that I might be wrong since she'd asked you to bring her suitcase.”

“No problem. Eve travels light.” She nodded down at the small flight bag she was carrying. “And Joe Quinn evidently never unpacked his luggage when he got here. It's probably still in his rental car.”

“Are you going to tell me why you slipped away from my officer? If you'd insisted, he would have brought you back here.”

“Not necessary. I met a college professor in the coffee shop, and he offered to give me a lift.”

“That's no answer.”

“It's all you'll get from me.” Then she shook her head. “That was rude. I'm a little on edge.” More than a little, she thought. As usual, she was experiencing a multitude of emotions at being this close to him. Nalchek was all power and keen intelligence, and she was drawn to both. And now there was added the chilling uncertainty of what she'd learned tonight. Forget it. She'd made a choice. She'd chosen to trust herself … and Nalchek. Deal with the consequences. Which meant dealing with Nalchek. She met his eyes. “I don't like to be watched. I'm sure your officer is very courteous and only doing his job, but he made me uneasy. I won't permit anyone to be able to put his hand on me at any given time.”

“Why?”

She smiled. “My nature? Or something more devious? I'm sure you're busily trying to find out.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Why? Because you're a police officer, and you don't trust me or what I am?” She nodded. “That would be reasonable … if one looked only on the surface.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

She hesitated. Back off, or respond as she usually did. Backing off would be more suspicious. Nalchek was very sharp. “Because you're not what you appear to be, either.”

“You're wrong, I'm exactly what I appear to be. My public record is open for anyone to read. I couldn't have been elected to this office if I were hiding a shady past.”

“Really? Everyone hides something. At least, everyone interesting. Animals are different. They're much simpler. Except felines.”

His gaze narrowed on her face. “I don't believe we'll change species in this particular conversation. Just what do you think I'm hiding?”

Probe a little. “I don't know. Not your military career, you were a hero. Not during your college days. You were too intelligent to get involved with drugs or all that nonsense.”

“Then do you think I'm a crooked cop?”

She slowly shook her head. “I don't think so. That would be an opportunity for corruption, but you grew up with a father who had strict values and believed in the law. That would have rubbed off. I'd bet you're well thought of by your officers as well as the people who elected you.”

“Then it appears you're running out of scenarios for me to indulge in my wicked nature,” he said mockingly. “Where did you find out all this about me?”

“The Internet. And I have a few friends who have buddies in high places. Not to mention those who wallow in low places.” She stopped as she reached his car. “I don't have your advantage with access to all those databases and stuff.”

“They haven't done me much good … yet.”

“But you're still hopeful. I like that about you, Nalchek. Hope is a wonderful thing.”

He opened the car door. “So we've both drawn a blank.”

“Not me.” She got into the car. “When I become confused about direction, all I do is go back to the beginning.”

“And where is that?”

She looked out the window at the forest. “Back there. Whatever you're hiding is back there.”

He got into the driver's seat but didn't turn on the ignition.

Had she gone too far?

He looked straight ahead. “I'd like to know how you made a guess like that.”

She could feel his tension. Very dangerous moment. She should be afraid. But she wasn't: excitement, anticipation, curiosity—no fear. Did that mean that he was no threat?

No. The threat was there, but it didn't mean that she couldn't handle it.

“How do you think?” she said lightly. “My friends aren't only the two-legged variety. But that shouldn't worry you since you have a healthy skepticism for any connection I have with them. And how could Sajan possibly tell me anything that might hurt you?”