Iris Johansen - Quicksand

"I can do both. Get into that bath." She went to the sink in the kitchen and got down antiseptic and bandages from the cabinet. Clean up, stick on some Band-Aids, and she'd be fine.

Joe would be fine too, thank God.

Her hand was starting to shake. Probably shock starting to set in. They had been so busy since the blast that she had not fully realized how close Joe had come to death. Now it was hitting full force. She had almost lost him.

She leaned her head against the cabinet. Joe had almost lost his life, and it brought home to her how empty her own life would be without him.

"Okay, Eve?" Joe called from the bathroom.

"Fine. I told you it was nothing." She drew a deep breath and got down a glass and the whiskey bottle from the cabinet. "I'll be right in."

She poured his drink. Stop shaking, dammit. Don't let Joe see how upset you are. She couldn't fall apart when she was the one who had brought them all into this. They had been blundering around, keeping to Kistle's rules, letting him call all the shots, hoping against hope that they could see through the lies.

And Joe had almost died.

It couldn't go on, not like this. Something had to change.

EVE'S CELL RANG AT 4: 35in the morning.

She didn't look at the ID. She didn't want to know if Kistle had taken another victim to get his cell phone. She knew who it was. So did Joe, who rose up on one elbow to watch her take the call.

"Are you terribly bereaved, Eve?" Kistle asked. "How long had you been with Quinn?"

"A long time. And I'm still with him. You screwed up, Kistle. That blast didn't get any of us."

"No? I suppose it was my mistake. I was so interested in watching you all creep around trying to find me that I waited a little too long to press the detonator. Laura Ann and I found it very entertaining."

"She's still alive?"

"Yes, and very annoying. She stares at me with those big blue eyes and it makes me want to put them out. She's too stupid to know enough to be afraid of me."

"And now you can tell her you've made another mistake and you didn't kill anyone with those explosives." No, she mustn't taunt him with anything connected with Laura Ann. The little girl's position was too precarious. "And perhaps she is scared and doesn't want to show it."

"The little bitch spat in my face."

Eve felt a surge of fierce satisfaction. "Let her go, Kistle, she's more trouble than she's worth."

"I agree. That's why I've been considering dispensing with her."

"No!"

"See, I believe it would bother you. That's why I have to keep her alive as a carrot to lead you on."

"How do I know she's still alive?"

"I'll let her speak a few words to you later. Now let's go on to Act Two. Okefenokee Swamp. You'll find what you want on one of the lands there."

"Lands?"

"That's what they call the islands in the swamp. I'll put a picture of Bonnie's island on the bulletin board of the visitors' bureau."

"Same tune, Kistle. Why should I let you lead me into a trap when you lied before?"

"Obsession?"

"That won't be enough for Joe or Montalvo."

"Laura Ann?"

She couldn't deny that would draw them on a possible wild-goose chase. "It's not enough. Not after you almost blew us all to kingdom come. Give me some proof that Act Two isn't just going to lead to Act Three if you don't kill us."

He was silent a moment. "This is a two-act play, Eve. I don't have to give you proof, but you'll not find that island barren soil. It was a perfect place to hide a body. And I may decide to hide yours there as well."

"Let me talk to Laura Ann."

"Of course, I promised you, didn't I? Come along, little bitch, speak up."

A few seconds passed and then a wisp of a child's voice. "Hello."

Relief poured through Eve. At least Kistle had told the truth about Laura Ann. "Listen, baby, my name is Eve and we're going to come and get you. But you're with a very bad man and you mustn't make him angry. Try not to talk to him at all."

"He doesn't like that either. Will you tell my mama that I'm sorry? She told me not to get in a car with a stranger, but he told me he was Daddy's friend. I wanted to see my daddy. I thought maybe he wanted to see me too."

"I'll tell her." Her eyes were suddenly stinging. "I'm sure she'll understand. She gave me a message for you. She said to tell you that she loves you and is very proud of you. She'll see you soon."

"Enough." Kistle was back on the phone. "I'll let you talk to her again when you reach the swamp. The clock is ticking, Eve." He hung up.

She slowly pressed the disconnect.

"What did he say?" Joe asked.

"You were right. It's an island in the Okefenokee. We're to check the bulletin board at the visitors' bureau. Laura Ann is still alive." She swung her feet to the floor and got out of bed. "Call Montalvo and tell him, will you? We're going to need all the information Miguel gathered about the swamp."

"What if this is another blind alley?"

"That's what I asked him," she said jerkily as she headed for the bathroom. "He said this was the final act and I wouldn't find barren soil on that island."

"And you believe the son of a bitch?"

"Yes. This time I believe him. I think that island's somebody's burial ground." She closed the bathroom door behind her. Take a shower, get dressed, and use that time to think. She had already decided that they couldn't go blindly into Kistle's traps, that something had to change.

Dear God, and she had known all along what that change had to be. She had just refused to admit it to herself. But she couldn't ignore it any longer.

The clock was ticking.

THE RESIDENCE WAS A PLEASANTlittle house in Morningside with a wide front porch and pots of ferns hanging from the arches.

"This is crazy, Eve," Joe said harshly. "I know you're desperate, but this isn't going to do anyone any good."

"You're right, I'm desperate. I want insurance." She got out of the SUV. "You almost died at Chattahoochee. I don't want to have to go into that swamp blind." She nodded at Montalvo, who had just pulled up behind them, then she turned and walked up the path to the front door. It was barely six in the morning and the house was still dark. They were probably asleep. Should she wait before she-

The clock is ticking.

She rang the doorbell.

No answer.

She rang it again.

A small, thin man opened the door. His hair was mussed and he wore a red robe. "Yes?"

"I have to see Megan Blair. I'm Eve Duncan. You must be her Uncle Phillip?"

He nodded. "Megan's still sleeping. Can you come back later?"

"No, I have to see her now. Will you wake her?"

He stiffened. "I'm not sure I should. It took her three days to recover from-"

"It's okay, Phillip." Megan was coming down the hall. She wore only a Falcons T-shirt and red furry scuffs, but she was definitely wide awake. "She wouldn't have come at this hour unless it was important."

"Important for her," he said. "Maybe a problem for you." He shrugged. "I'll make some coffee. Go into the sunroom."

Megan nodded and moved down the hall. "Though there's not much sun in the sunroom at six in the morning." She opened the French doors. "Sit down." She curled up on a shabby green-and-white-print cushioned couch. "And I don't think you'd notice anyway."

Eve's gaze went around the small room as she sat down in a rattan chair. As Megan had said, the room was dim and shadowed. "This is nice. Comfortable."

"We like it." She met Eve's gaze. "But you didn't come here to compliment our interior decorating, did you? They haven't caught Kistle yet?"

"No, he's moved out of Clayborne Forest. He's here in this area. You saw the news story about Laura Ann Simmons?"

Megan stiffened. "He's got her?"