Iris Johansen - Quicksand

"But she's still alive. I talked to her on the phone only a few hours ago. He's using her as bait to draw me into the trap."

"Where?"

"Okefenokee Swamp. He gave me two days, but I've already wasted too much time on a wild-goose chase."

"And why come to me?"

"I think you know."

She nodded slowly. "But I wouldn't be any good to you. Unless he's already killed her."

"You said you hear these voices in places that echo tragedy or high distress. For God's sake, what Laura Ann is feeling must be the highest distress. She must be scared out of her mind." She paused. "And he said I'd find Laura Ann in the same place he'd used as a burial spot. Bonnie must be there."

"He could be lying."

"Yes, but I don't think he is. Not this time." She moistened her lips. "But he'll try to trick us. I know it. We need you."

Megan said nothing. She just looked at her.

"I know what I'm asking. I know what you went through in Bloomburg."

"No, you don't," Megan said curtly. "You don't know anything."

"Maybe not," Eve said. "But I'm asking it anyway. Will you come with us?"

She was silent a moment and then said wearily, "Hell, I was going to tell you no when you came to me."

"You knew I'd come? I didn't know myself until this morning."

Megan's lips twisted. "Oh, I don't have any gift for precognition. But I have a friend, Renata, who can judge cause and effect with wonderful accuracy. I don't have her talent, but it didn't take much analyzing to realize what your next step would be." She added, "And you're lying to yourself if you think you weren't planning this all along. If it hadn't been for Laura Ann and Kistle, you'd still have come to get me to help you find Bonnie. You couldn't help yourself."

Eve stared at her a moment as her words sank home. Dear God, it was true. It had been there beneath the surface and she had not admitted it to herself. "I was fighting it. I didn't want to do it. I know how it will hurt you."

"When you started to believe me about Bobby Joe, it was only a matter of time before you'd want me to find your Bonnie." Megan shook her head. "It's wrong. I shouldn't do it, Eve. Not only for my sake but for yours. You know she must have died horribly. Do you really want me to bring that all back to you?"

"I want to bring her body home."

"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 do this to her," Phillip said to Eve. "You must have seen what finding Bobby Joe did to Megan. When she comes back, I want you to tell her that you've changed your mind. I've heard about your daughter and I'm sorry for you. But she's dead and Megan's alive. I'm not going to let you put her through that hell again."

"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 THEhall 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."