Iris Johansen: Blood Game

“No, I left everything in Paris. I’ll go back, or they can send it to me.” Jane’s brow was furrowed. “Why did Megan think I should hold your hand? You told me Kistle was dead. There’s no threat from him, right?”

“Right.” Jane wasn’t going to let it go, Eve thought. She was in protective mode, or she wouldn’t have flown here from Paris just to be with Eve. “And there’s no threat, period. Megan is just having second thoughts about something.”

“What?”

Tell her, but keep it light. “She thinks I may go off my rocker.” Eve made a face. “Or become a voodoo priestess myself.”

“Not likely.”

“That’s what I told her.”

“Why would she say something like that?”

Okay, just explain and then drop it. “I told you that Megan has certain… talents.”

Jane nodded. “She can hear the dead under certain circumstances or, at least, echoes of what happened to them. Pretty creepy.” She paused. “And hard for me to believe. Though I can see that you might be open to it.”

Because Jane knew that the memory of Bonnie was still a major part of Eve’s life. “It was difficult for me too. I thought Megan was like one of those psychic phonies who victimized me right after Bonnie disappeared all those years ago. It took a lot for me to admit to myself that Megan was the real thing. But I was with her when she located the grave of a little boy in the woods in Illinois. I saw her go into deep shock in the swamp here in Georgia trying to help us find Kistle and those children he’d killed.”

Jane’s lips quirked. “I imagine ‘real’ is rather an ambivalent term in cases like this. And did Megan’s dead friends tell her that you had to be looked after?”

“No.” She made a face. “It seems Megan has another talent. She said that she releases…” She shrugged. “She said that she’s sort of a facilitator, that if she touches someone while she’s in an emotionally charged state, it could trigger the release of latent psychic powers in the person she touches. According to her, some people can’t accept that release. They go bonkers.”

“Now that’s bizarre.”

“ ‘Bizarre’ seems to be the word for the night,” Eve said as she unlocked the Jeep. “Megan used it, I used it. Now you, Jane. Megan said that she understood how I’d fight accepting this facilitator effect. She’s absolutely right.” She slipped into the driver’s seat. “Particularly since I seem to be a candidate for it, and I’m not feeling in the least bonkers. Nor am I sensing any splendid new mental powers.”

“You don’t need any more mental powers,” Jane said as she got into the passenger seat. “You’re probably the foremost forensic sculptor in the world. And you’re the smartest woman I know.”

“I’m not bad in the IQ department, but I can’t say the same for my emotional acumen. I don’t seem to learn from my mistakes.”

“You’re smart enough to hold on to Joe,” Jane said. “That strikes me as positively brilliant.”

“I’ve been lucky… so far.” Her smile faded. “I have you, and I have Joe. And neither one of you is inclined to kick me out of your lives. That’s pretty wonderful.”

Jane was silent for a moment. “How are you and Joe getting along?”

She had known that question would be asked. “As well as can be expected considering that I have an obsession that dominates our lives.” She looked away from Jane. “We really needed that Henry Kistle be Bonnie’s murderer as well as the killer of all those other children on the island. Joe is… tired of it all. Who can blame him? Certainly not I.” She smiled determinedly as she backed out of the parking place. “But he’ll be glad to see you. You’re like a fresh breeze every time you whisk into our lives.”

“And how is your work going?”

“I just finished up a forensic sculpting job a few days ago. Joe said I may have to work on the skulls of one or two of the children we found buried on the island in the Okefenokee Swamp if we can’t get an ID. I’ll do whatever it takes to bring them home.”

Jane nodded. “Since you couldn’t bring your Bonnie home.”

“I still have hope. In fact, I have two more names that may pan out. Paul Black. Kevin Jelak. I’ll have to follow up as soon as I learn more about them.” She could see Jane gazing at her in wonder, and she smiled crookedly. “Yes, I know that I just got through dealing with Henry Kistle. But he wasn’t the right one. He couldn’t help me bring my Bonnie home. So I have to go on. You see? I am obsessed.”

“Maybe.” Jane’s hand covered hers on the steering wheel. “But it’s one I can understand. It’s a beloved obsession, Eve.”

Eve was touched. “Good heavens, that sounds like a movie.”

Jane chuckled. “And I embarrassed you. Sorry. I must have picked up a few melodramatic flourishes in Paris.”

“You didn’t embarrass me.” Jane could say anything she wanted to Eve. She was just glad to have her here beside her. As a successful artist, Jane’s life was busy these days and, as Eve had said, she whisked in and out of her life, leaving only lingering affection and wonderful memories. Eve wouldn’t have it any other way. The last thing she wanted was to interfere in Jane’s life or hold her back.

And she couldn’t pull her down into the darkness that seemed to be approaching Eve right now. So push away the darkness, try to keep the conversation light. “But tell me about some of the other things you picked up in Paris. Anyone tall, sexy, and interesting?”

JOE CAME OUT ON THE PORCHas soon as they pulled up in front of the cottage. He was fully dressed in khakis and a white shirt.

Eve tensed. Let it be better. Let Jane make a difference.

“Joe!” Jane jumped out of the Jeep as soon as Eve turned off the engine. She flew up the steps and into his arms. “Dammit, it’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too.” His arms tightened around her. “Though you should have stayed in-”

“I heard all that from Eve,” she interrupted. “So be quiet.” She took a step back. “I hear you were fighting alligators and trying to-” She stiffened as she looked up at his face. “Joe?”

He turned quickly to Eve. “I put fresh coffee on. I’m going to go in and get my phone, then I have to leave.”

“Whatever you say.” Eve slowly got out of the Jeep. Joe was in the shadow, and she couldn’t see his face, but she could see Jane’s expression. She didn’t like what she was seeing. “I hoped you’d stay for a cup of coffee. I stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts.”

“Thanks, but I don’t have time. I have to get to the precinct.” He moved back toward the door. “I just wanted to stay and see Jane before I left. I’ll get my phone and take off.”

Jane took a half step forward after him. “Joe, wait. I want to-”

But he had disappeared into the house.

Jane whirled to face Eve. “I thought you said everything was okay.”

“I didn’t say okay.” She climbed the porch steps. “I said as good as could be expected. Nothing to be alarmed about.” But she was alarmed and had to hide it from Jane. Not an easy task. “And he does have work to do at the precinct. What are you getting bent out of shape about?”

“He was… stiff. His face was-And he didn’t look at me.”

“I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it. Look, maybe you need some time alone with him. I’ll go inside and set out the doughnuts. You catch him when he comes out. Okay?”

Jane nodded. “I have to make sure. It’s not like Joe to treat me like that.” She sat down on the porch swing. “I’ll be in right away.”

Eve nodded. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.” She went into the house and straight to the kitchen. Give Jane her chance to talk to Joe with no interference. Maybe she’d be able to make him tell her why he was behaving in a way that was scaring Eve. She couldn’t believe their problems would impact Joe’s relationship with Jane. It had to be something else. But Jane would make sure that everything was straightened out. She wasn’t shy about taking matters and relationships into her own hands.