Iris Johansen - Blood Game

Eve glanced at her as Caleb started the car. “Phone Gary Schindler. Tell him to meet us at the police impound yard in two hours so that we can get into Jelak’s car. Joe said she had to touch the blood on the passenger seat before she made the connection with Jelak.”

“Providing she’ll do it,” Caleb said. “And providing you can make contact with her to even ask her to do it.”

“I know all the ifs, ands, and buts,” Eve said. “At least we can make preparations if we do get through to her.”

And how would they know if they did get through, Jane wondered. It was like blundering around in the dark. But what choice did they have? She was already dialing the precinct. “I’ll make sure Gary Schindler is there waiting for us. Needless to say, I won’t explain why we want access to the car.”

“QUINN WENT INTO THAT STANDof trees,” Caleb said, as they got out of the car at Allatoona. “He told me that I wasn’t invited to go any farther than here.”

Eve was already walking toward the woods. Joe had described his meeting with Nancy Jo to her, but how did they know that this was the place that they could reach her? Who knew where she could be found? Her Bonnie had come to her in any number of places. But then Eve had had problems thinking Bonnie was anything but a dream. Did that make a difference?

She was in the shadow of the woods now. She was vaguely aware of Jane and Caleb behind her, the sound of the cicadas, the breeze blowing through the trees.

“What do we do?” Jane asked. “It’s not as if we can go knocking on a door.”

“Wait.” Eve moved deeper into the trees. She wasn’t feeling anything, she realized in despair. And she certainly wasn’t seeing anything. Not that she had expected to be able to do that. But she’d hoped she’d be able to sense… something.

They waited fifteen minutes.

Twenty.

“Eve,” Jane said gently.

“I know.” She straightened her shoulders. “The only thing we can do is assume she’s here and act accordingly.” She moved to the center of the trees. “I’m Eve Duncan, Nancy Jo. We came to ask you to help. Joe needs you. And we need to know where Jelak is right now.” She paused. “I know he said it hurt you, but Joe really needs you.”

No sound but the wind.

No feeling but her own desperation.

“We’re going from here to the police impound yard. You’ll be able to get in his car again, touch that blood. If you’ll do it.” She tried to keep her voice steady. “After that, it’s still up to you. I don’t know what you can do. I don’t know how you can let us know how to help. We’re going to do everything we can. It may come down to me going to Jelak. That would be okay if I could be sure that Joe would be safe. But I don’t believe he would be. We both know what a monster Jelak is.”

Still nothing.

“We’re leaving now.” One more try. “Joe liked you. He wanted to help you. I don’t see how he could feel like that if you didn’t like him too. Please help us, Nancy Jo.”

She turned on her heel and said jerkily to Jane, “That’s all we can do. It’s up to her. Let’s get down to that impound yard.”

____________________

“IS THAT ALL YOU WANT?”Schindler asked in bewilderment. “I thought maybe Joe had mentioned a lead or something.”

“No, I just wanted to take a look at it.” She gazed at the huge boat of a car as she gingerly opened the driver’s-side door. Jelak had opened this door, sat in that driver’s seat, she thought in repulsion. She didn’t want to touch it. “Will you make sure they leave this door open tonight?”

“Why?”

Jane stepped forward. “What difference does it make? Maybe she wants to air the stench out of it.” She took Eve’s arm and pushed her gently toward the gate. “Just do as she asks. Okay?”

Schindler nodded, his gaze fixed sympathetically on Eve’s face. “Sure. I’m sorry, Eve. There will be a break soon. We’re doing everything we can to find him.”

“I know, Gary.” Eve didn’t look at him as she headed for the gate. “Thanks for coming tonight.”

“Anything you want,” Schindler said. “Just let me know.”

“Any problems?” Caleb asked when they reached his car, parked outside the gate.

“No,” Eve said. “Other than that Schindler thinks I’m headed for a nervous breakdown. Jane was so protective when she whisked me out of there that he probably thinks she’s going to have me committed.”

“It worked,” Jane said. “And you didn’t have to make explanations. Do we wait around and see what happens?”

“No. What would we see? Caleb didn’t see anything when she was in the car before. Joe is the only one who can see her. Right, Caleb?”

He nodded. “And I only heard a one-way conversation. Which was interesting but a little frustrating.”

“Then we might as well go home and wait for Jelak’s call. We’ve done all we could. Though heaven knows we have no idea what that was.” Her lips twisted. “We don’t know if we made contact. We don’t know if she paid any attention if we did. We don’t know if she’ll be able to bear connecting with Jelak, much less being able to do anything that would help Joe.”

“Yes, we did the best we could,” Jane said. “You said all the right things, Eve. Now we have to see what happens.”

“But how do you persuade a ghost?” Eve shook her head. “This experience isn’t going to bring you any closer to understanding why I would even believe she exists.”

“You believe it. That’s all that’s important,” she said. “And if you hit a home run, then I’ll believe it too.”

“WAS I GONE TOO LONG?”Jelak asked. “I had to find just the right girl to please you, Quinn. Do you know where I found her?”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“She was at a Girl Scout camp near Stone Mountain. Isn’t that amusing? I watched the girls around the campfire singing and telling stories and tried to decide which one would have the greatest effect on you. I chose sweet Mary Lou. I don’t know her last name. She seemed quieter than the others, but she smiled a lot. She wears glasses and she’s about twelve or thirteen.”

“Why waste your time? You said you didn’t like young girls.”

“But they seem to touch you.”

“You’re going after her?”

“Oh, I’ve already got her. I waited until she went to her pup tent and took her then.”

Joe tried to keep his face expressionless. “I won’t let you blackmail me like this, Jelak.”

“I think you will. Though I can understand why you’d choose Eve over that adolescent. She’s a bounty of riches, and Mary Lou isn’t even approaching the ability to compete. However, there’s a possibility that even if Eve decides to trade, you might still have a chance to save her. With Mary Lou there will be no possibility. She was brought here for one purpose and one purpose only.”

“Then why would you think I’d believe you’d let her live no matter what I did?”

Jelak smiled. “I’m sure you’ll think of a way to make sure I do.”

Joe shook his head.

Jelak’s smile faded. “You’re beginning to annoy me again. But really, actions are better than words. I believe I’ll let you get to know our Mary Lou. I’ll bring her in, and you can see what you’re destroying. She’ll probably be unconscious for another fifteen minutes or so. Sedatives have a stronger effect on those closer to childhood. But you can look at her and think about what’s going to happen.” He headed for the door. “I’ll be right back.”

He was true to his word. In two minutes he returned carrying a thin, gangly girl in blue plaid pajamas. He dumped her against the wall and pushed the red-brown hair away from her face. “Vulnerable, innocent, more child than woman. But the hair color reminded me a little of Eve Duncan’s hair.” He turned toward the door. “I’ll let you be alone with her. There’s something about a sleeping child that’s very appealing.”