Iris Johansen - Blood Game

“Sure. We have a good deal in common. Maybe that’s why I feel so close to you. Good-bye, Eve.” She hung up.

Yes, and that was why she felt close to Megan, Eve thought as she hung up. They both had a past that cast shadows on their present and had fought through nightmare pain. She hadn’t wanted to tell Megan that she doubted her. Megan was her friend, and that friendship was a rare and special thing in Eve’s life. She led a very solitary existence except for Joe, and, of course, Jane. Megan had almost exploded into her life while they were searching for the remains of a little boy, and they had formed bonds that would be hard to break.

Eve went out on the porch and down the steps to the lake path. Why was she fighting Megan so hard in this? Megan had shown her bizarre and chilling things that had rocked her to her core. Yet Eve found she couldn’t take that final step and swallow all that business about her touch releasing latent psychic gifts. She had rejected it almost instinctively. She should have at least-

____________________

“You were afraid, Mama.”

Bonnie.

She glanced at the tall pine tree beneath which Bonnie was sitting cross-legged. Same Bugs Bunny T-shirt, her mop of red curls was shining in the sunlight, and her smile was warm and bright. Eve felt a rush of love so intense that she couldn’t speak for a moment. “And how do you know that?” she asked lightly. “There aren’t many things that I’m afraid of, Bonnie.”

“Because you’re not afraid of being hurt or dying. Because you think you’d be happier with me.” She shook her head. “But I keep telling you that can’t happen. We will be together but not for a long time. You have to stay and take care of Joe and Jane. They need you.”

“Lecture number fifty-six.”

Bonnie chuckled. “More than that. You just don’t listen, Mama.”

“You’re either a ghost or a dream. Why should I listen?”

“Because you love me. Because you know I’m right.”

Yes, she loved her. From the moment she had given birth to her, Bonnie had been the center of her life. When her little girl had been taken from her, she had thought her life was over. Then these dreams of Bonnie had begun to come to Eve about a year after she had disappeared. Dream or spirit? During those first years, telling herself these appearances were only dreams was a safety net and kept her certain of her own sanity. Nowadays, she didn’t really care whether her daughter was a dream or a ghost. She was real to her, she was here. “You always think you’re right, young lady.”

“Because I am. Especially where you’re concerned, Mama.”

“And why do you think I’m afraid?”

“Because of Joe. You’re afraid for Joe.” The tiniest frown wrinkled her brow. “I’m afraid, too.”

“Why?”

“He’s not like you. I love Joe. I was so happy… But he’s not like you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Bonnie looked at her. “You’re afraid because Joe may be different. Megan scared you.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“Joe is like an anchor for you. He is what he is. You don’t want him to be changed.”

“Everybody changes. That’s what life’s all about. You learn to love the changes too.”

“What if Joe doesn’t love the changes? I went away, but I don’t think she will.”

“Megan? Look, Bonnie, this psychic thing is completely without-” Her cell phone rang and she reached in her pocket. “It’s Montalvo.”

BONNIE DIDN’T ANSWER.

Eve didn’t have to glance at the pine tree to know that Bonnie would no longer be there. Disappointment sharpened her voice as she answered the phone. “What do you want, Montalvo?”

“In what order?” Montalvo asked. “No, I can tell by your tone that you’re not about to indulge me that way. I called to tell you that there was another credit slip for Kevin Jelak issued at a gas station in Calhoun, Georgia.”

Calhoun. That was a town not too far from Chattanooga. “He’s coming closer. What was the date on the slip?”

“Yesterday.”

“He’s leaving a trail. It’s stupid of him to use a credit card that can be traced.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know that we know about him.”

“Maybe he doesn’t care. Maybe he wants us to know he’s heading this way.” She gazed out at the lake. “Why now, Montalvo? It’s strange that he should appear right on the heels of Kistle’s death. All these years, and we heard nothing from Jelak. Did those investigators of yours stir him into action?”

“Possibly. I’m expecting a report on him later today. They’re tracing his background through the credit-card application. I’ll let you know.” He paused. “Is everything all right with you?”

A gold goblet stained with blood.

“Everything is fine.”

“I don’t believe you, but I’ll let it go. I’ll call you when I have anything of interest to you.” He hung up.

It didn’t surprise her that Montalvo would sense her disturbance. He knew her very well. Too well.

She turned and moved back toward the cottage. She would finish going through her e-mail, then maybe take a nap while Jane was still asleep. She’d had only a few hours’ sleep before she’d had to go pick up Jane at the airport.

As if she’d be able to relax, she thought ruefully. Her mind was skipping from Jelak to Megan’s worried questions about Joe, to that damn goblet. Everything was swirling around her, leaping closer, like a tornado, hovering, then touching down.

And Bonnie was the eye of the tornado, calm, loving, a shimmering orb that vanished as the storm overtook them.

She glanced back at the pine tree where Bonnie had been sitting and remembered those last cryptic words.

I went away, but I don’t think she will.

Uneasiness, again.

She impulsively reached in her pocket for her phone and dialed Joe. She wanted to reach out, touch him.

“I was just going to call you.” His tone was curt. “I’ve been busy as hell. This crime scene is a media circus. We have to cordon off the entire area to keep the journalists from sneaking past the tapes.”

“Why?”

“That’s right, I didn’t tell you. The victim is Nancy Jo Norris. Her father is Ed Norris. He’s flying down from Washington now, and we have to get the forensic investigation done and Nancy Jo moved to the morgue before we have him coming here and causing more uproar from the media. I’ll be late getting home.” He paused. “After I leave here, I want to stop by the precinct and take a look at that goblet. We should have a preliminary report on the blood by that time.”

“Nancy Jo Norris.” Eve felt sick. “I saw a photo of her in the newspaper last month. She was playing soccer in some tournament. She was smiling, and she looked positively radiant.”

“That’s one of the reasons the media is hyped. A 4.0 student, popular, good at sports, on the student council… and a daddy who might run for president someday.”

“Poor girl. Everything to live for…” She shook her head. “I’d be out there on top of you too. Any clues as to who did it?”

“One.” He paused. “Schindler thinks it may be a ritual killing.”

“What do you think?”

“Maybe. I’ll talk to you about it when I get home tonight. Do me a favor. You and Jane stick close to the cottage today. Is the squad car there?”

“Yes, he’s parked down the road.” She was silent a moment. “I thought I might be overreacting. You’re really worried about that goblet.”

“Damn right. And you’re not overreacting, Eve. Just stay close to the house, okay?”