Iris Johansen - Eve

“What’s Paul Black’s background?”

“He was orphaned at three and grew up in Macon, Georgia, in a church orphanage. He got a construction job at seventeen and went to Athens, Georgia. He got in trouble almost immediately and spent time in jail for robbery. After he was paroled, he worked as a fry cook, then was arrested again when he almost killed another cook with a butcher knife. Paroled again two years later and disappeared for a while. Next appearance was in the county jail when he talked to Shipman.”

“Do we have a picture of him?”

“Yes, I’ll send you his mug shot when we hang up. Pretty ordinary-looking guy. Any other questions?”

“No idea where he is?”

“Not a clue.”

“Another question. Did you ever hear of him working with anyone?”

A silence. “And that’s an odd question. Did you?”

“I need an answer, Montalvo.”

“As far as I know, he was a lone wolf. Obviously, he couldn’t even get along with the people he worked with.”

“Was he ever in the service?”

“No.”

“And he disappeared right after he told Shipman he’d killed Bonnie.”

“That’s right.” He paused. “You’re very intense. How far along are you on this hunt, Eve?”

“Not far enough. Thanks, Montalvo.”

“I’m dismissed? But I don’t want to be dismissed. I’ll keep on looking for information about Black until I find enough that will make you want to take me along for the ride. It sounds as if there’s something intriguing in the wind.”

And Montalvo will do it, she thought. She’d be lucky if he didn’t show up on her doorstep anyway. Montalvo was completely unpredictable. “Good-bye, Montalvo.”

“Good-bye, Eve. I’ll be in touch.” He hung up.

She was afraid he would be in touch. Again, if she moved fast enough, she might avoid Montalvo’s interference. She heard a ping and accessed the photo Montalvo had sent her.

The mug shot of Paul Black was not flattering. In the photo, he appeared to be in his late twenties, with dark, crew-cut hair and eyes that could be either brown or gray. His nose was long, and his mouth was wide and full. As Montalvo had said, very ordinary.

She put her phone away and stood for a moment looking out at the water.

Peaceful, soothing to the soul. She’d stay a moment, drink it in, and let it bring her that same peace. There was nothing serene about her own soul tonight. She was too lost in disturbing memories and intense worry about the future.

All of which were swirling around her like a tornado.

John Gallo was out there somewhere. Who was he now? What had he become during these many years? She could not imagine him a murderer.

Not even when she had seen how violent he could be?

But she could also be violent. She had found out that truth in the years of hunting Bonnie’s killer. There was no question at all in her mind that if she found that John Gallo was the murderer of her daughter, she’d kill him without a single qualm. Bonnie deserved her revenge.

She could feel the anger begin to sear through her and took a deep breath. So much for serenity and the search for peace. There would be no peace for her anytime soon.

It would be better not to think at all.

She would just try to be patient and wait for Catherine’s call.

“YOU’RE NEVER PATIENT, MAMA.”

Bonnie.

Eve looked over at the little girl sitting with her back against the porch rail. Dressed in jeans and the Bugs Bunny T-shirt she’d been wearing the last time Eve had seen her, curly red hair shining in the moonlight. She felt the same rush of love she always felt when Bonnie came to her.

“That’s not true. I’ve been patient for a long time. Since I lost you, baby.”

Bonnie’s face lit with her luminous smile. “But you didn’t lose me, did you, Mama? I’m always here.”

Eve had thought she had lost her forever and had been spiraling downward toward death herself when she had begun to dream of Bonnie about a year after her disappearance. At least, for a long time, she had told herself it was a dream when her little girl came to her, talked to her, brought her healing and comforting. It was only recently that she had accepted that Bonnie was no dream. “I hate to tell you, but the fact that you’re a ghost has a few disadvantages.”

Bonnie chuckled. “What disadvantages? You know I’ll always be with you.”

“Whenever you want to be. You don’t come nearly enough. You dictate all the rules.” She made an impatient gesture as Bonnie opened her lips. “And now you’ll say it wouldn’t be good for me. That I have to live my life. You always do.”

“Then I don’t have to say it.” She leaned back and gazed up at the night sky. “Aren’t the stars pretty? You used to sing me a song about a star.”

“Yes, I did.” Her throat was suddenly tight, and she had to clear it. “But you liked the song about all the pretty little horses more.”

She nodded. “But I like the one about the star, too. It’s nice being able to look at the stars with you.”

“Then come more often.”

“You need to be alone with Joe. You belong with him right now.” She smiled. “I try not to come too often when Joe is around. He tries to accept me, but I make him uneasy.”

Eve couldn’t deny that was true. It was only recently that Joe had started to be able to see her daughter, and he was not comfortable with it. Joe was a complete realist, and the concept of Bonnie as a spirit battered against every bit of training and instinct. Well, Eve had been the same way at first, telling herself that Bonnie was only a dream or a hallucination. But after years she had accepted that, by some grace of God, Bonnie was permitted to come to her. If that made her crazy, then so be it. “It may be different once we’ve found you and the man who killed you, baby.”

“Maybe. But it’s you and Joe who are important. I shouldn’t matter this much to either of you.”

Eve shook her head. “Stop preaching at me. I’ve heard this before.”

Bonnie’s smile faded. “But I have to keep saying it. Particularly now. I’m getting… I’m afraid for you.”

Eve stiffened. “Why did you come tonight? Is it because of Paul Black?”

“Partly. But there’s so much else…”

“Is it… John Gallo? He’s your father, Bonnie.”

“I know.” Bonnie looked back up at the stars. “I always knew…”

“What do you mean?”

“So much pain… so much rage.”

She felt a chill go through her. “Bonnie, what are you saying?”

Bonnie shook her head. “I just want you to take care. It’s all coming… I’m going to go now.”

“Yes, scare me to death, then go off to Never-Never Land.”

“I’d take you with me if I could. Look at the stars, Mama.”

“You just don’t want me to see you go.”

“It hurts you.”

Eve raised her eyes to the starlit sky. “What happens in Never-Never Land, Bonnie?”

“All good things.”

“I’m glad. I want everything good for you, baby.”

Bonnie didn’t answer, and Eve knew that she was gone.

But Eve didn’t look back at the step on which Bonnie had been sitting.

She kept her gaze on the stars and thought about Bonnie and Never-Never Land.

Mazkal, Utah

“Nate Queen is coming up the drive,” Bill Hanks said as he put down his phone. “He said you were expecting him?”