Iris Johansen - Chasing the Night

“Yes.”

“Good, because the challenge is for her, too. She’s being such a help to you. I’m going to let her do the final rites.”

Catherine was beginning to feel sick with panic. Nightmare on top of nightmare. “She has nothing to do with this. It’s only a job to her.”

“But I’ve been investigating her background, and I believe she can’t be a part of something without becoming personally involved. She annoyed me by deciding to interfere in our private affairs.”

“It’s over. I’m leaving here.”

“With your precious age progression to speed you on. It’s bogus, Catherine. What a pity. All her work for nothing.” His voice lowered. “But I have more work for her to do. Providing that she chooses to set your mind at rest. I have a skull for her to work on. Ask me to whom it belongs.”

“Why? You’ll tell me, and it will be a lie.”

“Will it? Come and find out. Come play hide-and-seek. It’s a splendid game, the final game. Find out if I’m lying about your son. You’ll get a prize if you do.”

“What kind of prize?”

“A quick death…maybe. As for your interfering friend, Duncan, I may let the people she cares about live.”

“Not Eve?”

“I’m trying to be honest with you. I want her dead. Her lover, Quinn, and daughter, Jane, are negotiable.” He added maliciously, “One way or another, you’ll know your son is going to be in his grave by the end of the month. I make you that promise. Now all you have to do is find out if he’s there already, or if I have to kill him to keep that promise.”

“He’s not dead. You wouldn’t do it.”

“You’re gambling. Come and find out for yourself. I’ll give you a series of clues that will lead you to your son. The first is in the photo I’ve just sent you. I have a passion for photos, they keep the memories fresh. Access it when you hang up.”

“Wait. Don’t-”

He had already hung up. Her hands were shaking as she quickly accessed the photo in her phone.

It was the photo of the skeleton of a child lying on a pile of earth beneath a twisted tree. The bones were stained with dirt, and a hole gaped in the center of the skull.

She made a whimpering noise deep in her throat. She closed her eyes a moment as the waves of pain hit her.

“May I see it?” Eve took her phone and gazed at the photo for a long time.

“Eve?”

Eve drew a shaking breath. “Damn him. It could be a fake, but it appears to be authentic.”

Catherine’s eyes flicked open. “How old?”

“Hard to tell.”

“Five?”

“Possibly.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s a fake. He’s just doing it to hurt me.”

“Well, he succeeded, didn’t he?” Eve’s face was drained of color as she stood up and moved jerkily toward the door. “I’ll be right back. I need some air.”

Catherine stared after her in bewilderment.

“It’s the photo,” Kelly said quietly. “The skeleton. She’s thinking about her daughter. It’s hurting her.”

Of course, Catherine realized. She had been too deep in her own pain to think of Eve’s. But Kelly had read those signs.

“I’m on the outside,” Kelly said, as if reading her thoughts. “Sometimes it helps. Should we go after her?”

“No.” Catherine’s gaze shifted back to the photo. It couldn’t be Luke. Oh God, don’t let it be Luke. “She wouldn’t thank us. She’ll be back when she’s ready.”

Eve walked quickly, feverishly, down the path toward the lake.

Those bones, those poor pitiful bones.

A child tossed carelessly into the earth naked and alone.

She would not cry. Too late. She could feel dampness on her cheeks.

Stupid. Lord, how many skeletons had she seen in her career? Why had this one struck such an agonizing resonance? She should be harder, more calloused.

“That’s never going to happen, Mama.”

Bonnie.

Eve looked ahead on the path and saw Bonnie leaning against a pine tree forty feet away. The sunlight was tangling in her red curls, and she was smiling.

“Someday it might,” Eve said. “I can’t go on bleeding inside every time I see a skeleton. It’s not professional.” She wiped her eyes. “And I’m very professional. Bonnie.”

“Yes, Mama.”

“Stop smiling. No, don’t.” She stopped on the path. “I need to see you smile. Why are you here?”

“Because I wanted to be here. Because you wanted me. Isn’t that a good reason?”

She drew a shaky breath. “It’s a wonderful reason. But I think that you have another agenda.”

“Agenda.” Bonnie chuckled. “Now that’s a very professional word. Yes, I have an agenda.” Her smile disappeared, and she said gently, “My agenda is to help soften the pain. That photo rocked you and sent you reeling back to what you felt when I was taken. It hurts me when you feel like that, Mama. I want it to go away.”

“Rakovac doesn’t want it to go away. Those bones…such a small child.” She whispered. “Like you, baby, such a little girl.”

“But it’s over, Mama.” She paused. “For me. I keep telling you that. I know it’s not for you. And maybe not for Luke. Don’t think about me. Don’t let that picture make you sad. Or if it does, not for me.”

“Don’t be silly. Of course it made me sad.” She swallowed. “But now I’m getting angry.”

“Good. That’s much healthier.”

“And you’re being very wise and superior. I’m not sure I like it.”

“You like it. You like everything about me.”

“You’re very confident, young lady.”

“I have a right to be. My spirit status allows a few privileges. Now go in and talk to Catherine. You’re feeling a little better, but she’s still hurting. She’s been hurting for such a long time.”

“I know. That doesn’t mean I can solve her problems.” She turned and headed for the cottage. “Or that I’ve even decided to try.”

“That’s true,” Bonnie said. “I’m sure that it will at least take you until you reach the front porch to think it all out and come to a decision.”

“Brat.” Wonderful, beloved brat.

“Be careful, Mama…”

She didn’t have to look behind her to know that Bonnie was no longer there.

No sadness. Bonnie didn’t want it. Not for her.

But the sadness was still there, and the anger.

Oh yes, the anger.

“Are you okay?” Catherine asked, as Eve came in the door. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset-”

“I’m fine,” Eve interrupted. “I just had to get away and do some thinking.” She went over to the sink and got a glass of water. “And I was upset. I’m still upset.”

“I told you, the photo has to be a fake. He’ll do anything to hurt me.”

“Or to lure you to come into his web and find out for yourself if it was a fake,” Eve said. “I’d say that was the principal reason for that photo. Shock value, then to draw you to him. He even said as much.”

“But he also threatened you, Eve.” She shook her head. “I never meant that to happen. I wanted your help. I didn’t want to lead him to you.”

“I realize it wasn’t deliberate.” She smiled crookedly. “Although we both know that you would have probably run the risk even if you’d known that he’d be on our doorstep. That’s the way obsession works. Take it from someone who knows.”

Catherine hesitated. “Yes, but I would have protected you. I wouldn’t have let him hurt you. I won’t let him hurt you now.”

“It’s not up to you. Not any longer.” She took Catherine’s phone again and gazed down at the pitifully macabre skeleton in the photo. “I hate this. I don’t care if it’s your Luke or some other helpless child. I hate it. I hate the brutality of the act and the use of this child’s murder to help Rakovac get what he wants. These monsters think they can kill and kill and kill again. Not this time.” Her lips tightened. “I’m not going to let it happen.” She glanced at Catherine. “We’re not going to let it happen. I don’t want to hear any more bullshit about you protecting me. Whatever happens, Joe and I will take care of ourselves and Jane.”