“Yes.”

“And this man could have been working on one of the yards on the block and watching Bonnie. I could have passed him when I went to the bus stop to meet her.”

“It’s possible,” he said gently.

“If he killed her. I can’t be certain. I won’t be certain.”

But it was coming close to the time when the truth would be thrust upon her, Joe thought. “The only thing I have to be certain about right now is catching the son of a bitch.”

“You said you were going to pay him a visit. Where is he?”

“The crew Novak and Fraser are on is working at Nottingham Subdivision in Towne Lake today.” He turned. “I’m on my way there now. I’ve changed cars so that Zeus won’t recognize it. I just wanted to stop and let you know what was happening.”

“You didn’t send the police to pick them up?”

“They’ll be there outside the subdivision. First, I have to make sure I locate him before he gets spooked by the squad cars pulling into the subdivision. The crew doesn’t all work on the same house. He could be anywhere in the area.”

“But you’d recognize him. You saw the sketch I drew of him.” She paused. “And I’d recognize him.”

“Yes, you would,” he said quietly. “But he’d also recognize you. I know where this is going, Eve.”

“Of course he’d recognize me. But that’s no argument. We both know while he was doing surveillance on this house that he saw you. If he spots you, he’ll take off.”

“You want to go with me.”

She met his gaze. “And you want me to go. Why else did you stop here before going after him? You may have told yourself you just wanted to keep me informed, but that’s bullshit. You knew I had to go. You know I deserve to go.”

“I don’t want you hurt,” he said roughly. “I don’t want him to touch you.”

“And that makes it hard to do the right thing. That’s why you’re lying to yourself. You promised we’d do this together.” She threw back her head and stared him in the eye. “Do you want me to make it easier? If you walk out that door without me, I’ll be at Nottingham Subdivision before you get there. If you take me, I’ll stay in the car. But I have to be there. I have to see him captured. I want to see his face when he knows that he’s not Zeus any longer.”

She was right. He had known that it would come down to this when he had come here. They had taken this journey together, and he couldn’t leave her behind now. He just couldn’t admit it to himself because it caused him to break out in a cold sweat at the idea of letting her come that close to Zeus. Yet he had to admit it and drown that fear because he could not cheat her.

“Joe?”

His hand closed on hers. It was a soft, graceful hand belying the strength that lay beneath that fragile surface. His grasp tightened. “You stay in the car,” he said hoarsely as he led her toward the door. “Unless you want to drive me crazy, you stay in the car.”

*   *   *

NOTTINGHAM SUBDIVISION WAS an upper-middle-class neighborhood that had been built within the last ten years and had all the amenities. Including a homeowners’ association that demanded the homeowners pay to keep the verdant lawns and shrubs meticulously maintained.

And Johnston and Son had a truck that was parked close to the clubhouse and swimming pool.

Joe parked across the road from the clubhouse, his gaze raking the surrounding area. “There’s a man in the truck, but I don’t see any workers.” He got out of the car. “I’ll go ask questions. Lock the door.”

“You think the man in the truck is a supervisor?”

“He’s not doing hard labor. That’s a good sign.”

She frowned. “Aren’t you going to call the police waiting outside the gate to assist?”

“As soon as I can point the way to Zeus.” He crossed the road and drew out the photos of the sketches of Zeus as he approached the truck.

“May I help you?” The man in the truck smiled politely at Joe. “Les Cavanaugh. I run this crew. I know we’re a little late coming to do the maintenance this week, but we got behind because of the rain. We’ll get to your yard as soon as we can.”

Joe showed his ID. “FBI. You can help me with an identification. You have an employee working for you who we have an interest in questioning.”

Cavanaugh stiffened warily. “What for? Look, we got rid of that joker who was planting marijuana in some of the flower beds. We don’t stand for anything like that.”

“I’m glad to hear it. But the FBI doesn’t deal with drugs.” He handed him Kim Chen’s sketch. “Do you know him?”

Cavanaugh frowned. “He’s … familiar.”

He handed him Eve’s sketch. “Is this clearer?”

Cavanaugh’s eyes widened. “Hell, yes. Ralph Fraser.” He looked at Joe. “But Fraser is a good guy. Been working for us for years and never caused any trouble.”

“Where is he working now?”

“In the flower bed behind the clubhouse, next to the pool. But he’s not the guy you’re looking for. He’s real quiet, works hard and—”

“Stay in the truck.” Joe started for the clubhouse.

And saw Ralph Fraser come around the corner toward him.

Shit!

Fraser stopped, then whirled and ran into the clubhouse.

Joe tore after him, but instead of going through the front entrance, he ran around back and entered from the pool area.

A bullet splintered the jamb of the door as he dove down and to the left.

“Put down your weapon. You’re under arrest.”

“The hell I am.” Another bullet, closer.

But Joe had the direction now. Fraser was behind the bar across the room. He aimed and got off a shot. “Give it up, Fraser. Last chance. I’ll kill you. It’s what I want to do anyway. Why waste the taxpayers’ money on shit like you?”

“You’re not going to kill me. All these years, and you assholes haven’t been able to touch me. I’ll get out of here and kill you and that whore, too.” Another shot. “Just like I did that newspaper reporter.”

“But it’s really me you want to kill, isn’t it, Fraser?”

Oh, my God, Eve.

She was standing in the front doorway. But only for an instant, then she dove to the right behind the couch in front of the huge fireplace.

A bullet embedded itself in the soft cushions.

“You missed,” Eve called. “Stupid, Fraser. Incompetent and stupid and—”

Take advantage of Eve’s distracting him.

Another bullet struck the coffee table. “Bitch.” It was a scream of rage. “I’ll blow your—”

The scream was cut off as Joe dove across the bar on top of Fraser, jerking the gun from his hand and tossing it aside.

“No!” Fraser struggled wildly.

God, he was strong. Joe would have to put him out quickly.

But Fraser had rolled over, taking Joe with him. His face was contorted with rage as he looked down at him. There was fierce malice imprinted on every line of his heavy face. “You helped her. You helped the bitch. I’m going to cut your—”

Joe’s knee jerked up into Fraser’s groin.

Fraser groaned with pain.

Joe bucked him off his body. He moved swiftly to give him a karate chop to the neck.

Fraser went limp as he lost consciousness.

Joe was breathing hard as leaned back against the bar.

Eve was beside him, looking down at Fraser. “It’s him. It’s Zeus?”

“Ralph Fraser.” He reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out handcuffs. “And you were supposed to stay in the car.”

“And you were supposed to call in the police when you knew where Fraser was.” She was still looking down at him. “And then I saw you run after him. What could I do?”

He cuffed Fraser and sat back on his heels. “And you wouldn’t have come running to the rescue anyway? I could have handled it, Eve.”

“I had to be sure.” Her glance shifted to Joe. “And I had to make certain that you didn’t kill him.”

“I gave him the usual warning.”

“But I think you wanted him dead. Didn’t you?”

“He’s a son of a bitch. I didn’t want some slick lawyer to find a way of getting him off.”