It seemed impossible that she could have fallen asleep. Her nerves had been taut as wires.

Youve had a rough couple of days. Gil an-swered her unspoken question. I dozed a little my-self. But I admit Ill be glad to stretch out.

She was so stiff, she had to catch hold of the door when she got out of the car. She watched Logan climb the steps and unlock the front door. He was car-rying the leather case with Chadbournes skull. Trust Logan to keep his priorities in order, she thought dryly

Ready? Gil asked as he grabbed her suitcase. Ill take that.

I can manage. Take Mandys box. He was al-ready following Logan up the steps.

She didnt want to go inside. The air was cool and wet in her nostrils, and the sound of the sea against the shore was like a blessing. She hadnt been to the shore in a long time. Joe had taken her to Cumber-land Island after shed left the hellhole but she had no memory of what the island looked like. All she could remember was Joe holding her, Joe talking, Joe holding back the night.

Joe. She had to call Joe. She hadnt spoken to him since before the night theyd gone to the cornfield. She had deliberately avoided calling him and pulling him deeper into this morass. But if she didnt call him soon, hed be storming Barrett House with a SWAT team.

The wind was coming up and blowing the surf into whitecaps before they reached the shore.

Bonnie had liked the ocean. Eve and Sandra had taken her to Pensacola a few times and she had streaked up and down the shore, laughing and chat-tering and looking for seashells.

She closed the car door and walked down to the pier.

Eve.

She didnt turn around at Logans call. She didnt want to go into the house. She didnt want to face him or anything else just then. She needed time for herself.

She pulled off her sandals, sat down on the low pier, and dangled her feet. The water was cool and silken as it flowed against her skin.

She leaned her head against the post, listening to the rush of the sea.

And remembering Bonniehellip;

Are you going after her? Gil said. Shes been out there almost an hour, John.

Soon. God, she looked lonely. I dont think she wants company.

You dont want her to think too much. Thinking can be a dangerous thing. Shes already resentful.

Im tired of driving her, dammit. Let her have some peace.

I doubt if she allows herself to be driven in a di-rection she doesnt want to go.

But its possible to block out every other path so shes forced to take the only one left. Logan had done that since the moment he had met her. He was doing it now.

So was he going to stop because he was having a few twinges of conscience?

Not likely.

So repair her broken trust and use her again. Ill go get her. He went down the porch steps and strode across the sand to the pier.

She didnt look at him as he approached. Go away, Logan.

Its time you came in. Its getting chilly.

Ill come in when Im ready.

He hesitated and then sat down beside her. Ill wait for you. He took off his shoes and socks and dangled his feet in the water.

I dont want you here.

You know, I havent done anything like this since I was in Japan. He gazed out at the ocean. There doesnt seem to be time enough in the day to relax.

Are you trying to bond with me, Logan?

Maybe.

Well, youre not doing it.

No? Too bad. Then, I guess I might as well just sit here and relax.

Silence.

What are you thinking about? he asked.

Not Chadbourne.

Your daughter?

She stiffened. Dont use Bonnie to try to get close to me, Logan. It wont work.

Just curious. I guess I dont understand your ob-session with identifying skulls. Oh, I know your daughter was never found, but you cant expect to

I dont want to talk about it.

I watched you with Mandy and then with Ben Chadbourne. Theres almost ahellip; tenderness.

So Im a little crazy. Everyones a little bonkers on some subject or other, she said jerkily. I assure you I dont think their souls are hanging around those bones.

Do you believe in an everlasting soul?

Sometimes.

Only sometimes?

Okay, most of the time.

He was silent, waiting.

When Bonnie was born, she wasnt like me or Mom or anyone. She was justhellip; herself. All completehellip; and wonderful. How could that be if youre not born with a soul?

And that soul is eternal?

How do I know? Ihellip; think so. I hope so.

Then why are you so passionate about returning those bones to their families? It shouldnt make any difference.

It makes a difference to me.

Why?

Life is important. Life should be treated with re-spect, not tossed away like some useless bit of trash. There should be a hellip; home for everyone. I never had a real home when I was a kid. We moved from tene-ment to tenement. Motel to motel. Mom was It wasnt her fault. But everyone should have a place, a permanent place in the scheme of things. I tried to give Bonnie a home, the best home I could manage, where I could love her and take care of her. When Fraser killed her, I had nightmares about her lying in the forest for the animals to She was silent a mo-ment and her voice was uneven when she spoke again. I wanted her home, where I could take care of her as I always had. Hed taken her life, I didnt want him to take that last bit of caring away from either of us.

I see. Christ, he was seeing more than he wanted to see. Do you still have nightmares?

She was silent again and then she said, No, not nightmares. She swung her legs out of the water and onto the pier. Im going inside. She picked up her sandals and rose to her feet. If your curiosity is satis-fied, Logan.

Not entirely. But youre evidently not going to confide anything else to me.

Youve got that right. She looked down at him. And dont think youve made any headway with this cozy chat. I havent told you anything I wouldnt tell anyone else. Joe and I agreed that it was healthiest for me to talk about Bonnie.

We need to talk about Chadbourne.

No, we dont. Not tonight.

She walked away from him.

Tough lady. Exceptional lady.

He watched her start up the steps of the beach house. The light pouring through the windows shim-mered on her red-brown hair and silhouetted her slim, strong body.

Strong but vulnerable. That body could be hurt and broken and destroyed.

And he could very well be responsible for just that happening.

Maybe trying to reconnect with her hadnt been such a good idea. She had walked away as strong and independent as ever, and he was the one feeling uncertain.

And, yes, perhaps even a little vulnerable.

Ive been thinking, Lisa, Kevin murmured in her ear. Maybe we should What do you think about a baby.

Oh, good God. A child?

He got up on one elbow and gazed down at her. A child would be very popular. Everyone loves kids. If we started now, it would be born right after my next term starts. He hesitated. And Idhellip; like it.

She reached up and stroked his cheek. Do you think I wouldnt? she asked softly. Nothing would please me more. Ive always wanted a child. But its not possible.

Why? You said Chadbourne couldnt have chil-dren, but we can take care of that now.

Im forty-five years old, Kevin.

But there are all those fertility drugs now.

For a moment she was actually tempted. She had spoken the truth; she had always wanted a child. She and Ben had tried so hard to conceive. She remembered him joking and saying what an advantage kids were to any politician, but that was one time she hadnt cared about political advan-tage. Shed wanted someone of her own, someone to belong to her.

Forget it. Impossible. The tears that filled her eyes werent totally for Kevins benefit. Dont talk about it. It hurts me that we cant do it.