We dont know, Logan said. Intensive care.

Im sorry, Margaret told Eve. You okay?

Eve nodded.

Hows Sandra? She was pretty fond of him, wasnt she?

Yes. Her eyes were stinging. Change the sub-ject. Dont think about Joe. She wont be going with you. Shes staying here.

Margaret frowned. Do you think thats a good idea?

No, but she does. She wont listen to me.

Perhaps I could talk to

Shes through listening, Logan said. Now, you and Pilton take off.

Pilton deserves a bonus, you know, Margaret pointed out. He never figured hed be a fugitive when he took the job. The police will be looking for him.

Then give him a bonus.

A big bonus. Hes been a good

Wheres Fiskes car? Eve asked suddenly. Did you find it?

Pilton found it. It was parked in the driveway of an empty rental property about two miles from our cottage.

Did you clean it out?

Clean as a whistle. We dumped everything from the glove compartment and the trunk into garbage bags. Then I drove the car to the airport and left it in the long-term lot.

Where are the bags?

In the back of the van.

Eve moved toward the van. Lets get them, Logan.

Margaret watched them toss the garbage bags into the backseat of their car. You think he had something important?

I dont know, Eve said. Probably not, since he was a professional. But we dont have any other leads.

Be careful with that bigger bag. There was enough firepower in Fiskes trunk to start a small war, Margaret said as she climbed back in the van. A rifle, two handguns, shells, a few boxes that con-tained some kind of electronic bugging equipment. He didnt believe in traveling light. She smiled grimly at them. Good luck. Be sure you keep alive, John. The bonus Im going to charge you for my part in this mess is going to make Piltons look sick.

Eve was already crawling into the backseat as Piltons van left the parking lot. Ill look through the bags. You drive. She opened the bigger bag first. What did she know about weapons? That she didnt like them, that they frightened her, that to her they represented only violence and horror.

But they hadnt frightened Fiske. He had used these weapons. They wouldnt frighten Lisa Chadbourne. She had ordered their use.

Eve put her forefinger on the barrel of the rifle. The metal was warm, smooth, almost pleasing to the touch. Somehow she had expected it to be cold. Find anything? Logan asked.

Nothing she had wanted to find. Not yet.

I bet there wont be any way to trace those guns to Lisa Chadbourne.

I know. Lisa would leave no trail that could lead back to her. Eves search was probably hopeless.

To lose hope was to admit defeat. Shed be damned if shed lose hope.

She pushed the first bag aside and started on the second. Rental car papers in a green folder, a first-class ticket to Washington on Delta Airlines, an air-line schedule, a few receipts from restaurants, two in Atlanta, one in Bainbridge.

Bainbridge.

Dont think about Bainbridge. Dont think about the motel room where Gary had died.

A folded piece of paper. Another receipt?

She unfolded the paper.

She went rigid.

A list of several names. Some typewritten, some inked in.

Her own name, Logans, Joes, her mothers

And two other names that caused her eyes to widen in shock.

My God.

She forced herself to continue down the list.

Gary Kessler. Neatly crossed off.

She stared down blindly at Garys name.

Just another name on the list.

Gil had said Fiske was obsessed with neatness and efficiency. So kill a man and cross him off the list.

What is it? Logan was looking at her face in the rearview mirror.

A list. Garys name. She folded the paper and stuffed it into her purse. Shed look at it again later and think about it harder. It hurt too much just then. She went through the other papers. Nothing else of interest. Find us a place to stop.

A motel?

No, theyll be looking for us in this area. Shell wonder why she hasnt heard from Fiske and there will be discreet inquiries. Theyll find out about Joe.

Joe.

She quickly shied away from the thought of him. When she remembered Joe in that hospital, she couldnt focus on anything else.

You know we should leave this vicinity.

No, Joe may need me.

Youre not being reasonable. You cant even go to

I dont care. She couldnt leave Joe, not when she didnt know whether he was going to live or die. Just find us a place to stop for a while. I need to think.

Ive already been thinking. I believe we should contact Peter Brown, the reporter on that Atlanta newspaper.

Maybe. She rubbed her aching temple. But hes Joes friend. We really need Joe to

Joe again. They needed Joe. She needed Joe.

The memories came flooding back. Joe stopping by her lab to nag her for working too hard. Joe joking with her, talking quietly and

Just relax, Logan said. We dont have to de-cide anything this minute. Ill drive for a while and see if I can find somewhere unobtrusive to park.

Logan stopped at a McDonalds ten miles south of Gainesville and bought burgers and Cokes to go. He pulled off the highway and drove on a bumpy dirt road for another five miles, then stopped several yards from a large pond.

This should be private enough. Logan turned off the engine. Though theres probably a farm-house over that next hill. Its not easy finding a spot of wilderness in this day and age.

How far are we from the hospital?

Driving fast, forty minutes. He got out of the car, grabbed Bens case, and came around and opened her door. Come on, lets walk down by that pond. I think we both need some exercise.

Anything to release a little of this tension. She picked up her handbag and joined him.

The pond was muddy and the bank slippery. It must have rained recently. The sun was starting to go down, casting glittering bars of light on the waters surface.

After thirty minutes Logan asked, Better?

No. Yes. She stopped beside a tree and leaned her cheek against the trunk. I dont know, Logan.

I want to help you. Dammit, tell me how to help you.

Make Gary rise from the dead. Tell me Joes going to get well.

She shook her head.

Quinns not the only one who can help you. Let me try.

She sank down on the ground. Ill be okay, Logan. I just have to think. I know theres a way to end it, but it has to come clear and Im not thinking clearly.

Are you hungry?

No.

You should be. You havent eaten in nearly twenty-four hours.

Bubba Blues Barbecue. Gary had ordered food deliveredhellip;

You stay here. He set Bens case down beside her. Ill go bring the food to you.

She watched him stride up the slope. Get a grip, she thought in disgust. She was behaving like a wimp and he was worried about her. The cold calculation of Garys name on that list had thrown her into a tail-spin, and it was taking her a little time to rec

Her phone was ringing.

Mom?

She dug frantically in her purse for the phone.

Eve?

Lisa Chadbourne.

Eve started to shake. Damn you. Damn you to hell.

You gave me no choice. I tried to give you a way out.

And then you killed Gary.

Fiske killed No, I wont deny it. I told him I wanted it done.

And did you tell him to kill Joe too?

No, that wasnt in the immediate plan.

But she wasnt denying it might be on her agenda. Hes dying.

And I assume the dead man who was found with him was Fiske?

He tried to kill Joe.

Evidently he didnt succeed. I understand Quinn may still live.

Hed better.

Are you threatening me? I can understand your bitterness, but havent you realized that you cant win? How many more people have to die, Eve?

You dont have Fiske anymore.

Timwick will find a substitute. Quinn is very vulnerable now. Hes on life support, isnt he?