Eve followed him into the studio. “By all means.”

“Hello, Quinn.” Kendra looked beyond him to Eve. “Who is she? My appointment was with you.”

“But the job that we’re asking you to do is for her. Eve Duncan, Dr. Kendra Michaels.”

“I’m very glad to meet you,” Eve said. “Joe seems to think that you can help us. I’d be very grateful if you’d try.”

“No, it’s not going to happen,” Kendra said. “Quinn knew the answer before he even brought you here. In our last encounter, he backed me into a corner and manipulated me to get what he wanted. In the end, it was for a good cause, but it’s not going to happen again.”

“You haven’t heard what we want,” Eve said. “And if Joe manipulated you, he had good reason.” She met her gaze. “You must have thought the same thing, or you wouldn’t have allowed it to happen. Joe said you’re tough, but you weren’t tough enough to let a serial killer be free to kill and kill again. I watched you with that little boy, and I don’t think that you’re as hard as you’re pretending. Joe seems to believe you can do what we need, but I have my doubts. It all sounds pretty bizarre. Now listen, and I’ll tell you the situation and what we want from you.”

Kendra held Eve’s gaze for an instant, then she glanced at her watch. “You have twenty minutes. I’ll hear you out but I’m sure my answer won’t change. I’m incredibly busy with my work.”

She wasn’t budging, Eve thought with frustration. “In the end, that’s your decision.” She briefly and concisely outlined Sandra’s story and what they’d found out about the hospital and Beth’s mental impairment and the Avery connection.

Kendra looked at Eve without expression after she’d fallen silent. “That’s everything?”

“Yes.” Eve wasn’t about to bring up the dreams she’d had about Beth running for her life. It would just be another reason for Kendra to refuse. “And it should be enough for you.”

“It’s enough for me to see why you’re so concerned. But you don’t really have much to go on.” She glanced at Joe. “You’re not talking much. I’m surprised you’re leaving it all up to her.”

He smiled at Eve. “She can handle it.”

“Can she?” Her glance shifted back to Eve. “The answer is still no. Sorry.”

Eve felt a rush of irritation mixed with pure anger at the woman’s stubbornness. “Why not, dammit? Listen, we just want you to go with us to the hospital and take a look around. If Joe is right about you, you could be a big help up there, especially if we can manage to see her room. No big deal. It shouldn’t take you long just to try.”

“It would be a day away from my students, and that can seem a lifetime to some of these kids. I’m near a breakthrough with two of them. Justin’s very close.” She added fiercely, “Do you know that he hasn’t smiled or cried in three years? He’s been locked in an emotional vacuum. I’m not going to let him take a step back just because you want me to play your game.”

“Your game,” Joe corrected. “You set the rules, Kendra. Most of the time, I can’t even see through your hijinks to where you’re going.”

“It’s not hijinks. It’s just observation,” Kendra said impatiently. “And I don’t have time for it. I have a passion in life, and it’s the work I do here. I never wanted to play at being a detective. That’s your passion in life, Quinn, not mine.”

Eve was getting impatient. “Joe, this is ridiculous. I refuse to beg her to do something I don’t even have faith she can do. Is she really worth it?”

Joe nodded. “She’s worth it.”

She was silent a moment before turning back to Kendra. “Okay, then you’ve got to do it.”

Kendra’s brows rose. “Really? And how are you going to ensure that?”

“You’ll do it because you have no choice. Everyone responds to their own personal drummer. You may be as tough as Joe says you are, but you did what was right about helping him track down that killer because he struck the right note. You couldn’t stand the thought of helpless children being possible victims. And you have a career that enables you to protect helpless children from their own disabilities.”

“And your point is?”

“You can’t resist fighting for those who are young or helpless, it’s part of your DNA.”

“Interesting analysis. But Beth Avery is no child and may not even be a victim.”

“But what if she is a victim?” She took a step closer to Kendra, and her voice vibrated with intensity. “Yes, you’re drawn to children, but I believe that fighting for Beth Avery may be just as appealing to you. Because if she was kept prisoner all those years, it would be a hideous crime. Can you imagine it? Joe told me that you went a little wild after you gained your sight. Tell me, did it seem like getting out of prison not to be blind any longer?”

She didn’t speak for a moment. “You’re very good, Eve Duncan. While I was blind I tried to do everything, hone every sense, so that it wouldn’t be a prison. I didn’t realize I hadn’t succeeded until that surgeon took off my bandages.”

“Beth Avery has been in that hospital since she was seventeen. The drugs she was given didn’t allow her to even try to keep it from being a prison. Don’t you think she should have someone just check to see if she deserves to be in that place? Joe thinks something shady is going on. That surgeon set you free. You could help us do the same for Beth Avery, dammit.”

Kendra shook her head. “I don’t want to do this.”

Eve could see the beginning of a crack in her resistance. “I can understand that you have priorities. We can work it out.”

Kendra was silent for a long moment. “What exactly do you want from me?”

“As Eve said, we want you to go there with us,” Joe said quickly. “To see the hospital, her room, and the staff. We want your impressions.”

Kendra’s expression didn’t change, Eve noticed. Was she actually considering it?

“In the meantime, we’ll also be looking for a way to access the computer medical records on Beth Avery. We want to see if she had a reason to run away from that hospital. We want to verify that the patient they’ve produced that they claim is Beth Avery is a ringer. We want to know everything we can find out about her in the quickest amount of time.”

“You’re not going to find all that in her medical records.”

“Exactly,” Joe said. “That’s why we need you.”

Kendra smiled, and, for the first time, Eve glimpsed the faintest hint of the warmth she had shown her student. But only a flash; and then it was gone. “I’m glad I impressed you on our last case, Quinn, but I’m not a miracle worker. I can’t see what’s not there.”

“If you tell me there’s nothing, then I’ll believe there’s nothing. But I’ll only believe it if you give it a shot and tell me that.”

She was silent. “It better not take long. I don’t have time to waste on this.”

“You’ll do it?” Eve asked.

“I didn’t say that. I’ll consider it. I’ll let you know.” She turned away. “Now please get out of here. I have to study my notes on my next patient.”

“You need to let us know soon,” Eve said. “There may not be much time to—”

“If you’re pushing me for an immediate answer, then it’s no,” Kendra said sharply. “I said I’d think about it, which is more consideration than I give 90 percent of the people who want me to leave my work to help out on their cases. I’m more aware of time constraints than you are. I have an appointment with Justin day after tomorrow that I’ve got to keep. I’m not even sure going to that hospital isn’t a complete waste of time.”

“And I’m not sure that bringing you in to help isn’t a complete waste of time,” Eve said with equal sharpness. “You’ll have to show me. But if we’re going to do it, let’s do it right. Stop dithering.” She turned toward the door. “Come on, Joe.”

“I don’t dither.” Kendra’s hands were clenched at her sides. “And I’m never a waste of time. Show you? Where the hell do you get the nerve to demand that I perform like some Vegas acrobat?”