Eve smiled faintly. “Now you’re just showing off.”

“Maybe a little.”

Eve stared her directly in the eye. “I can be as determined and stubborn as you are, you know. You’ll get tired of saying no to me. We’ll work it out.” She turned and walked out of the studio before Kendra could answer.

“I feel as if I’ve gone through a tornado.” Joe was chuckling as he fell into step with her as they went out to the car. “Though I should have expected it when I brought two strong women together and set them against each other.”

“And then stepped back and let me handle the battle,” she said dryly. “Why?”

“I thought you had a better chance with her. She was already antagonistic toward me.” He opened the car door for her. “And you did well.”

“Sparks. Lots of sparks.” She added thoughtfully, “But she’s astonishing. She could help us, Joe.”

“That’s what I told you. And that was a minor demonstration. I’ve seen her do things that were positively stunning.”

“And she’ll be difficult.” She gestured impatiently. “But that doesn’t matter. You’re right, Joe, she’s worth it.” She looked back at the studio. “Look, we have some time. I’m going to go to the hotel to shower and wash my hair. Then we’ll—stop laughing, Joe.”

“It’s amusing. I knew that you wouldn’t be able to keep from washing her criticism away.” He sniffed teasingly. “Even though it’s totally unnecessary. I can’t smell even the faintest hint of jet fuel about you.”

“But she could, so it must be there. I’ll just make sure to get rid of it.” She added thoughtfully, “And I’ve been wondering what it must be like to be surrounded by obnoxious scents that no one else even notices.”

“It could work the other way, too. Some scents are wonderful.” He kissed her cheek. “And you smell just fine.”

“You’re biased. I’ll still take that shower. Then we’ll go to lunch and give her four hours to call us. That should be enough time. She wants her part in this over quickly. She has a deadline with her Justin.”

“And if she doesn’t call us?”

That was a distinct possibility. Eve had annoyed Kendra, pushed her and guilted her into taking on a job that she didn’t want. But Eve had an idea that the comparison she had drawn between Beth’s prison and the life Kendra had led when blind would weigh heavily on her. Heavily enough to swing Kendra into their camp?

What would they do if Eve had guessed wrong?

“Why, then we’ll just have to go after her, Joe.”

*   *   *

KENDRA CALLED JOE THREE HOURS LATER. “Come and get me at the studio. I’m leaving my car here.”

“You’re going to help us?”

“Don’t pretend you’re surprised. You brought Eve Duncan here to draw me into the web. She did it.” She paused. “I don’t like the fact that she read me that well.”

“You should talk. The pot calling the kettle black.”

“Maybe. But I still feel uneasy. You’re good at manipulation, Quinn, but she goes deeper beneath the surface. That can be dangerous. What is she to you?”

Joe looked at Eve in the seat next to him. “Everything,” he said simply. “So you’d better give her what she wants, Kendra.”

“Is she listening?”

“Yes, you’re on speaker.”

“Good, then I won’t have to repeat myself. I don’t care what she wants. I don’t care what you want. I’ve spent time helping patients in mental institutions. If it’s possible that there are abuses happening at this one, it needs to be looked into. I just don’t want this Beth Avery to be a victim. There are too many victims in this world.” She continued brusquely. “Look, I have to be through with this job by day after tomorrow. I don’t have time for you to find a way to get into that hospital. Since they know you, it would be too risky. So you’re out of it. I’ve arranged to do it myself.”

“Really? And how did you accomplish that?”

“I called my mother two hours ago and told her that I needed a favor.” She added bitterly, “You don’t know what a sacrifice that was. My mother always demands a payback.”

“Your mother?”

“She’s Professor Deanna Michaels with UC San Diego. She’s a noted historical authority but she has mega influence with every political, medical, and educational board in the state. I told her I needed a valid reason to be given free access at that hospital tomorrow morning. She just called back and told me it was set up, and they’d welcome me with open arms.”

“Your mother appears to be very efficient. How did she manage that?”

“She had the lieutenant governor contact Harry Pierce, the chief administrator, and tell him that they were sending a music therapist to examine the facilities and records to see if the hospital would be a candidate for a state grant to help the treatment of the inmates.”

“State grant? California is almost broke.”

“So? That wouldn’t stop a liberal government from funding mental-health initiatives. Believe me, no one will question it. Once I’m accepted inside, I’ll find a way to get rid of the escort they give me and get the information you need. I’ll be ready to leave here in an hour to drive to Santa Barbara. We’ll check into a motel for the night, and I’ll be ready to storm the gates at eight in the morning.”

“We’ll be ready to storm the gates,” Eve corrected. “You’re right, Joe can’t come, but there’s no reason for me not to go with you. You can get me in as your assistant.”

“You don’t look like an assistant.”

“I can be unobtrusive. I’m going.”

Silence. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow morning. Come and get me.” She hung up.

Eve smiled faintly as Joe pressed the disconnect. “It appears she’s jumped into the fray with both feet.”

“She doesn’t know any other way.” He started the car. “But she’s right, you don’t appear subordinate in the least. Even when you’re trying to be unobtrusive, you can’t turn off what you are.”

She shrugged. “Then that’s her problem. She obviously wants to run things. Let her find a way to get me in under the radar.”

He smiled. “I’d like to go along and watch. It would be a hell of a lot more amusing for me than staying at the hotel and researching Pierce and all of the hospital personnel.”

“Somehow, I don’t believe tomorrow is going to be in the least amusing,” she said dryly. “But it will definitely be challenging.”

*   *   *

KENDRA MICHAELS WAS WAITING outside the door of her studio with a duffel and a guitar case beside her when they pulled up an hour later. “Right on time.” She opened the rear door and got into the car. “I just finished and locked up.”

“A guitar? I don’t really think that will be necessary,” Eve said.

“It is for me. It relaxes me to play when I’m in a strange place.”

“And do you always have extra luggage at your studio?” Eve’s gaze was on the duffel Kendra had thrown on the seat beside her.

“Yes, I do make house calls if my students need me.” She met Joe’s gaze in the rearview mirror as he drove out of the parking lot. “And I can never tell when I’ll need to take off on one of these missions impossible the authorities throw at me.”

Joe smiled. “But they’re not impossible for you, Kendra.”

“I wasn’t referring to myself,” she said bluntly. “And they shouldn’t be impossible for the police or FBI if they’d just block out everything around them and concentrate on what’s before them. Then I wouldn’t have to be involved. And that goes for you, too, Quinn. You’re very perceptive and smart as a whip. You should apply yourself.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, but I have an idea that I’d have to go around blindfolded a year or two to even approach your skill. Frankly, I don’t have the time.”

“Not when you can call on me,” she said dryly.

“Exactly,” he murmured.

“Don’t get cocky. You brought in reinforcements. Your Eve is the one who got me on board.” Her gaze shifted to Eve. “And I’ll do better on my own. Change your mind about going in with me.”