“Delighted.” Sam didn’t take his gaze off Kendra. “I’ve missed you. Why do you only call me when you need me?” He added mockingly, “I feel so used.”

“Stop it. We’ve discussed this before, and I don’t want Eve to feel awkward.” She gazed directly into his eyes. “You can’t take too much of me. I scare the hell out of you. You can’t figure me out, and it drives you crazy.”

He smiled crookedly. “You’re right, you drive me crazy. You always have, and you always will.” He turned to Eve. “Sorry. She’s right, I’m being rude. I have a tendency to go after what I want and toss everything else aside.”

“You’re forgiven.” She found herself smiling as she was finally able to discern the words written on his black T-shirt.

The geek shall inherit the earth.

It appeared she had mentally overestimated him. He was claiming to own only the earth, not the universe.

“Thanks.” He gazed at her curiously. “And how do you figure in the game?”

“It’s not a game.” Eve’s smile disappeared. “I have a sister who may have been a prisoner and a victim for over a decade in that hospital. I have to know who is responsible and how I can find her.”

“She’s not in the hospital?”

“No, though they’re trying to tell me that she is.”

He glanced at Kendra. “What do you think?”

“I think she escaped, and if they ever catch up with her that she won’t last a day. Here’s the layout of the hospital. I have an idea how we can get in. I don’t think we should try to get in until after three in the morning.” Kendra drew up the layout of the hospital on her phone. “Can you do any prep work to find out what you’ll need to access their computers?”

“I’ve already done most of it on the way down here. I’ve— It will only take a little while longer.” He took his computer out of his bag. “Order me a pot of coffee.” He glanced up at Kendra with sudden mischief. “You should say, ‘Yes, sir.’ Don’t I deserve a little ego stroking? It’s only in a situation like this that you’d ever take orders from me.”

Kendra’s lips turned up at the corners. “Yes, sir.” She lifted her hand to summon the waitress. “Anything else?”

“Just sit there and let me look at you while I’m working.”

She snorted. “As if you’d pay any attention to anything once you’re in the zone.”

“Subliminal.” His gaze was on the computer screen. “You know about things like that…”

“I seem to be de trop.” Eve got to her feet. “I’m going outside to call Joe. He’ll worry if this is going to go on into the wee hours. I’ll see you later.”

“I was rude again, wasn’t I?” Sam made a face. “She’ll make me pay.”

“No, she won’t. I don’t care if you’re rude. Not if you can get me what I need. Get to work.”

“Yes, Sam, do what she says.” Kendra was chuckling as she leaned back in the booth. “Get to work.”

*   *   *

EVE STEPPED OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT and sat down on the wrought-iron bench at the curb. She was glad to get away from Kendra and Sam for a few moments. They were both clever, quick-witted, and trying their best to help her, but Eve had been trying to suppress the shock and sickness she was feeling ever since she realized that suspicion had become fact. She drew a few deep breaths of cool air before she pulled out her phone. She was dreading this call. Joe wasn’t going to be pleased about being excluded from the action. And she didn’t like going forward without him.

Too bad. Beth Avery was her sister and her responsibility, and she wouldn’t involve Joe in something that was potentially illegal. Potentially? Definitely, illegal. But what then was attempted murder? Just make the call, tell Joe everything that Kendra had found and deduced, then take it on the chin when Joe displayed his displeasure.

She quickly dialed his number. “Joe, here’s what’s happening.”

He was very quiet, asking no questions until she had finished. “So it was poison? No wonder she ran for her life.” He paused. “But I wouldn’t imagine that conium would be used by any of the doctors or staff at the hospital. I’d think that if they were trying to kill her, they’d use a medical derivative to simulate an overdose. Conium is a little exotic.”

“A hit man?”

“Possibly. If Pierce didn’t want to get his hands dirty. He impressed me as a man who always covered his ass.”

Eve had gotten the same impression. “Kendra thinks she had to have someone help her get away that night. And to start her drying out from those drugs.”

“Then we’ll have to see who was around her during the last months.”

“Yes.”

He was silent. “You’re hesitating. Does that mean what I think it means?”

“I have Kendra and Sam. You don’t have to go along.” That sounded wimpy as hell. She added firmly, “You’re not going, Joe. I’m not having you risk your job breaking into that place. Forget it.”

He was cursing softly.

“It’s going to be fine. This Sam evidently knows what he’s doing.”

“And I’m supposed to be comforted by the fact that one of Kendra’s old buddies is a professional thief?”

“He not a thief now. He’s reformed.”

“Except that he jumped at the chance of delving into the old life. No, Eve.”

“I’m not asking, Joe,” she said quietly. “I’ll call you when we leave the hospital. As I said, it will be fine. Sam’s not going to let anything happen to Kendra. Good-bye, Joe.” She hung up and leaned back on the bench, trying to relax the tension that was gripping her muscles.

“I take it he’s not happy.” Kendra sat down beside her on the bench. “Are you still going to go for it?”

“Of course.” Eve stuffed her phone in her pocket. “I have to find her. This isn’t about Joe.”

“You could have fooled me,” Kendra said. “I believe he thinks everything concerning you is about him, too. You’re like two halves of a whole.”

She shook her head. “That sounds sappy. We’re two individuals who happen to love each other so much that it causes us to worry.”

Kendra shrugged. “Describe it how you like. I’m just a simple woman, and I prefer to be sappy.”

“Simple? You?” Eve chuckled. “Not likely.”

“Well, inexperienced in that particular area. I don’t like to dive into deep waters.”

“What about Sam?”

“Oh, we made a few mistakes together. I’ve learned better, but Sam still likes to skate on thin ice. It’s the male thing. But most of the time, we can maintain a decent friendship.” She got to her feet. “Sam’s going to take another hour or so. Don’t stay out here. Come in and have a cup of coffee with me.”

Eve smiled. “Are you being protective now? I assure you that I wasn’t feeling deserted.”

“Why should I be protective? You’re a grown-up. Maybe I want company to ward off Sam.”

“And maybe not.” Kendra was complicated and strange, and Eve couldn’t quite read her. She had an idea that it had been a desire to protect and help that had drawn Kendra out here in spite of her denial. An idea but she wasn’t sure. Yet there was no doubt that talking with Kendra had relieved a little of the tension that had gripped Eve. She was feeling less upset than when she had disconnected from Joe. So accept the good and ignore the uncertainties.

She started toward the glass doors. “At any rate, I could use a cup of coffee.”

Seahaven Behavioral Health Center

EVE CHECKED HER WATCH—3:22 A.M. She glanced at Kendra and Sam kneeling beside her, huddled behind the row of trees lining the service driveway. No sign yet of the kitchen workers arriving for their three-thirty shift.

“Anytime now,” Kendra whispered.

Eve nodded. She could tell that Kendra was as tense and alert as she was, but Sam looked perfectly at ease. If anything, he appeared a little absentminded. He was probably performing mental gymnastics to prepare for his assault on the hospital computer system. He had spent much of the hours after they had left the restaurant in the backseat of the car, trying to hack the system from his laptop. But he eventually realized that the most confidential records would only be accessible within the complex itself.