But a muddy rural area made it almost impossible to erase others.

And since when did she give a damn what anybody thought of her? She was here for Eve and no one else.

Eve.

Kendra didn’t make friends easily, but her bond with Eve was strong and genuine. She had been touched by Eve’s strength and her quiet struggle to move beyond her daughter’s murder, which had defined her for so long. Now that Bonnie had finally been laid to rest, she could see a sense of freedom in Eve, not unlike the sudden freedom she herself had felt when she was finally given the gift of sight.

Kendra rounded the bend and passed a cluster of tall pines. There, near the lake, was what she was sure was Eve’s cottage. Half a dozen cars parked out front in a haphazard fashion and every light was ablaze. She could almost feel the tension radiating from the premises.

Kendra parked the rental car and climbed out. A front-window curtain parted slightly, and a moment later the door opened and a familiar silhouette appeared on the porch. Slim, powerful, every muscle tense and alert. He was always a presence to be reckoned with but tonight she could almost feel the intensity. His tea-colored eyes were narrowed as he watched her come toward him.

“You could have waited until tomorrow,” Joe Quinn said. “But I’m glad as hell you didn’t.”

“You expect me to get a call like yours and just sit around twiddling my thumbs?” She reached the top step of the porch and gave him a quick hug. “Any news?”

“Only that General Tarther, who was on Doane’s hit list, was shot and killed. We suspect Terence Blick, Doane’s accomplice, but he hasn’t been apprehended. Seth Caleb, a friend of Jane’s, was in the area trying to guard the general and we hoped to hear from him but nothing so far.”

“I’d say that’s a substantial piece of news all right. Anything else?”

“We’ve been trying to pull a car that belonged to Doane from the lake.” He nodded at the far end of the lake that was lit by floodlights and teeming with people and machinery. “We think Doane stole the truck of a farmer who lives nearby, then drove his own car into the lake.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I have no idea. That’s why I’m curious to get a look at that car and see if it can tell us anything.” He added grimly, “Besides the fact that it might serve as a coffin for that farmer Doane stole the truck from. He’s disappeared.”

“It would have to be something else.” Kendra took a step closer to the porch rail and looked out at the crane that was dipping into the water. “That’s a complicated way to dispose of a body when he could just bury it. Why haven’t you been able to pull the car up yet?”

“The lake’s very deep at that area. First, we had to verify that the car was really there. There was no sign of entry.”

She turned to look at him. “Then why did you bother to start looking there?”

Joe hesitated. “We had an informant.”

“Someone saw Doane drive the car into the lake?”

“Something like that.”

“Who?”

“It’s difficult to—forget it. Let’s just say it was … anonymous.”

“No, I won’t forget it.” She frowned. “I’m feeling too much in the dark. I’m not going to tolerate your keeping things from me. A witness could save us a great deal of time. What else did you find out?”

“Nothing. It was a one-shot deal. I’m not going to be able to squeeze anything else out of the informant.”

“Let me talk to him.”

“He’s already been released.” He added harshly, “Drop it. Do you think I would have let anyone get away from me if there were a chance he could help Eve? I’ll tell you about him later.”

“I’d still like to—” She broke off and shrugged. “You don’t have to be so touchy.”

“Yes, I do.” He drew a ragged breath. “I didn’t mean to bark at you. I’m on edge. For a while we were fooling ourselves, thinking that Eve might not be in real danger. Doane kept everything low-key, and he’s always been plausible. But now we know Doane was willing to kill at least three people to get Eve.”

“Eve’s smart. It doesn’t mean he’ll kill her.”

“Not until he’s done with her.” Joe looked back at the floodlights on the lake. “But after that she’s a witness and a—”

“I told you, she’s a smart woman. Either she’ll escape, or she’ll find a way to stay alive until we find her.”

“I agree.” The woman who had spoken was standing in the doorway. She stepped forward and extended her hand. “I’m Jane MacGuire. You’re Kendra Michaels?”

Kendra clasped her hand in both of hers, more as a gesture of comfort than greeting. Jane MacGuire was exuding a combination of strength and fragility at this moment. Kendra was not an instinctive caregiver, but she felt a sudden desire to shelter and protect. “Yes. Joe told me you’d been wounded. How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been shot by a high-powered rifle.” Jane half smiled. “Aside from that, just fine.”

Kendra smiled back. Jane was truly beautiful. She had Eve’s coloring, hazel eyes, red-brown hair, and fine features but while Eve was interesting-looking Jane had glamour. Although Jane was adopted, she also had some of Eve’s mannerisms, her purposeful walk, and the ability to deflect others’ concern while smiling through her pain. She might be a total person in her own right, but there was no doubt about it, Jane was every bit Eve’s daughter.

Jane moved a step closer to her. “Eve told me about you. You impressed her. She’d be happy to know that you came here to help us.”

“Nothing could have kept me away.”

“We can use all the help we can get, but … you’re a music therapist, right? That’s your specialty?”

Kendra sighed. It was coming. She had hoped to avoid it, particularly with Eve’s daughter. But Jane was so like Eve that she should have expected it. Explore. No trust. Perform. “Yes.”

“I’m having difficulty understanding what you can do to help. I realize you did some amateur investigating work with Joe, but is it enough to prove value in our case?”

Joe moved toward Jane. “I asked her to come here.”

Jane’s eyes met Kendra’s with a hint of a challenge. She said softly, “Maybe there are too many cooks in the kitchen already.”

“Jane, don’t be—” Joe stopped and smiled slightly. “What the hell, go ahead.”

Kendra nodded. “Oh, we intend to, Quinn. It’s okay, I understand where she’s going. Believe me, I’ve been involved in enough investigations and seen too many crime scenes spoiled by investigators stepping all over each other. You’ve already had more than your share. You’ve had what, nineteen different law-enforcement officers here in the last day and a half? Eleven FBI, six local police, two CIA, give or take. Fourteen men and five women in all.”

Jane wrinkled her brow and glanced at Joe. “Is that correct?”

“Hell if I know, but it sounds about right.”

Kendra jammed her hands into her pockets and walked slowly around Jane.

“I know you were born here in Georgia, or at least lived here before you can remember. You’ve spent a lot of time in Europe, especially Paris, and probably lived there for a while. But you’ve been living in London for at least the past several months.”

Jane glanced at Joe. “Did you or Eve tell her that?”

“Possible. But I don’t think so.”

Kendra shook her head. “In London, you lived in an older building, in a second-floor walk-up apartment. Or maybe even higher.”

“Third floor,” Jane said. “And now you definitely have my attention.”

“You used to have a very nice pair of Gucci sunglasses, but you misplaced them. You must have liked them. You’re still hoping they’ll turn up before you take the plunge and have to buy them again. But it’s been what, three months?”

Jane thought for a moment. “Two.”

“In the meantime you’ve been wearing an inexpensive pair that are a little uncomfortable for you. They look similar to the ones you lost, but they’re not the same, are they?”