“Devon. I know you’re scared.” She was gesturing to the two security men who had entered the plane. “Take him to the lab. I’ve set up the tests.” She handed Jane a set of car keys. “I’ll go with your Toby and do an initial exam on the road. You and your pilot can follow in the security jeep.” She pushed by Caleb again as she ran back down the steps. “I’ll see you at the lab.”

“I’m feeling very unimportant and definitely brushed aside,” Caleb said ruefully as he fell into step with Jane as she started toward the jeep. “So much for taking care of the opposition. I take it you trust her?”

“Maybe. I think so. I don’t have much choice. Sarah is very smart, and anyone she hired would have to be exceptional.”

“Really? What do you know about this place?”

“I told you, it’s an experimental facility. It’s already been confirmed by several scientific studies that dogs have certain healing properties. That’s why they permit dogs to be taken to critically ill patients in hospitals. It’s not only psychological, though some critics claim that’s all it is. Well, Sarah became involved with a group that discovered that some dogs have a heightened ability in that area.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “It’s a mystery. That’s why they started this experimental colony. Sarah says that they have a few theories, but they have to have cast-iron proof.”

“And those theories?”

“I didn’t ask her, and I don’t know if she’d tell me if I did. She’s very protective of her dogs.”

“But you’ve known her for years.”

“And she knows I’ve been skeptical. I have to have proof.” She started the jeep. “It’s my nature.”

“But you’re here now.” He smiled faintly. “An atheist in a foxhole?”

“I’m not an atheist, but I admit this is a terribly deep foxhole.” She blinked away the moisture in her eyes so that she could see the taillights ahead of her. “Did you know that Monty, Toby’s sire, was a search-and-rescue dog? He knew all about foxholes and earthquakes and mudslides. He saved my life once when I was a kid. He was the first dog I ever knew and cared about. Sarah knew I loved him, but he would never have left her. So she gave me his first pup, Toby.”

“A half-wolf? Not exactly a tame animal to give a little girl.”

“Toby has the heart of a golden. He was zany and a little clumsy and easily distracted, so he would never have made a rescue dog.” She cleared her throat. “But so much love. I’ve never known any creature that was so loving. Talk about healing? Just the love he gave could make my sadness and pain go away.” She swallowed. “There’s a building up ahead. That must be the lab.”

“Yes.” Caleb reached out and covered her hand resting on the steering wheel. “It will be all right. We’ll make it all right.”

“We don’t have much to say about it.” She pulled to a stop in front of the rambling one-story building. “Right now it’s up to that vet and God.”

Lake Cottage

Atlanta, Georgia

THUNDER …

It was raining hard, Eve realized as she turned over in bed to look at the clock.

One-forty in the morning.

She had drifted off to sleep about midnight, but it had been a restless slumber. The thunder must have woke her.

Go back to sleep.

She lay there for ten minutes, then sat up and swung her feet to the floor.

Get a glass of water and try again.

She stood at the bedroom window and watched the rain hitting against the windowpane as she drank the water. She always loved the sound of the rain on the roof and the lake. It was wild and yet strangely comforting. Usually, she went out on the porch and sat with the veil of rain surrounding her.

Not tonight.

This was good enough and she—

Headlights speared the darkness.

She tensed.

A car was coming down the lake road.

She set the glass down and stepped closer to the window.

Lightning flashed.

She released the breath she’d been holding.

Foolish. It was the patrol car Joe had set up to cruise by the cottage.

Poor guy, he probably hadn’t counted on driving through this awful rain. She’d have to find out with whom Joe had made the arrangement and make it up to him. But even if it wasn’t necessary, the sight of that patrol car did give her a feeling of comfort.

She went back to the bed and crawled under the covers. Jane must have arrived at the island, but Eve hadn’t heard from her yet. She hoped that was good and not bad for Toby. She remembered how Toby had tried to crawl up on Jane’s bed during a thunderstorm when he was a puppy. How many times had Eve come into Jane’s room to see them curled up together? She had always turned a blind eye. She had just been glad Jane had formed an attachment that could not hurt her and only be healthy. She’d always been so alone …

Get well, Toby. God, don’t let her lose him yet.

*   *   *

SHE HAD GONE BACK TO BED, Doane thought as he took the earphone out of his ear. It was clear Eve Duncan was restless from the movements he had heard in the cottage.

Why not? A woman who dealt with the dead would naturally be highly sensitive.

Do you feel me out here, Eve?

Or are you worried about your Jane? She had talked to Jane MacGuire a few hours ago, and the affection between them was very obvious. Affection and a protective bond that was as clear as sunlight. He had been right to take measures to remove Jane MacGuire.

He had enough problems with trying to avoid that patrol car that was making rounds. He had thought Venable was responsible for that before he’d monitored the call between Joe Quinn and Eve earlier. Of course, Venable could still have done something to trigger Quinn’s concern.

“Difficulties, Kevin,” he whispered. She’s not as alone and fragile as I thought. I expected it to be easier. I planned it so well. Just the way we did when you were alive.

He looked up at the window of Eve’s bedroom. The rain was striking the sheet of glass between them. She didn’t realize how vulnerable she was as she lay in that bed.

Not yet.

Sleep well, Eve. I’ll get back to you.

I have things to do.

*   *   *

JANE STRAIGHTENED AS DEVON BRADY came into the small waiting room at the lab facility. It had been over an hour since the vet had taken Toby into the examination room and told them she’d get back with a report as soon as she could. “Is he okay? What can you do for him?”

“No, he’s not okay,” Devon said gently. “He’s failing. I think you know that’s true.”

“Don’t tell me that. Tell me what you can do for him. I didn’t bring him all this way to have you tell me he’s going to die. What’s wrong with him? With all these instruments and research files, surely you know more than that doctor in London.”

“It could be several things, but it doesn’t fit in any one slot. Respiratory failure, but for what reason? His lungs look fine and so do—” She broke off. “I know you don’t want to hear details and guesses.”

“No, I want you to tell me how you’re going to cure him,” she whispered. “You can find a way, right?”

“Maybe. But first I have to find out what it is we have to cure.”

“Then do it.”

“I intend to make every effort. I’ve called in a consultant to help me, but I had to get your permission.” She checked her watch. “She should be here in another five minutes. I had to call and roust her out of bed.”

“Why didn’t you have her here when we came from the airfield?” Caleb asked.

“I didn’t know I’d need her. I had your vet’s records, and I trust myself in most cases. I thought I’d be able to make a diagnosis.” She shrugged. “And you’re having enough to deal with right now. I didn’t want to upset you unless it was necessary.”

“Why should I be any more upset than I am right now?” Jane asked.