“Be for real,” Galen repeated as he tilted his head and studied her expression.

“You’re taking my theory seriously?”

Eve slowly nodded. She had to take it seriously. She didn’t want to believe any of it, but she had been exposed to brutality and deception for most of her life and certainly all her career. She shuddered. “To sit there and watch her… Jesus, it sounds so… cold-blooded.”

“No more cold-blooded than trying to kill you.”

“And why would anyone want to kill me?”

“Maybe we should ask Mr. Melton.”

“You think it’s the reconstruction?”

“It’s a logical connection. And I’m not sure I buy this story Melton’s spinning. I don’t like all this secrecy. They know you like working away from the media glare; that knowledge gives them another excuse to bring you here instead of sending you that skull. Don’t you think it might be wise for you to pack your bags and head home?”

Eve rejected that suggestion immediately. No way was she going home. “There’s no proof that this is anything but food poisoning. Maybe there’s no money in that safety-deposit box. Or maybe Marie was saving money for years and just got around to depositing it.”

He lifted a skeptical brow.

“I liked her, Galen.”

“Few people are completely rotten. Some just have a streak or two. But those streaks can be enough to hurt you. And what about that missing skeleton? Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Of course it bothers me. It means there’s somebody who doesn’t want Melton to identify this man. But most of the skulls I work on are victims, and it’s not the first time I’ve had this problem. If I stopped work every time I thought there was someone out there who didn’t want me to do it, I’d never finish any reconstructions.“ Galen studied her face. “And you’re curious about this reconstruction, aren’t you?

You really want to do it.”

She nodded. “I really do. Harold Bently sounds like a man I’d admire. I hate the idea of him ending up discarded in a swamp like a piece of garbage. I want to know…” She shrugged. “And it’s intriguing.”

“Maybe a little too intriguing.” Galen stood. “Okay, we’ll go with it. I know if you want to do it, there’s no way I’ll be able to talk you out of it. But I’m not going to fade into the background as I’d planned.”

“I’m sure that would have been a first.”

“I can be unobtrusive.” He grinned. “It’s just not so much fun.” He moved toward the door. “But I’m going with you to the church every day. And I’m your official food taster. I stay with you night and day. Agreed?”

“This may all be for nothing.”

“But you feel safer, don’t you? How could you not with me on the job?” Eve made a rude sound.

“That was indelicate.” He glanced at her over his shoulder. “You’re sure I shouldn’t tell Quinn about this?”

“I’m sure.”

He gave a mock shiver at her tone. “Just checking. The situation between you two seems to be taking on some heat.”

She stared at him challengingly. “What’s the matter? Can’t you handle it, Galen?”

“That was a low blow. You’re a tough lady. I heard you grew up on the streets. I can believe it.”

“Takes one to know one. I’m sure Atlanta is no tougher than Liverpool.”

“No, it isn’t.” Galen nodded. “Okay. No Quinn.”

She watched the door swing shut behind him.

No Quinn.

The words echoed in her mind. Joe Quinn had been a part of her life for so long, the idea of his not being there was practically incomprehensible. It would take time to understand what it meant.

Could she become accustomed to Joe not being in her life? Eve wasn’t sure whether it would hurt more to cut the ties between them or to live with what he had done. She didn’t know and she didn’t want to think about it right now. She didn’t want to think of anything but the work she had come here to do. She would do the reconstruction, and then perhaps send for Jane and go to New Orleans for a while.

She should see something besides her little corner of the world. She didn’t have to go home.

And the idea of Marie Letaux making an attempt on her life was as bizarre as the ugly picture Galen had drawn of the way Marie might have died. No one could be that cold-blooded.

Yes, they could. Bonnie’s killer had been that kind of monster, and she had known other murderers equally terrible. She just didn’t want that kind of horror to touch her now when she was trying to work through a horror of her own. She didn’t want it to be true.

Maybe it wasn’t. Galen’s experience had made him suspect everyone and everything. Well, let him be suspicious. Let him protect her. It wouldn’t hurt.

Not if it would allow her the freedom of mind to get her work done.

“I know you didn’t want any interference, Jules,” Melton said. “I attempted to get her to dismiss him, but she’s being very stubborn about it. I wanted you to know that I’m not letting the matter lie. I’m going to call a few people and see what kind of pressure they can put on him to nudge him out of the situation.”

“Leave him alone,” Hebert said. “He’s not going to be a problem for us.” There was a silence on the other end of the line. “Perhaps I should send you a dossier on him?”

“I already have one.”

“And you don’t think he could be troublesome?”

“I believe he’ll be more troublesome if we try to get rid of him. I want her mind at rest when she’s working on the skull. Galen’s presence will assure that she feels entirely safe and secure.”

“Yes, that’s important.” Melton was silent a moment. “I was uneasy when I heard about the food poisoning. It was an accident?”

“Of course it was.” It was a half-truth. It was an accident that Eve Duncan had not died.

“I’ve just been told that Marie Letaux was found dead of food poisoning a few hours ago.”

“Then that should prove it was an accident to you.”

“Should it? What about those deaths last month? They were supposed to be accidents, too.”

“And probably were.” Hebert added mockingly, “You’re getting paranoid. Have you started looking over your shoulder lately, Melton?”

“I have a right to be concerned, dammit.” A pause. “First Etienne, and now this.

Another very curious incident. They seem to be hovering around you like a dark cloud.”

Hebert ignored the implication. “Is she hesitating about doing the reconstruction?”

“Yes, but I believe she’s still eager to do it. We just have to push the right buttons.”

“That’s what we need. Eagerness… and speed.”

“She’ll be released tomorrow and I think she’ll want to start work at once.”

“That’s good. I’ll make sure that she does. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.” Hebert hung up.

Melton was suspicious, but not enough to cause Jules any immediate problems.

Melton wouldn’t make a move until after Boca Raton. The Cabal needed things to go smoothly, and advance preparations took time and effort. They wouldn’t want to bring in someone new at this point.

Hebert leaned back in his chair and covered his eyes with his hand. He could feel the panic rising within him and he must crush it down. He’d had to lie to Melton, but things were still under control. Events were escalating, and he had to move fast to keep from being caught and drowned in their wake. God, Eve Duncan was strong.

He had felt her fighting to live. Too bad that her struggle was for nothing, he thought sadly.

Because the way things were going, there was no way he could let her survive.

“You scared me, Mama,” Bonnie said.

Eve looked across the hospital room to see Bonnie curled up in a visitor’s chair by the window. The nurse had turned out the light forty minutes ago, but the moonlight streaming in the window lit Bonnie’s curly red-brown hair. It was too dim to see the freckles marching across her nose. Her small body was dressed in jeans and a Bugs Bunny T-shirt, as it always was when she came to Eve. She smothered the surge of love she felt and said accusingly, “You wouldn’t let me go, dammit.”