He hasn’t left his home for the past six months.” His hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Believe me, Eve. All this was done to draw you to Baton Rouge. Now get the hell out of here.”

It was incredible. Yet she did believe him. “You’re saying this man tried to ruin my life and killed a man just to get me to take this job?” She tried to think. “Melton?”

“I called him before I got on the plane today. He denies everything, of course, but the entire mess seems to lead toward him—or an associate.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t squeeze that out of him.”

“I didn’t have time.”

Eve shook her head. “Go home, Joe. I don’t want you involved. If there’s a problem, I’ll handle it.”

“You mean you don’t want me in your life. Well, that’s too bad. You’re not the only victim here. Whoever killed Capel did a damn good job of messing up my life, too. Now are you going to tell me what’s been going on here?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Then I’ll find out on my own.” He turned on his heel. “If you change your mind, you can reach me at the Westin Hotel.”

“Wait.” Galen got to his feet. “Could I see you for a few moments in private, Quinn? Why don’t you go upstairs and rest, Eve?”

“Galen,” she warned.

“You’re not involving him. I am. I’ll take all the help I can get. He’s better occupied in helping than blundering around and getting in my way trying to find out a few simple facts.” He smiled. “You can still keep your distance. Let me deal with him.”

“I don’t want him here.”

“I do.” Galen smiled. “So unless you’re going to pack up and go home, he stays.

Not close. On the edge. But he stays. So go and rest and I’ll fix you dinner after Quinn leaves.”

“Stop treating me like a child. I’m not hungry and I’ll do what I please.” Eve strode out of the room and up the stairs. Dammit, she hadn’t expected Galen to turn on her. It had come as a surprise—but not as big a shock as the ugly story that Joe had told her. It seemed impossible that anyone would go to such diabolical lengths to get her here. That man had delved into the most painful area of her life and used Bonnie to manipulate her.

A surge of rage tore through her. Son of a bitch. And what about the story that had been told to her by Melton. How much was truth and how much was lies?

Marie and Pierre Letaux? They had been killed to keep her from doing the reconstruction. Where did they fit in?

Oh, she just didn’t know. She couldn’t think right now. She was confused and angry, and the shock and hurt she’d experienced when she’d seen Joe didn’t make it any better. For that first split second she’d felt such soaring joy that it had rocked her, and then she had remembered and the pain had come rushing back.

She had to get Joe to leave Baton Rouge. She couldn’t live with this kind of confusion, and she certainly couldn’t work.

Work? She felt a sudden icy chill as she realized that maybe she shouldn’t be as worried about finishing Victor as about just surviving.

Chapter 8

« ^ »

" EVIDENTLY YOU HAVEN’T GOTTEN TO KNOW EVE AS WELL AS I THOUGHT,” JOE SAID

to Galen as they heard Eve’s door slam. “You should never treat her with condescension.”

“I hardly think you can qualify as an expert on the subject. You’ve put your ass on the line with her,” Galen said.

Joe stiffened. “She told you about the DNA report?”

“That bothers you, doesn’t it? No, Logan told me everything you told him. You took a big chance.” He changed the subject. “Now, do you want to know what’s been going on here or not?”

Joe was silent a moment. “I want to know.”

“That wasn’t too painful, was it?” Galen filled him in on the events since Eve had arrived in Baton Rouge.

Joe was cursing by the time he finished. “Why didn’t you call me? Why didn’t you let me know?”

“Logan hired me, not you. And the only way I could keep Eve willing to accept me here was to agree not to tell you anything. So it was really your fault.”

“And you’re enjoying telling me that.”

“Antagonism always brings out the worst in me. Did you turn over the sketch to the FBI to see if they could track anything down for you?”

“They couldn’t. No matches.”

“I’d like to see the sketch. The man who took Eve to the hospital that night fits the description. We can run it by the admittance personnel. Do you have it here?”

“I have several copies at the hotel. I’ll give you one.” Joe looked up the stairs. “She won’t listen to me. Can’t you talk her out of staying here?”

“I’ll try. She’ll be absolutely furious with Melton if she thinks he’s connected with the things you told her about. On the other hand, she’s caught up in the work on Victor. I had to drag her away tonight.”

“Dammit, it’s clear whoever is behind this isn’t playing for small stakes. One false step and she could be—‘ He broke off and took a deep breath. ”I can’t take not being here to help her. It’s driving me crazy.“

“You’re not keeping it a secret,” Galen said. “I’ll do my best. In the meantime, give me your cell phone number and I’ll try to keep you informed.”

“I want to be more than informed.”

“It’s the best I can do. You lurk around here and Eve will explode. Trust me, I’ve taken good care of her. I’ll keep on doing it.”

“I don’t trust you, and I don’t want you to—” Joe jammed a card with his name and cell number at Galen, turned, and moved toward the door. “If you don’t let me know what’s going on, I’ll tear you apart.”

“I do hate threats. They offend my genteel nature.”

“Bullshit.”

“Now what can I do to get my own back? What would rub you raw?” Galen smiled maliciously. “Shall I tell you how well I’ve gotten to know Eve? We’ve exchanged viewpoints and past history. We’ve eaten together, and shared sadness and death. I’ve protected her and held her in my arms.“

“You bastard.”

“I thought that would do it.” He passed Joe and went toward the kitchen. “Now I have to go and get us a bite to eat.”

Joe was tempted to go after him and strangle him.

Galen looked over his shoulder and shook his head. “I’m her safety net, Quinn.

Get rid of me and you’ll be up shit creek.”

Joe muttered a curse and jerked open the front door.

“Oh, I forgot to mention one small thing,” Galen said. “I was in her bedroom naked a few nights ago.” He disappeared into the kitchen.

Joe could feel the pulse pound in his temple as he started to follow him. He stopped and drew a deep breath. Keep calm. Galen had wanted to score off him. He could have been lying.

And he could have been telling the truth. Okay, accept it. If he’d been telling the truth and Eve had taken Galen as a lover, then he’d just have to take it. His own hands were tied. He needed the bastard to keep Eve alive. He couldn’t touch him.

Not now.

Later.

“I’ve brought you a sandwich,” Galen said when Eve opened the door to his knock. “I know you said you weren’t hungry, but you’ve got to stoke the furnace if you want to finish Victor.”

“I don’t like to be overruled, Galen,” she said coolly. “Particularly when it concerns my personal affairs.”

“But it doesn’t only concern your personal affairs. It concerns your life, and that’s what I’ve been hired to preserve. So you do what you please about Quinn, but if I need him, I’ll use him.” He set the tray down on the bedside table. “Logan tells me he’s an ex-SEAL, besides his FBI and police training. He may come in handy.”

“No one uses Joe.”

“That’s why it’s so much fun.” Galen took a string of silver bells out of his pocket and crossed the room toward the balcony. “That balcony’s been bothering me, and I’m tired of checking it a couple times a night.”

“I didn’t know you did.”

“That’s because I’m so good.” He went out on the balcony and tied the string of bells on one of the wrought-iron spokes. He grasped another spoke a few feet away and pulled at it. Immediately a shower of tinkling sound drifted on the night air.