“I’m not playing around. I’m trying to garner what’s due me.” He looked down at the box. “It’s really Bently?”

Eve nodded. “Nathan’s certain, but I’ll have to do the usual photo and video comparisons. I’ll get on that as soon as we get settled.” She got into the car. “Where’s Jane?”

“She and her grandmother are in a safe house in Gwinnett.”

“I want to go get them.”

“What a surprise.” He turned to Joe. “I’ve set up security around your lake cottage. I thought you’d want to go there. I’ve hired Bill Jackson and his team to patrol the area around the cottage. I’ve used him before and he’s very good.” Joe looked at Eve.

She nodded wearily. “I want to take Jane home. She’s been bounced around enough.”

“She’s not going to be pleased,” Galen said. “She wanted you to stay in hiding.

She told me to tell you not to be dumb and come home.” Eve smiled. “That sounds like Jane.”

“And you’re going to ignore her.” Galen put the case with the skull in the trunk.

“I can guarantee the safety of the cottage and the immediate area around it, but the hills and the lake are vulnerable. You have a hell of a lot of private acreage. Which means you can’t go outside, and being cooped up nonstop with that dog may be worse than facing Hebert.”

“We’ll confront that problem when we come to it.”

“May I make a suggestion? Hebert has gotten what he wants. You’re out in the open, and you brought him the skull. You’re the target now, not Jane. The danger to her will only increase the closer she is to you. We can have the police switch the safe house to Markum, a town within a five-minute drive to the lake cottage, but she shouldn’t be with you.”

“Don’t tell me that. I want her close to me. I can’t stand the thought of—”

“He’s right, Eve,” Joe said.

She knew he was right. It didn’t make the prospect of being separated from Jane and her mother any easier. She drew a deep breath. “Okay. But you’d damn well better make sure they’re safe.”

“I will,” Galen said. “With the help of Quinn’s friends and four very sheepish FBI agents. I’d never take chances. But as I said, Hebert’s got what he wants. There’s no longer a reason for him to go to the trouble of going after Jane when he can concentrate on going after you. After all, you have the skull.”

“Okay, okay, you’ve made your point.” Eve got into the passenger seat. “But I want you to take me to see Jane right now. I’m not going to have her know I’m in the same city and staying away from her. You can take us to the cottage later.”

“She won’t like it,” Galen said. “But I’ll drive you there.” Nathan made a face. “Can you drop me off at a rental car agency? I’m tired of being without wheels, and I don’t want to butt in on a tender family moment. I’ll meet you at this lake cottage.”

“Why, Nathan. How sensitive,” Galen said. “I’m touched.”

“Only in that convoluted brain,” Nathan said dryly as he got in the car. “Did I tell you how pleasant these last days have been without you?”

“All good things must come to an end.”

As the car started, Eve gazed blindly out the window. “This is such a damn mess.

There has to be some way out of it that’s safe for Jane. I just have to think about it.”

“What do you mean?” Joe asked.

“I mean I may be mad as hell at Jennings, but he could still take this skull off my hands. It was the smart thing to do before, and it’s the smart thing to do now.”

“Does that mean you’re going to hand it over to him?”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t even think straight right now. I just want to keep Mom and Jane safe.”

Chapter 14

« ^ »

THE HOUSE IN GWINNETT WAS A SMALL BRICK BUNGALOW WITH A WIDE FRONT

porch. Jane came out on the porch when she saw Eve get out of the car. “What are you doing here?” She stared accusingly at Galen. “Can’t you do anything right? I told you to keep them away from here.”

“I tried. I had to make a compromise,” Galen said. “She’s almost as tough as you.”

“Yes, she is.” Jane was still frowning. “Joe, you know this isn’t a good idea— Oh, what the hell.” She ran down the steps and into Eve’s arms. “I’ve been so worried,” she whispered as she gave Eve a bear hug. “I’ve missed you.” Eve blinked back the tears. “Me, too. I’m so sorry you’ve been put through all this.”

“No big deal. But you still shouldn’t be here.” She released her and gave Joe a hug. “You tell her, Joe.”

“We’re only going to be here for a little while,” Joe said. “A few hours maybe.

Where’s Sandra?”

“Inside feeding Toby. I’ll be glad when I can get him away from her. She feeds him every time he begs. He’s going to be fat as a polar bear.”

“And where are the detectives that are supposed to be protecting you?”

“Playing cards.” Jane wrinkled her nose. “I like them better than those two FBI guys in the house across the street. They follow me wherever I go.”

“Good. But they shouldn’t have let you come out on the porch.”

“They looked out the window and saw who it was. Detective Brady said he knew you. Come on, let’s go inside.” Jane turned away. “I’ve got to stop Grandma from stuffing Toby.”

“And I’ll take on the job of stuffing us,” Galen said. “I hope you’ve got a well-stocked kitchen?”

“Frozen food. Grandma’s a lousy cook.”

Galen flinched. “Frozen? I’ll improvise. I’m sure I can still provide a superb lunch.”

Jane opened the screen door. “I hope you manage to do something without bungling it.”

There was a sound from Joe that might have been a chuckle.

Galen darted him a baleful glance. “Not a word.” Joe gazed at him innocently. “From the mouths of babes.” Eve’s mother, Sandra, looked up from the dog bowl she was washing.

“It’s about time you got here.” She hugged Eve. “The only person who doesn’t complain about my cooking is Toby.”

“She actually fed him pancakes this morning,” Jane said. “Come on, Toby. I’ll take you in the backyard to run it off.”

Eve turned from watching Jane leave the room. It was obvious Jane wanted to give Eve and her mother a chance to mend some fences, but it wasn’t necessary.

Eve’s relationship with her mother was complicated, but their affection had overcome a multitude of hurdles and still survived. “I’m sorry about all this. How bad has it been?”

“Well, other than having the condo blow up—” Sandra smiled as she saw Eve flinch. “Really. It’s okay, Eve.”

“It’s not okay. I dumped a responsibility on you that should have been mine.”

“Shit happens.” Sandra shook her head. “You’re feeling guilty. Maybe you should. Or maybe it was my turn to be the responsible citizen. I didn’t do a very good job of it when you were growing up. It’s a wonder you’re not serving a sentence in some prison. It’s time I paid my dues.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“Okay, then maybe I like taking care of Jane and that idiot dog. They keep me on my toes.” Sandra’s gaze went to Jane in the backyard. “She calls me Grandma. No one has called me that since Bonnie… I thought it was odd, since she calls you and Joe by your given names. But then I realized she sensed that I’d like it. She’s a very smart girl. Like you, Eve.”

“Probably much smarter.”

“No way. You got through a childhood with a mother like me. That qualifies you for Einstein status.” She took Eve’s arm. “Now shut up and let’s go get Jane. She won’t come in until she thinks we’ve had enough time together.” Eve gazed at her in loving exasperation. “Will you at least let me say thank you?”

“You’ve said it. Or something pretty close. Now you’re getting boring.”

“Heaven forbid.” Eve smiled. “By all means, let’s go get Jane.”

“Someone else has to wash and dry the dishes,” Galen announced after lunch.

“I’ve done the creative part and provided you all with a meal par excellence. It’s only fair that you do the drudgery.”

“I’ll wash them,” Jane said. “Galen would probably mess it up.”