“Another blow to my self-esteem.” Galen sighed. “She has great aim, Eve.” He moved toward the living room. “I’ve got to go out on the porch and fill your cop friends in on the relocating change.”

“I’ll help Jane,” Sandra said. “I’ve grown to be an expert over the years. People always rather I do the cleanup than the cooking.” Eve stood and started stacking the dishes.

Jane shook her head. “You and Joe go sit in the living room with a cup of coffee and let us do the work. You’ll just get in the way.” Eve hesitated.

“Go,” Sandra said. “And after I finish here, I’ll take Toby for a turn round the yard. He’s been a little lazy today.”

“Because you feed him too much, Grandma,” Jane said as she went over to the sink. “How am I ever going to make him a search-and-rescue dog if he weighs five hundred pounds?”

“You’re exaggerating…”

“Come on. We’ve been evicted.” Joe picked up his coffee and Eve’s. “The living room.”

Eve followed him into the living room and sank down on the couch. Lord, she was tired, and Galen’s meal hadn’t made her any less sluggish.

Joe handed Eve the coffee cup and sat beside her. “I’m glad we came to see her.

I’ve missed her like the devil.”

“Me, too.” The arched doorway allowed a clear view to the kitchen and Sandra and Jane standing working at the sink. “You’re right, there’s no one like her.”

“Well, maybe one person like her.” Joe’s gaze followed hers. “You.” Eve shook her head. “Just because we both grew up on the streets doesn’t make us twins.”

“Close enough for me.”

“You said something like that before.”

“Oh, I’m not saying I love her because she’s like you. She deserves better than that. But every now and then I get a glimpse of something that reminds me of you.” Joe smiled. “And I melt.”

“Melt?” Eve quickly looked down into the coffee in her cup. “Not you, Joe.”

“Oh, yes. ‘Melt’ is a good word.” He finished his coffee and stood up. “And now I think I’ll go out on the porch and see if I can help Galen set up that new safe house.” She watched him until the screen door closed behind him. Those few minutes had been so comfortable and warm that she had almost forgotten the distance between them.

Or was time making the distance lessen?

She didn’t know, but she had felt a closeness that was both familiar and perilously sweet. The events of the last few days had thrust them together and blurred the jagged lines of the break between them. Yet she knew the break was still there…

Stop staring after him. It only disturbed her.

Jesus, it disturbed her.

She jumped to her feet and went into the kitchen to help her mother and Jane with the dishes.

“You should never have come. But I’m glad you did.” Jane gave Eve a final hug after walking her to the car. “Now you know I’m fine and that I’ll take care of Grandma.”

“I know you will. I’m sorry I let you in for all this, Jane.”

“Hey, maybe Toby needed to put on a little weight.”

“Don’t joke.”

“It’s okay. Stop worrying.” Jane paused. “What are you going to do about that creep who blew up the condo?”

“Don’t worry. He won’t get near you again.”

“That’s not what I asked. You’re not going to let him get away with it, are you?

You’re going to go after him.”

Eve stared at her. “I’m going to do what’s best for you and my mother.”

“I thought that was the problem.” Jane frowned. “It’s not like you to hide out and let that bastard run around and do a lousy thing like that. He could have killed a lot of people in the condo.”

“He could have killed you.”

“But he didn’t, and now you’re trying to find a place to hide me again. You’re going to crawl into a cave and try to protect all of us. Don’t do it, Eve.”

“What?”

“I’ve been thinking about it. I want you to be safe. But you can’t run away from creeps like that. You’ve got to slug away toe-to-toe. So go after him and nail the asshole.”

“That’s not a wise thing—”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, I’m tripping over all the protection you’ve set up for me.

Don’t you dare use me as an excuse. If I could do it, I’d go after him myself. It sucks to be a kid.”

“It’s not an excuse. It’s the right thing to do.” Jane shook her head. “Hiding isn’t like you. Maybe you’ve forgotten who you are, what you do. It’s partly my fault, and I don’t like it. Promise me you’ll think about it.”

“I promise.” Eve hesitated. “I love you very much, Jane.” Jane nodded. “Don’t get mushy.”

“I just wanted to make sure you knew.”

“I know. Just get that SOB and take care of yourself.” Jane took a step back and watched Eve get into the car before leaning forward to whisper, “And take care of Joe. He needs it more than he’ll let you know.”

How the hell could Eve answer that? “I’ll call you tonight, Jane.” Nathan met them as they drove up to the cottage. “Everything okay?” Eve nodded as she got out of the car. “Okay. Not perfect.”

“Not many things are.” Nathan’s gaze shifted to the lake. “But this place comes pretty close. You were right; your lake is beautiful, Eve. It soothes the soul.”

“We like it.”

“It reminds me that there are still some battles worth fighting.”

“Galen tells us you’re quite a crusader,” Joe said.

Nathan shrugged. “I try. Most of the time it’s a losing battle. I get really tired of going up against the big companies who pollute our lakes and streams. They have money. I have only words.”

“I don’t see how a man who feels so passionately for water can have such a dislike for alligators and snakes.” Galen started to unload the car. “You need to rethink and include our companions in the wild. I bet you never wrote an article about the virtues of the preservation of leeches.”

“No bet,” Nathan said. “I ran into Hughes, the head of your security team, when I showed up here. He said he wanted to see you.”

Galen nodded. “I want to see him, too.” He handed Nathan two suitcases. “So you can play the beast of burden and take these inside.” He pulled out his phone as he started down the path.

Nathan gazed after him. “One of these days…” He turned and carried the bags into the cottage.

Eve picked up the leather skull case, but hesitated before following Nathan, gazing out at the lake.

It soothes the soul.

Beauty did soothe the soul, she thought. She could feel some of the rawness and pain of the past few days ebbing away.

“Home,” Joe said quietly.

She looked at him, and then quickly looked away.

But the word lingered with her as she walked up the steps.

Home.

“Where’s Galen?” Eve asked Joe as she came out of the bedroom after talking to Jane on the phone that evening.

“Out on the grounds talking to the security team. He’s complaining the area is one big headache to secure. Nathan is out on the porch communing with nature. How’s Jane?”

“Disapproving.” She made a face. “And making her displeasure known at every opportunity.”

“And that means?”

“She wants us to go after Hebert and try to nail him.”

“That sounds like Jane.” He smiled. “Not a bad idea. I’ve been thinking the same thing.”

“So have I.” She shook her head. “I get so angry when I think of that condo, I want to murder the bastard. But it’s not a responsible thing to do when Jane—”

“It may be the most responsible thing we could do. Get rid of the bastard before he does any more damage. Maybe if we had a lead…” She didn’t answer for a moment. “We may have a lead.” He looked at her inquiringly.

She emphatically shook her head. “I don’t even want to think about it. It’s not—”

“Okay. Okay. We’ll talk about it when you’re not so upset.” He paused. “Jennings called on my cell phone while you were talking to Jane. He wants to come and pick up the skull.”

“He’ll get it when I decide I want to give it to him. I’m still pissed at him.”

“He was very persistent. Just thought I’d relay the message.” He stood up and moved over to the window. “The sun’s going down. Pretty. I always like autumn sunsets. They seem to be sharper, more defined.” Like Joe. He was silhouetted against the dim light streaming through the window, and he seemed made of edges and angles. How many times had she watched him at this window? She crossed the room to stand beside him. “It’s beautiful.” Her gaze went to the lake glittering mirrored gold in the twilight. “I’ve always loved it here.”