He was silent.

She was silent too. Moments passed and she sat there, listening to the beat of his heart. Lover. Best friend. Center.

She gradually stopped shaking.

He gently pressed his lips to her temple. "Someday will you tell me you love me?"

"Probably not." Her arms tightened around him. "You don't deserve it."

"True." He was silent again. "I won't take chances I don't have to, Eve. I've never wanted to live more than I do at this moment. Okay?"

"It has to be okay, doesn't it? I have to accept it. That's life."

"Yes, that's life. Welcome back." He brushed her hair away from her face. "You're a mess. I've gotten grease all over you."

"It will wash off." But what had happened that night could never be eradicated. Every one of her protective barriers had been stripped away and she'd been forced to face her true feelings for Joe. But they were too intense, almost unbearable. She pushed him away and slowly stood up. "We've got to leave to go to Professor Dunkeil's lab. I'll use the powder room down here. You go upstairs and change. Those clothes are beyond hope."

"I'm on my way."

She watched him leave the room, not wanting to let him out of her sight. Get a grip. There were other things in life to worry about besides Joe Quinn. Two men had died tonight. Probably killed by Dom. He was getting nearer.

But so was she.

You haven't beaten us yet, Dom. I'll still find a way to see your face.

Chapter SEVENTEEN

Eve and Joe were waiting across the street from the lab on Blue Mountain Drive when Spiro drove up.

"Professor Dunkeil's waiting for us. He was upset about Sung." Spiro studied Eve's face. "You look better."

"I'm fine. Did you reach Mrs. Cather?"

"Yes." His lips tightened. "I didn't talk to her very long. She broke down. She's only a kid herself."

"I know you were close to Charlie."

"I could have been closer. I thought I had to toughen him up." He shook his head. "Getting Dom is becoming very personal to me."

Eve started across the street. "Join the club."

She felt the tension rise as Joe rang the doorbell of the lab.

Please, don't let those young men have died for no reason. Don't let Dom win this one.

THE IMAGE OF Kevin Baldridge was still blurred. On the computer screen he was almost ghostlike, like a cadaver floating in a sea of light.

But his face was clear enough.

She couldn't breathe.

"Eve?"

"Tell me I'm crazy, Joe."

Joe was gazing at the screen and swore softly.

Spiro inhaled sharply. "Grunard."

Younger, thinner, but the charming, slightly cocky smile was the same.

Eve sank back in the chair, her mind whirling. "No."

"He's the right age. He's been close to you from the beginning," Spiro said slowly.

So close. "That guard at the welfare house . . ." She shuddered. "I told him to distract him if he ran across him."

Joe turned to Spiro. "He thinks he's safe. Pick him up before he learns what we've done here tonight."

"He may already know." Spiro took out his phone and punched in a number. "He's made some friends in the precinct the past few days."

Eve was thinking of the serial killer profile Spiro had given her in Joe's cottage.

They usually are aware of police procedures and may even associate with the police.

Joe had told her that Grunard hung out at the bar all the Atlanta police detectives frequented.

And a reporter could travel from place to place without suspicion. He had contacts and sources for finding out facts other people couldn't.

Mark had delayed going after Jane at the welfare house until eleven o'clock, giving him plenty of time to kill the security guard and make it to the alley where Mike had been. He would have had no trouble gaining access to Fraser all those years ago.

"No answer at Grunard's hotel." Spiro was punching in another number. "I'll send someone to the hotel."

Grunard. Dom.

He had wanted to stay at the lab last night. He had given Sung his phone number.

Spiro had finished his phone call and was heading for the front door. "I'll start a background check on Grunard. I don't know how much good it will do. There's no telling how many times he's reinvented himself. Go back to the house and stay there."

Grunard.

All the way back to the house, Eve couldn't stop thinking about Grunard and Dom being the same person. It was crazy and yet it made perfect sense. He had been there all the time and she had not felt an ounce of suspicion. My God, she had even felt guilty for not keeping him more informed. And he had warned her not to let Dom see Eve and Jane together in Phoenix.

She felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach. "Jane."

She had left Jane alone.

"How far are we--"

"Shit." Joe pressed the accelerator. "Take it easy. We're only a block from the house."