"The fact that every day we deal with abusive parents and mothers on crack and heroin who want their children back. We know what we're doing. The location of the holding facility is confidential. And even if he found out where it is, no one's going to get past our security."

"You've never had to deal with--"

"Good-bye, Ms. Duncan."

"Wait. How is she?"

"Not good. But she'll get better. I'll send her to the therapist tomorrow morning." She hung up.

Eve remembered those therapists. Sitting there probing with their questions and then trying to hide their resentment when they couldn't get through to her. Jane would chew them up and spit them out just as Eve had when she was a child.

"No luck?"

She turned to Charlie, who was sitting across the room. "No luck. I'll try again tomorrow morning."

"You're persistent."

"Persistence is the only weapon I have with Eisley. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't." Dear God, she hoped it worked this time. "Have you heard anything from the agent Spiro sent to Phoenix?"

"Not much, only that their PD is cooperating. I wish Spiro had let me go." He smiled. "Not that I'm not enjoying the company. It's just that I joined the FBI for more challenging work than guard duty. Although the subject does have me running all over Georgia to keep her under surveillance."

"Sorry. Coffee? I'm afraid there's no food in the refrigerator."

"I saw a Thai restaurant around the corner that delivers." Charlie pulled out his phone. "What do you want?"

She wasn't hungry, but she supposed she should eat something. "Anything with noodles, I guess. And get something to put in the refrigerator for Joe. He never stops to eat."

"Okay."

She picked up her purse and headed for the bedroom. "I need to call Spiro."

"No, you don't. I already did that after Joe phoned me. He swore like a trooper and said he's on his way."

She closed the bedroom door and leaned back against it.

She should call Mark, but she needed a little time to recover. She still felt sick about Fay Sugarton. Barbara Eisley couldn't be blamed for being angry.

She went to the window and looked down at the park across the street. It was dark now and the street lamps cast pools of light on the trees. The night shadows seemed threatening.

Are you down there, Dom? Are you watching, you bastard?

Her digital phone rang.

Joe? Spiro?

Her phone rang again.

She pulled it out of her purse. "Hello."

"How are you getting along with little Janie?"

"You son of a bitch."

"I was sorry I couldn't stay around to see your meeting, but the timing was a little tight. I didn't even get a chance to see the kid at close quarters."

"So you killed Fay Sugarton instead."

"You make me sound like a blunderer. There was no 'instead' about it. I had no intention of killing the child yet. Fay Sugarton was the target."

"For God's sake, why?"

"You and Jane couldn't bond while Sugarton was around. So she had to be taken out of the way. How do you like our little girl?"

"I don't. She tried to brain me with a baseball bat."

"That wouldn't deter you. You probably admire her spirit. I don't think I could have chosen better."

"You made a lousy choice. She's nothing like Bonnie."

"She'll begin to grow on you."

"She won't have the chance. It won't work. She's not with me."

"I know. We'll have to take care of that, won't we? It's not what I had in mind at all. Go get her from welfare, Eve."

"It's impossible."

"She has to be with you. You'll have to find a way to make that happen."

"You're not listening. They'll toss me in jail if I even go near her."

A silence. "Perhaps I'm not making myself clear. Either get her out of that welfare house or I'll go in after her. I'll give you twenty-four hours."

Panic soared through Eve. "I don't even know where she is."

"Find out. Think about it. You have contacts. There's always a way. I'd find a way."

"There's security. You'd never get near her. They'd catch you."

"I'd get near her. All it would take is one careless moment, one bored or disgruntled employee."

"I don't care anything about that child. I could never feel the slightest affection for--"

"Yes, you could. You just have to get to know her. You've spent years trying to protect and find children you never knew. Now I've given you one of your own. The potential is mind-boggling."

"I'm calling the police as soon as I hang up."

"And seal Jane's fate? It would, you know. I'd never stop trying. If I can't find a way to do it right now, I'll wait. A week, a month, a year. It's amazing how the passing of time makes everything easier for me. People forget, people lower their guard . . . and you wouldn't be close enough to her to stop me. Twenty-four hours, Eve." He hung up.