"I'll find her."

"I hope not too soon. I'm enjoying the hunt."

"Dammit, tell me where she is. You know you want me to find her."

"Not yet. Every day is making you more tired, more tense, more angry. I want it to go on."

"I'll find her tomorrow."

"That would disappoint me. I'd like the search to last at least a week."

"Then why don't you go dig her up and bury her somewhere else?"

"You know moving a body is a killer's worst mistake. I could be discovered, leave evidence. Anything. No, I think I'd do better to slow you down. Did I mention how much I liked the idea of you taking Jane wherever you go? She's with you now, isn't she?"

Eve didn't answer.

"You're growing closer, aren't you? Older children are smarter. You're able to talk to them. Bonnie was a little too young for you to--"

"Shut up."

"You see how tense you are? This hunt is terribly exciting. I'm beginning to wonder if little Jane is redundant. Killing her would slow you down, wouldn't it?"

"It would stop me in my tracks."

"No, I think you'd be angry enough with me to continue. Anger and sorrow are almost as good as fear."

Damn vampire. "I'm hanging up."

"Maybe I'll take the little girl tonight."

Her hand tightened on the receiver.

"Yes, that would slow you. Look in your rearview mirror."

Headlights.

"Do you see me?"

"It's not you. One of Logan's security men has been following us all day."

"He lost you at the last search site. But I felt bound to keep you company."

"You're lying."

"How long until you get home?"

She didn't answer.

"You'd better hurry."

She pressed on the accelerator.

"Yes, I think it's time I took Jane."

He was only bluffing.

Oh, God, the car behind her was going faster.

Her heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

Faster.

Ten blocks more to the house.

Were the lights closer?

Yes.

She went around the corner on two wheels.

Jane murmured something in the backseat as the car jerked.

"Did I ever tell you how I kill children? I do it slowly, since every emotion they emit is pure and singing. They're the only ones who deserve white. Fear and pain aren't clouded as they are in adults. Do you think Jane will be as brave as Bonnie?"

She wanted to kill him.

Four blocks.

"I hear you breathing. How frightened you are."

Headlights blinding her in the rearview mirror.

She dropped the phone on the seat.

And stomped on the gas.

Gates up ahead.

The remote. Open the gates.

They were moving too slowly. The car was right on top of her.

She almost tore through the gates.

Up the driveway.

The lights were still behind her. Coming through the gates.

She screeched to a halt in front of the house and leaned on the horn.

Come. Somebody come before he--

Knocking on the window. A face pressed against the glass.

"Ms. Duncan. Are you okay?"

Herb Booker.

She rolled down the window.

Headlights were still glaring in her rearview mirror from the car parked behind her. The driver's door was open.

"Eve?" Jane was sitting up sleepily.

"It's okay." Her hand tightened on the steering wheel. "Is that your car, Herb?"

"Sure. I've been behind you all day. Is something wrong? I got worried when you started speeding."

She slowly lifted the phone to her ear. "Damn you."

"Just kidding." He hung up.

"YOU LOOK BEAT." Sarah's gaze narrowed on Eve's face. "You okay?"

"I didn't sleep well. How are you?"

"Fine. Monty and I are used to getting by with a few hours' sleep."

Eve got out her map. "We hit the areas south of the church yesterday. I thought we'd go west today." She tapped a spot on the map. "This one first. Woodlight Reservoir."

"Are you sure? That will be a lot of ground to cover. You've got to pick your best shot," Sarah said. "I'll give you until midnight tonight."

"You won't change your mind?"