But what about her? Could she ever look at Joe again in the same way? When he'd touched her and stared down at her with such intensity, he seemed to have changed before her eyes. She'd suddenly become aware of him. The physical, sexual Joe Quinn. The broadness of his shoulders, the slimness of his hips, his mouth . . .

She'd wanted to reach out and touch that mouth.

Heat. Tingling. Hunger.

Stop thinking of him that way. She had to regain her balance so she could convince Joe how destructive going in a new direction could be. Be logical, be cool. . . .

She was so upset, there wasn't any way she could be logical or cool.

Damn you, Joe.

JOE, DRESSED IN jeans and sweatshirt, his hair wet from the shower, met her in the hall when she came downstairs the following morning. "Coffee's made. Sarah, Jane, and Monty are in the kitchen. You're late." He smiled. "Didn't sleep well?"

She stiffened. "I slept fine."

"Liar." He started toward the kitchen. "Sarah filled me in on your progress, or lack of it."

His manner was casual, she noticed with relief. This was the Joe she knew. It was almost as if last night had never happened. "We still have a chance."

"If Dom didn't lie to you. Don't bank too much on there being evidence even if we find Debby Jordan. Spiro says nothing of value has been uncovered at the graves at Talladega."

"What about the cardboard box in the alley?"

"The same. The blood belonged to the security guard at the welfare house."

"And the two graves in Phoenix?"

"Spiro sent Charlie here to help look into that. Nothing yet."

"That doesn't mean we won't find something."

"He wouldn't have told you about Debby Jordan if it had a chance of incriminating him."

"Yes, he would. He's tired of being safe. He needs--I don't know what he needs, but I'm part of it. And he's made at least one mistake since I came here."

"Sarah's dog."

She nodded. "If he made one mistake, he may have made another."

"And if he didn't?"

"Then we'll find a way to get him. I can't let this go on indefinitely. I won't be made to hide and I won't be taunted by that bastard." She grimaced. "I can't stand it. He's feeding on me, Joe."

"Maybe you're right. Maybe Debby Jordan will be the key." He paused. "So let's get breakfast and hit the road."

"You're going with us?"

"You let the kid go. Why not me?"

"Jane has to stay with me."

He started to open the kitchen door, but she stopped him. "I don't want you to go with us, Joe."

"I'm going. You're not going to get rid of me again."

"Look, I've been careful. I've stayed out of sight. I've let Sarah handle the people who've come up and questioned us while we were searching, but there's always the possibility the police might find me. I don't want you to be with me if that happens."

He grinned. "Then I'd make a quick arrest myself. Did I forget to tell you that I persuaded my department chief that it was his idea to send me here as the Atlanta liaison on the interstate task force? So my job you're so worried about is safe."

"The hell it is. You're walking a tight line, and I don't want you to go with--"

"You're repeating yourself."

"And you're not listening. I don't need your help."

He looked at her pointedly. "You let Logan help you."

"I didn't want his help."

"But you still let him help you."

"That was different."

"Yes, it was different. I wanted to strangle you when you left me and went to him for help." He smiled. "But now I believe it's an encouraging sign. Think about it."

She didn't want to think about it. Suddenly she was feeling the same tightness in her chest, the same awareness she'd experienced the night before. Dammit, she didn't want to feel this way around Joe. He was her best friend, almost her brother. "It's all wrong. You're spoiling everything."

He went past her into the kitchen. "Adjust."

"EASY, BOY. YOU' RE going too fast." Sarah tightened her grip on the leash. Monty had been tense and moving at top speed since he'd reached this field at the rear of Dawn's Light Elementary School.

Instinct or impatience? He'd gone through days of search with nothing to show. God knows Sarah was tired and impatient.

It had to be nearly six. It was getting dark and the scraggly trees were casting longer shadows on the sparsely covered ground.

"How much longer?" Joe called from the car, which was parked at the edge of the field.

"Another fifteen minutes." She paused a moment, giving both herself and Monty a chance to catch their breath, her gaze fixed on Joe and Eve. It was odd watching them together. It was clear they were old friends; they had the comfortable habit of almost finishing each other's sentences. Yet there was something disquieting about the tension between them. People were too complicated. Dogs were much easier . . . most of the time.

"Are we almost done?" Jane asked.

"Soon." She started moving again. "Why don't you go to the car and get a sandwich? You must be hungry."