"Indeed?" He moved toward the door. "Whatever your deal with him, we're not bringing him along to Dillard."

"I fixed you an egg and bacon sandwich, Eve." Jane stood in the doorway. "Come on."

"I'll be right there."

Jane gave Spiro a cool glance. "He can talk to you while you're eating. Your food will get cold."

"Heaven forbid I interfere with your nourishment." Spiro mockingly bowed to Jane. "You'll be relieved to know I was just on my way out, young lady."

"Wait."

Spiro glanced back at Eve.

"How long will we be gone?"

"A few hours, a day. It depends on how much advance work Charlie is able to do."

"We're taking Jane with us."

Spiro shook his head. "For God's sake, I'm already sticking my neck out enough without being seen with a kidnap victim."

"She has to go with us."

"She's very well protected here."

"I wouldn't mind going without her if it's only for an hour or so. But you're not sure when we'll be back."

"Is taking her with us wise?"

"Dom wants her with me."

Spiro glanced from her to Jane. "But do you want him to see you with her? You're obviously on close terms."

"If Eve wants me, I'm going with her." Jane took a step closer. "And I wasn't kidnapped. How stupid can you get?"

"Evidently very stupid," Spiro said. "I don't recommend it, Eve."

"I'll take care of Eve and Jane," Joe said. "You handle tracking down Kevin Baldridge."

Spiro shook his head. "It's a mistake." He opened the door. "I'll pick you up at four this afternoon."

Was it a mistake? Eve wondered. She didn't want Dom to see her and Jane together, but what could she do? Jane was her responsibility. She couldn't leave her for hours or maybe days; she would never forgive herself if anything happened to Jane. She'd been down that road before.

She turned to Joe. "I have to take her."

"I know." Joe smiled.

"Of course I'm going," Jane said. "We're not going to let him tell us what to do. Now, come on and eat your breakfast." She started down the hall. "And then you can tell me where I'm going."

Chapter FIFTEEN

The small plane landed at a tiny airport north of Dillard, Arizona, at eight-thirty that night. There had been a recent snow in the mountain town, and the weather was icy. The airport had only two runways and the tarmac was bumpy. One taxi was parked outside the terminal.

Spiro got a call from Charlie in the taxi on the way to town. He didn't look pleased by the time he hung up.

"The courthouse burned down six years ago," Spiro said. "And there were no records of any Baldridge children attending the local school."

"Maybe they went to school in a nearby town."

"We're checking Jamison. It's thirty miles from here." He looked out the window. "But the schools will be closed until tomorrow morning. We'll have to stay overnight at a hotel . . . except Charlie said there isn't one. I think Dillard's population is only a little over four thousand."

"Six thousand five hundred," the cabdriver said.

Spiro reached into his pocket and drew out his notebook. "Charlie mentioned a bed and breakfast. Mrs. Tolvey's on Pine Street."

"Good choice," the cabdriver said. "Mrs. Tolvey puts on a great breakfast spread."

"Then that will be fine"--Eve looked at the driver's ID on the panel--"Mr. Brendle." She put her arm around Jane, who was leaning against her. "Anyplace with a bed."

"Bob. Good beds too. Mrs. Tolvey's been running the place for over twenty years, and she changes all the mattresses every five years."

"Incredible," Spiro said.

"Well, they don't get used that often."

"Twenty years," Joe repeated, looking at Spiro. "My, what a coincidence."

"Charlie's a good man. It's a long shot, but still we may find out something from Mrs. Tolvey."

"Will she have enough rooms for us?" Joe asked the cabdriver.

"Six rooms. All clean as a whistle." He nodded. "It's right up ahead. Two blocks."

The bed and breakfast was a large gray house with a wooden swing on the wide front porch. A light gleamed beside the storm door.

"You go on and knock." Bob got out of the car. "I'll get your bags."

"Wait," Spiro said. "Do you have a bar in this town?"

"You've got to be kidding. Four." Bob pulled the overnight cases out of the trunk. "You want to go get a drink first?"

"Is there one where all the regulars go?"

"Cal Simm's place on Third Street."

"Take me there." He turned to Eve. "I want to see if I can find out anything before tomorrow. Check me in and tell Mrs. Tolvey I'll be along in a few hours."

Eve nodded. To Joe, Spiro said, "You'll talk to Mrs. Tolvey?"