"And that's why you can't shut Joe out."

"That's different."

"You're darn right. Joe's alive."

"I'd hurt him."

"You're just depressed because of Logan. You shouldn't be. It was bound to happen. Remember I once told you that sometimes love started out one way and then became something else? You don't have to lose Logan and you won't lose Joe."

"Bull. Loss can happen anytime. I lost you."

"Silly. Then why am I here talking to you?"

"Because I'm nutty as a fruitcake. Another reason I should walk away from Joe."

"I'm not going to argue with you. You're smart, you'll do the right thing." Bonnie leaned back in the chair. "I just want to sit here and enjoy being with you. It's been a long time."

"Then why didn't you come sooner?"

"I couldn't get close to you. It was hard this time. So much darkness . . . Nothing but darkness around him, Mama."

"He's a terrible man." She moistened her lips. "Was he the one, Bonnie?"

"I can't see through the darkness. Maybe I don't want to see."

"I want to see. I have to see."

Bonnie nodded. "To protect Jane. I like Jane."

"So do I. But also because of you, baby."

"I know. But you're leaning more toward the living now. That's the way it should be."

Eve was silent a moment. "He tried to tell me Jane was you reincarnated. Wasn't that stupid?"

"I think it is. How could I be reincarnated when I'm here talking to you?" She smiled. "And you know she's nothing like me."

"Yes, I know."

"You wouldn't want her to be like me, Mama. We all have our very own souls. That's what makes every one of us so special and wonderful."

"Dom isn't wonderful."

"No. He's twisted and ugly." Bonnie frowned. "I'm frightened for you. He keeps coming nearer and nearer . . ."

"Let him come. I'm waiting for him."

"Shh, don't get upset. We won't think any more about Dom tonight. Will you tell me about Monty? I love dogs."

"I know. I was going to get you a puppy for Christmas the year that you--"

"And you've been regretting ever since that you didn't get me one sooner. Stop it. I was happy. But you should learn something from that. Live every moment. Don't put off anything until tomorrow."

"Stop preaching at me, dammit."

Bonnie giggled. "Sorry. Then tell me about Monty."

"I don't really know much about him. He belongs to Sarah and he's a rescue and cadaver dog. Jane loves him and trails after him every chance she . . ."

MARK GRUNARD WAS waiting in the lobby of Charlie Cather's hotel when Joe walked in. "Ah, back from the mountains?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Cather's promised to have a drink with me. He should be down soon. Any luck in Dillard?"

"No school records there, so we're checking a nearby town. It turns out the father was a traveling evangelist."

"Damn, I was hoping there would be school photos to compare with Mrs. Harding's snapshot."

"So were we." Joe sat down. "Spiro's not pleased you're sticking so close to Cather."

"Tough. I didn't get anything from him, so I had to zero in on Cather. He's a hell of an easier mark."

"He's tougher than you'd think."

"But he doesn't have Spiro's experience and just may let something slip." He added shrewdly, "Has he told you anything about the photograph? Is that why you're here?"

Why was he there? He'd gone to the precinct earlier about the picture and was told the duplicates weren't ready. That stone wall again. The Phoenix police were mad as hell at Spiro for not telling them who tipped him off about Debby Jordan's grave. So they were paying him back. A little tit for tat.

Even if Joe could persuade Charlie to describe the photo, he doubted it would help. Face it, he was really there because he'd needed to distance himself from Eve. His impulse had been to move quickly, push hard instead of waiting patiently. It would have been a stupid move. She had been close to Logan, and Joe should be grateful she hadn't been more upset. But he wasn't grateful, and he was tired as hell of waiting patiently. He'd come too close to her to take a step back.

"No one's told me anything," Joe answered Mark. "Have you seen Charlie since he picked up the photo?"

"Yesterday evening at the precinct." He paused. "Something's bothering him. He's trying to hide it, but he's not good enough."

"Maybe Spiro raked him over the coals for talking to you."

"Maybe." He shrugged. "But I didn't notice it until he came back from the Hardings' with that picture. I'm glad you're here. We'll gang up on the kid and try to find out what's making him so uneasy." He got to his feet. "Here he comes."

Cather was smiling as he walked toward them from the elevators. "I wasn't expecting you, Joe. Spiro said you just got back from Dillard. What is this? A conspiracy?"

Screw ganging up on Cather. If Charlie dropped something, he'd pick it up. But he wouldn't pressure him. Joe rose to his feet. "Yep, and you're the target."