“We’re talking about your mythical guardian animal?”

“I think we should consider him entirely Jenny’s guardian,” she said. “Don’t you?”

“I’m not swallowing any of this. You could have talked to someone who was at the scene when we found her and saw that tarp.”

“That’s true. But I just found out about all this today and very few details. Would I have had a chance to look up witnesses and question them?” She shook her head. “And you could find a reason for anything else I happen to tell you about that little girl. I’m through with trying to prove myself to you. You’ll have to take me or leave me.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Eve said. “I’m taking you, and he’ll just have to put up with it.” She put out her hand and helped Margaret to her feet. “Now, unless you’re going to have any other revelations, I’m going to take you back to my hotel and let you get to sleep after a nice hot shower.”

“Wonderful.” Margaret smiled. “I left my knapsack at the edge of the forest. We’ll have to stop and pick it up. Okay?”

“No problem.” She turned to Nalchek. “I don’t mean to be discourteous. I know this is your case, and you’re doing your best, but I asked Margaret to come and help, and I intend to make it as easy as I can for her.” She grimaced. “I’m not like you. I’ve found that sometimes you have to look beyond the obvious of so-called reality to find answers. I believe her.”

He was silent. “I believe that she thinks she’s telling the truth. And, for your information, Eve, I’ve batted around the world and run into a lot of things that have no basis in reality. I might not have spent years in the woods hiding out from a son of a bitch of a father like she did, but I know enough to realize that nature in all its forms can be unpredictable as hell. Though a wild animal that guards a grave for eight years like a hound dog grieving for his master is really reaching. Which means that she could be completely delusional, and all this is bullshit. You’ll have to prove it to me.” He turned away. “I’ll walk you back to your vehicle.”

“And then what will you do?” Margaret asked curiously as she fell into step with him as they started to follow Eve.

“Do what I meant to do when I found you trespassing. My job as sheriff.”

“Which includes wandering around in the forest in the middle of the night?” She tilted her head. “Are you guarding that grave, too?”

“I’m just trying to find additional evidence, anything we might have missed.”

She gazed searchingly at him. “No, I think there’s more to it than that.”

“My deputy was murdered here. I think it was by the same person who killed that little girl. There’s always a possibility that he’ll come back.”

“And you want to be here.”

“I’m going to be here.” His lips thinned. “And tonight, I’m going to take soil samples and see what or who has been messing around that grave. Then I’m going to examine the area around that oak tree for any signs of animals or humans that might tell me anything.”

Margaret’s eyes widened. “You do believe me.”

“No, but I never discount anything.” They had reached a silver-gray Toyota and he watched Eve unlock the car. “Call me when you get back to the hotel, Eve.” He added grimly, “And don’t come back here without letting me know you’re going to do it.”

“I won’t. I didn’t intend this to happen.” She said, “Margaret evidently can be impulsive.”

“I was curious why you’d want me,” Margaret said as she got into the passenger seat. “And I thought I’d get a head start. It was a beautiful night, and I wasn’t tired.” She looked at Nalchek. “If you find out what animal is guarding that grave, will you tell me?”

“Maybe.”

“You’re still angry with me?”

“No.” He gestured impatiently. “Okay, I’ll let you know. Why not?” He added sarcastically, “After all, it might help you to communicate with him.”

She beamed. “My thought exactly. I knew we were getting on the same page.”

He jerked his thumb. “Out of here.”

“We’re going.” Eve quickly started the car and pressed on the accelerator. “Good night, Nalchek. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“No, not tomorrow.” He was walking back into the trees. “I told you to call me when you get back to the hotel.”

“Of course, it slipped my—” She stopped. Nalchek had disappeared. “It appears he’s washed his hands of us for the moment, Margaret.”

“No.” Margaret was looking back over her shoulder. “He stopped when he reached the trees, and he’s watching us leave.”

“You can see him?”

“No, I can feel him. And the birds flew out of that tree where he’s standing only seconds ago. He’ll probably stay there until he’s sure we’re well on our way back to the highway.” She turned around and leaned back in the seat. “He’s very protective. It’s no wonder he’s in law enforcement. And when he lost those men in Afghanistan, it must have torn him apart. Even if he’s irritated with us, he can’t stifle that instinct.”

“You like him?”

“I think he’s one of the good guys. But that doesn’t mean he won’t cause us trouble.” She turned around and faced the road. “He likes to be in charge. He’s learned he can get hurt if he trusts other people. These days, he tends to bulldoze over anyone who gets in his way.”

“Like he bulldozed you?”

She chuckled. “He tried. But he was smart enough to step away when he had an inkling he was facing something he didn’t have a complete handle on. Not many people would do that.”

“Particularly when confronting you.”

“Yes.” She glanced back over her shoulder. “Do you think he’s gone back to that grave?”

“Sure; Nalchek is obsessed with everything connected with Jenny.”

“And so are you?” Margaret asked softly, her gaze on Eve’s face. “Not your usual M.O. where your reconstructions are concerned?”

“That FedEx driver was killed because someone wanted that reconstruction. That act throws ordinary out the window.”

“But that isn’t all?”

Eve shook her head. “I won’t lie to you. I’m like Nalchek, I feel … differently about Jenny.”

“So does that creature who was protecting her grave.” She smiled faintly. “Fascinating. I can hardly wait to learn more.” She shook her head as Eve opened her lips to speak. “No, I’m not going to nag you to tell me stuff you’re not ready to talk about. I can see that you’re hesitating. That’s okay with me. I’ve been there.”

“I’m sure you have,” Eve said dryly. “Does that mean you’ll help me?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t have come if I hadn’t intended to find out what you want to know.” She grinned. “But it helps that everything is so interesting. When can I go back to the woods?”

“Tomorrow. You need to rest, and we need to let Nalchek adjust to your being here to help. You heard him—he doesn’t want us in his woods without him.”

“Which would probably not mean anything to you if you thought it was urgent.”

Eve nodded. “But I promised Joe I wouldn’t go off on my own without Nalchek until he could get here. Tomorrow is soon enough.”

“And you keep your promises to Joe Quinn.”

“Always,” Eve said as she pulled off the road at the driveway leading to a charming redwood building, overflowing with flower boxes filled with geraniums. “I was feeling guilty about running out in the middle of the night when Nalchek called me. That might not have met the letter of the promise I made to him.”

“Close enough.” Margaret grinned. “And it was a lifesaving operation. I was fading fast without that hot coffee.”

“Considering your affinity toward animals, perhaps I should have sent a St. Bernard to rescue you.”

“Nalchek wouldn’t have understood.” She opened the car door and looked up at the hotel. “Nice place. Cozy. But I don’t have any credit cards and only twenty bucks. You’ll have to lend me the money.”

“My treat,” Eve said as she came around the car. “I’m putting you on retainer. I wouldn’t expect you to do this for—”