“I don’t agree.” His foot pressed the accelerator as he reached the highway. “Let me put it in a way you’ll understand. In nature, there’s rape, there’s survival, but you left out one other important element.”

“What’s that?”

“Revenge.”

*   *   *

“Here she is,” Nalchek said when Eve opened the door to her hotel room. He nudged Margaret into the room. “Though what you want with her, I don’t know. She’s big-time trouble.”

“Problems?” Eve asked as her gaze shifted between the two of them. Nalchek was obviously tense and … something more explosive. Margaret was more subdued than usual. “You were longer than I thought you’d be.”

“My fault.” Margaret smiled. “I wanted to spend a little more time in the woods before he picked me up. I didn’t tell his officer, and it led to … disturbance.”

“Yes, it did.” He met her gaze. “And it could have been worse … or better. Don’t play games with me again, Margaret.”

“I won’t.” She smiled as she lifted her chin. “I learn from my mistakes. Do you, Nalchek?”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t repeat them. It depends if it’s worth it. I asked you a question, then allowed you to sidle out of answering. Next time, you will answer, Margaret.”

“What’s going on, Nalchek?” Eve asked.

His gaze shifted back to her. “I’m not sure, but I’d bet that you’ll know before I do.” He turned to leave. “I’ll call you after the story comes out tomorrow. If you need me, you have my number.”

Eve nodded and watched the door close behind him.

She turned to Margaret. “Did I detect friction?”

“Among other things.” She handed Eve her carry-on bag. “I know you wanted to change before you went to the hospital.”

Eve nodded. “I only had one change of clothes, and I ruined those when Joe was wounded.”

“How is Joe?”

“He’ll be back in action within a few days.” She headed for the bathroom. “And that might be too soon. I’ll be right out. There’s one of those beverage servers on the dresser. Help yourself.”

“I will. Maybe some tea. I could use a little caffeine.”

“You don’t look it. You look … charged.”

“Appearances can be deceiving,” Margaret said.

But she didn’t think that was true in this case, Eve thought. Margaret’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkling. Whatever had gone on between her and Nalchek, it didn’t require the aid of stimulants.

Eve quickly changed clothes and washed her face and hands before she went back into her room. Margaret was sitting curled up on the couch, cradling a cup of tea in two hands.

She looked up and smiled. “I love the scent of Earl Grey. I got used to drinking it while I was on the island.”

“It does smell wonderful.” She folded her arms across her chest. “But I don’t have time to discuss tea, Margaret. I have to get back to the hospital. I’ve been gone most of the day.”

“Go on. You’re in a hurry. I’ll curl up here and see you in the morning.”

“No, I’ve arranged a room for you. Your key is on the coffee table.” She took her handbag from the coffee table. “But I do have time to have you tell me if there’s something I should know about why Nalchek is so pissed off at you. Does it concern Walsh?”

“Sort of … in a roundabout way.”

“I’ve discovered that’s not unusual with you.”

“Yes.” She took a sip of her tea. “But then what can you expect?” Her expression was suddenly sober. “Well, it’s not really about Walsh. At least, only on the outer edges.”

“Margaret.”

“Nalchek is hiding something.” She shook her head. “I think it’s bad. Though I can’t be sure. Sajan was pretty confused. He kept comparing Nalchek to the other one.”

“What other one?”

“The one at the little girl’s grave,” she said simply. “Sajan thought that he was like him. Angry. Violent.”

“Walsh.”

“Yes, it must have been him. But I don’t know how true it was. As I said, Sajan was confused, and he’s not a reliable witness.” She grimaced. “And that damn coyote was pretty angry, too. He didn’t know why he was supposed to be there, but he didn’t like it.”

“You said that before.”

“He kept repeating it. Sajan is definitely not a stoic.”

“Are coyotes supposed to be?”

“No, but I got tired of the whining.”

Eve’s gaze narrowed on Margaret’s face. “You’re talking a lot about this coyote and waltzing around Nalchek. Is it because you think that your furry friend may be all bullshit?”

“It could be.” She was silent a moment. “I hope it is. But Nalchek can be angry. And I think he can be dangerous. He showed that side to me tonight.”

Eve stiffened. “He hurt you?”

“No.” She was suddenly grinning. “He called my bluff. But it was still a revelation.” She waved a hand to shoo Eve out of the room. “Go see your Joe. Nothing happened to me tonight. I wish I could say I learned something more to tell you, but that wouldn’t be true. I only found out more questions to ask.”

“And I certainly can’t confront Nalchek with an accusation that he might be in cahoots with Walsh on the testimony of a coyote,” she said dryly. “Particularly since you don’t have a good deal of faith in it.”

“I did when Sajan was thinking about it,” she said slowly. “He believed it, Eve. He made me believe it.”

“But you don’t now?”

“Like him, I’m confused.” She finished her tea. “But I think you can’t rule out anything.”

“I’m not about to do that.” She opened the door. “I won’t be back tonight. Don’t stay here. Go to your own room and lock the door. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“You’re afraid Walsh will come after you.”

“Yes, I made him very angry, which means I’m an automatic target. Besides the fact that he’s afraid I’m going to find out too much about Jenny. Yes, he’ll come. But maybe not before he goes after that child in Carmel. She may be first on his agenda. He’s been looking for her for a long time.”

“And you’re going to try to find her first?”

She smiled. “With a little help from my friends. I can’t have Joe know where I’m going, but I might need help in canvassing the areas in Carmel. That’s why I wanted Nalchek to bring you here. I hope that the news story tomorrow will give me a lead, but if it doesn’t, we’ll be heading there anyway.”

“Without Nalchek?”

“I’m not going to invite him along. Though he did help at Tahoe, I’m just not going to put my faith in him.” She smiled. “Someone told me not to rule out anything.”

CALIFORNIA PACIFIC MEDICAL CENTER

The lights were out in Joe’s room and he’d already been given his medication.

“Where have you been all my life?” Joe’s voice was a little slurred. “In particular the last eight hours of it.”

“Hi.” She took her seat in the chair beside his bed. “I told you I was going to a hotel and get some of the stench of that hillside off me.” She held out her arm. “Smell. I’m fabulous.”

“You were fabulous before.” He sniffed. “But a vast improvement. Lemon. I like your vanilla better.”

“Never satisfied.”

“And you like it that way.” He pressed his lips on her forearm. “So do I…”

“Go to sleep. I’m sorry I didn’t make it before you had your meds. We’ll talk in the morning.”

“Come to bed.”

“I’m right here.”

“Come to bed.”

“Joe, they’ll kick me out.”

He kissed her forearm again. “I’m not insisting on conjugal privileges … maybe. I just want you next to me. I can’t sleep without you.”

“You’re almost asleep now.”

“Okay, I won’t go to sleep without you. And you know I’ve been trained to do without sleep.”

“Stubborn bastard.” She hesitated. “They will kick me out, Joe.”

“We’ll face that when it happens.” He painfully shifted to one side. “In the meantime…”

“Don’t move again. I’ll do it…”

A moment later, she was lying beside him, holding him. “Now go to sleep,” she whispered.

“Soon.” His cheek was rubbing her shoulder. “Tell me about your day.”