“And this schoolgirl’s name?”

“Heather Smallwood. She lives in the same apartment building. I told you it wasn’t very promising. The only reason I told you was because you asked me to pay attention to any calls from Carmel.”

“You’re wrong, it’s promising,” Eve said. “Thanks for calling, I’ll get back to you.” She hung up. “It seems that Heather Smallwood had reason to be on the lookout for Cara’s Aunt Elena. She was looking for a payoff.” She pulled to the curb in front of the apartment building. “And all signs are pointing to Cara Delaney. Let’s go find her.”

*   *   *

Elena’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as she gave another nervous glance at her rearview mirror.

The tan Toyota was still following her.

And he was no longer trying to hide the fact. When she had pulled away from the school without picking up Cara, any hint of subtlety had ended.

There had been a change, a boldness, a determination in the way he had resumed tailing her. He was not about to let her get out of his sight.

But she had to get out of his sight, she thought desperately. She had to get to Cara. She had promised she would take care of her. She couldn’t leave her alone and at the mercy of the people who had killed her sister.

She might even have to go to the police.

No! She knew better; she had been warned all her life that she mustn’t ever go to the police. Cara wasn’t the only one in danger. She loved her, but Elena’s own family could be slaughtered if she disobeyed the rules.

So find a way to lose him.

And if she couldn’t do that, lead him as far away from Cara as she could …

*   *   *

“Elena Delaney quit her job, picked up her paycheck and her niece, Cara, and hit the road,” Eve said in frustration when she called Joe two hours later. “And it can’t be a coincidence. Cara has to be Walsh’s target. We’re at their apartment now, and we’ve been looking around for anything that might give us a clue as to where she might be going. I talked to Cara’s friend, Heather, when she came home from school, and she said that Cara hadn’t mentioned going anywhere today. They might be friends, but not close enough for Cara to confide in her. She did say that Cara was very quiet when she got on the school bus this morning. But Cara didn’t ever talk much. It wasn’t until Heather was in her current-events class this morning that she saw the reconstruction on TV and got all excited.” She shook her head. “That’s why she was on the lookout for Cara. She wanted to talk to her about it. She’s very disappointed.”

“And she saw Cara get into her aunt’s car?”

“No, she had to go to her next class. But she recognized her car, a dark blue Camaro.” She paused. “Can we find it?”

“If she doesn’t get rid of the car and buy a new one. Give the license number to Nalchek.”

“You can’t do it?”

“I’m a little busy right now. Give it to Nalchek.”

She was silent. “Okay. I don’t believe she would have gotten rid of the car. Nalchek arranged for me to look through the apartment. Obviously, very limited means, and you don’t usually have ready cash if you’re a waitress at Waffle House.”

“Nalchek is local, and he might get a faster response.” He paused. “If you don’t think he’s dirty. Evidently, you must have some faith in him. You seem to be using him quite a bit today.”

“I don’t know either way. I can’t put credence in Margaret’s take on him when even she’s not certain. It just seemed involving him was the easiest way to get things done.”

“Since I’m obviously out of the action.” His voice was without expression.

“Even if you weren’t. You said you were going to use him, too.”

“And so I will.” He added mockingly, “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t intend to construct a few scenarios that would fit into Margaret’s view of our bold sheriff. After all, I have to keep myself busy.”

As long as it was at the hospital. “By all means, construct away. I’ll call you if I hear anything else.” She hung up.

“Do I detect trouble in paradise?” Margaret murmured.

“No. Paradise? Joe and I have never had an idyllic relationship. It’s much too real.”

“It seemed pretty close to it to me,” Margaret said. “I was with him when he was trying to find you after you were kidnapped. I would have settled for someone’s loving me like that.” She shrugged. “But what do I know? I’ve never really had a relationship, period. Sometimes it seems very confusing when applied to me. Like Nalchek said, I’m a little too weird for a normal relationship.”

“Did he say that?”

“Or words to that effect. He was a little upset with me at the time.” She changed the subject. “But I’m sorry that Joe is upset with you.”

“He’ll have to get over it. He can’t have everything his own way.” She looked around the apartment. “Did you find anything else that might give us a lead?”

“A few things. Not much. It looks as if they left in a hurry, and Elena just threw things in suitcases and took off.” She held up two yellow tickets. “Two expired bus passes. One adult, one child.” She handed Eve a small, tan book. “And this. It was in the drawer of the bureau. I think you’ll find it interesting.”

Eve slowly took the book and opened it. Two photos, faded with time. Two little girls, both evidently sisters with those very familiar features. Dressed in shorts and T-shirts, their dark hair wind-tousled. They were smiling at each other: love, closeness, warmth.… “Jenny and Cara,” she said softly.

Margaret nodded. “It looks as if the photo was taken on board a ship. Blue sky. Blue sea…”

“But where?” She looked on the back. “Not a professional shot. Maybe if Joe sends it to the FBI, we might be able to find out. They know all kinds of technical tricks.”

“We can try.” She studied the bus pass. “It’s a local pass. West route. Why would she have a bus pass there when her job is here in the southeast?”

“We’ll have to find out,” Margaret said. “Are you ready to get out of here? I don’t like this place.”

Eve could see what she was talking about. The apartment was neat and clean, and there were even rose and yellow colors in the pillows on the couch. But it was too neat, like a hotel room instead of a home, and there was a coolness about it. It looked … temporary.

“Yes, I’m ready.” She turned toward the door. “I need to get hold of a city map, compare it to those expired bus passes, and see if I can see anything.” She grimaced. “But heaven knows, it would help if I knew what I was looking for.”

*   *   *

The bitch was scared out of her mind, Walsh thought with malicious satisfaction. Elena Delaney had tried three times to lose him in the past hour, and now she was going faster, trying to escape through sheer speed. She’d be lucky not to be pulled over by the highway patrol.

Would she be tempted to tell them she was being followed?

No, she knew what would happen to her family if she did. She would be polite, accept the ticket, then get back on the road. But that would give him his chance to catch up to her.

No matter what she did, he would eventually have her.

And after a short but very painful time for her, he would also have Cara.

*   *   *

Eve didn’t call Joe again for another two hours. “I’m on my way back to San Francisco. Margaret and I went to the bus company and asked a boatload of questions but came up with zilch. The passes were paid for in cash and no one remembers Elena Delaney. It would have been too much to hope that she had a cozy conversation with the clerk about where she was going and why she needed a pass.”

“Sometimes it happens like that. Not often. Where does that bus go?”

“On the Pacific Highway, then into some of the subdivisions in the suburbs. I asked to talk to the bus driver who drives the route, but they had to check their records.” She added wearily, “And probably my credentials before they give me his telephone number. It’s been a question of hurry up and wait all day. I’m not getting anything done. I thought I’d start again tomorrow morning.”