Shadow Play by Iris Johansen Page B

“And that’s not justice, cosmic or otherwise. That’s a horror story.” She opened her eyes as a thought occurred to her. “Or maybe it’s payback time. I had a miracle come into my life, and her name was Bonnie. Even when she was taken from me in the cruelest way possible, she was allowed to come back and visit me. That was a miracle, too. Perhaps I’m being tapped to return the favor.”
    â€œPerhaps you are.” His lips brushed her temple. “In any case, you’ve convinced yourself that it’s possible. Now go to sleep, and we’ll start planning what to do in the morning.”
    â€œOkay.” She nestled closer. She doubted if she could sleep, but she mustn’t keep Joe awake. She’d try to persuade him to go to work in the morning. It was foolish to expect him to hold her hand while she was trying to think of a way to trap that bastard. “When is the report on those tires supposed to come in?”
    â€œTomorrow sometime. As soon as I get it, I’ll try to match it to a vehicle, then visit the properties on our road and the farms to the north and start questioning. He was operating in broad daylight today. Someone must have seen him.”
    She could only hope. The lead was flimsy at best.
    But at least it was a lead. Not someone creeping up in the dark woods to kill, then vanishing as it had happened in California.
    And she’d take whatever she was given.
    Because it just might take her to Jenny.
    *   *   *
    It was chilly sitting here on the porch swing. Eve tightened the belt of her robe and stared out into the darkness. It was a little after four in the morning, but there was no light on the horizon.
    No light on the horizon. It seemed a fitting phrase at this particular moment.
    No, dammit. She wouldn’t accept that defeatist attitude.
    If she couldn’t see a break in the darkness, she’d blast one through herself.
    How?
    Joe was relying on tried-and-true police work, and that was sensible and logical.
    But she wasn’t Joe, and she had only one asset that Joe didn’t possess.
    Jenny.
    This was all about Jenny, who was once more a victim.
    And her reconstruction and computer photos that were in the possession of that murderer.
    If they hadn’t already been destroyed.
    Assume it hadn’t happened yet. Assume that Jenny had gotten a break in that cosmic justice scenario Joe had talked about.
    There was only one way to be sure.
    Try to reach Jenny.
    Again, how?
    She had never tried to reach out and contact. Jenny had just been there.
    â€œJenny?”
    She concentrated. Thinking.
    Nothing.
    The skull. Think about the face that she’d been so close to during the reconstruction.
    Nothing.
    The little girl in her white dress smiling at Eve across the room.
    She tensed. Something different was there.
    Something …
    Bewilderment. Darkness.
    But no fear.
    â€œJenny?”
    â€œHere!”
    â€œJenny, listen to me. I don’t know what’s happening with you, but I want to help.”
    â€œ Sent me away…”
    It was Jenny.
    Excitement surged through Eve. “I know, and I was wrong. I thought it was for the best, but it didn’t turn out that way. We have to make it right.”
    â€œ He won’t let us. ”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œ Walsh. ”
    Darkness. Evil. Fear. So much fear.
    â€œWho is Walsh?”
    â€œ He’s here with me now. He shot that driver. ” Ugliness. Evil. Fear.
    â€œIs he the man who also killed you?”
    â€œ Yes. He hates me. He wants me back in the dirt where he buried me. He keeps thinking about it. He’s angry with you, angry at the police who found me. ” She paused. “ But most of all, he’s angry with me. He’s scaring me, Eve. ”
    â€œYou don’t have to be frightened. He can’t do anything to you, Jenny.” She added gently, “It’s all been done. All the fear and suffering