Quinn

by Iris Johansen

  “What difference does that make? Zeus is Canadian?”

  “I couldn’t tell on that first phone call, but on the second he was talking about your house. McVey was right, the pronunciation is different. Novak is Canadian. Fraser is a U.S. citizen, but raised in Toronto.”

  Her hands clenched as she looked out at yard. “It makes … sense.”

  “Yes.”

  “And this man could have been working on one of the yards on the block and watching Bonnie. I could have passed him when I went to the bus stop to meet her.”

  “It’s possible,” he said gently.

  “If he killed her. I can’t be certain. I won’t be certain.”

  But it was coming close to the time when the truth would be thrust upon her, Joe thought. “The only thing I have to be certain about right now is catching the son of a bitch.”

  “You said you were going to pay him a visit. Where is he?”

  “The crew Novak and Fraser are on is working at Nottingham Subdivision in Towne Lake today.” He turned. “I’m on my way there now. I’ve changed cars so that Zeus won’t recognize it. I just wanted to stop and let you know what was happening.”

  “You didn’t send the police to pick them up?”

  “They’ll be there outside the subdivision. First, I have to make sure I locate him before he gets spooked by the squad cars pulling into the subdivision. The crew doesn’t all work on the same house. He could be anywhere in the area.”

  “But you’d recognize him. You saw the sketch I drew of him.” She paused. “And I’d recognize him.”

  “Yes, you would,” he said quietly. “But he’d also recognize you. I know where this is going, Eve.”

  “Of course he’d recognize me. But that’s no argument. We both know while he was doing surveillance on this house that he saw you. If he spots you, he’ll take off.”

  “You want to go with me.”

  She met his gaze. “And you want me to go. Why else did you stop here before going after him? You may have told yourself you just wanted to keep me informed, but that’s bullshit. You knew I had to go. You know I deserve to go.”

  “I don’t want you hurt,” he said roughly. “I don’t want him to touch you.”

  “And that makes it hard to do the right thing. That’s why you’re lying to yourself. You promised we’d do this together.” She threw back her head and stared him in the eye. “Do you want me to make it easier? If you walk out that door without me, I’ll be at Nottingham Subdivision before you get there. If you take me, I’ll stay in the car. But I have to be there. I have to see him captured. I want to see his face when he knows that he’s not Zeus any longer.”

  She was right. He had known that it would come down to this when he had come here. They had taken this journey together, and he couldn’t leave her behind now. He just couldn’t admit it to himself because it caused him to break out in a cold sweat at the idea of letting her come that close to Zeus. Yet he had to admit it and drown that fear because he could not cheat her.

  “Joe?”

  His hand closed on hers. It was a soft, graceful hand belying the strength that lay beneath that fragile surface. His grasp tightened. “You stay in the car,” he said hoarsely as he led her toward the door. “Unless you want to drive me crazy, you stay in the car.”

  * * *

  NOTTINGHAM SUBDIVISION WAS an upper-middle-class neighborhood that had been built within the last ten years and had all the amenities. Including a homeowners’ association that demanded the homeowners pay to keep the verdant lawns and shrubs meticulously maintained.

  And Johnston and Son had a truck that was parked close to the clubhouse and swimming pool.

  Joe parked across the road from the clubhouse, his gaze raking the surrounding area. “There’s a man in the truck, but I don’t see any workers.” He got out of the car. “I’ll go ask questions. Lock the door.”

  “You think the man in the truck is a supervisor?”

  “He’s not doing hard labor. That’s a good sign.”

  She frowned. “Aren’t you going to call the police waiting outside the gate to assist?”

  “As soon as I can point the way to Zeus.” He crossed the road and drew out the photos of the sketches of Zeus as he approached the truck.

  “May I help you?” The man in the truck smiled politely at Joe. “Les Cavanaugh. I run this crew. I know we’re a little late coming to do the maintenance this week, but we got behind because of the rain. We’ll get to your yard as soon as we can.”

  Joe showed his ID. “FBI. You can help me with an identification. You have an employee working for you who we have an interest in questioning.”

  Cavanaugh stiffened warily. “What for? Look, we got rid of that joker who was planting marijuana in some of the flower beds. We don’t stand for anything like that.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. But the FBI doesn’t deal with drugs.” He handed him Kim Chen’s sketch. “Do you know him?”

  Cavanaugh frowned. “He’s … familiar.”

  He handed him Eve’s sketch. “Is this clearer?”

  Cavanaugh’s eyes widened. “Hell, yes. Ralph Fraser.” He looked at Joe. “But Fraser is a good guy. Been working for us for years and never caused any trouble.”

  “Where is he working now?”

  “In the flower bed behind the clubhouse, next to the pool. But he’s not the guy you’re looking for. He’s real quiet, works hard and—”

  “Stay in the truck.” Joe started for the clubhouse.

  And saw Ralph Fraser come around the corner toward him.

  Shit!

  Fraser stopped, then whirled and ran into the clubhouse.

  Joe tore after him, but instead of going through the front entrance, he ran around back and entered from the pool area.

  A bullet splintered the jamb of the door as he dove down and to the left.

  “Put down your weapon. You’re under arrest.”

  “The hell I am.” Another bullet, closer.

  But Joe had the direction now. Fraser was behind the bar across the room. He aimed and got off a shot. “Give it up, Fraser. Last chance. I’ll kill you. It’s what I want to do anyway. Why waste the taxpayers’ money on shit like you?”

  “You’re not going to kill me. All these years, and you assholes haven’t been able to touch me. I’ll get out of here and kill you and that whore, too.” Another shot. “Just like I did that newspaper reporter.”

  “But it’s really me you want to kill, isn’t it, Fraser?”

  Oh, my God, Eve.

  She was standing in the front doorway. But only for an instant, then she dove to the right behind the couch in front of the huge fireplace.

  A bullet embedded itself in the soft cushions.

  “You missed,” Eve called. “Stupid, Fraser. Incompetent and stupid and—”

  Take advantage of Eve’s distracting him.

  Another bullet struck the coffee table. “Bitch.” It was a scream of rage. “I’ll blow your—”

  The scream was cut off as Joe dove across the bar on top of Fraser, jerking the gun from his hand and tossing it aside.

  “No!” Fraser struggled wildly.

  God, he was strong. Joe would have to put him out quickly.

  But Fraser had rolled over, taking Joe with him. His face was contorted with rage as he looked down at him. There was fierce malice imprinted on every line of his heavy face. “You helped her. You helped the bitch. I’m going to cut your—”

  Joe’s knee jerked up into Fraser’s groin.

  Fraser groaned with pain.

  Joe bucked him off his body. He moved swiftly to give him a karate chop to the neck.

  Fraser went limp as he lost consciousness.

  Joe was breathing hard as leaned back against the bar.

  Eve was beside him, looking down at Fraser. “It’s him. It’s Zeus?”

  “Ralph Fraser.” He reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out handcuffs. “And you were supposed to stay in the car.” />
  “And you were supposed to call in the police when you knew where Fraser was.” She was still looking down at him. “And then I saw you run after him. What could I do?”

  He cuffed Fraser and sat back on his heels. “And you wouldn’t have come running to the rescue anyway? I could have handled it, Eve.”

  “I had to be sure.” Her glance shifted to Joe. “And I had to make certain that you didn’t kill him.”

  “I gave him the usual warning.”

  “But I think you wanted him dead. Didn’t you?”

  “He’s a son of a bitch. I didn’t want some slick lawyer to find a way of getting him off.”

  “That’s not all. You’re my friend. I think you wanted it over for me.”

  “Maybe. And now we have to wait for a jury to pull the plug on him.” His lips twisted. “And I have to watch what that does to you. Is that what you want?”

  “I have to talk to him. I have to make him tell me if he lied about killing Bonnie.”

  It was coming as he’d known it would. Joe could almost see the dark shadow looming over her.

  “Maybe he lied,” she added shakily. “Maybe he’ll tell the truth if he thinks it will get him off.”

  “And maybe he’ll lie again.” He got to his feet. “Come on, let’s get you in the car and away from him.”

  She didn’t move. “I have to ask him, Joe.”

  “You’re not going to get anything from him but curses if he regains consciousness anytime soon.” He took her elbow. “We need to call Slindak and get those squad cars up here.”

  “They should be here any minute. I told that man in the truck to go down to the gates and get them as I ran past him toward the clubhouse.”

  “Good.” He glanced once again at Fraser. He still wasn’t stirring. “I don’t think he’s playing possum, but perhaps I’ll stay here until Slindak gets here.”

  “Because he might be strong enough to walk away from this? I never thought evil could be as strong as good. I hoped it couldn’t be that powerful.” She shuddered. “But that was before I lost Bonnie.”

  Joe heard the sirens and gently took her elbow again. “He won’t walk away from this.” He nudged her toward the door. “I promise you, Eve.”

  “When can I see him again?” she asked. “I have to see him. He has to tell me about Bonnie.”

  “We’ll talk about that later.” A long time later, he thought. When she was stronger, when he could find a way to cushion the blow. As if he could ever cushion that blow. “Let me take you home.”

  Two Weeks Later

  PAPERWORK, JOE THOUGHT SOURLY as he finished the third page of the report. It was the bane of every law-enforcement officer’s life, and that went double when you had to make reports to the local police department as well as the Bureau.

  “You look pissed.” Slindak had stopped by his desk. “You shouldn’t mind doing a little bragging on paper. You’re a rising star. The Bureau is probably going to give you a promotion.”

  “Knock it off.”

  Slindak hesitated. “How is Eve Duncan?”

  “Fine.”

  “Did you see her today?”

  “Last night.”

  “Did she mention Fraser?”

  He raised his head. “Every day. She wants to see him. I’ve been making excuses.”

  “I think that she saw through them. I just got a call from the jail. She’s talking to Fraser now.”

  “What?” He jerked upright in the chair. “How did she get in to see him?”

  “She went to his lawyer, and he arranged it.”

  Joe was cursing as he jumped to his feet. “Damn him. Do you know what that’s going to do to her?”

  “I have an idea. I thought you’d want to know. She doesn’t need any more…”

  The last words were lost as Joe ran out of the squad room.

  Fifteen minutes later, he was taking the stairs two at a time to the second-floor room where they’d brought Eve for her visit with Fraser.

  She was coming out of the room when he reached the top of the stairs.

  She was stark white and was moving slowly, like an old woman.

  “Eve, dammit.”

  She looked at him as if she didn’t recognize him. “Joe?”

  “Why did you have to do it?” He put his arm around her waist to support her and pulled her down the stairs. “I knew he’d do this to you.”

  “Did you?” She almost fell as they started down the next flight. She was walking stiffly, as if her legs weren’t be able to function. “I guess I knew he would do it, too. But I had to ask him. It’s Bonnie. Do you know what he told me?”

  “Shh. Not now. Let me get you home first.”

  “If that’s what you want.”

  “That’s what I want.” They were walking out of the station, and he put her into the passenger seat of the car he’d parked at the front entrance.

  She stared straight ahead as he drove the twenty minutes to her home, but he doubted if she was seeing anything. Her breathing was shallow and quick.

  He brought the car to a screeching halt in front of the house. The next moment, he was around the car and half lifting her out of the seat. “Come on. Only a little farther.”

  She was looking at the empty place where the hanging basket had been. “He’s a beast,” she whispered. “Why did God let him come into the world?”

  “Maybe he didn’t. I think he’s a creation of Satan.” He had the door open, and he pushed her over the threshold. “And Satan will take him back soon.”

  “Not yet. Not until he tells me where to find my Bonnie.” She stood straight, frozen, looking straight ahead. “He did it, Joe. He really killed her. I was afraid it was true, but I didn’t really believe it. I didn’t see how anyone could kill my Bonnie. But he did it. He looked into my eyes, and he smiled. And then he started to tell me what he did to her.” Her voice was uneven. “I sat there and I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t do it. I wanted to cover my ears, but I was frozen in that chair. So I listened and listened and I—”

  “Hush.” He couldn’t stand any more. It was tearing him apart. “Just give me a minute.” He lifted her in his arms and carried her across the room and up the stairs to her bedroom. He placed her on her bed, then followed her down, holding her in his arms. Her skin was cold where he touched her. “I didn’t want you to go to see him. God, I didn’t want you to go.”

  “I know. You wouldn’t help me. I had to do it myself.”

  “You should have told me. I would have tried to make it easier for you. I’d never want you to be alone.”

  “I am alone. I’ll always be alone now. He killed her.”

  He could feel the moisture sting his eyes. “He’d lie anyway, Eve. Are you sure?”

  “He gave me details. Details down to the flavor of the ice cream she got from that booth in the park. It was her favorite flavor. Details about how soft and curly her hair was to the touch…” Her voice broke. “It was so soft, Joe. I remember her sitting on my lap the night before he took her. I was singing a song to her, and her head was pressed against my cheek…”

  He could feel the pain in every word, it reverberated within him. He desperately wanted to take it away, but there was no way to do it. All he could do was give her his warmth. His arms tightened around her. “Do you want to talk about her?”

  “Not now. All I can think about is Fraser and what he said about her. It hurts, Joe. I can’t tell you how it hurts. It keeps twisting inside me. I want it to go away.”

  He couldn’t even tell her the pain would get less. The loss of a child was eternal. “I’ll be here to share it with you. Always.”

  “No … not fair. No one should … Go away, Joe. Not fair.”

  “It’s fair, if I say it’s fair.” He was stroking her hair. “What’s a friend for?” And what’s a lover, a guardian, a warrior to protect you, for? I have to be all things to you, Eve. Something crazy happened, and my whole world changed when you came into my life. “So be quiet
and just let me hold you.”

  “I want it to go away. I don’t think I can stand…”

  That was one of the things he’d feared when he’d known what Eve was going to have to face. “You can stand anything. You’re tough.” His hand was gentle on her hair. “Give it time. The state’s going to kill that bastard, then some of the—”

  “They can’t kill him. I have to know where he buried Bonnie. I can’t let them do it.”

  “He didn’t tell you?”

  “He said to come back, and he might tell me.”

  “And put you through this torture again? No way.”

  “I can take it. I have to take it.”

  “I said you were tough. I didn’t say you were invincible.”

  “I’ll find a way to block it out. I have to make him tell me.”

  “Eve…”

  “You’ve never had a child, Joe. You don’t know how important it is for me to bring her home. I can’t leave her out there alone. Every night of her life, I tucked her into her bed, sang to her and kissed her good night. She was safe, she was home, she knew she was surrounded by love. Now I have to tuck her in one final time. I have to surround her with my love. I think wherever she is that she’ll know it.” Her voice was hoarse. “I have to … bring her home.”

  Oh, God in heaven. What could he say? What could he do?

  “We don’t have a weapon to use against Fraser, Eve. He knows he’s going to be convicted of one of those killings. It’s just a choice which case the state is going to choose to prosecute. But the bastard has a weapon he can use to hurt you, and he’ll do it.”

  “I have to try. It’s not only Bonnie. It’s all those other lost children, too. If I go there often enough, he may get cocky and let something slip. I have to try.”

  He couldn’t make the attempt to talk her out of it. Not right now.

  She lay there silent for a long time. “Your cheek is damp, Joe. I feel it.” She reached up and touched his lashes. “Are you crying for my Bonnie?”