Blind Alley (2 page)

"That's different."

"Yeah, you had a drug addict for a mother instead of growing up in a dozen foster homes."

She made a face. "Okay, so we both had it tough when we were kids, but I wanted something better for Jane."

"But Jane has to want it too. She probably thinks proms are pretty silly. Can you see her in a frilly dress, getting into one of those stretch limos the kids hire these days?"

"She'd be beautiful."

"She is beautiful," Joe said. "And she's strong and smart and I'd want her behind me if I was ever in a tight corner. But she's not frilly, Eve." He poured her a cup of coffee and brought it to her. "So stop trying to force her into the role."

"As if I could. No one forces Jane to do anything she doesn't want to do." She sipped the coffee and then grimaced. "You made it strong enough. You really want to keep me awake to finish this skull, don't you?" Yes.

"Why? You're acting out of character. Even Jane noticed it."

"It's important to the case. Have you named her yet?"

"Of course. She's Ruth. You know I always name them before I work on them. It's more respectful."

"Just asking." He moved toward the front door. "I think I hear Toby."

"And you changed the subject."

"Yes." He smiled over his shoulder. "After all these years I need to maintain a little mystery. If I become too predictable, you might get bored with me."

"No chance." She looked away from him. "I might have thought I could tell what you'd do next at one time but not anymore."

"Son of a hitch."

She looked up to see Joe glaring at her. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"No, you damn well shouldn't," he said roughly. "Even though I know you're thinking it. When are you going to trust me, for God's sake?"

"I trust you."

"Within limits."

"Don't yell at me. You set those limits."

"I lied. I deceived you. But you damn well know I only did it to stop you from hurting."

"You let me think I buried the bones of my Bonnie instead of another little girl. You did it on purpose." She met his gaze. "I told you it would take time for me to forgive that. I try. I try every day. But sometimes it comes back to me and I say I love you, Joe, but I can't pretend all the time. If that's not good enough, it's your call."

"And you know what that call will be." He drew a deep, ragged breath. "I'll take what I can get. I won't let you go." He opened the screen door. "Every month, every year we're together is a bonus. We'll get past this. Where's that damn dog?" He went out on the porch and she heard him whistle. "Toby!"

He was angry and hurt. If she hadn't been so tired, she wouldn't have let those words tumble out. She was usually more careful. When she had decided to stay with Joe, it had been with the intention of making the relationship work. She had known it would be hard, but most worthwhile things weren't easy. Most of the time life was good, they were good together.

"I've got him." Toby bounded into the room ahead of Joe, panting and full of joy. "He's been on the hunt. That wolf blood is becoming more predominant. I'm not sure Sarah is right about letting him roam."

"That's what I told Jane." Joe was clearly ignoring the tension of the past few minutes and she eagerly followed his lead. "She said she'd stop him if we liked."

He reached down and stroked Toby's head. "We'll keep an eye on him. Maybe a touch of wolf in any creature isn't all that bad. I always feel safer when he's with Jane." He looked up at Eve. "That's probably why Sarah gave him to Jane. She thought you'd feel easier if Jane had protection."

"Because Bonnie didn't." Eve nodded. "God help me, I didn't dream she'd need it. I couldn't imagine anyone hurting my Bonnie. She was so... wonderful that " She stopped and was silent a moment. Even after all these years the pain and anger were ever present. "But you know all about the monsters who kill the innocent. You're a cop. You deal with them every day." She began to measure the tissue depths again. "Is it another monster who killed this woman, Joe?"

"I think so. There's a chance he may have been killing for a long time. Only not in this area."

"When are you going to tell me about her?" She looked at him over her shoulder. "And don't tell me it's confidential. I'm not buying it. You know damn well you can trust me."

"We'll talk about it when you finish." He gestured to Toby. "Come on, boy, I'll let you in Jane's room before you start howling to get in. That's enough to give anyone nightmares." He started down the hall and then stopped. "You know, I think she had a nightmare last week. I was up doing paperwork and I heard her... panting." He frowned. "Maybe crying? I don't know. When I peeked in, she was sleeping quietly."

"If she's having frequent nightmares, maybe she's not as well balanced as you think."

"Two isn't frequent."

"And how many could she be having that we know nothing about?"

"All you can do is be there for her if she wants to talk about them. You have nightmares of your own. God knows you don't want to talk about them."

Yes, she'd had her share of nightmares and dreams of Bonnie. The nightmares were gone, but the healing dreams remained, thank God. "I asked her about her nightmare and she said she didn't remember. I think she did. Maybe she'll talk to you tomorrow."

"I'm not giving her the third degree. If the subject comes up..." He shrugged. "But I don't think it will. She's too absorbed in this driving test."

She smiled. "She wants to make sure and get a good photo. That's the first sign of vanity I've seen. I was encouraged."

"Good. But you'd better be contented with a hint of vanity." He winked. "Because you'll never get frilly."

"I got it!" Jane parked the SUV and jumped out of the car and ran up the steps to the porch where Eve was waiting. "It was a pretty easy test, Eve. They should make it harder. I don't like the idea of being on the road with kids who could pass that level of Get down, Toby." She hugged his neck and then pushed him down. "But I got it and the photo isn't too bad, is it, Joe?" She handed the license to Eve. "At least, it's better than my learner's license. I hated looking as idiotic as one of the Three Stooges. It wasn't dignified."

"Is that why you were so upset? Why didn't you tell us? We could have waited until you had another one taken."

"You were in a hurry. It didn't matter."

Eve frowned. "And you could have gotten this license last year on your sixteenth birthday. You never mentioned wanting to do it."

"You were snowed under all last year. And Joe was in and out of Macon for months on that homicide case. I decided I'd do it on my seventeenth and then we could all enjoy it. Like I said, it didn't matter." She turned to Joe. "Thanks for taking me. I'll pay you back by fixing dinner for you and Eve."

"No, you won't." Joe got out of the passenger seat and got a sack of groceries out of the back. "This is a celebration and you're the guest of honor. I'll grill some steaks." He climbed the steps. "And she came out with a perfect score on that easy' test, Eve. Cool as a cucumber."

"I didn't expect anything else." Eve glanced down at the driver's license. The photo was very good. Jane's brown eyes were shining from that triangular face that was more fascinating than pretty. Eve had always thought she looked a little like Audrey Hepburn with those winged brows and high cheekbones but Joe couldn't see it. He said Jane was an original and if she looked like anyone it was Eve. The same red-brown hair color, the same well-shaped mouth, the strong chin. "It's a great photo, Jane."

"Yeah, I look like I might have a modicum of intelligence. You finished with Ruth yet?" "Getting close."

"That's good." She looked away from Eve as she bent down and patted Toby. "Then don't worry about stopping to have dinner. I'll bring you a sandwich. We'll celebrate some other time."

Another delay after Jane had waited a year because it hadn't been "convenient" for Eve and Joe? "No, we won't." She handed the license back to Jane. "This is an important occasion. Ruth can wait.

"Really?" Jane glanced up and a brilliant smile illuminated her face. "You sure? It's not as if it was a pretty easy test."

"I'm sure. I wouldn't miss it. I'm very proud of you." Eve turned away. "But I'll have to work until supper is ready. Okay?"

"Okay." She turned away. "But if you change your mind, I'll understand." She ran down the steps. "Come on, Toby. Let's go for a run by the lake." She glanced over her shoulder. "Call me if you need help, Joe."

"I think I can manage." Joe opened the screen door. "You and Toby need to get rid of some of that energy. You may not have been nervous, but you're charged. Don't come back until you're more mellow."

Jane laughed but didn't answer as she streaked down the lake path with Toby at her heels.

"She's happy." Eve was smiling as she followed Joe into the cottage. "It's good to see her like that."

"That's not new. It's not as if she stumbles around with a gloomy puss all the time. She's usually pretty happy. She lives every minute to the hilt."

"I know. But this is different. Do you think we should buy her a car?"

"No, she wouldn't take it. She's already talking about getting a part-time job so that she could earn the money to buy one herself."

"It will take forever. Can we give her one for her birthday?"

Joe gave her a glance. "What do you think?"

Eve sighed. "That she'd see right through it."

"Right." He started unloading the groceries onto the kitchen counter. "So the best we can do is try to find her the best-paying part-time job in the area and find ways to get her transport." He unwrapped the steaks. "Now you'd better get back to work. How close are you?"

"I might be able to finish up tonight. I'll start the final phase as soon as Jane goes to her room."

"Good idea." He picked up the bag of charcoal and carried it out the front door.

No protests about her overworking. No suggestion that she put off the completion of the job until the next day.

A tiny frown creased her forehead as she moved across the living room to her studio area. Ruth's features were blank, waiting for the final smoothing and forming to bring them to life.

Life.

She glanced out the window at Joe lighting the charcoal in the stone barbecue pit at the side of the cottage. So many small acts made up life. So many hours, so many experiences. Jane had gone through one of those experiences today....

But Ruth had been cut off before she'd had a chance to experience more than the beginnings of womanhood. Early twenties, Joe had told her the forensic report was guessing. So young.

"I'm getting close," she whispered. "Just a little more measuring and we'll go for it. I'll bring you home, Ruth."

The woman was damn heavy.

His chest was laboring as he carried the tarp-wrapped body up the hill.

She was too heavy. Too voluptuous. He had known it wasn't Cira, but she was similar enough that she had to be eliminated.

He couldn't take any chances.

Not with Cira. Never with Cira.

He grunted as he reached the top of the hill. He dropped the body on the ground and looked down at the sloping bank that dropped into Lake Lanier. The water was deep here and he'd weighted the tarp. She might not be discovered for weeks.

And if she was found earlier, then it was too bad. It changed nothing but the difficulty.

He drew a deep breath and then gave a shove that sent the body rolling down the bank. He watched the tarp disappear beneath the water.

Gone.

He lifted his head and felt the breeze caress his face. A tingling excitement was coursing through his veins and he felt more alive than he had since that first moment when he had realized what he had to do.

He was close to her. He could feel it.

"Okay," Eve murmured as she turned the pedestal to the light. "Here we go, Ruth. Measurements only take us so far. Help me out. I can't do this alone."

Smooth.

Start on the cheeks.

Work fast.

Don't think.

Or think about Ruth.

Think about bringing her home.

Do the upper lip.

Smooth.

A little less?

No, leave it alone.

Smooth.

Her hands moved swiftly, mindlessly.

Who are you, Ruth?

Tell me. Help me.

The middle area between nose and lip. Shorter?

Yes.

Smooth.

Smooth.

Smooth.

It was three hours later when her hands fell away from the skull and she closed her eyes. "It's the best I can do," she whispered. "I hope it's enough, Ruth. Sometimes it is." She opened

her eyes and stepped back from the pedestal. "We'll just have to My God!"

"You haven't finished her," Joe said from the doorway. He came over to her workbench and took out her eye case. "You know which ones to give her."