Sleep No More (17 page)

“But only one of any importance,” Kendra said softly, her gaze focused on the list. “Bingo. I thought it would be there, but I had to be sure I was right about how Beth got away that night.”

Eve’s gaze flew to Kendra’s face. “You knew?”

“I told you, I didn’t have all the pieces of the puzzle. I needed confirmation. We were too busy today to get it earlier.”

Eve’s gaze shifted back to the computer list. “Who?”

Kendra pointed to the twelfth name on the list.

Jessie William Newell.

Eve frowned. “Who is—” Then the memory came back to her. “The orderly?”

Kendra nodded. “That nice young man who was conveniently on the same floor as we were while Piltot was showing us around.”

“That doesn’t have to mean anything.”

“No, but your sister had to have help from someone. You’ve seen the security measures there.”

“It would be hard even with help.”

“Yes, I saw only two outdoor areas that weren’t covered by security cameras, both out back. It would take someone who could have scouted the entire facility—as we did—to know that. Both of these areas have long drops to the hillside below, which is probably why cameras aren’t covering them.”

“You think Beth jumped from one of them?”

“She was lowered from the north side of the rear walkway. There are tiny pieces of white stucco on the hillside below that spot. Nowhere else. The pieces probably came off when she braced her feet against the wall as she was lowered.”

“Lowered? You believe someone lowered her down?”

“Not someone. Jessie William Newell. He had light abrasions on his knuckles and upper arms, all of the size and character consistent with the sharp stucco on that wall. They’re especially apparent on his left hand.”

Eve had a sudden memory of the orderly reaching out to shake Kendra’s hand. “You used your left hand. I thought it was awkward at the time.”

“It was awkward, but I had to get a better look. I’m sure he leaned over the walkway with a rope and helped lower her. If you’d bothered to look up there, you would have seen places where the stucco wall was obviously marked from a rope with a weight on it.”

“I did glance up there,” Eve said dryly. “But I obviously wasn’t
seeing.
”

“Concentration.” Kendra was smiling. “It has many applications. Some less pleasant than others.”

“Are you through with me?” Sam asked. “Are you satisfied that Kendra is right about this dude, Eve?”

Eve looked at the list of names again.

Jessie William Newell.

Billy had given her the security code for the house.

William. Billy?

“Yes, I’m satisfied,” she said slowly. “But I’m not through with you. I need everything you can pull up on this orderly. Will you send it to my phone?”

*   *   *

THE SUN WAS BEGINNING
to come up over the dark sea when they left the IHOP forty minutes later.

Eve stopped as they reached Sam’s car. “I’m not going to say thank you again. But I owe you, Sam.”

“That’s always a plus.” Sam shook her hand. “I’ll remember and use that IOU if I need it.” He turned to Kendra. “How about you?”

“Am I grateful?” Kendra thought about it. “No, I gave you an entertaining experience. If anything, you owe me.” She turned back to Eve. “I’ll get my bag from your car. Sam can take me to the airport and drop me off.” She checked her watch. “I should get back in plenty of time for my appointment with Justin.”

“Just as you planned,” Eve said as she unlocked her car and took Kendra’s case from the trunk. “I’m glad you were able to fit me into your schedule.” Such polite, almost stilted words, and yet they meant so much. Kendra would resent thanks, but she had opened new doors for Eve in so many ways. She handed the duffel and guitar case to Sam. “Take care of her.”

He shrugged. “As if she’d let me.” He strolled toward his car.

Eve turned back to Kendra. “Good luck with Justin.”

“Thank you, I’ll need it.
He’ll
need it.” She frowned. “I don’t like leaving you like this. It feels … unfinished.”

“You’ve done everything we asked of you.”

“I certainly did. And more.”

Eve chuckled. “And more,” she agreed. “So why does it feel unfinished?”

“I guess I’m afraid that you’ll lose everything we’ve won if I’m not there to help. Though I admit that you were pretty good tonight.”

“Thank you,” she said gravely. “I’m honored by your opinion.”

“No, you’re not.” She stood looking at her. “I do admire you, Eve Duncan. I hope you find your sister alive and well.” She paused. “If you get stuck and need to talk through something, you have my number. I can’t guarantee I’ll be available, but I’ll do whatever I can to help.” She smiled slightly. “You can never tell, I might even be persuaded to help you and Quinn wrap up this mess.” She turned and walked toward Sam’s car. “But not until I finish working through this breakthrough with Justin…”

*   *   *

JOE WAS STANDING ALONE
on the verandah overlooking the beach when Eve reached the motel.

He did not look pleased.

Well, what could she expect? She would have been angry, too, if he had closed her out.

“Are you communing with the seagulls?”

He didn’t look at her. “For lack of better company. Did you take Kendra to the airport?”

“No, Sam did.” She came to stand beside him and looked down at the blinding bright sunlight on the sea. “I called you and told you I was safe as soon as we left the hospital. I did what I thought was right, Joe.”

“I know you did. It doesn’t help. It’s going to take a while to forget sitting here twiddling my thumbs all night worrying about you. I was tempted to go in and stage a little raid of my own. And I wouldn’t give a damn about losing my badge.” He glanced at her. “Do this again, and I just might do it.”

He meant what he said. Joe never bluffed. “I’ll keep that in mind. Anything else?”

“Yes.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. It was hard, passionate, and completely sensual. Then he let her go and turned away. “I’ve been thinking about doing that all the time I’ve been wondering if you were going to get your head blown off by a security guard.” He moved down the verandah steps to the walk. “Now let’s go to the room, and you can get me up to speed. Then you can go to bed until at least noon since you haven’t slept all night, while I download some of those files Sam stole for you.”

“That sounds like a plan.” She reached out and touched his arm. “I’ve got the name of the man who—”

“Don’t touch me.” He moved away from her. “Not now. I’m feeling fairly explosive, and I’m trying to be civilized. You know I’m not real good at control.”

“And you know I don’t give a damn.”

“But I do.” He unlocked the door and let her precede him into the room. “Now sit down and talk to me.”

“The man who helped Beth escape was Jessie William Newell. He’s an orderly at the hospital.” She pulled out her iPhone and accessed the file Sam had e-mailed to her. “Age twenty-eight, high-school education at a school in Denver, served in the Marines for four years, worked as a trainer at a gym in Boulder for three years. His mother still lives in Boulder. He’s been working at the hospital for the last eighteen months.” She looked up from the screen. “And he’s been working principally on the third floor for the last year. No remarks on any unusual interaction with Beth Avery.” She handed him her phone. “Here’s his photo. Nice-looking guy. Very polite. And Kendra is very sure that he’s been helping Beth.”

“Why?”

Eve briefly filled him in on their encounter with Newell on the third floor of the hospital and the deductions Kendra had made from that meeting. “I didn’t notice even a small percentage of the things that Kendra did, so I have to take her word for it.”

“But you’re willing to do it?”

She nodded slowly. “I trust her, and I trust the logic that she brings to the table.”

His eyes were narrowed on her face. “But that’s not all, is it?”

She smiled faintly. “You know me too well. Logic is all very well, but I’ve never been able to guide my life by it. I’ve been touched by too many totally illogical elements over the years.” She paused. “Newell’s middle name is William.”

“I noticed. And you made the leap to the Billy of your dream?”

“Why not? He was in close association with Beth during those last months. It’s not ‘logical’ that Beth would be able to be helped by someone not in that group.” She added, “And that she would be thinking about him while she was escaping.”

“Did you discuss this with Kendra?”

She grimaced. “No, I wanted to maintain my credibility with her. I’m not sure she’d understand why I’d rely on a dream to furnish me with vital information. It’s definitely not her modus operandi.”

“I don’t know. We might be surprised.” He was gazing down at Newell’s dossier. “He lives at Sungate Apartments in the city. Apartment 2A. You said that you ran into him yesterday afternoon. That means he’s probably working days at the hospital, and we can reach him at his apartment tonight.”

Eve nodded. “That’s what I thought. And we can work on checking out those other Beth Avery files today.”

“Later.” He didn’t look up from the iPhone. “Go to bed and get some sleep.”

She opened her mouth to protest, then closed it again with the words unsaid. She was tired, and she would need to be alert when they met Newell. “You’re right.” She headed for the bathroom. “I’ll shower, then take a nap.”

She leaned back on the door after she had closed it. She hated this coolness between them. No, not coolness. That term could never describe what she and Joe felt for each other. Even though they were at odds for the moment, there was heat that made the hardness give off sparks.

But it was still disturbing to know everything was not serene with them. Oh, well, they’d work it out. If she didn’t believe that, she’d be truly upset.

She stripped off her clothes and stepped under the shower. Relax. Sleep. Get on with the task of finding Beth.

And hope like hell that she hadn’t damaged anything that couldn’t be repaired in her relationship with Joe.

*   *   *

APARTMENT 2A.

Drogan glanced down at the address for the orderly Newell that Pierce had given him that morning, then started to climb the steps to the second-floor walkway.

Pierce hadn’t wanted to give him the list. He’d been afraid that Drogan would cause an “awkward” incident that would reflect on him.

Screw him. Drogan was getting nowhere in the search for Beth Avery, and he needed to dig deeper. Someone had to have helped her to escape, and that meant someone knew where she’d go to hide. He had three other names that he was going to tap for information if Newell didn’t pan out.

Including that little bitch Pierce was screwing. He almost hoped he would come up empty questioning the orderly so that he could take his time spoiling Pierce’s lush little playground.

As he was going to take his time with Beth Avery. Every hour that passed, his anger was growing, his ego stinging from the memory of his failure that night.

He stopped at the door to 2A.

Locked.

No problem. He spent only a few minutes before the door swung open.

He stepped inside and closed the door. The apartment was empty, as Pierce had told him it would be. That was all right, he could wait. He went to the refrigerator and took out a beer before he dropped down in a chair facing the door.

Come on, Jessie Newell. I’m waiting to welcome you.

*   *   *

JOE WAS SITTING IN A CHAIR
across the room with his laptop on his lap when Eve opened her eyes. It must’ve been late afternoon because the rays of the sun pouring through the window were pale and slanted as they touched Joe’s brown hair. “What time is it?”

“A little after four.”

“I didn’t want to sleep that long. Why didn’t you wake me?”

“You evidently needed it.” He raised his eyes from the computer to meet hers. “And I needed the time, too. I was feeling as if you owed me, and that was a very savage response.”

She felt a flash of heat move through her. She held out her hand to him. “Come here.”

He didn’t move. “I’m over it. You don’t owe me anything.”

“The hell I don’t. Oh, not because I closed you out from the action because I wanted to protect you. You have to deal with that because that’s who I am. I’m not about to make love to you to make some kind of recompense.” She tossed the sheet aside and pulled her T-shirt over her head and threw it aside. “Do you know what I owe you? The same thing you owe me. Now come here and give it to me.”

He hesitated, then stood up. “You’re sure?” Then he smiled recklessly and strode toward her, stripping off his clothes. “You’d better be sure because I’ve just gone beyond the point of no return.”

“No, you haven’t.” She pulled him down on top of her, into her. “Not yet. Soon…”

Deep. Deeper.

Heat. Hardness. Rhythm.

She rolled over on top of him. “Joe…”

“Shh.”

She threw her head back and bit down on her lip as his hips plunged upward.

Again.

Again.

Again.

It went on and on … and on.

When the explosion came, it was too much and yet not enough.

She was panting, her heart pounding crazily as he drew her close. Neither of them could speak for a moment.

“We have to do it again,” Joe said as his tongue teased her nipple. “And then again.”

“Yes.”

Joe parted her thighs, then came between them in one stroke.

“Aren’t you going ask me why?”

“Obvious…”

“No … I didn’t do it right.”

“What?”

He smiled down at her as he slowly began to move. “Kendra wouldn’t approve. I didn’t concentrate.”

*   *   *

THE SUN WAS GOING DOWN
when Eve and Joe got into the car and started for the Sungate Apartments. She gazed out the window at the sun streaking scarlet across the sea. “Beautiful … I keep thinking how many times Beth must have looked out her window at that hospital and seen this same view. The first time I saw that hospital on the hill, I thought of how free I am down here and what a prisoner she was. Do you know how small her suite was in that place?”