Sleep No More

CHAPTER

18

THE MOONLIGHT WAS BRIGHT and the ground soft and giving beneath Eve’s feet as she went ahead of Drogan out the back door of the shack and across the sand.

“Here,” Drogan said roughly.

She had almost stumbled into the grave Drogan had dug. She stared down at the open coffin in the three-foot-deep hole.

“Are you afraid?” Drogan asked.

“No.”

“You’re lying.”

“No, I’m not afraid of facing what’s beyond. There are times when I’d welcome it.” Because Bonnie was there and would welcome her. “But you should be afraid, Drogan. I think you are. I think that’s what all this voodoo business is all about.”

He was cursing beneath his breath. “Jump down in the coffin and lie down.”

Should she do it? The death he had planned for her was hideous. She could make a move on him now and she might get lucky.

And she might not.

Joe could be near. God, she hoped he was near.

She jumped down into the coffin and lay down. It was narrow and barely held her slender frame. She tensed, waiting.

She didn’t have long to wait.

Drogan dropped the snake on her chest. The rattler was striking in all directions.

Don’t move. Don’t breathe. Don’t give the snake any reason to strike at her body.

Darkness.

Drogan had dragged the lid over the coffin.

She could feel the snake slowly move up her body toward her throat.

* * *

BARREN DESERT, CACTUS, MOONLIGHT stark on shadowy dunes.

No shack.

No truck.

No Drogan.

“Try farther east,” Newell said. “It’s got to be near here somewhere.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Joe’s hands gripped the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip. “Not if she lied.”

“She wouldn’t have a reason to lie,” Kendra said quietly. “She didn’t like the idea of being involved. You’re not thinking clearly.”

That was without question, Joe thought. The only clarity to his thinking was of Eve with Drogan. It was making him sick to his stomach with fear.

“East,” Newell said.

Joe nodded jerkily. “I’m changing direction. For God’s sake, keep an eye out for that truck.”

* * *

THE SNAKE WAS LYING across her throat, and Eve was afraid that the pounding pulse beat in the hollow would cause the rattler to strike out. There was nothing but darkness and the heavy scent of the oil coating the snake’s body.

Don’t swallow.

Breathe shallow so that her neck would not move.

The triangular head of the rattler was in her hair, and it was still.

Why wasn’t it moving?

* * *

BECAUSE IT’S AS SCARED as you are, Mama.

Bonnie?

Yes, I’m with you.

Eve could not see her, but she could feel her there in the darkness. Why? Is this the end, baby?

I don’t know, you’re doing all the right things, but sometimes that’s not enough. I didn’t want you to be alone.

I’m not really afraid. I’d be happy to be with you. It’s just that it’s a natural instinct to feel like this. And Joe …

Yes, Joe.

And I don’t like snakes.

They’re just creatures like the rest of us. It’s afraid, too.

Drogan thinks the snake’s a she and may be his mother. Isn’t that crazy?

Pretty silly. Bonnie was silent. Mama, I’m going to leave you for a little while. That snake is too terrified for me to reach, but I may be able to do something inside the shack. Don’t move. Just keep on doing what you’re doing. I’ll be back soon.

* * *

BONNIE WAS GONE.

Eve felt a ripple of panic, and she must have swallowed, because the snake draped across her throat suddenly stirred.

She froze.

Keep on doing what you’re doing.

Which was absolutely nothing, dammit. If she was going to die, she desperately wanted Bonnie back with her for these final minutes. What was she doing in that shack anyway?

* * *

“I THINK WE’RE GOING AROUND in circles,” Newell said.

“No, we’re not,” Joe said. “That much I know. It just seems as if—”

“Smoke.” Kendra grabbed Joe’s arm. “I smell smoke.”

“I don’t smell anything.”

“You will soon. It’s faint. The wind is blowing it from that hollow over there to the west.”

It was over a minute before Joe caught a whiff of the smoke. “Yes.”

“It could be nothing,” Newell said.

“Or something.” He could only pray it was something. They had come up with zilch, and time was running out. Joe was already gunning the car toward the hollow. He inhaled sharply as they crested the hollow.

A shack, flames blazing, fire devouring it.

“Truck?” He bit out.

“There. To the left of the shack,” Newell said. “I can’t tell what color. It’s dark … could be red.”

“Close enough. We’re going in.”

“There’s someone near that stand of trees,” Kendra said. “Do you see him, Joe?”

Just a vague shadow, but the man was tall and slim.

Drogan was said to be tall and slim.

Joe stomped on the accelerator for the remaining distance separating them from the shack. He screeched to a stop as they came near the burning house. “Both of you get out. See if you can get into the shack and check and see if there’s anyone inside.”

Kendra and Newell were already out of the car and running toward the burning shack.

Joe turned the car and headed toward the stand of trees.

Drogan.

The headlights picked up Drogan in the beam. His eyes were wide, his expression vicious, and he was raising his gun.

Joe ducked as a bullet shattered the windshield. He jammed on the brakes, opened the driver’s door, and rolled out of the car. Drogan was coming toward him, firing.

“Welcome, Quinn,” Drogan said. “My plans were all disrupted, but here you are anyway. It must be fate.”

“Where’s Eve?” From his vantage point all he could see were Drogan’s legs on the other side of the car. “I may let you live if you tell me—”

A bullet hit the hubcap of the car next to Joe’s head.

“No, you wouldn’t let me live if I told you where she is,” Drogan said. “You’d be very angry with me. People seem to have a particular horror of the death I’ve planned for your Eve … and you. I hope I can keep you alive long enough to have you join her in her coffin.”

Coffin. It was what Joe had feared most. “Where did you bury her?”

Drogan laughed. “Guess. Either she’ll suffocate, or the snake I gave her for company will get her. I’ll leave it to your imagination.”

And Joe’s imagination was scaring him to death. If Eve was already in a coffin, he might have only minutes, seconds. He had to put an end to this. He took careful aim under the car. “I’d rather imagine you writhing in hell, Drogan.” He shot out both of Drogan’s kneecaps.

Drogan screamed, and his legs gave away.

Joe was on him before he touched the ground. His hands clutched Drogan’s neck. “You like the idea of suffocating? Let’s try it on you, Drogan.” His thumbs cut off Drogan’s air. “Where is she?”

Drogan gasped, his eyes bulging as he struggled to breathe.

“Talk.”

“Dead.” His eyes burned with malice. “I haven’t heard anything from her for almost ten minutes. She’s dead. Mama … Zela took … her.” He suddenly rolled to the side, breaking Joe’s hold. He grabbed a knife from the holster on his leg and lunged toward him.

The knife nicked Joe’s upper arm before he twisted Drogan’s arm and managed to jerk the knife away from his body. “Where is Eve?”

“I told you. I’m not saying anything more.”

“No?” Joe’s hands closed on his throat again. “You say you killed her. Then you’re of no use to me, and you’re wasting my time. One last chance?”

“You’re a cop. You won’t do anything to me.”

“You’re wrong, you know,” Joe said softly. “Good-bye, Drogan.”

His hands tightened, jerked, and he broke Drogan’s neck.

He jumped to his feet and didn’t look back as he moved toward the trees.

Newell was running toward him. “Quinn, did you find Eve?”

“No. She wasn’t in the shack, was she?”

“No.”

That would have been too much for which to hope. Drogan had been far too sure, too malicious.

“But Beth was in the shack, still alive,” Newell said. “She was crawling out the door when we got there. She’s hurt, but Kendra’s with her. Did Drogan tell you where—”

“No. She may be somewhere in this stand of trees. You go to the left. I’ll go to the right.”

Drogan had said he hadn’t heard anything from Eve for ten minutes. That meant she must be close.

Find her.

And pray Drogan had been lying or wrong.

* * *

“EVE!”

Footsteps.

Frantic cursing.

Joe’s voice.

Eve’s heart leaped into her throat, but she couldn’t even scream to him because it would have caused vocal-cord vibration.

“Eve.” The lid was torn off the coffin and thrown aside.

Joe. The bright beam of a flashlight. “Oh, my God.” He drew a long, ragged breath. “Stay perfectly still. I can’t shoot it. I have to grab the snake quick and throw it out of the coffin and away from you.”

He bent closer and moved with painstaking slowness. “He’s lifting his head out of your hair. I think he senses me.”

And would strike at him … or her, as soon as he was sure there was a threat, Eve thought.

Be careful, Joe.

Of course he would be careful. Joe would be careful, and sure and fast.

But things could go wrong, Bonnie had said.

Joe pounced, grabbing the snake behind the head. The next moment he had flung it far away from the coffin and across the yard. He grabbed Eve out of the coffin and up into his arms. “Shoot it, Newell.”

“No, let it go. Bonnie wouldn’t—” She was clinging desperately to him. He felt so good. Safety. Strength. Joe. “She said the snake was only scared, like me.”

“Bonnie,” he repeated. He was cupping the back of her head and rocking her back and forth in an agony of relief. “Hallucinations, Eve?”

“Maybe. I was scared enough. I desperately wanted her there. No, I don’t think so.” She looked beyond his shoulder to see the flames devouring the shack. “Beth! We have to get her out.”

“She’s out. She was crawling out the door when we got here. Kendra dragged her away from the house and is checking her over. Newell said she was hurt.”

“Drogan hit her with the butt of his gun.” She looked at Drogan’s body a few yards away. “He would probably have let Beth burn to death. It must have been the oil lamp. I didn’t think the fire was that bad.”

“Bad enough.” He held her closer. “Or good enough. The fire led us to the shack. It might have taken us a good deal longer if we hadn’t seen it blazing in the distance.”

“Drogan killed Rick Avery. I guess you know that.”

“Yes.” His hand was probing her side. “Are you bleeding?”

“I don’t think that—” She had a sudden memory of the instant when Drogan had thrown the snake down into the coffin. The faintest sting … “It may be a snakebite from the first couple minutes. It’s probably nothing. I didn’t even notice that it had gotten me.”

“It got you all right.” He was examining the two tears in her shirt. “Looks like a superficial bite, but we’ll take you to the hospital to have it treated.” He lifted her to her feet and shouted to Newell. “We’re heading for the nearest hospital. Tell Kendra to bring Beth.”

“I’ll tell her. I need to see her.” Eve was running toward the shack. “Drogan hit her twice, and it was—” She stopped beside Beth and Kendra, who were a few yards from the burning house. “How is she, Kendra?”

“Not great.” Kendra was bathing the deep cut on Beth’s temple. “But she comes in and out of consciousness. She asked about you a minute ago.” Kendra’s gaze raked Eve’s face. “And how are you?”

“Okay.” She fell to her knees beside Beth. “I have to go to the hospital to have a bite checked out. Beth’s in much worse shape than I am. When she threw that glass into Drogan’s eye, I thought he’d kill her. We have to get a doctor to look at—”

“No … hospital.” Beth had opened her eyes and was staring up at Eve. “Not again.”

Eve’s hand closed tightly on Beth’s. “This time it will be different. I’ll be there with you, and I won’t leave until you go with me.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, believe me, Beth. I’ll never let anything happen to you again.”

Her eyes closed. “I do believe you. Is the little girl … safe?”

Eve stiffened. “Little girl?”

“The little girl in the shack. When she came, the fire kept growing and leaping and she was right in the middle of it. It was swirling around her … She kept telling me to crawl, to get out the door. Is she safe?”

Eve looked back at the blazing shack.

I may be able to do something inside the shack.

Evidently, Bonnie had found a good deal she could do in the shack.

“You’re not answering me.” Beth’s eyes were open again. “She’s just a little girl. If she’s not safe, we have to help her.”

Eve smiled as she brushed the hair back from Beth’s forehead. “It’s okay, don’t worry,” she said softly. “She’s not in danger any longer. The little girl couldn’t be more safe now.”

* * *

“GET OUT OF HERE, EVE. The doctor said Beth’s going to be fine,” Kendra said as she came into Beth’s hospital room. “You’ve been hanging out here for the last thirty-six hours. You should go to a hotel and get a good night’s sleep. I’ll stay with her if you like.”

Eve shook her head. “I promised I wouldn’t leave until she did.”

“I should have expected that.” Kendra smiled. “I did, really. And, of course, Joe won’t leave you.”

“He’s busy anyway. He’s trying to get a permanent release for Beth from the mental hospital. It’s not easy. The board is all in a turmoil because of Pierce’s death, and they hate the idea of saying they were criminally negligent.”

“In this age of lawsuits, you can’t blame them.”

“I do blame them,” she said fiercely. “I blame everyone for not paying attention to what was happening to her. They just drifted along, and time passed. There should have been tests and reviews of Pierce and his staff.”

“Hindsight.” Kendra put up her hand to stop her protest. “I agree. I’d feel the same if I were you.”

“Eve…”

Eve’s gaze flew down to Beth’s face. Her sister’s eyes were open, and she was looking up at Eve. “Back with us? How do you feel?”

“As if I’ve been hit by a gun butt,” she said hoarsely. “And most of the time, I haven’t been sleeping. I’ve just been lying here thinking. I’m sorry, Eve. I’m to blame for everything. And I wasn’t much help to you.”

“What are you talking about? You almost took Drogan’s eye out. If I’d been faster, we’d have stopped him in his tracks.”

“I should have done something before that. It was just that I felt as if I was in some kind of terrible fog.” She drew a deep breath. “But that’s an excuse, and I don’t have the right to try to excuse myself when I should have been there for you.” Her gaze fell on Kendra. “You were at the shack. You helped me.”

Kendra nodded. “I’m Kendra Michaels. I’m glad you’re better.” She smiled and turned toward the door. “And now I’ll go try to find Joe and see if I can help him. My mother is wonderful at cutting bureaucratic red tape. She gets a vicious pleasure doing it. We’ll have you out of here in no time.”

Beth looked at Eve when the door closed behind Kendra. “Red tape?” She moistened her lips. “Trouble, Eve?”

“Nothing we can’t handle.”

“I won’t go back there.”

“I’d never let you go back.” She smiled as she clasped Beth’s hand. “So stop worrying and start thinking about what you want to do with the rest of your life.”

“Live.” Her face was suddenly lit with an emotion that was amazing in its intensity. “I want to do everything, see everything. There’s not one experience I don’t want to explore. I told you that the first night I met you.”

“Yes, you did.” She looked down at their joined hands. “But I wondered if Rick’s death had made a difference. It may be a while before you can come to terms with it.”

“I may never come to terms with it.” Beth’s eyes were glittering with tears. “I think I’m trying to hold it at bay. I loved him so much, Eve.”

“I know you did.” She was silent. “And I think he loved you, Beth.”

“That was hard for you to say.” Her lips twisted. “But he did love me. I know it. But not as much as I loved him. If the situation had been reversed, I would never have accepted what they told me. I would have fought for him. I would never have stopped. He wasn’t what I thought he was, but maybe there was a way I could have helped him, changed him. You don’t give up on people because they’re not what you want them to be. Not if you love them.”

“That’s right,” Eve said. “Not if you love them.” She leaned back in her chair. “Now see if you can go back to sleep until they bring you your lunch.”

She shook her head. “I’ve slept enough. I want to—”

“May I come in? I had to see how you were, Beth.” Nelda Avery was standing in the doorway. She was dressed in a gray designer suit, and her makeup and hair were perfection. She didn’t wait for an answer. “The nurses said that you weren’t seeing visitors, but I told them that family was different.” She came toward the bed. “After all, I’m your grandmother, Beth.”

Beth was staring at her, stunned. “What?”

“This is Rick’s mother, Nelda Avery,” Eve said. “I’ve never met her myself, but I’ve seen photos. I’m sure you have, too, Beth.”

“Yes.”

“But we’ve never seen each other in person, have we, Beth?” Nelda said. “You don’t recognize me?”

“No, I’ve never seen you, but Rick talked about you. He loved you very much.” Beth was still gazing at her. “You look so young and beautiful.”

“It’s not natural, I assure you. I go to the very best people.”

“Why are you here?” Eve asked bluntly.

Nelda smiled. “You’re Eve Duncan. You’ve caused me a great deal of trouble.” For a moment the smile faltered. “I understand you were there when my son was killed by that maniac. I don’t know if I can forgive you for not preventing that from happening.”

“Are you mad?” Eve asked. “If anyone is to blame, it’s you. You’re the one who persuaded him to be the bait in the trap to lure Beth.”

“I have no idea what you mean,” she said. “But if I did, then I’d tell you that everything would have been fine if you hadn’t been with Beth. It should have been a smooth transaction. My son shouldn’t have died.”

“No, Beth should have died,” Eve said bitterly. “Wasn’t that the plan?”

She didn’t answer directly. “No one died but my son and the maniac who killed him. Drogan obviously had some grudge against Rick and took the opportunity to have his revenge.”

“You know that’s not true,” Eve said. “You were behind this entire horror. How on earth do you think you can get away with a story like that?”

“Can you prove that it’s not true?” Nelda looked her in the eye, and said coolly, “Try it. I have money and power. I’ve built a reputation that can withstand almost any attack. Besides, nothing can be traced to me.”

“What about the money you gave Pierce for keeping Beth at that hospital all those years?”

“I was only a compassionate grandmother trying to save her grandchild. Look at all the money I poured into getting her cured. My son begged me to do all I could for her, and I did it.”

“You lied to him about me,” Beth said. “Didn’t you?”

“Perhaps.” Nelda lifted her chin defiantly. “He couldn’t expect to have everything. I had to protect myself. I had to protect him.”

“But mostly yourself,” Eve said. “Joe told me you were a broken woman the night that Rick was murdered, but it didn’t last long, did it? You bounced back, and you’re on the attack.”

“What do you know?” Nelda said harshly. “Rick was the center of my life, and he was taken. But I won’t let the rest of my life be trashed. I deserve the chance to build again.”

“You’re not going to get it,” Eve said flatly. “There will be a way to connect you to Drogan and the murders.”

“Find it. And I’ll have a battery of lawyers and investigators working to disprove it. I had a reason once to avoid publicity, but that died with Rick. The litigation will go on and on until you finally drop it.” She took a step closer to the bed. “Don’t listen to her. You wouldn’t want to waste your time like that, Beth.” Her voice was soft, persuasive. “The whole world is opening for you. Did you know you’re going to be a very rich woman? Rick inherited a trust fund from my husband’s mother. It’s a very large trust and actually makes you a bit richer than even my husband. I was surprised to find out that Rick had left it to you in his will. He never told me.”

“Perhaps because he thought you’d try to talk him out of it,” Eve said. “You effectively erased Beth from his life.”

“It was necessary,” Nelda said. “But now we’ll make it up to her.”

“If I don’t cause you any trouble?” Beth asked. “Tell me, did you provide those young girls to Rick?”

She didn’t answer for a moment, then shrugged. “Why not? It made him happy and content, and I could keep control of his little affairs. I never understood why he couldn’t have more normal relationships, but it was just an adjustment I had to make.” She turned. “Now that we’ve had our discussion, I’ll go and let you rest, Beth. You know you only have to call me, and I’ll be there to help. After all, we are family.”

“Wait,” Beth said. “Why did you really come to see me?”

“I told you, the situation has changed, and we have to change with it.”

“That’s not it.” Eve’s eyes were narrowed on that smooth, perfect face. “You had to be sure.”

Nelda’s brows lifted. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You had to be sure that Beth still didn’t remember anything about that night at the chalet. You had to reassure yourself that Gelber’s therapy was still holding firm. The only way you could be certain was to breeze in here and show yourself and look for a reaction.”

Nelda smiled. “There was no reaction. I was never at the chalet. Neither was Beth. If there are any records to say that was false, then they’re obviously in error. Who would believe that anyone could be hypnotized into forgetting such a traumatic event?”

Eve stared at her with horror. It was possible that Nelda might actually get away with her part in those murders. A combination of almost unlimited money and power would be nearly impossible to fight and, if Nelda had truly been careful in covering her tracks, it could become a nightmare. “And what if Beth starts to remember?”

“And change her story? It wouldn’t hold up in court. Of course she could lie and say she did remember, but there are polygraph tests. She wouldn’t want to go through that.” She glanced at Beth again. “Look at how delicate she is and what she’s suffered through the years. Let her enjoy her life and spend that money Rick left her. She doesn’t want to waste one minute trying to punish me when she knows I loved Rick as much as she did.”

“Don’t I?” Beth was gazing steadily at Nelda. “I think you destroyed Rick. You could have stopped him, taught him, instead of giving him whatever he wanted. I hate what you did to him. And I hate what you did to me. You tried your best to destroy me. I’m not sure you still wouldn’t do it if you thought you could get away with it. After all, I’m a witness against you.”

Nelda shook her head. “Not a credible witness. You’re a mental patient, for God’s sake. A defense attorney would tear your testimony apart.”

“Perhaps. But I’m still a threat to you.”

“A threat? Don’t be absurd. You’re nothing, you’ve always been nothing.”

“Don’t underestimate me.” Beth added softly, “Because I won’t underestimate you, Nelda. I’ll watch you and search out your weaknesses, and when I find one, I’ll destroy you.”

For an instant, Nelda appeared shaken, but she quickly recovered. “And spend the rest of your life hounding me? Is that what you want to do?”

“No, because that would mean I’d be a sacrifice on your altar.” She smiled faintly. “But I can live my life and still go after you. Look over your shoulder, and I’ll be there. I can delegate. Rick left me the money to do it.”

“It won’t work,” Nelda said. “I’ll win, I always win.”

Beth silently shook her head.

Nelda’s hands clenched at her sides. “You’re pitiful. You can’t even see how overmatched you are. I’ve had years of experience at getting exactly what I want. Who do you think you are?”

“The one person who’s qualified to take you down. Look at me, and you’ll see yourself. I may have things to learn, but I learn very fast. After all, I’m your granddaughter, Nelda.”

Nelda gazed at her for a long moment, a myriad of expressions chasing across her face. Then she made a low exclamation, whirled, and left the room.

Beth drew a long shaky breath and closed her eyes.

Eve gave a low whistle. “Interesting…”

“Not for me.” Beth’s eyes opened. “It was terrifying.”

“You were afraid of her? You didn’t show it.”

“I wasn’t afraid of her. I’m afraid to be her.” She paused. “And I could be her if I let myself. I could feel the power and the will…” She swallowed. “I won’t let that happen to me. Then she would win, just as she said. And I won’t let her win. It may take me a long time, but I’m going to find a way to take her down.” She closed her eyes again. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll rest now. You go somewhere and rest, too. You don’t have to stay with me.”

All the energy had drained away from Beth, yet Eve was still aware of a strength and endurance that hadn’t been there before. She had suffered and made mistakes and fought her way through the wall of thorns that had held her prisoner, and it had taken a terrible toll. Beth was changing, growing, becoming what she would have been if she hadn’t been caught and held for those nightmare years.

And Eve couldn’t wait to see what that change would bring.

“Oh, I’ll stay with you.” Eve once more took her hand. “It will be my privilege.”

* * *

“GOOD NEWS?” EVE LOOKED UP from her magazine as Joe came into the hospital room four hours later. She smiled as she read the answer in his expression. “Very good news.”

“I convinced the board they wanted to get rid of Beth as soon as possible.” He crossed the room and kissed her. “And that keeping her in that hospital was more legally risky than letting her go. It was all about protecting the hospital and their positions on the board.” He glanced around the room. “Where’s Beth?”

“She’s at the atrium down the hall with Kendra. She was getting restless cooped up in this room.”

“And a little nervous?”

She shook her head. “She’s … not the same, Joe. You’ll see.” She paused. “I want to take her home with us. Is that all right with you?”

“Of course, it is. She’s walking wounded right now. She needs us.”

“That’s what I thought.” She stood up and went into his arms. Lord, that felt good. They had not had more than a few minutes together since the horror at Drogan’s shack. “But I had to check with you. You’ve gone through a hell of a lot for Beth since we came here.”

“And you haven’t?”

“She’s my sister.”

He chuckled. “I’m fully aware of that fact. I believe that’s what this has all been about.” He gave her a quick, hard kiss. “Are you afraid I’m feeling imposed upon?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t. She’s part of you, blood kin. That’s enough for me.” He kissed her again. “Now go down the hall and tell Beth that she’s a free woman and is going to be our guest for a while.”

She started to turn away, then looked back at him. “Truly free, Joe? I called you and told you what Nelda Avery said to her. Is there any way the police can find a way to arrest her? She seemed so confident.”

“She has a right to be confident,” he said grimly. “Nelda Avery is holding a strong hand. I think she’s been planning on getting rid of everyone who has been a threat to her for a number of years and had everything in place for when it became necessary. She used some of the tools that Pierce had in place but probably also some of her own. But we’ll keep gnawing away until we get a break. There’s no way we’re going to let her get away with murder. Right now, she’s playing her son’s death as a murder committed by a maniac who wanted to kill him because he was going to be the next president. The media are going along with it. After she secures her position, will she go after Beth?” He shook his head. “I don’t know. I admit I’m afraid for Beth.”

“Don’t be.” She smiled. “Beth’s not afraid. She may even look forward to it.”

She was still smiling as she walked down the hospital corridor toward the atrium. She could see how Joe would be wary of Nelda Avery, but he hadn’t seen the confrontation between Nelda and Beth. Both Eve and Joe were more worried than Beth. She was right about being a mirror of Nelda Avery. She had strength and endurance and even a little of the ruthlessness that Beth, herself, feared would come to the forefront.

She might be Sandra’s daughter, but Eve could only see Nelda’s strength and not her mother’s weakness in Beth.

Sandra.

She had to call Sandra and tell her that Beth was fine now that the situation had stabilized.

“I saw Joe going into my room.” Beth turned away from Kendra as Eve came into the atrium. “What news?”

“You’re free to go anywhere you wish to go. You’re a free woman.” She held up her hand as Beth gave a cry. “I imagine you’ll not get an apology or admission of misdiagnosis. That would be a confession of guilt. But the hospital is officially releasing you.”

“Yes.” Beth’s face was flushed and luminous, her eyes glittering. “I don’t care about confessions or punishments. All I want is to be done with that place.” She gave Eve a hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Eve returned her hug and laughed. “I think you’re happy.”

“And I’m going to stay that way. No one’s going to bring me down again.”

Beth’s glowing expression made her look as young as the teenager she’d been when the nightmare had started, Eve thought. It was strange that Beth, though appearing grown, seemed younger than her years, while Bonnie, though appearing young, seemed older than her physical body. And where was Eve? Somewhere between and loving both of them with all her heart.

“They wouldn’t dare try to bring you down,” Eve said. “Joe and I would like you to come home with us for a while. We’ll form a united front to repel all invaders.”

Beth’s smile faded. “And I’ll be safe and comfortable and protected by both of you.”

“Yes.” There was something in Beth’s expression that caused Eve to stiffen. “Is something wrong, Beth?”

“What could be wrong? You’re two wonderful people who care about me. I’d be foolish not to snatch what you’re offering me.”

“Yes, you would.” Kendra spoke for the first time, her gaze on Beth’s face. “But maybe you have a right to be foolish.” She turned and moved away from them. “Not my business. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

Eve’s gaze had not left Beth. “I don’t understand. You don’t want to go with us?”

“I do want to go with you,” Beth said passionately. “I want to be safe. I want to be with you, to get to know you even better, to be part of your life.” She paused. “I want that so much that I know that it’s wrong.”

“Explain.”

“I don’t have the right to be safe. I haven’t taken any chances, I haven’t experimented, I haven’t made terrible mistakes, I haven’t conquered Mt. Everest, I haven’t learned how to make friends and keep them. For God’s sake, I’m still a virgin.”

Eve had to smile. “I believe we’ve addressed that particular problem before. We have no intention of keeping you from doing any of those things, Beth. We just want to be there to support you.”

“And I’m grateful. You can’t know how grateful I am. But there’s a part of me that wants desperately to go back to that life I lived at the hospital. I don’t know if that was part of the posthypnotic suggestion or if I just became accustomed to the routine and care. All I know is that if I want to be free, I can’t have supports to prop me up. I might lean on them too much.” She smiled shakily. “Please. It’s not because I don’t care. I’d love to be with you. Maybe someday I’ll be able to take what you want to give me. You and Joe are very strong. You’re generous, and you’d want to keep me from getting hurt. But that’s not the way I’ll learn to be a complete person, is it? You have your own lives, your own careers. I have to find mine, Eve.”

Eve could feel her eyes sting as she gazed at her. “It’s not because I’m being generous that I want you to come home with us. I’m being selfish. I don’t want to worry about you.” She swallowed. “But I’ll just have to get over it, won’t I?” She drew a deep breath. “Okay, you don’t have to come live with us. But there are a couple things that you should do. Come to the cottage for a couple days, then I’ll let you walk away. I want you to meet Sandra.”

Beth stiffened. “I don’t know if I want to meet her. I can’t understand how she wouldn’t care about you.”

“You’re being defensive. Perhaps she does care about me in her way. But I know that she loves you. Remember what you said to me? You don’t give up on people because they’re not what you want them to be.”

“But I don’t love her.”

“Give her a chance. I would never have known about you, never come to help you, if she hadn’t loved you enough to tell me about you.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Eve looked at her.

“Oh, all right.” She was suddenly smiling again. “See, if I lived with you and Joe, I’d always be doing the right thing and not what I want to do.” She gave Eve another hug. “And now I’m going to call Billy and tell him the news. I think we should all go somewhere and celebrate, don’t you?”

“Excellent idea.” She watched her take her phone out of the pocket of her robe and go to the atrium rail and start to dial. Beth was glowing, eyes sparkling, expression as vivacious as that of the teenage girl she had been all those years ago. Eve felt a pang of emotion that was a mixture of joy and sadness.

No, banish any hint of sadness, embrace the joy. New life. New opportunities for her sister.

And a new set of anxieties for Eve.

“She sent you packing?” Kendra had come to stand beside her. “I could have told you, Eve.”

“She was very polite about sending me on my way.” She glanced at Kendra. “How did you know?”

“Because I looked at her and saw myself. When I regained my sight, I couldn’t stand the thought of being sheltered any longer. I had to break free.”

“And, from what you’ve told me, when you broke loose, it was like a nuclear bomb exploding.” She shook her head. “That’s not very comforting, Kendra. I’m worried enough about Beth.”

“She’ll get through it.” She smiled. “With a little help from her friends.”

“She doesn’t want to take my help. She didn’t want to come to Atlanta at all.”

“Then send her back here. Beth wants to live? California has everything: sin, purity, corruption, glamour. She can pick and choose.”

“It’s too big a choice.”

“No, it’s not.” Kendra’s gaze went to Beth. “Not if she has someone who’s been there and can tell her what’s waiting on the other side.”

Eve’s gaze flew to Kendra’s face. “Are you saying you’d be willing to keep an eye on her?”

She shrugged. “I can’t think of anyone who could do it better. And I wouldn’t make it a full-time job, like you would, Eve. I’d let her make her mistakes and just be there to pull her out in an emergency. And I can’t see Newell not being around for a backup.”

“Why would you do that, Kendra? You’ve told me from the moment we met how busy you are with your kids.”

She was silent a moment. “She’s your sister, and, besides, I like her. She has a chance of becoming someone special. I don’t want her to blow it.” She added, “So suppose I talk to her and try to persuade her that life in the Golden State is the life for her. Maybe she’ll tell me to go to hell.”

“I don’t think so,” Eve said. “In your way, you can be very persuasive.” She paused. “Thank you, Kendra.”

“I’m not doing it for you. Well, maybe I am … a little. But I told you, I don’t like to leave anything unfinished. Beth is still in that category. We saved her life; now, we’ve got to make it worth saving.” She looked away from Eve. “When we were talking before you came, she asked me about the little girl she saw in the shack again.”

“What did you say?”

“I told her that there was no little girl, that she was a figment of Drogan’s beating. She didn’t want to believe me. She was sure the little girl had been there.” She paused. “A little red-haired girl in a Bugs Bunny T-shirt.”

And Kendra had researched Eve’s story and probably run across references to Bonnie’s clothing on that final day. Perhaps Beth had also accessed those same stories. Yet Eve was grateful neither one seemed to want to confront her about Bonnie just then. “But Beth finally did believe you?”

“You’ll have to ask Beth. At least, she didn’t seem to be worrying about her any longer. She said something about having trouble learning to look beyond reality.” She met Eve’s gaze. “But you probably won’t ask Beth, will you?”

Eve shook her head. “It’s one of the things she’ll have to come to terms with on her own.” She added quietly, “If she comes to me and asks, I’ll answer her. But I don’t think she’ll do that.” She glanced at Beth. “She’s finished her conversation with Jessie Newell. It’s time we got her checked out of this hospital. The doctor’s already given her a release. She wants us all to go out on the town and celebrate her not having to go back to Seahaven.”

“That sounds like a plan.” Kendra smiled. “Champagne, good friends, family, and a bright new life. I can handle a celebration like that.”

Eve nodded as she started across the atrium toward Beth.

A bright new life.

Eve could see those words reflected in Beth’s glowing face. Eve was still worried about her, and that would probably continue. But that was part of any relationship, wasn’t it? If you cared, you accepted everything that went with it.

“Billy’s coming right over.” Beth was laughing. “He told me that it was only right that he plan out our party tonight since he’d been the one to teach me everything since he woke me up in that hospital. He said that one of the things he hadn’t had a chance to teach me were the fine points of celebration. There didn’t seem to be anything to celebrate.” Her eyes were shining with excitement and eagerness. “But that’s all changed now, hasn’t it?”

“You bet it has.” Eve found herself returning Beth’s smile with a joy and eagerness that was almost equal to Beth’s. She gave her an affectionate hug before releasing her and taking her arm to lead her down the hall toward her room. “As Kendra said, good friends, family, and a bright new life. That’s what celebrations should be about.”