“No. Call me when you find out anything.” She hung up.
The news that Nalchek was in Carmel had come as a surprise. She supposed it shouldn’t have been a shock. She couldn’t expect the sheriff to stay in the background while she was asking for help. She had known from the beginning that he was a dominant personality. But she was uneasy knowing he had not bothered to tell her he was coming to Carmel. He had just quietly and efficiently complied with her every request and compiled all the information she had gathered for his own investigation. Then he had positioned himself where he might be able to use it for his own advantage.
Nothing wrong with that. She and Joe had not been overgenerous about sharing their information, either. It had not been easy to explain Jenny.
Easy?
Impossible.
And Margaret’s distrust of Nalchek had influenced her whether she wanted to admit it or not. He must sense that reaction, as well.
But that distrust hadn’t stopped her from calling him for help again. Just be careful, strike a fine balance, and let him help her.
And hope that help included finding Elena Delaney.
CHAPTER
14
PACIFIC HIGHWAY
TWO HOURS LATER
“Are you going to tell me what this is all about?” Margaret asked quietly. “You tumble me out of my bed in the middle of the night and whisk me back here with the briefest explanation possible.”
“I was wondering if I should even bring you,” Eve said. “I think I did it because Nalchek told me not to. And because I found myself making excuses for him. I want to believe him, Margaret. You, on the other hand, have doubts. I needed the balance.”
“That’s clear,” Margaret said. “Maybe. But how did you find out that Elena didn’t pick up Cara?”
She didn’t answer.
“Ah, the anonymous source again? That must have driven Nalchek crazy.”
“He wasn’t happy.”
“I can see that he wouldn’t be.” She didn’t speak for a few minutes. “Sources he can’t identify will upset him. I’m the prime example.” She grimaced. “Sometimes I wish I could pull up a mysterious but entirely understandable and plausible ‘source’ myself every now and then. But it never works for me.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Nothing. Can’t you tell? I’m being diplomatic. I’ve got pretty good instincts, and I know all kinds of strange things happen in this world. I think I knew when you had no trouble accepting what I am. I just want you to know you don’t have to make any explanations to me. I’m not going to ask you any questions, and I’ll accept what you say without delving.”
Eve didn’t know what to say. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. So does your ‘source’ think that Elena is—”
Eve’s phone rang. “Nalchek.” She hit the speaker. “We’re almost there, Nalchek. Are you at your hotel?”
“No. I’m at highway marker fourteen Pacific Highway. Meet me there.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t have to ask the local police to look for that car. They’d already found it.” He hung up.
*
“My God.” Eve pulled over to the side of the road and jumped out of her car. She ran to the edge of the cliff and looked down the steep slope.
The dark blue Camaro was a twisted hunk of metal on the rocks below. It must have been on fire because it was still black and smoking. She could see the forensic teams trying to make their way carefully around the rough terrain to do their investigation.
“She couldn’t have survived that,” Margaret whispered beside her.
That’s what Eve had been thinking. “We have to find out.” She was gazing around the area, looking for Nalchek. She spotted him a few seconds later, talking to a tech holding a clipboard several yards down the slope. “Nalchek!” She half ran half slid toward him down the steep slope.