“Why are we just standing here,” Eve said unevenly. “Margaret said she could be alive.”
“That fall alone should have finished her,” Nalchek said.
“But maybe it didn’t. We have to try.” She started slipping and sliding down the hill. “We’ve got to help her.”
She heard them behind her but didn’t wait for them. She reached Elena and knelt beside her. She checked the pulse in her throat. Faint beat. Very faint.
“She’s alive. Call 911 and get an ambulance up here.”
“Right.” Nalchek pulled out his phone and started dialing. “Those are knife wounds all over her torso. I doubt if—” He broke off and started speaking into his phone.
Try to stop the blood, Eve thought.
Where could she start? Which one of those knife wounds had done the most damage?
“Eve…” Margaret was behind her, her hand grasping Eve’s shoulder.
“I’ve got to help her,” Eve said unsteadily as she gently pushed up Elena’s shirt.
Elena’s eyes opened. “Who … are … you?”
“Eve. A friend.” She took Elena’s hand. She didn’t know if she could give her anything but comfort. “A friend to you and Cara and Jenny. We’re here to help you, Elena.”
“Eve … Cara said … Eve … Too late for … me. It’s Cara. Got to save Cara.” Her eyes were frantic. “So that God will forgive me. I told him. He kept stabbing me, and I told him. How could … I do it?”
“Walsh? You told Walsh?”
“God will never … forgive me. I told … Walsh, and he laughed. Then he stabbed me one more time. He picked me … up and threw me … down here. He … thought … I … was dead. I should be … dead. Don’t deserve … to … live. Told … him.”
“What did you tell him, Elena?”
“Where … Cara. The strip … seventeen-mile … I told him … about the cave.”
“What cave?”
“Spider’s nest … spider’s nest.” Her voice was fading. “She won’t have a chance…” Her hand tightened on Eve’s. “Please. Save … her.” A trickle of blood ran from the corner of her mouth. “So that God will forgive—”
“We’ll save her. I promise you.” Her throat was tight. “And God will forgive you. There’s no need. You’ve been a very good woman, and there’s nothing to—”
But Elena’s eyes were closed.
She was dead.
“Damn.” Eve sat back on her heels and drew a deep, shaky breath. “Damn him.”
“Yes.” Nalchek hung up the phone. “We can’t stay here. It would have taken Walsh a bit of time to stage the car accident to stall us, but he has at least an hour’s head start.”
Eve nodded jerkily as she got to her feet. “And we have no idea where we’re going yet. But we’ll find out. You go ahead in your car, Nalchek, and head back toward town and check the map and try to locate any reference to any caves near the seventeen-mile strip. I don’t remember ever hearing about any. Margaret and I will stop at the crash scene and question the local police and see if they know anything before we join you in Carmel. Local cops usually know their towns better than anyone.” She looked down at Elena. “And get someone to come and take care of her before those birds…” She started up the hill. “I’ll be in touch as soon as we get on the road. We’ve got to hurry. I made her a promise.”
Promises.
She had made a promise to Elena and to Jenny.
And the strongest, deepest promise was to herself.
She had to keep that little girl alive.
*