Margaret pulled her phone from her pocket and punched Eve’s number.
“I know where it is!” Margaret said when Eve immediately answered. “I’m looking at it. The spider’s nest is right in front of me.”
“Margaret, slow down. What are you saying?”
“The spider’s nest. The shadow of those rock formations is the spider. Wait, I see you on the beach. It’s just in front of you, Eve. Look at the shadows. They’re the spider. And those rocks are the nest.”
Even from over two hundred yards away, Margaret could see that she had stopped Eve in her tracks.
“Oh, my God,” Eve said. “You found it.”
Margaret’s gaze was searching desperately as the sun once again disappeared behind the dark clouds. “There’s no way for me to get down there from here.”
“It’s okay. Margaret, run back to Nalchek. Tell him exactly where to send the police when they get here. I’m going to go over there.”
“Eve, no. You have to wait until—”
Eve cut the connection.
*
Eve ran faster as the giant shadow faded into the gloom.
The spider’s nest. Right in front of her eyes.
Only now could she see that the rocks surrounded a large cave that faced the open sea. Cara had to be in there.
She wanted to shout the girl’s name as she drew closer, but she stopped herself. There was every possibility that he was in there, too.
Walsh.
Thunder boomed, and lightning lit up the dark sky. Rain suddenly poured from the heavens, as if turned on by a giant spigot.
Eve stopped outside the cave opening. She knew what Joe would say right now.
Eve, dammit. Wait. Wait for the cavalry you know is on the way.
Bullshit.
That’s what he would say, but she knew damned well Joe himself wouldn’t wait. Not when the life of that little girl was at stake.
The thunder boomed again. Louder this time.
Eve’s clothes were drenched. Her hair was soaked and matted against the nape of her neck. She took one last look around before she slowly ventured into the cave.
*
Walsh pulled himself onto the dark ledge. It was quiet now, and he was beginning to think he was wrong about Cara’s being up here.
Then he heard rustling and the sound of feet moving across the rock floor.
Then he saw her. Cara had a red coat pulled tight around her, and she was now huddled against the far wall.
“Why, hello, Cara.”
She didn’t answer. She was frantically looking around, trying to find an escape route. There was none.
He stepped toward her. “Do you know who I am?”
She finally spoke. “Yes, Elena told me. El Diablo.”
He laughed. “Is that what she said? El Diablo? The devil?”
She nodded.
“Perhaps she was right. But the devil is nothing less than an angel. A fallen angel, perhaps, but an angel nonetheless. And I’m your angel, little girl. You’ll see. I’m here to end your suffering, all your pain, all your fear. You’ll never know what it is to be hungry or afraid ever again. Your angel will do that for you.”
“Do you think I’m stupid? You’re not an angel. You’re a horrible, horrible man.” Her voice was suddenly defiant. “I was afraid of you, but I’m not any longer. She won’t let you hurt me.”
He stiffened. “She?”
“All the nightmares, all the running. And you call yourself an angel? I know what you are. You’re a coward and a—”
He lunged for her and snapped his arm around her neck. “Don’t fight. I’ve waited too long. One minute, and it will be over.”
She was struggling fiercely but couldn’t even summon the breath to scream.
He squeezed tighter. She was making him angry. He’d thought she’d be easier. “I said stop fighting me. Or I’ll hurt you, just like I hurt your sister. Do you hear me?”
He froze. He was hearing that sound again.
Laughter.
What in the hell…?
At first he thought it was behind him, but the sound traveled around to the space in front of him.
It was a child’s laughter.
It was coming from the little girl he was holding.
No! How could Cara—?
He looked down.
It wasn’t Cara anymore.