“I didn’t offer because I was pissed off,” Nalchek said bluntly. “And I don’t need you to make excuses for me. You shouldn’t have been here if you object to facing the consequences.”
“I’m not objecting,” she said quietly. “I believe in consequences. It’s nature’s way of balancing the order of things.”
“When your friends don’t take a hand.” He turned to Eve. “This isn’t how I expected to meet you. I don’t like your coming here anyway, and I certainly don’t appreciate your sending this weird kid into my woods.”
Eve’s brows rose. “Your woods?”
“My jurisdiction.” He paused. “My hometown. My county.”
“You’re waving all your credentials at us,” she said shrewdly. “You must really not want us here.”
He was silent. “You’ll get in my way.”
“No, I won’t.” She met his gaze. “And I’ll vouch for Margaret.”
“Not good enough,” Margaret said soberly. “He thinks that I might be trouble. He had a bad experience with a woman in Afghanistan who blew up a couple of his buddies and herself along with them.”
“Really?” Eve shook her head. “Just look at her, Nalchek. Anyone could see Margaret is no threat.”
“Because she looks like a college kid? The woman in Afghanistan had a baby in her arms when she blew herself up.” He gestured dismissively. “And I don’t need to make any judgment about her if I don’t accept her value to my investigation.”
“She will have value.” Eve turned to Margaret. “I’m sure you haven’t had much time, but can you help me?”
“Maybe. He let me look around a little after he called you.” She suddenly smiled. “I don’t know if it was because he was curious or that he wanted me to have enough rope to hang myself. Maybe a little of both?”
“I’d say you managed to give me plenty of ammunition. As a woods expert, you leave much to be desired,” Nalchek said dryly. “Did you know she eats dirt, Eve?”
“No, I don’t recall hearing that,” Eve said. “But I’m sure she has a good reason.” She glanced at Margaret. “Do you?”
“Not what he’d consider good.” She took another drink of coffee. “It’s just my way of analyzing trace evidence. And I didn’t eat it, I merely tasted it.”
“That makes all the difference,” Eve said solemnly.
“Yes, it does.” She chuckled. “Though I would have eaten it if it had been necessary. It turned out that it wasn’t.”
“I’m through here,” Nalchek said shortly. “And so is she. I might have accepted your expert if you could have proved she would contribute but I’m not wasting my time.”
“Proof.” Margaret’s smile faded. “That’s difficult for Eve. She has no firsthand information about me or what I can do. She has to trust her daughter, Jane, and a few other friends who have put their trust in me.”
“But I wouldn’t have asked you to come if I hadn’t believed in you,” Eve said. “Jane told me that your knowledge of those wolves in the forests of Colorado helped to save me.”
“Wolves?” Nalchek was frowning. “What the hell—”
“Another time. Not important now,” Margaret said quickly. “It would just get in the way.” She finished her coffee. “And this has nothing to do with a wolf.” She frowned. “Or maybe it does. I’m not really clear on it. I didn’t have much time before you got here, Eve.”
“Enough to kneel by that grave like a ghoul communing with a demon,” Nalchek said grimly.
“A demon?” Margaret broke out laughing. “You don’t really believe that. You’re just uneasy and trying to get a handle on what makes me tick and why a smart woman like Eve would be taken in by me.” She got to her feet and moved toward the grave. “No demons.” She fell to her knees as she reached the taped-off area. “Actually, it may be the opposite.”
Eve had followed her and was gazing down at the grave. “This is Jenny’s grave?” She blinked back tears. “All those years she was here, Nalchek?”