“I don’t imagine skulls are high on that list,” Terry said dryly.
“You’d be surprised.” Eve sat down in a chair by the door. “I won’t get in your way.”
“Suit yourself.” She asked curiously, “Are you always this intense?”
“It depends on the job. This one seems to require it.”
Terry turned to Nalchek. “I’m beginning to become intrigued. Want to have dinner and discuss it?”
“No,” Nalchek said. “I’ll take a rain check. Thanks for helping, Terry.”
“I won’t give up, you know.” Her gaze went back to the reconstruction. “Now that I study it, there’s something familiar…”
“Someone compared her features to those of a young Audrey Hepburn,” Eve said. “That’s probably what you’re seeing.”
“Maybe.” She stared for a moment, then shrugged. “Maybe not. I’ll think about it.”
“Why else would she be familiar?” Eve asked. “She’s been buried for eight years, and she was only nine. You said that missing children weren’t your cup of tea.”
“They’re not. And I’m probably imagining things.” She reached for her telephone. “I’ll get my photographer up here and get those shots. Fill me in on the backstory about where she was found, Nalchek.”
CHAPTER
11
They didn’t leave Terry Brandell’s office for another three hours. By that time, the photographs had been taken and the story written.
“She’s right,” Nalchek said as he opened the passenger door of the car for Eve. “Pushy. Very pushy. We’re lucky she didn’t tell us to hit the road.”
“We didn’t have time to be diplomatic.” She settled herself in the seat. “But I wasn’t rude, merely insistent. And I saved you from having to be the one to pressure her. You might need to use her services later. I don’t have to deal with her after she publishes that photo tomorrow.”
“So you did it out of the kindness of your heart.”
“I did it because I have to get this wrapped up before Joe gets out of the hospital.” She fastened her seat belt. “And before Walsh decides to move on that little girl in Carmel. That child must have parents or guardians, and I’ll bet that the photo will look like their child. All of the other victims bore a definite resemblance to Jenny. Maybe seeing the article will cause something to click. Or it could be that they’ll make some kind of connection with Jenny.” She wearily shook her head. “If they just see it, and it scares them about the possibility of something like that happening to their own child. If it makes them a little more careful, I’ll take that, too.”
“So would I,” Nalchek said grimly. “And if we don’t hear anything in a week after Terry’s article, we’ll go to another reporter.”
“Old news,” Eve said. “It will be harder the second time.”
“I’ll get it done.”
Eve could imagine he would. There wasn’t much that Nalchek wouldn’t be able to accomplish if he put his mind to it. “Let’s hope Terry’s article will do what it’s supposed to do.” She paused. “She said that she looked familiar. She’s a journalist, is it possible that—” She broke off. “Not likely. I’m reaching … I’m just hoping that something is going to go right for a change.”
“Maybe someone else will think she looks familiar,” he said quietly. “That’s what this is all about.” He started his car. “Where do you want to go? Back to the hospital?”
“Not yet. I’ve made reservations at the Fairmont Hotel. I want to check in and have a shower and change of clothes before I go back to the hospital.”
“Sounds like a good idea. Anything else I can do?”
“Yes, you can bring Margaret to see me. Ask her to stop in my room at the inn and get my other suitcase.”
“Today?”
“Yes, please.”
He shrugged. “Okay, it will take an hour or so.”
“Whatever. It will give me a little time to myself.”