“It was just a question of training and experience. You told me yourself that you realized where my expertise lay.”
“Of course I do. You were a SEAL. But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to let you get yourself killed trying to protect me. I brought you into this. Jenny is my reconstruction. Everything that’s happened since that day I accepted her is tied to that decision. I’m the one who is responsible. You know I feel that way.” She jumped to her feet. “I’ve been tiptoeing around trying to keep you from doing too much, trying to keep you from exploding and finding a way to get out of here before you were ready for release.” Her hands clenched at her sides. “Well, I’m through with that. You want to help? You stay in that bed and help.”
“I can’t promise that, Eve.”
“No, probably not. But I’ll pull out a couple wild cards that will slow you down. As long as you stay here, I’ll call you and tell you what’s going on. You have my word on it. But I’ll also call Nalchek and ask him to have a guard outside your door to follow you if you leave. If you lose him, he’ll call me.” She paused. “And that will be the end of my checking in with you. I’ll disappear, so that I don’t have to go through another Tahoe.”
“That wouldn’t be smart.” His eyes were glittering in his taut face. “We need to work together.”
“And we will, but not if you keep closing me out.” She turned toward the door. “Here’s your first report, I’m going to check on those photographers and look through current yearbooks. If I hear from that journalist, I’ll follow up. I’ll take Margaret with me, and we might be able to split up the workload.” She looked back over her shoulder. “I’ll always answer your calls, always be ready to share … as long as I know the call comes from this hospital.”
He looked at her, his expression enigmatic. “Tough. Very tough, Eve.”
“No, I’m being easy on you. Think how I felt when I was holding you, trying to stop that damn blood.”
She left the room. She was still shaking as she walked down the hall toward the elevator. She was torn by anger and regret and loneliness. She hated this. She had known for years that Joe would always be protective of her, it was his nature and the nature of the years and events that had formed their relationship. It was based on love, and how could you condemn him for loving her too much?
So she had accepted and protested but never fought it.
She had to fight it now. She couldn’t bear the thought of what could have happened at Tahoe. She had exploded when she had guessed that Joe had been going to investigate that lead without her, but it had all gone back to the basic problem. They had to come to terms.
She was punching the elevator button as she dialed Margaret. “Hi. I’m leaving the hospital now and coming to pick you up. I should be there in fifteen minutes. Meet me in the lobby.”
CARMEL, CALIFORNIA
She was being followed.
Elena felt the muscles of her stomach clench as she looked in her rearview mirror after leaving the restaurant where she worked.
She was sure it was the same tan Toyota she had noticed when she had left the apartment this morning.
But how could they have found her so soon? The photo had just come out this morning.
There were thousands of tan Toyotas. She could be wrong. There were several turns on the way from her work to Cara’s school. If she was right, she mustn’t let the driver of the Toyota know that she was aware she was being followed. That would automatically put him on the defensive. Drive a few blocks, take two turns, and see what happened.
She took the first turn and slowed.
Tan Toyota.
Her heart was beating hard.
She took the second turn.
Tan Toyota.
Oh, God, it was happening. All those years of waiting and terror, and it was happening.
Calm down. Think. How could she protect Cara?
Go by the plan. Don’t try to change anything.
She reached for her phone and dialed Cara.