*
“Elena Delaney quit her job, picked up her paycheck and her niece, Cara, and hit the road,” Eve said in frustration when she called Joe two hours later. “And it can’t be a coincidence. Cara has to be Walsh’s target. We’re at their apartment now, and we’ve been looking around for anything that might give us a clue as to where she might be going. I talked to Cara’s friend, Heather, when she came home from school, and she said that Cara hadn’t mentioned going anywhere today. They might be friends, but not close enough for Cara to confide in her. She did say that Cara was very quiet when she got on the school bus this morning. But Cara didn’t ever talk much. It wasn’t until Heather was in her current-events class this morning that she saw the reconstruction on TV and got all excited.” She shook her head. “That’s why she was on the lookout for Cara. She wanted to talk to her about it. She’s very disappointed.”
“And she saw Cara get into her aunt’s car?”
“No, she had to go to her next class. But she recognized her car, a dark blue Camaro.” She paused. “Can we find it?”
“If she doesn’t get rid of the car and buy a new one. Give the license number to Nalchek.”
“You can’t do it?”
“I’m a little busy right now. Give it to Nalchek.”
She was silent. “Okay. I don’t believe she would have gotten rid of the car. Nalchek arranged for me to look through the apartment. Obviously, very limited means, and you don’t usually have ready cash if you’re a waitress at Waffle House.”
“Nalchek is local, and he might get a faster response.” He paused. “If you don’t think he’s dirty. Evidently, you must have some faith in him. You seem to be using him quite a bit today.”
“I don’t know either way. I can’t put credence in Margaret’s take on him when even she’s not certain. It just seemed involving him was the easiest way to get things done.”
“Since I’m obviously out of the action.” His voice was without expression.
“Even if you weren’t. You said you were going to use him, too.”
“And so I will.” He added mockingly, “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t intend to construct a few scenarios that would fit into Margaret’s view of our bold sheriff. After all, I have to keep myself busy.”
As long as it was at the hospital. “By all means, construct away. I’ll call you if I hear anything else.” She hung up.
“Do I detect trouble in paradise?” Margaret murmured.
“No. Paradise? Joe and I have never had an idyllic relationship. It’s much too real.”
“It seemed pretty close to it to me,” Margaret said. “I was with him when he was trying to find you after you were kidnapped. I would have settled for someone’s loving me like that.” She shrugged. “But what do I know? I’ve never really had a relationship, period. Sometimes it seems very confusing when applied to me. Like Nalchek said, I’m a little too weird for a normal relationship.”
“Did he say that?”
“Or words to that effect. He was a little upset with me at the time.” She changed the subject. “But I’m sorry that Joe is upset with you.”
“He’ll have to get over it. He can’t have everything his own way.” She looked around the apartment. “Did you find anything else that might give us a lead?”
“A few things. Not much. It looks as if they left in a hurry, and Elena just threw things in suitcases and took off.” She held up two yellow tickets. “Two expired bus passes. One adult, one child.” She handed Eve a small, tan book. “And this. It was in the drawer of the bureau. I think you’ll find it interesting.”