She nodded wearily. “I felt as if I were bleeding. But so did those other parents who were standing and watching that fire. At least, I have hope to hold on to.”
“I wanted to catch you before you left.” Jock was suddenly beside the car. “One of the TV stations got an interview from the wife of the owner of the Ice Cream Emporium. She said that the coach usually took the boys of his sports teams to the shop for ice cream if they won their game. But last week, one of the fathers dropped by the shop and offered to pay for a gift certificate to offer the coach to buy treats for the boys regardless of whether they won or lost.”
“And the father resembled Rory Norwalk?” Joe asked.
“General description. Irish accent.” His gaze shifted to Eve’s face. “What can I do?” he said gently. His eyes were glowing with sympathy. “I don’t need to say what I’m feeling for you, do I?”
She shook her head. “Just keep on doing what you’re doing. We have to find him, Jock.” She saw his eyes wander back toward the fire. “He’s not there. Believe me.”
He smiled. “I believe he’s a wonderful lad. I believe that you believe. I’ll be there when you need me.” He lifted his hand and moved away. “And when Cara needs me. I’ll take her and Darcy home now. They wouldn’t leave until you did.”
She watched him go as Joe pulled out of the parking lot and got on the road. “Very diplomatic answer. He probably doesn’t believe me.”
“He might. He’s a Scot. Even if he doesn’t, as he said, he’ll be there for you. He’ll be there to rejoice or to comfort.” He paused. “Or to go to war for you. Can’t ask more than that, Eve.”
“No.” She looked back at the fire, now in the distance. “It’s a horror story, Joe. All those little boys who had everything to live for, all those innocent people just going about their day. We’ve got to stop him from ever doing anything like that again.” She leaned back on the headrest and wearily closed her eyes. “But first, we’ve got to get our Michael back from him. We can’t let him win that battle.”
“You’re already on your way to winning it,” Joe said gruffly. His hand left the wheel to cover hers on the seat. “I saw you start when you came back to me after I thought I’d lost you. I don’t know if it was Michael, I hope it was, but I’d never seen a despair like that. But you came back, and I’m going to keep you here until we find Michael. No matter what it takes.”
“You’re what it takes. You and Michael.” She closed her eyes again. “I’m not even sure that you believe me, Joe. That’s okay, except that you’d know there was hope. That’s what’s keeping me going, and I want to share it with you…”
“Then I’ll try to share that with you. You may have to help me a little.”
“I’ll help you. We may all have to help each other.” Even with her eyes shut, she could still see that inferno she’d just left. Still feel the panic that Michael had wanted to save her from. I’m holding on, Michael, she told him. I’ll find a way to get to you. But it’s a horror story …
*
Dense leaves hiding the sky, cypress roots reaching deep into the water clutching like giant teeth. A small hand reaching into those dark waters as the canoe passed those roots. Michael’s hand …
Eve gasped and jerked upright in bed. “Michael!”
Joe was beside her, holding her. “I’m here, Eve.”
She drew a shaky breath. “So was Michael.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Or it might have been a dream or a nightmare, but he could feel the water on his hand. He was curious about the water underneath the tree roots and wanted to—” She stopped. “You know how curious he is, Joe.”
“Yes, I know.” He was holding her. “But you also know it’s natural for you to have dreams about him right now. Try to go back to sleep, Eve.”
“Not right now.” She swung her legs to the floor. “I’m going to go get a breath of air. I won’t be long, Joe.” She shrugged into her robe and put her hand up as he started to get out of bed. “Don’t come with me. I’ll be fine. I just want a little time to myself.” That was the truth. After they’d reached home last night, Joe had helped her to bed and held her until she’d gone to sleep. So loving, so protective, but she could feel both his pain and her own, and it was overwhelming. If she wanted to stay sane and controlled, she had to let herself face whatever was in store and not be protected.
It was almost five in the morning and still dark as she went out on the porch. The lake was rough this morning, not like the still, murky water she’d just dreamed about.
If it was a dream.
If it wasn’t Michael trying to reach her.
“Eve?”
She turned to see Cara standing in the doorway. “Are you okay? Can I help? I’ll go away if I’m a bother.”
“You’re never a bother.” She held out her arms. “Come here.”
Cara ran into her arms. “I won’t get in your way. You seemed to want your own space, and that’s fine. I just want you to know that whatever you want me to believe or do, I’ll do it.”
Eve smiled ruefully. “Even to the point that Michael told me he’s alive?”
“Whatever.” She leaned back and looked at her, eyes glittering with tears in the moonlight. “You’re a wonderful woman, and Michael is Michael. Why shouldn’t God give you a break? I want so badly to have him back, Eve. If you tell me that it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”
Cara. So full of love and youth and faith where there should be no faith. Eve kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Cara. All I can tell you is that I don’t believe Michael died back at that square. And we’ll get him back because we have to do it. I don’t think any of us can stand to lose Michael. We’ll just have to go from there.”
She nodded. “Whatever you say. But don’t try to do everything yourself. We can’t afford to lose you, either.” She hugged her quickly and turned toward the door. “I’ll let you have your space. Call me if you need me. Anything, Eve.”
“I know. The best thing will be to try to be normal, and just hold ourselves together. Because if—” She instantly corrected the word. “Since Michael is alive, it’s because Norwalk wants him to be alive, and I’ll have to wait for him to call.” Eve turned back to look at the lake. “But right now, I just need to think.”
Think about still, murky water, jagged tree roots disappearing below the surface.
And a small curious hand dipping down into the water near those roots to explore …
*
The call came at noon that same day. Eve was still sitting on the porch, but Joe had come to be with her and was standing looking out at the lake.
No ID.
Her hand was trembling uncontrollably as she reached for the cell phone.
He’s alive. He’s alive. He’s alive. She was saying it over and over again to herself as a desperate mantra as she accessed the call and pressed the speaker button.
“Hello,” she said. Even to herself the word was only a breath of sound.
“You’re answering your own phone,” Norwalk said. “You’re stronger than I thought. I was afraid you might have collapsed, and I’d have to go through Quinn to make you take my call.”
She saw Joe tense to rigid attention.
“Norwalk. What kind of monster would do that?” Her voice was shaking as badly as her hands. “Innocents … Children…”
“There are no innocents in the world, Eve. There are just people who haven’t had opportunity to reach out and grab. I learned that as a child myself.”
Tell me he’s alive.
She couldn’t ask him. It might be a weapon she could use. He had to believe he was totally in control, that she was as without hope as he’d wanted her to be. He’d use anything to twist the knife.