“Perhaps a little of all three, Mama.”
Eve knew what she would see when she lifted her gaze at the soft child’s voice. Curly red hair, seven years old, and the most glowing smile in the universe. Bonnie, leaning against the doorjamb and gazing at Eve with love and sympathy. Bonnie, her little girl, who had died so many years ago. Bonnie’s spirit, who had somehow been permitted to remain behind to save her mother when she had been spiraling downward after her death.
Eve tried to smile. “I’m glad you came. I needed you today.”
“I thought you would.” Bonnie plopped down in a chair. “I would have come before this, but I wasn’t sure … I thought you might need me more later.”
“You thought she was dying.”
“Yes.”
“She is dying. Or that’s what those doctors tell me. They could be wrong. Tell me they’re wrong, Bonnie.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Then tell me she has a chance.”
She didn’t speak.
“Sometimes you know things, don’t you? You’re a ghost.” She smiled shakily. “You have contacts. I wouldn’t mind if you’d wield a little influence.”
“I would if I could.” She shook her head. “It’s hard. She wants to come to us.”
“So did I. I still do sometimes. But I had to stay, and they gave me you, baby.”
She smiled. “And you thought I was a hallucination for a long time. You weren’t easy to convince.”
“I didn’t care if you were a hallucination or a dream or a ghost, just so you were here.” She could feel the tears sting. “And now it’s starting all over again. And this time I’m not sure if I’d ever get Jane back. You keep telling me that it doesn’t happen often. So, dammit, she has to live. I lost one daughter, I can’t lose another one.”
“I know. Sometimes there are adjustments, but I can’t even promise you that.”
“Adjustments. I don’t know what you mean.”
She shook her head. “We won’t talk about it. I can’t give you answers, but maybe I can give you comfort.”
“You always do.” She leaned back in her chair, her gaze on the red hair, the glow, the shining warmth that had always been her special little girl. “And I don’t mean to be ungrateful, but I’m hurting. I have to do something.”
“And you are,” Bonnie said gently. “You’ve called Seth Caleb.”
“Will he do any good?”
“Maybe. He’ll want to do good for her. I can’t promise that he’ll be able to do anything.”
“Sorry. I won’t ask you again.”
“I wish I knew all the answers. I wish I could give Jane back to you. But all I can do is stay with you until right before Caleb comes. Will that help?”
“You know it will.” To have the love, to see her Bonnie, to remember the days when she’d had her to hold close, before she was only a memory. “Oh, yes, that will help me, baby.”
*
Cameron.
Catherine could sense him in the darkness of her room before she opened her eyes. He was sitting in a chair a few yards from her bed. “What are you doing here?”
“Watching you sleep. You’re beautiful. When you’re awake, you’re all alertness and wariness, every muscle tense and ready. That has its own charm, but when you sleep, there’s an innocence and a sensuality.”
Heat.
Push it away.
“It can’t be both. That’s a contradiction.”
He chuckled. “But so was Eve in the Garden of Eden.”
“Why are you here?”
“Not for seduction. I realize that it’s not the time.”
It might not be the time, but just sitting there in the dark he was pure seduction. The strong, lean line of his body, the scent of him, the memory of him over her, in her. “I’m not going to ask you again.”
“I wanted to tell you I’ve located Eduardo Montez. I thought you’d want to know.”
“I do.” She sat up in bed. “But it wouldn’t wait until morning?”
“No, by morning we should be well on our way to meeting the good doctor. Unless you want me to go by myself?”
“You know better than that.” She reached over and turned on the lamp on the bedside table. “Where is he?”
“I’m not certain. Not in Guatemala City, where his mother and sister live. He’s still on the run from Santos. By the time we get to Guatemala, I should get an update from the head of the group I hire to do jobs for me in Central America.”
“The committee strikes again,” she said sarcastically. “Do you have special forces you can call on all over the world?”
“Almost.” He smiled. “I’m still working on some countries. After all, I’m only one man.”
“With unlimited funds and influence. It’s no wonder Venable is getting nervous about the conglomerate.”
“But the CIA has its own army and influence.” His eyes were twinkling. “I’m just fortunate to be on my own and not strangled by red tape. I think Venable is just jealous.”
“You might be right.” She swung her legs to the floor. “You might have the opportunity to discuss it with him soon. Did you find out anything more about Montez?”
“Eduardo Montez has a general medical degree and three Ph.D.s in various other fields. He attended a university in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but his family is from Argentina. He spent most of his childhood and school breaks at a rancho in the hills outside of Buenos Aires.”
“How did he end up in Guatemala? And why did Santos order a hit on his brother?”
“And the most pertinent question is: Why did he order that on no account was Nagoles to kill Eduardo Montez?” He got to his feet. “Which we will know when we come back from Guatemala.”
“We’d better.” She frowned. “Because I’m scared shitless about leaving here. Besides that hospital in Atlanta, everyone else I love in the world is in this house. Talk about putting all my eggs in one basket.”
He nodded. “But you have the equivalent of a special forces army guarding that basket.”