“Elena Pasquez. She changed her name to Elena Delaney?”

“That would be my guess. She probably changed her name many times while she was on the run.”

“But if she helped Cara to escape, why not just go to the police?”

“Her entire family was involved with the cartels. No one ever went to the police, and those who did usually ended with their entire family being targeted.”

“So Elena was alone and trying desperately to hide from Walsh. He must have been relentless.”

“We both know how egotistical Walsh is. I believe he’s been trying to rectify that mistake for the past eight years. Not only did he have to keep Castino from knowing he’d sold him out to Salazar, he had to make the correction to preserve his spotless reputation.”

“And Jenny had to remain lost and unknown. Cara had to be found and killed, no matter what the cost.”

Joe nodded. “That about covers it.”

“How did it all go wrong? What happened in that forest?”

“I haven’t gotten that far yet. I have a few ideas. I think I’m getting close. It’s all beginning to fit together. I have to make a few more calls.” He tapped the Nalchek column. “And I haven’t developed any valid scenario for him, except for a feeling that he could be involved in something dirty.” He smiled faintly. “Give me another hour or so.”

Eve stared at the yellow pad. “You’ve accomplished an amazing amount as it is.”

“I had to know him. You had to know him. Any questions?”

“Yes, are we sure that these Castino daughters are Jenny and Cara?”

“I’m sure. Máñez e-mailed me the newspaper stories about their disappearance. Natalie was the typical heartbroken mother who only wanted her children back. Bragging about her Jennifer, who was a brilliant pianist and always entertained her guests. Wishing vengeance on the monsters who had done this foul deed. According to Máñez, she didn’t mention that the girls were always in the care of servants and seldom saw either of their parents.”

Jenny. Brilliant pianist …

They didn’t take away the music.

And other than her little sister, the music was all Jenny had.

Eve could feel the tears sting her eyes.

“Hey.” Joe reached for his phone. “Stop feeling sorry for her. She was awesome. I had them send me a few pictures.” He handed her his phone.

Jenny at the piano in her white dress. Her expression intent, totally absorbed, lost in her music, almost ecstatic.

Jenny at a tall window looking out at the sunset, dreamy, wondering.

Jenny on the ship with Cara, laughing and full of love.

“I saw this last photo at the apartment. She loved her sister, didn’t she?” She shook her head. “No, she loves her. Present tense. What else is this all about?”

Joe nodded. “That’s what it’s about.”

She looked down at the photos again. “She was awesome. Thank you for showing them to me, Joe.”

“I thought you had to see them. All you’ve seen of her has been death and sorrow. You needed to see what she was, what she could be, what she should be. The complete package.”

“If Walsh hadn’t killed her.”

“No, you believe Bonnie hasn’t changed except to become more of herself now that she’s crossed over. You have to believe the same of Jenny. Walsh has to be punished, but he did nothing to damage what Jenny was or is.”

She cleared her throat. “I know that.”

“Then don’t forget it again.”

“I won’t.” She got to her feet and turned out the light. “But right now, I want to hold you. Is that all right?”

He pulled her into the bed with him. “I believe I could put up with it.”

She was silent for a moment in the darkness, listening to his heartbeat beneath her ear. “You’re an amazing man, Joe Quinn.”

“I keep telling you that.”

“And I’m a lucky woman.”

His lips brushed her temple. “Damn straight. And don’t forget that, either.”

She nestled closer. “I won’t. I promise…”

*   *   *

Something was wrong!

Eve’s eyes flew open.

Panic.

Darkness.

Wrong. All wrong.

Eve sat up in bed, her heart racing.

All wrong.

Her first thought was Joe.

No, he was still asleep, his breathing normal.

All wrong.

She swung her legs to the floor.

“Where are you going?” Joe asked drowsily as Eve slipped out of the bed and reached for her shoes. “What am I? A one-night stand?”

“I don’t believe that’s an accurate term since we didn’t have sex.” She stood up, leaned over, and kissed him. “I’m going to the hotel to shower and change. I want to get an early start on locating that bus driver.” He opened his lips, and she put two fingers on them to silence him. “I love you. I’ll keep you informed.” She hurried out of the room before he could protest.

All wrong.

She leaned against the wall of the elevator, trying to overcome the sickness as the car zoomed downward.

Crazy.

Everything was okay. She just needed some air. She’d keep the car windows open as she drove to the hotel. The tension of the day must have been more enervating than she had dreamed.

She was feeling less sick but still shaky as she pulled out of the hospital parking lot. Stop it. She was fine. Everything was fine.

*   *   *

“No, it’s not. It’s all wrong, Eve.”

She stiffened, her gaze flying to the passenger seat.

Jenny.

Pain.

Eve could feel her pain and despair.

“It’s been a long time, Jenny. I thought we were working on this together.”

“I told you that I’d never be sure when I could come to you,” she said. “It’s so hard. He’s so hard. He fights me. He won’t believe me, and sometimes he makes me think that he’s right. That I’m … nothing.”

“No, he’s not right. Don’t think that.”

“It’s only sometimes. Most of the time, I know I’m getting stronger, and I’ll soon be able to stop him.”

“Stop him?”

“The way he stopped me,” she said. “The way he stopped her.”

“Her?”

“Elena. He shouldn’t have done that. It was all wrong.”

“Jenny, what are you saying?”

“He followed her. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t make him listen. He wouldn’t hear me.”

“Jenny, what did he do?”

“I don’t know. The car … I don’t know. He wanted to hurt her. I think he did it.”

“He hurt Elena?”

“Yes. He shouldn’t have done it. So kind to me. So good to Cara.”

“Cara. You know about Cara? You know that she’s the little girl Walsh was targeting?”

“Of course I do. Who else? It had to be Cara.”

“You didn’t know before.”

“I told you, I’m getting stronger. Things are coming back to me. Soon I’ll know everything.”

“And you know that Cara is your sister?”

“Of course she is. She was Marnie. Now she’s Cara. Elena had to change it.”

“And Elena isn’t really her aunt?”

“No, she was our nurse. She took care of both of us before Walsh took us from our home. He thought having her with us would make it easier for him on the trip, and he made her come along.”

“But it didn’t make it easier, did it? She helped you to escape from him?”

“Yes, but it didn’t work. He was too smart. He came after us. He was too close. He was going to catch Cara. I couldn’t let him do it. All I had to do was run away and make a lot of noise, so he’d follow me. But I had to leave her alone. I told her that I’d keep her safe if she’d just do what I said.” She moistened her lips. “And I did it. I can’t let it all be for nothing. I can’t let her die now. I saved her the last time. I have to do it again.”

“Is it Cara who Walsh is hurting now?”

“No, not yet. I told you … the car. Cara wasn’t in the car.”

“She wasn’t in Elena’s car? But she picked her up at school.”

“No, she fooled him. She had to fool him. She couldn’t let him get Cara.”