"You know I'm city born and bred." Sandra drew a deep breath. "But I could tolerate this. Eve should have told me about that beautiful view of the lake."

"I did," Eve said. "You wouldn't have any of it."

"Well, it is pretty isolated. Aren't there any other houses on the lake?"

"No, Joe bought the lake and surrounding acreage and won't sell any of it."

Sandra grinned at Joe. "How unfriendly of you."

"I like privacy when I'm up here." He closed the trunk. "I get enough of people when I'm in the city. I kept the title in the name of my trust and no one knows I own this place. Not even the department." He smiled at Eve. "Except a few chosen friends."

"Well, at least the cottage looks nice and friendly," Sandra said.

Eve had always liked the A-frame. It was small and cozy and had plenty of windows that welcomed the sun and the outdoors. "Come on in and see the inside."

"I have to get back to the city. Ron worries when I don't show up for dinner."

"You could call him."

Sandra shook her head. "Hey, I'm not stupid. I don't want him getting used to eating alone. I'll call you tomorrow and we'll talk then." She gave Eve a long hug. "Welcome home, baby. I've missed you." She stepped back and looked at Joe. "Do you need a lift back to town?"

"I have a Jeep up here. I'll use that. Thanks, Sandra."

"No problem." Sandra got back in the driver's seat and started the car. "See you soon."

Eve watched the car disappear down the gravel road, then helped Joe carry the luggage up the porch steps.

"You know, I don't get it." He shook his head. "You two haven't seen each other for over a year, and she goes off to dinner with her boyfriend and it's okay with you?"

"You don't have to get it. We understand each other." No one who had not been there during her hellish childhood would be able to empathize. The scars were still there and they would never go away, but she and Sandra had built on them and forged a bond they could live with. "Mom has never had a stable relationship before. She has a right to protect it. She's really hooked, isn't she?"

"Yep." He unlocked the door. "But she doesn't appear to mind."

"No." Eve paused. "It will seem strange not to have Diane here."

"Why? You came here before I was married. Diane never really liked this place. She preferred civilization."

She glanced around and remembered how Joe's retriever had always bounded up to greet her. "Where's George? Is he in the city apartment?"

"No, Diane has him. I'm never home. He's better off with her."

"That must have been hard."

"Yeah, it was. I love that dog." He opened the door and gestured to a corner of the room.

"Good God." Video cameras, a computer, a worktable and pedestal. "Where did you get all this?"

"I raided your lab in town and brought out all the equipment the insurance company replaced after it was trashed last year. I think I got everything."

"I think you did too." She went inside. "You seem to have met all my needs."

"My goal in life," he said lightly. "I stocked the house with food too. It's chilly in here." He crossed to the fireplace and knelt before the logs. "I'll light the fire before I leave."

"You're not staying?"

He shook his head. "Reporters are looking for you. It will be hard to trace the cabin but not impossible. I have to find a way to cast out a few red herrings." He paused. "And I'm going to tell Sandra not to come up here until you've finished the job. She might be followed. If you want to catch up on everything, do it on the telephone. Okay?"

"Okay." He had mentioned everything except what was most important. "And when do I get the skull?"

"Tomorrow. It's still at Georgia State with Dr. Comden, the anthropologist who did the report. I'll get a release from the department, pick it up tomorrow morning, and bring the skull with me in the afternoon. If there's any change of plan, I'll call you." He moved toward the door. "In the meantime, try to get some sleep. You didn't doze more than an hour on the flight over."

"Okay." She added deliberately, "But first I'm going to call Logan and tell him we've arrived safely."

"He won't expect it."

"But he'll appreciate it. I'm not going to shut him out of my life just because we're not together anymore. He deserves more than that."

Joe shrugged. "I'm not going to argue with you. Just don't let him upset you. You need to rest."

"I'll rest."

"I mean it. Neither one of us knows how you're going to react when you see that kid's skull. Exhaustion won't help. I don't want you going to pieces."

"I won't go to pieces."

"Get some sleep," he repeated. The door shut behind him.

She went to the window and watched him stride around the cottage toward the garage, where he kept the Jeep. A few minutes later it appeared in the driveway and then disappeared from view down the road.

She was alone.

The sunlight suddenly seemed weaker, colder, as it touched the lake. On the far bank, pine trees cast shadows that blended and formed a dark blanket. She shivered, then moved over to the blazing fire and held out her hands. The warmth was welcome, chasing away the chill that had attacked her.