“I’m sure they’ll be doing that back in the garage. I can give you the address if you want to go over there later today and—”

“I don’t want to wait that long. Surely someone here has a jump starter.”

Venable motioned up the embankment where two police cars’ flashers were playing against the rapidly encroaching fog. “I’m sure one of those cops can help you out.”

“Thanks. I’ll keep looking here while you go ask them.”

His brows rose. “I wasn’t volunteering.”

“I’ll keep looking here,” she repeated pointedly.

“That FBI agent also told me you had a reputation for being a pain in the ass.” He smiled and started up the embankment. “It so happens I’m known to have the same reputation.”

“It just shows you have initiative.”

“If you say so.”

*   *   *

LESS THAN THIRTY MINUTES later, Kendra watched the car’s illuminated instrument panel flicker to life. The hood was open, and despite initial doubts that the car’s recently submerged electrical system would respond, the operation was a success.

Venable walked around from the engine compartment, where one of the forensics experts was high-fiving the police officer who had supplied the five-hundred-amp jump starter. “Now what?” Venable asked Kendra. “There’s no GPS unit, so there’s no history to draw from. Was it worth all this just to get an odometer reading?”

Kendra didn’t answer, her eyes narrowed on the car stereo’s display, and pushed a button. Then another. And another. And another. And another after that.

She pulled out her phone and tapped furiously on the keypad. After a few seconds, she looked up at Venable. “This car was in southwest Colorado.”

“Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure.”

“Doane lived in Goldfork, but that’s in the northern part of the state. You’re off by a few hundred miles.”

“Do you know where Mineral County is?”

Venable shook his head. “Can’t say that I do.”

“Neither did I until about twenty seconds ago.” She held up her phone, which had a map on the display screen.

Venable studied it. “How did you get this?”

“I looked at the radio-station presets and did a Google search of all of them together. This is the only area that has six major stations with these same frequencies.”

He nodded. “I don’t think Doane has any known associates down there, but we’ll look into it.”

“Good.” Kendra stepped away from the car and thought for a moment. “So will I.”

Gwinnett Hospital

“HI, WHAT DO YOU MEAN worrying me? This is the third time tonight I came in to see you, and you wouldn’t wake up.” Margaret plopped down in the chair beside Jane’s bed. “I was all happy to see you out of that hospital in San Juan and mending, and you decide to have a relapse. Are you trying to give me a guilt trip?”

“Stop right there.” Jane scowled at her. “I just got that line from Joe, and I’ve had enough. I didn’t want to come here, and now they’re threatening to keep me here for three days. I’m not going to put up with it. It’s just a minor infection.”

“Which you wouldn’t have contracted if you’d rested and let yourself heal.”

“That’s what Joe said. And those doctors. To hell with all of them. I couldn’t have done anything else.”

“I know you couldn’t,” Margaret said quietly. “But it’s a little different now. That’s a nasty infection, and if you don’t get over it quickly then you’re going to distract everyone around you who is searching for Eve. You don’t want to do that.”

“I’ll get over it,” Jane said. “It’s just some freaky bug that—”

“Do you want to cut down the chances of Eve’s being found because it’s not you who finds her?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Are you crazy?”

“It’s been suggested a few times.” Margaret grinned. “But no one can prove it.” Her smile faded. “I’m just saying you’re being selfish. I’d probably be the same way, but that doesn’t make it smarter or less self-serving. You’re in everyone’s way right now.”

“Damn you.” Jane’s hands closed into fists. “Get out of here, Margaret.”

“That’s the fever talking.”

“That’s me, wanting to punch you.” She glared at Margaret. The girl was sitting there, her face glowing and her eyes shining with that gentle, shrewd, almost loving, understanding. But Jane didn’t want to be understood; she wanted out of there. And she had a dreadful feeling that she was wrong and Margaret was right. “I can’t stay here.”

“You’ve already made the decision.” Margaret leaned back in the chair. “You’re too intelligent to do anything stupid that might hurt Eve just because you want your way. I’ll call Joe and tell him that you’ve thought about it, and you’ll stay here until they release you.”

“I’ll make my own calls,” Jane said. “And I’m not the only one who likes to have her own way.”

“True.” Margaret chuckled. “But I don’t have an infection or fever or any of those annoying things. But I’ll stay out of your way for a while so that I won’t irritate you. This must be my night for avoiding confrontations. I promised Joe I wouldn’t stick around and risk arguing with Kendra Michaels.”

“I can see that happening,” Jane said dryly. “She’s a sharp scalpel, and you’re one of those water wands that sense belowground springs. Did she find out anything from the submerged car?”

“I have no idea. I didn’t wait to find out after I found out you were on the way to the hospital.” Her head tilted. “See, you were already interfering then. It’s good you decided that you weren’t going to do it any longer.”

“Stop rubbing it in. Lying here, not able to—I’m out of here as soon as I get the okay.” Her teeth sunk into her lower lip. “It’s going to kill me.”

“I know,” Margaret said softly. “Will it help you to know that I’m not just going to be around holding your hand? You can’t go on the hunt, but I’ll do it for you. I’m leaving your beautiful lake to see what I can find on my own.”

“No, it doesn’t make me feel better. I don’t want you wandering off and getting yourself hurt or killed.”

“It was going to happen anyway. You said that you’d let me help you.”

“Help. I was going to be there to—”

“Take care of me?” Margaret’s eyes were sparkling with humor. “Jane, I’ve been taking care of myself since I was a toddler.” She got to her feet. “And deep in your heart, you’re glad to have a surrogate while these good people are keeping you prisoner.” She headed for the door. “I’ll call you every now and then and let you know what’s happening with me. If you want to keep yourself busy, you should find some way to research or find—”

“Stop telling me what to do,” Jane said. “Look, can I talk you out of this? Is there any way?”

“Not a chance.”

She meant it, Jane realized. She had seen how determined Margaret could be. “Then I’ll stop trying to do it. But you’d better call me, dammit.”

“Or you’ll worry yourself into another fever spike. I was only trying to keep you from being too on edge. I’ve already arranged for a safety wall and distraction, but you need to keep your mind working so that you’ll feel useful and—”

Jane frowned. “Safety wall?”

“To keep you from changing your mind and trying to come rescue me as well as Eve.” She stopped at the door. “Good-bye, Jane. Heal quickly.”

“You bet I will.” She paused. “And you’re right, I must not be a very good person because I do want someone, anyone, to move ahead with searching for Eve while I’m stuck here.” She moistened her lips. “But you have to be careful. Don’t you dare do anything that would get you hurt.”

“I won’t. I promise.” She turned to leave.

“Margaret.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be with you as soon as I can.” She was silent a moment. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. You’re a very special person.”

“That goes without saying. But it’s nice to be appreciated in a way other than the obvious.” Margaret laughed and left the room.

Jane lay there gazing at the door. She was still clenching her fists, and she forced herself to relax them. As Margaret had said, she had made her decision, and she had to do what she could to get well as soon as possible. Keeping her temperature sky-high because she was upset didn’t fall in that perimeter.