Taking Eve(103)
“We’ll find out soon,” Joe said. “If your damn cat isn’t telling you stories.”
“Cat?” Venable asked.
“Never mind,” Joe said.
“Blick,” Jane repeated. “He must know where Doane can be found. He’s not as smart as Doane, right? Can you find him?”
“I’m working on it. I have a few leads.”
“Which you didn’t include in the dossier on him you gave us,” Joe said sarcastically. “That was very spare.”
“I had to make sure that I couldn’t handle this alone.”
“Oh, yes, your kindly general and all those other people at risk.”
“If it wasn’t Eve, you’d be just as careful.”
“It is Eve.” He reached for his phone. “All we have right now is that house in Goldfork. There’s got to be something there that will give us a lead.”
“We went over that house with a fine-tooth comb, Joe. My team didn’t find anything.”
“I hope that search wasn’t too thorough. They might have messed up any chance—”
“Who are you calling?”
“Someone I trust more than your guys to find anything Doane might have left behind to point the way.”
Jane nodded immediately. “Kendra Michaels. Eve told me about her. Said she’s amazing. Can she help us, Joe?”
“I hope to God she can. I’ve never seen anyone more able to delve into a crime scene and pull up answers. She and Eve are friends. I know she’ll try.” He turned away and walked across the porch as Kendra answered. “Kendra? Joe Quinn. I need your help. Stop bitching. I know you’re busy. You’re always busy. You’ll have to drop whatever it is. Be quiet, and let me talk.”
Jane tuned him out as she turned back to Venable. “Zander. He seems to be a principal target if Doane waited five years to hunt him down. Maybe we can get him to work with us to trap Doane.” Venable was shaking his head. “Why not? It’s worth a try to save her.”
“He won’t do it. He won’t care.”
“Then we’ll make the son of a bitch care. If I have to do it by pointing a knife in his belly.”
“Not a good idea,” Caleb murmured. “There are other ways to force the issue. I might be able to help.”
“You won’t get near him,” Venable said. “He’d consider it an annoyance.”
“Do you know where he lives?”
“I know where he was a few days ago. He quite probably moved out after I warned him that Doane might be coming after him.”
“He’s afraid?”
“No, he just moves on if there’s any chance of a disturbance that might attract attention.”
“Can you find out if he’s still there? You have his telephone number?”
He nodded. “But it won’t do any good. Listen, I don’t want you getting any more hurt than you are now, Jane. He’s one of the most dangerous men I’ve ever met. Stay away from Zander.”
“I can’t stay away from him. Doane wants him dead. We may be able to use him.” She looked him in the eye. “You find out where he is right now. You follow up your leads and find Blick. What about Tarther? He’s a target, right? At least we know where he is.”
“I could run up there and keep an eye on him,” Caleb said.
“He’s already being guarded,” Venable said. “I set a guard as soon as I knew Doane had left Goldfork.”
“Good, then I can concentrate on doing a little scouting around.” He looked at Jane. “Until you need me.”
She was not going to refuse. No one was more expert at the hunt than Caleb. “Thank you.”
“It’s better if I’m out of the way when Trevor comes anyway.” He smiled. “And with any luck, I may be able to lay the head of one of those snakes at your feet. That would be much more productive for me and put me in a wonderful light.” He turned to Venable. “Give me the address and any other information I should have about Tarther.”
Jane took a step closer to the rail and looked out at the lake as they began to speak. Joe was still talking to Kendra Michaels, and Jane was suddenly feeling very much alone.
“It’s going to be okay,” Margaret said softly as she moved to stand beside her. “We’ll all work hard, and we’ll get her back. But I’m confused about this Kendra Michaels. Can she really help?”
“I don’t know,” Jane said wearily. “She’s supposed to be brilliant and a bit temperamental, but Eve trusted her. She’s some kind of music therapist who was blind most of her life until recently and now works with law enforcement on occasion.”