Shadow Play by Iris Johansen

any visitors.”
    The door shut firmly behind him.
    She shook her head as she stared after him. Joe was definitely on the alert and moving with his usual efficiency.
    â€œ He doesn’t want me here, ” Jenny said. “ Why does he think I’ll hurt you? ”
    â€œHe doesn’t. He’s just cautious. When you care about someone, you always want to be sure that they’re safe. I’m sure your parents were like that with you.”
    â€œ I don’t think so. I don’t remember anyone’s being like him. ”
    She chuckled. “Because there is no one like him. He stands alone.”
    â€œ You feel … warm … toward him. Like standing before a fireplace and just toasting. It’s nice. ”
    â€œI feel many things toward him. And they’re all nice.” She thought about it. “Well, mostly nice. He’s very stubborn, and that can be annoying.”
    â€œ But it doesn’t stop the warmth. ”
    â€œNo, it doesn’t stop that. Nothing stops that.” She turned toward the reconstruction. “Now be quiet while I get back to work.”
    â€œ Okay. I was just curious .”
    And Jenny’s interruption had the gentleness and familiarity of an old friend whispering in her ear. “Children are always curious.”
    â€œ I don’t know if I’m a child anymore. Am I? ”
    If Jenny had lived, she would be seventeen now. She had missed so much … “I don’t know. My Bonnie says that she couldn’t stand still when she crossed over, that she kept maturing. I imagine it might be the same for you. But that doesn’t mean you might not be a little stunted as far as experiences are concerned. I guess that depends on what you’ve been doing for the last eight years.”
    â€œ Waiting. I’ve been waiting…”
    Waiting for what? To be brought home to the people she loved? To get justice for the terrible crime perpetrated against her? The words struck Eve as terribly sad, and again she had the urge to reach out and hold her.
    Back off. Jenny was coming too close to her. She forced herself to go back to working on the depth markers on the reconstruction. “Then wait a little longer, Jenny. We’re getting there. Just a little longer…”
    *   *   *
    The lights were burning bright in the cottage even though it was after midnight.
    Walsh didn’t dare get closer to the cottage than these trees across the lake, and it was filling him with frustration. But Joe Quinn had been out in the woods twice tonight, and he couldn’t risk it. He’d read Quinn’s dossier, and an ex-SEAL wasn’t going to be taken by surprise like that deputy. He’d have to wait for an opportunity.
    As he’d have to wait for the opportunity to go after Eve Duncan. But time was running out. She might be getting close.
    Walsh could imagine that Duncan bitch sitting working on that damn skull and making that kid’s face come alive again. Damn Nalchek. Any other small-town sheriff would have just let that skeleton be reburied somewhere and eventually filed the paperwork and let the little girl be forgotten.
    But Eve Duncan wasn’t going to let her be forgotten.
    So Eve Duncan would have to be removed.
    *   *   *
    â€œOkay, here we go.” Eve could feel the tension grip her muscles as she stared at the reconstruction. “I’ve done all the prep work I can. It’s time we started working together on this.”
    No answer.
    â€œListen, Jenny, this isn’t the time for you to opt out. Help me.”
    No answer.
    Ignore the rejection and hope she would come in later.
    Smooth the clay.
    Such a small skull.
    So delicate …
    She had to be sensitive, gentle.
    No mistakes.
    She let the tips of her fingers move of their own volition.
    Help me, Jenny.
    The clay was cool … no, it was warmer now. As warm as her own fingers