Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan #23)(24)

“Forensics is getting a bit pushy about having something to show for the way they bent the rules and gave the skull to you before all the paperwork was out of the way.”

She made a face. “You’re getting nagged?”

“They’ll deny it once they get their hands on the reconstruction. Then the nagging will be represented as being only a gentle reminder.”

She nodded. “I’ll finish it today. You’ll be able to take her in tomorrow.” She stood there, gazing at the reconstruction. “I just wanted to make certain that I’d done everything I could do for her.”

“You always do,” he said gently. “Let her go. She’s ready, Eve.”

“I know.” She lifted her shoulder in a half shrug. “It’s probably the way she came to me, what had been done to her. That gold box was like a terrible mockery, and so was that broken mirror. I wanted desperately to make her right again.” Her lips twisted. “And find a way to punish the bastard who had done that to her.”

“And you’ve done your job. Now let me take it from here.” He kissed her and headed for the door. “Try to finish Sylvie up before Cara gets here. You deserve to relax and spend a little family time with her and Michael.” He looked over his shoulder. “You’re still keeping the door locked when I’m not here?”

She stiffened. “Of course I am. When that son of a bitch delivered the skull, I told you I wouldn’t take any chances Why? Have you seen any reason why I should?”

He shook his head. “No sign. He’s nowhere close, but I’ll be glad to get the reconstruction out of the house in case he’s keeping an eye on it.”

She frowned as her gaze shifted back to the skull. “Should I be worried about Cara’s coming? I thought it was safe as long as you kept an eye on the perimeter.”

“It is. But it wouldn’t hurt to tell Cara not to take her friend hiking in the woods by themselves.” He paused. “And, I think we should tell her about our special delivery.”

“Well, if we don’t, you can bet Michael will. He’s been practically considering Sylvie as one of the family since I started working on her.” She nodded. “Okay, we’ll follow his lead and make Sylvie a family affair.”





ATLANTA AIRPORT


“This is exciting,” Darcy said as she grabbed her suitcase off the luggage claim. “Do you know, I’ve never been to Atlanta? I’ve hop-skipped over most cities in the U.S. on publicity tours, but we missed Atlanta.”

“I’d never been here either before Eve and Joe brought me. I grew up principally in California,” Cara said absentmindedly as she watched for her own suitcase to come around. “I bounced around from town to town there while I was on the run.”

“On the run?” Darcy repeated. “Why does a kid have to go on the run? Hmmm. Very interesting.”

And Cara should not have said that. She knew that Darcy always picked up on any tidbit of information that caught her attention. “It wasn’t all that interesting.” It had been a horror story. “And I prefer to forget it.”

Darcy nodded and held up her hands. “Not a subject for sharing. I’ll back off. See how good I’m being?” She glanced at the colorful scarf Cara had tucked around her throat. “And didn’t I lend you my Hermés scarf to hide your bruises? But it’s not going to fool anyone for long. It’s June, for heaven’s sake.”

“It doesn’t have to hide them for very long,” Cara said quickly. “I’ll tell Eve what happened. I just need a little time to prepare her.”

“Whatever. At least, you don’t still sound like a frog. I’ll do anything you want me to do.” She was suddenly smiling brilliantly. “I’ll be so good while I’m here that you’ll want to convince your Eve and Joe to adopt me.”

“You may not even want to stay for the week. We live very simply at the lake cottage. It’s principally just being with family.”

“I’ll want to stay,” Darcy said quietly. “I’ve seen your face when you talk about Eve and Joe. Why do you think I jumped on the chance of coming down here? Families are an endangered species as far as I’m concerned.” Then she was smiling again. “So I’m here trying to muscle in on yours. Okay?”

“Okay.” Cara smiled back at her. “How can I refuse? I muscled in on Eve’s life. It wouldn’t be right if I was selfish enough to keep her to myself.” She’d found her suitcase and lifted it off the baggage claim. “But I thought you had a mother and father who lived in Nice.”

“Oh, I do. Well, my mother, Felicity, and stepfather, Raoul, husband number six. She’s only stuck with him because there are certain conveniences to having a husband, and he never interferes with her other ‘amusements.’ Maybe I fibbed a little because I was pumping you so much, and it seemed more natural if it was an exchange of information. I haven’t seen Felicity or Raoul for the last five years.” She pulled out the handle on her suitcase. “Endangered species,” she repeated. “Now where are we supposed to meet this Officer Haverty?”

*

Five minutes.

Eve only had five minutes. Cara had called and given her a heads-up as they’d exited the freeway.