Silencing Eve

Eve is important.”
    “Not my personal life. I’d never let it interfere.” But Jane was relieved that Kendra had slid away from talking about Caleb. She hadn’t realized that their relationship was so transparent to outsiders. Perhaps it wasn’t to anyone but Kendra. She changed the subject. “Margaret. If your presence here is a threat, wouldn’t Margaret’s presence fall into the same category? She came here at approximately the same time, and though she was obviously not an investigator of any kind, she was at the scenes of the crimes.” She frowned. “And she was seen with you at the house in Goldfork.”
    “Very good,” Kendra said. “But Margaret is your responsibility.” She headed for the front door. “I’m going down to try to convince her she should opt out as I’m doing. But knowing Margaret, I don’t think I’m going to get very far. She’s stubborn as a mule and thinks it’s her duty to take care of you.” She paused to look back at Jane. “I repeat, she’s your responsibility now. You take care of her, or I’ll be coming after you.”
    “You’re being very stern. You evidently became very close while you were on the hunt for Eve.”
    “As close as you can come to a character who’s part Peter Pan and part Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.” She nodded. “Yeah, I’m close to Margaret. And, if you’re looking for someone to trust, you don’t have to look any farther. But, unfortunately, she takes chances that she shouldn’t.”
    “You don’t have to tell me. I was there when we found her cuddling that wolf in the woods above the ghost town.” She added, “Don’t worry. I won’t let her run any risks on my behalf. I’ll find a way to keep her safe.”
    Kendra made a sound remarkably like a snort. “You can try.” She opened the door. “And you might be busy keeping yourself safe. You stay here and rest for a while. You haven’t convinced me that you’re in the best of shape.”
    “I’m not in the best of shape. I won’t lie to you. But I won’t let it matter.”
    “I know you won’t. Good luck, Jane. Don’t you dare not call me if I can help.” She shut the door behind her.
    The house felt suddenly empty without that vital presence, Jane thought. She imagined that every room Kendra entered she effortlessly owned.
    She looked down at the journal.
    And since she was lacking Kendra’s vitality at the moment, she might as well start reading this journal of Kevin’s and hope that lightning might strike, and she could see something in it that Kendra had missed.
    She shuddered as she reluctantly opened the cover and began reading the journal of a monster.
    Penthouse
Drake Hotel
Denver, Colorado
    “I’VE REACHED WEINER.” Stang, Zander’s personal assistant, entered Zander’s suite after contacting Zander’s information guru. “It was difficult. He got your message and said to tell you he’d already started the process. He said one of his contacts spotted an off-road vehicle with those special tires at the Wyoming border on the day of the explosion. It was a tan Toyota 4-Runner. He didn’t want to call you until he had something concrete to offer you. He was afraid that you were targeting him because Joe Quinn had found out that he’d done work for you.”
    “Thanks to you,” Zander said dryly. “I don’t appreciate your lack of discretion in giving away my contacts. I don’t tolerate that lack of loyalty. Perhaps you should be the one afraid, Stang.”
    “Probably. But I’m done with that.” He smiled. “You’ve been intimidating me so long that you’ve dulled the edge.” He put the telephone number down on the desk in front of Zander. “Do you really think that Weiner can zero in on Doane?”
    “It’s possible he can help.” Zander leaned back in his chair. “He’s as close to an electronics genius as they come, and he thinks outside the box. He has the sophisticated equipment to make it happen. It depends on his motivation.” His smile was tiger bright as he said softly, “And I don’t wish to brag, but I’m quite good at providing motivation.”
    Stang was aware that Zander could persuade anyone to do anything if he chose. His physical presence was very powerful, and his reputation was chilling. Who should know better than Stang? He had worked for him for a number of years as his accountant and personal assistant, and most of that time, he’d been on the edge of fear. Zander was a brilliant assassin whose fees were in the