Silencing Eve

the moment if she woke either one of them. They were both definitely in her bad graces.
    She dialed Seth Caleb. “I’ve reached Chicago. Would you like to tell me where to find Jane, or do you still want to play games?”
    “You’re the one who extended the play by becoming incommunicado. You know Jane would have made sure that you’d be brought here safely.”
    “I had to make a point so that you wouldn’t be so stupid again.”
    “Point taken,” he said dryly. “Why are you calling me instead of Jane?”
    “She’s not well. I didn’t want to disturb her.”
    Silence. “She’s much better now. And I, for one, wouldn’t mind if you disturbed her.”
    The words were spoken without expression. Yet Margaret could sense the darkness. “I don’t go by what you mind or don’t mind, Caleb.” She paused. “But if Jane is having problems with you, I’d better know about it. Where are you?”
    “Lakeside Marriott. Room 1730.”
    “And Jane?”
    “I didn’t ask her. Somewhere on this floor. You’ll have to find her yourself.”
    Something was definitely not right. “I told you, I don’t want to wake her. I’ll come to your room.” She hung up.
    She stared thoughtfully out the window. Storm clouds and an explosion on the brink. What had been happening in these last hours? Well, she would know soon. At least, he had said that Jane was better. Which might be the cause of those storm clouds. It was just as well Margaret was on the scene to act as buffer.
    Lakeside Marriott. She got to her feet and weaved her way down the aisle to talk to the bus driver. His name was Harry Milton and after hours of casual conversation he probably liked her well enough to do her a favor. If she handled it right.
    “Hi, Harry.” She beamed at him. “Do you know where the Lakeside Marriott is? Do you suppose it’s too far out of your way?”

 
    CHAPTER
    13
     
    TWENTY MINUTES LATER, Margaret was knocking on the door of Room 1730.
    Caleb opened the door. “That was quick.”
    “The bus driver dropped me off.” She strolled into the room. “I didn’t want to waste time getting transportation from the bus station. You have to catch me up with what’s been happening since you arrived here.” She dropped down in a chair by the balcony doors. “First, Harriet Weber. Anything?”
    “A telephone call from Doane.”
    She stiffened. “What?”
    “I thought that would make you sit up and take notice.” He sat down opposite her. “And it was something of a role reversal from what Venable thought.”
    “Tell me.”
    She listened closely as he described in detail the conversation between Doane and his ex-wife.
    “Holy shit.” She shook her head. “Yeah, I can see the role reversal. She’s seems very dangerous. Sort of a black widow devouring her mates.”
    “Trust you to compare her to one of your nature friends,” Caleb said. “Personally, I see Harriet as very human, with abundant Borgia qualities.”
    “I don’t have any black widow friends,” she said absently. “I’ve tried but I can’t communicate with insects. And I wouldn’t choose a black widow anyway. It may be natural, but I can’t bear the thought that they eat their mates.” She was still thinking about Harriet. “If she’s in control, it opens an entire new view of what we might—Have you called Kendra?”
    “Yes, I was designated official town crier. I called both Catherine and Kendra. Catherine was a good deal more receptive than Kendra. Oh, and she gave me some more info about where Doane might be keeping Eve. Something about a graveyard of driftwood…” He briefly filled her in on those details from Ben Hudson. “She’d already told Kendra, and Kendra was interested but impatient. She said that she was being bombarded, and she didn’t need that right now. She said between Kevin’s journal and the letters, she was going crazy.”
    Margaret nodded. “She’ll be better soon. Puzzles drive her crazy. Her mind works double time until she sees the connections. But I think she’s beginning to do it.”
    “How do you know?”
    “I talked to her a few hours ago when I was on the road. Something suddenly occurred to her, and she brushed me off and sent me on my way. I made her promise to call me.”
    “Will she do it?”
    She looked at him in surprise. “Of course. She promised me. She’s like Jane. Honor and fair play mean everything to her. I’m expecting a call from her at any time.” She shrugged. “And besides,