Bonnie - Iris Johansen [115]
“I don’t think so.” Catherine was short of breath, her chest rising and falling. “Not yet. We just got down here, and Gallo has been trying to see if he has a chance.”
Eve’s gaze flew to Gallo’s face. He was pale, his eyes haunted, and there was a long scratch on his right cheek. He was going through hell, and he looked it. “It doesn’t look good.”
Catherine shook her head. “I’ll try to get some help for him.” She glanced at Eve. “If that’s what you want. He’s probably not going to last anyway. Tell me what you want me to do. I know how long you’ve been searching for your daughter’s killer. If you want him dead, I’ll let him go.”
And cause Catherine to shoulder the blame for killing Danner?
Eve shook her head. “I don’t think he’s going to make it either.” She looked at Gallo. “Make the call. If he lives, then we’ll deal with him.”
Catherine took out her phone. “We’re surrounded by this rock canyon right here. The best I can do is get out from under these trees and hope I can pick up a signal.” She moved toward an opening in the trees several yards away. “Joe, you’ve got a satellite phone; come with me, and you try if I don’t get through.”
Joe frowned. “Dammit, I don’t give a damn if he—” He looked at Eve. “Okay, but it’s a waste.” He strode after Catherine.
He was probably right, Eve thought. But who the hell knew what was right or wrong? In this moment, she did not. There was too much history, too much pain. And the pain was still here. She could see it in Gallo’s face, feel it in all the memories of the years. She moved closer to where Gallo was kneeling beside Danner and put her hand on his shoulder. “How bad? What do you think?”
Gallo jerkily shook his head. “I can’t even stop the blood. I don’t know how many organs that branch damaged.”
“Catherine and Joe are trying to get him help.”
“That’s more than I expected.” He reached out a hand and gently touched Danner’s hair. “He was so damn good to me, Eve.”
“I know.”
“It’s crazy. How could he do it? He killed my daughter.” He reached out blindly and covered her hand on his shoulder. “Our daughter.”
“Our daughter,” she repeated. Yes, in this moment they were bound together as they had never been during Bonnie’s life. “And it was crazy. He wasn’t sane. He told me … it was an accident. That he was trying to save her.”
“Do you believe him?”
“Yes.”
“But it doesn’t take the pain away.”
“No, but it takes away some of the horror. I’ve always been afraid that Bonnie was helpless, terrified. It was one of my worst nightmares.”
“He was trying to save her?” Gallo’s eyes were moist. “Like he tried to save me. He did save me, Eve.”
“But he didn’t save—”
“Hurts…” Danner’s eyes were suddenly opening, staring up at Gallo. “I … fell.”
“Yes.” Gallo took his hand. “But I’ll take care of you.”
“How could you do that? You’re just a kid. Give me a minute, and I’ll get up and get us back to the cabin.”
Did he think he was back at that cabin in Wisconsin where he’d taken Gallo so many times? Eve wondered.
But Danner’s gaze was now on Eve. “I know you. You have a little girl.…”
“Yes, I do.”
He suddenly tensed. “The demons. You have to keep the demons from finding her.”
“I have her safe. Forever.”
“But I have to help. I have to—” He began to cough, and a rivulet of blood flowed out of the corner of his mouth.
He was dying, Eve realized. There was no doubt in her mind. “I don’t need you. My Bonnie is safe. I’ll watch over her.”
“No, it’s my job.” His head was thrashing back and forth. “I have to do it. It doesn’t matter if I’m afraid. I have to do it.”
“I’ll do it for you,” Gallo said thickly. “Just rest.”
Danner’s eyes were clinging to his. “I tried to save her for you, John.”
“I know you did.”
“I failed you. I failed her.” His eyes closed. “Go away.”
“No.”
“Go away.” He jerked his hand away from Gallo’s. “I don’t want you. You make me feel— Go away.”
Eve couldn’t stand it any longer. She turned and moved a few yards from Danner and Gallo. She crossed her arms across her chest to still their trembling.
“Take him away, Mama.”
“Bonnie?