Chasing the Night - Iris Johansen [133]
“You’re still going to take her with you?”
Catherine gazed at her in astonishment. “Of course I am. I meant what I said to her. Do you think because she and Luke are having differences that I’d change my mind? I love them both. They can work it out for themselves. She told you that she’d be the buffer, but that may end up being my job.” She looked out at the lake, now bathed in a golden twilight sheen. “It’s getting dark. Kelly!” she called to the girl who was sitting at a picnic table a few yards from the barbecue pit. As usual, Kelly was working on her computer, with notebooks scattered around her. “How can you see? Come up here where you can turn on the lights.”
“Just a minute,” Kelly called, her eyes on the computer screen. “I think I’ve found—”
“Eve wants you to come.” Luke was suddenly beside Kelly. “You’re her guest. Do it.”
Eve stiffened. Almost the exact words Kelly had spoken to Luke. What was happening?
Kelly looked at Luke. “You’re right.” She closed down her computer. “I’m coming, Eve.” She started to gather her notebooks.
“I’ll help you.” Luke was stacking the notebooks in a neat pile. He picked them up and started for the porch.
“Wait for me.” Kelly grabbed the computer and ran to keep up with him. “What is this?”
“I’m interested.” He looked straight ahead. “Venable thinks this pattern stuff can help catch Rakovac’s partner? I want to see how you do it. I’ll watch you while you’re working.”
“I don’t like to be watched.”
“I’ll watch you.” He paused as they reached the porch. “You said you had to start at the beginning with me. Is that what you’re doing with Dabala?”
“Yes.” She added quietly, “Watch me. You’ll see. That’s the way it has to be. The beginning, Luke.”
For an instant, pain flickered over his face. Then it was gone. “I’ll watch you. I may…As I said, it will be…interesting.”
They disappeared into the house.
“Bless Kelly,” Catherine said huskily. “I think she’s going to pull it off. I can’t tell you how desperately I wanted to clean all that poison stored up inside out of him.” She reached up and wiped her eyes. “Another victory, Eve. It may take a long time, but we’re going to bring him back to the boy he was.”
“He’s already on his way.” Eve leaned back in the swing. “I’m so glad you brought him so that I could see for myself. How long are you going to stay with us?”
“We’re leaving tonight.” She glanced at the door through which Kelly and Luke had disappeared. “Probably late tonight now. I want Kelly to have her chance at luring Luke into her web.”
“She’ll do it. The process is fascinating, and she knows exactly what she’s doing,” Eve said. “But why not leave in the morning?”
“We’ll discuss it later.” She got to her feet and went to the porch rail. “We’ve done nothing but talk about Luke and Kelly and all my problems. I don’t want to inconvenience you any more than I have to. You’ve done enough for me, Eve.” She paused, her gaze on Joe, standing below them at the barbecue pit. “Let’s talk about you and Joe. Is everything all right between you?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I just thought I caught some vibes from him today.” Her gaze was still on Joe. “You’re very lucky, you know. He’s pretty fantastic.”
“Yes, he is.” She added, “And I know you think he’s special. You’ve told me.”
“Yes, I’ve always been honest with you. I always will be.” She turned to face her. “I’m no threat to you, Eve.”
“You could be, if you wanted to be. You’re an incredibly magnetic woman, Catherine.” She gazed steadily at her. “But in the end, the threat would come only from Joe. He’s the only one who can hurt me.”
“I’d never hurt you.” Catherine’s voice was passionate. “I’ve never had a friend like you before. At first, I was only concerned about what you could do for me, but that changed. You changed my life. I felt…close to you.”
“And I feel close to you.” Eve smiled. “So stop agonizing about it, Catherine.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
Eve’s smile faded. “Are we still talking about Joe?”
“No. Yes. I guess in a way we are.”