Chasing the Night - Iris Johansen [65]
“No.”
“Then will you stay here with Natalie and work on the file? That’s what you promised to do, and you can’t do it trailing after us through a swamp.”
Kelly shook her head.
“Use your head.” Catherine took her shoulders and gently shook her. “This is the only way you’re valuable to me. Now stay and do your job.”
“I don’t know what will happen to you in that swamp.”
“Neither do I. But I have a better chance of surviving if I don’t have to worry about taking care of you. You can see that.”
“Yes.” She was frowning. “But I don’t want to see it.” She looked at Eve. “What’s going to happen in that marsh?”
“We’re going to try to find that grave and dig up the skeleton again,” Eve said.
“Won’t Rakovac have left someone to watch the grave?”
“More than likely. We’ll have to take action to avoid them.”
Kelly’s gaze went to Joe. “I can’t see him avoiding anyone.”
Joe smiled. “You think I’m confrontational?”
“You climbed out a window and went hunting the night I came to your house.”
“I was defending my turf.”
“You looked like you were enjoying yourself.” She glanced back at Eve. “What happens next?”
“After we find the skeleton, I do a quick examination to see if there’s even a possibility that it might be Luke.”
“And if there is?”
She hesitated and glanced at Catherine. “I take the skull.”
Catherine inhaled sharply. She had known that would be the procedure. There was no way they could remove the entire skeleton. But the thought of wrenching the head off any skeleton that might be Luke’s was painful. She steadied her voice. “Of course she does. It’s the only way to handle it. She’ll have to bring the skull back here and do the reconstruction.”
“And I can’t help you do that?” Kelly looked at Eve. “Is she right?”
Eve nodded. “You don’t need me to tell you that.”
“I guess I don’t.” Her glance shifted back to Catherine. “Okay, I’ll stay here and work.” She added fiercely, “But you come back. Don’t let anything happen to you.” She looked at Natalie. “I guess you’re stuck with me. I’ll try not to be any trouble.”
Natalie nodded but turned back to Kelsov. “Is that what you want?”
Kelsov was already moving toward the door. “Take care of her. Answer any questions she asks.” He glanced back over his shoulder at Kelly. “You say you might need to contact people who have known Rakovac for a long time. That’s me, and that’s Natalie. I’m not going to be around and Natalie is going to find it difficult to answer any questions. You’ll just have to make do.” He looked at Catherine. “I’ll put gas in the car. You, Eve, and Quinn get ready to move out in the next forty minutes.”
“I’ll be ready.” Catherine got to her feet. She brushed a light kiss on the top of Kelly’s head. “I think you’ll be safe here. Kelsov assures me that you will be. But if you or Natalie gets spooked for any reason, grab that gun Natalie was brandishing around, take off and call me. Do you understand?”
Kelly nodded. “Yes, can I help you get ready?”
“No, just hang out and keep out of the way until we leave, then take a shower and get a nap. You probably didn’t get any sleep on the way here.”
Kelly smiled. “I was too nervous. I don’t like you to be angry with me, and I knew you would be.”
“But it didn’t stop you.”
Her smile faded. “You need me. And Venable says he needs me. That’s reason enough to bring me here. Maybe I’ll be able to prove to myself that I’m worth something after all.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. You’re worth more than practically anyone I’ve ever run across.” She turned away. “Just keep yourself safe.”
“No problem. I’m stuck here in this house with my computer. My big threat is going to be a bad headache or eyestrain.” She leaned back in the chair. “I’ll try to have something for you when you come back. But I hope you come back so soon that I won’t have time to get anything together.”
An hour later, Kelly and Natalie stood outside the house and watched