Eve - Iris Johansen [132]
“No, I told you that he as much as confessed to killing Bonnie.” She looked down into her cup. “A fit of madness, Black called it. I don’t think John even remembered it.” Then the rage returned, sweeping reason aside. “But how could he not remember? It was Bonnie.” She fought to control herself. She was on the edge of spiraling into an emotional tailspin about Joe, and she didn’t need thoughts of Gallo to push her over. “I didn’t want to believe it. Isn’t that stupid?” she said unevenly. “Yet there have been so many times that I realized he wasn’t— For God’s sake, he even told me he’d had moments of madness. I just couldn’t connect it with Bonnie. Not after I grew to know him better.”
“And he managed to con you. I can see how he would be able to do that.” Catherine frowned. “But why would Queen bribe Black to take the blame?”
Eve rubbed her eyes, trying to think. It was hard to concentrate on anything but Joe. “Let’s see, Gallo was unstable. If he’d found out that he’d killed his own daughter, he might have broken down and gone ballistic. He knew too much, and Queen had to maintain at least minimal control of him. He didn’t want Gallo thrown into an asylum, where he’d probably spill everything. So he set up Black as the patsy for John to blame and hunt down. It was safe as long as Queen kept Black just out of John’s reach.”
“But then there was a glitch, and Black and Gallo were brought into firing range of each other.” Catherine nodded. “It makes sense.” She glanced at Eve. “And you’re angry as hell.”
“Yes, and I’ll be more angry when I can manage to feel more than token emotions for anything but Joe. I’m pretty much on automatic right now.” She took another sip of coffee. “I felt sorry for him. I think I wanted to help him. He made me feel … I don’t know. Or maybe I can’t explain. It all had to do with Bonnie.”
“But that’s all gone now?”
“I hope it is. I can’t be sure. But it doesn’t matter if it is or not.” Her voice hardened. “The anger is stronger. The sense of outrage is overwhelming. The bitterness … I can’t even tell you about that. I’ll be able to do what I have to do.”
“Forget it. Just focus on Joe. I told you, I’ll find Gallo.” Her lips tightened. “And if he’s as good as Queen said, he may be too much for me to bring him back to you alive. Wouldn’t that be just too bad?”
“Yes, it would. You’ve done enough for me, Catherine. Just find him. That’s all I ask.” Eve finished the coffee. “Caffeine fix accomplished. Are you satisfied?”
“For the time being. Now what else can I do for you?”
Eve smiled crookedly. “You mean besides killing Gallo and laying him on my doorstep? I meant what I said, Catherine.”
“I know you did.” She paused. “And have you forgiven me for bringing Joe with me to Gallo’s property that night?”
“Don’t be idiotic. I knew you couldn’t stop him. If you hadn’t brought him, he’d have found another way.” She added, “And there is something else you can do for me. My daughter, Jane MacGuire, is flying in to Milwaukee in a few hours. Will you pick her up and get her settled? Then bring her here to the hospital.”
“I expected her to be here before this.”
“I didn’t want to tell her about Joe while he was in surgery. She couldn’t do anything, and I wanted to give her good news when I told her. But there wasn’t good news.” Her voice was starting to break, and she had to stop and steady it. “He’s still in that damn ICU, and he won’t wake up.”
“Eve.” Catherine’s hand gently touched her shoulder. “He has a chance.”
“Not a good one. All the doctors think he’s going to die. I can tell. They’re so damn nice to me.”
“Yeah, that’s a pretty good indication.”
“You think I’m being ridiculous.” She sounded that way to herself, too. “Maybe I am. I feel so helpless. They brought in all those specialists, and they can’t do anything. Someone should be able to do something. I even called my friend, Megan, and asked