Free Quinn by Iris Johansen Page A

you. After you go to sleep, I’ll turn on that little stained-glass lamp by the door. If you show any signs of distress, I’ll wake you.”
    “You’ll keep them away?”
    “I’ll guard you through the night.”
    “I shouldn’t be this weak. I hate it. I should be able to handle … I hate it.”
    “I know you do. But it’s my turn now. When I’m walking my fine line someday, I’ll expect you to guard me from the night monsters.”
    “I’ll do it. I promise…”
    She was still, but Joe didn’t hear her breathing even and steady for another five minutes. Then he got to his feet and turned on the stained-glass lamp. He tucked a worn red cotton throw over Eve before he went back to his chair across the room.
    He leaned back and watched the play of the soft, colored light on her face. Her cheekbones were more prominent than he had noticed before. She had lost weight in the short time since he had first met her. She couldn’t afford to lose it. He had to get her to eat more, dammit.
    Eat and sleep so that she could survive.
    So that he could survive.
    *   *   *
    HE DIDN’T HAVE TO WAKE Eve until almost three hours later.
    She jerked upright when he put his hand on her shoulder. “No!”
    “It’s okay,” Joe said. “You were starting to breathe hard. I figured that you were being ambushed.”
    “I was.” She pushed the hair back from her forehead. “But you showed up with the cavalry just in time.” She swung her feet to the floor. “I need to get a glass of water and wash my face.” She glanced at the clock. “I assume I’m being permitted to get back to work?”
    “For a little while.” He headed for the kitchen. “I’ll put on a fresh pot of coffee while you—”
    Eve’s phone rang, and she picked up the receiver on the chest by the door and answered it. “Just a minute.” She frowned as she handed the receiver to Joe. “Detective Slindak. He said you told him you’d be here.”
    He nodded. “I had to give him a contact number. I was planning on calling him anyway.” He spoke into the phone, “Quinn.”
    “I tried to get you at your hotel first,” Slindak said sourly. “You must be burning the midnight oil.”
    “You might say that. Problems, Slindak?”
    “Big-time. Some hunters found a child’s remains in a cave in Gwinnett County.”
    “Girl or boy?”
    He could see Eve tense.
    “Girl. There wasn’t much left of the kid, but the scraps of clothing that remained coincided with the description of what Janey Bristol was wearing when she disappeared. I’m heading out to the crime scene. I thought you’d want to go, too.”
    “I’ll meet you there.” He pulled out his notebook and pen. “Give me the directions.” He scrawled rapidly. “Is forensics already there?”
    “Yes. And the officers who were called secured the area as best they could. There were three hunters who made the discovery, and they ducked into the cave to shelter from the rain. It’s still raining cats and dogs up there. They pretty well messed up the crime scene.”
    “Great,” Joe said sarcastically. “Not that it would probably have done much good anyway. The kid has to have been subjected to animal and environmental exposure for all these months. But there might have been something. I’m on my way.” He hung up.
    “Who?” Eve asked.
    “Not Bonnie. We can’t be sure. The body is in poor condition, but the clothing would point toward Janey Bristol.”
    Eve crossed her arms across her chest as if to keep them from shaking. “Six years old…”
    He turned toward the door. “I’ll call you when I know more.”
    “I’m going with you.”
    He had been half-expecting it. “This is going way beyond just looking at records, Eve.”
    “Yes, it’s looking at the remains of that poor kid. It makes me sick to think of it. But I have to be there.” Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “I know nonprofessionals aren’t welcome at crime scenes. But you’ve stuck your neck out for