Reunion in Death

Mira reached out, closed her hand over Eve's briefly. She knew they couldn't speak of Eve's childhood with Dennis in the room. «My opinion is, and I would have to test her personally to be certain, that the sexual relationship was consensual. To Julianna, sex is a weapon. Man is the enemy. It's unlikely she enjoys the sexual experience. It's a job, a means to an end. And the man's enjoyment of it, of her body, a matter of both pride and disgust.»

«Why didn't she turn to women, sexually?»

«She has more respect for them, as a species. And again, sex isn't an interest. She doesn't look for pleasure there. Her pleasure comes from causing pain, humiliation, from conquering and gathering the spoils.»

«If I may.» Dennis spread his hands, catching Eve's attention. He'd been so quiet and still, she'd all but forgotten him. «Men aren't opponents,» he said. «They're victims. She needs victims in order to thrive.»

«She sets out to attract them,» Eve agreed. «The way you would some sort of prey. She becomes what attracts them, sliding into a personality like you might a new suit. An older man, one who has grown tired or dissatisfied or just bored with his wife, his family, his sex life is the perfect target. More easily attracted to beauty, more easily duped.»

«A man of a certain age is bound to be flattered by the romantic attentions of a younger and beautiful woman. Each gender has its weak points.»

«She practiced on her stepfather. She did the seducing there,» Eve stated. «Sharpening her skills. He didn't testify at her trial. Prosecution couldn't take the chance of calling him, letting the jury see him. But the defense should have trotted him out. Look here, this man forced himself on this poor, innocent young girl. She was helpless, trapped. He was her father, she should have been safe with him. Instead he took her innocence, left her damaged. If anyone's responsible for the deaths, he is.»

«She couldn't afford to let them call him in, under oath,» Mira said. «And there she'd have dug in her heels. You'll want to talk to him yourself.»

«He's in Texas. In Dallas.»

«Yes, I know.» Mira eyes spoke a million words. «I saw the data. Can you go?»

Not will you, Eve thought. Can you. «I don't know. I don't know,» she repeated.

Mira reached out, touched her husband's hand. «Dennis» was all she said, and he unfolded the gangly length of him and got to his feet.

«If you ladies will excuse me, I've got something or other to do. You were right about her, Charlie.» He leaned over to touch his lips to the top of Mira's head, then stroked a long, narrow hand over the sweep of her glossy brown hair. «But then, you always are. Nice seeing you, Eve. Don't be a stranger.»

«You didn't have to send him away,» Eve said when he wandered out of the room. «This isn't about me.»

«Look at me. Look at me, Eve.» Mira set down her glass, gripped one of Eve's hands in both of hers. «If you're not ready to go back to Dallas, send for him. Have him come here.»

«I've got no cause and no authority to bring Jake Parker to New York.»

«Then do the interview via 'link or holographies.»

«You know it has to be done face-to-face if I'm going to push him to tell me what happened, how it happened, what she did, who she was. He's not going to want to go there. There's also a possibility from data I gathered today that he may be a target. I have to go, and I don't know if I can handle it.»

«I'll go with you.»

For a moment Eve could only stare, and as she stared her vision blurred. She had to stand up, turn away. «Jesus.»

«I can help you, Eve. I want to. For a long time you wouldn't let me get close; you resented me. But that's changed.»

«I didn't resent you. You scared the shit out of me. People who scare me piss me off.»

«I'm glad I don't scare you anymore.»

«Sometimes you do.» She swiped the back of her hand under her nose, then turned back. «I'm not ready, or not willing to take all that was into what's now. It comes in pieces, and the pieces are getting bigger. I don't know what's going to happen to me when the picture's all there. But when I'm ready, I'll come to you. Okay?»

«Yes.»

«Anyway.» She had to take a couple of steadying breaths. «Like I said, this isn't about me. Feeney and I went to Dockport today.»

She sat again, filled Mira in on the rest of the details.

«You think she may target Roarke. I wish I could tell you your instincts are wrong.»

A fist jammed in Eve's throat, another clenched in her gut. «Why would she? He doesn't fit her target profile.»