16 Taking Eve by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online

repeated. “No way. He had toxicology tests in London.”
    “And I gave him a couple when I brought him in,” Devon said.
    “He’s not had any stomach issues,” Jane said. “And I’m supercareful of what he eats.”
    “Poison,” Margaret said again. “By injection in the ruff of his neck. You can probably find evidence if you look for it, Devon. But I wouldn’t take the time. We don’t have much left. I called Jeff, your assistant, and told him to get back out of bed and get here fast. Flush Toby out and give him a general antidote and antibiotic.”
    “You’re sure it’s poison?” Devon asked.
    “Toby’s sure. He remembers.” Her lips tightened grimly. “Whoever did it leaned down, petted him, then gave him the injection.”
    “That’s crazy,” Jane said. “I’d know if—” She stopped. Arguing wasn’t going to do any good. “Even if she’s right, this seems like a radical treatment, Devon.”
    “Not as radical as it sounds.”
    “Is it dangerous?”
    “Everything is dangerous in Toby’s state.” She put her cup down and headed for the exam room. “But doing nothing is the most dangerous of all.”
    “Could it be poison?”
    “A very sophisticated one, nothing simple. Or we would have been able to detect it.”
    “It’s poison,” Margaret said again. “Get that ugly stuff out of him, Devon.” She turned to Jane. “You go with her. If he starts to slip, Toby will want to come back to you.”
    “I’m not even sure I’m going to let—” She met Margaret’s gaze, and the memory of the sight of her with Toby in her arms surged back to her. So much love, so much caring, and that same glow of caring was staring out of the blue eyes gazing steadily into her own. “Is he going to—” She didn’t want to hear the answer. She turned on her heel and started after Devon. “He’s going to live, dammit. And I’m going to believe that somehow you know what you’re talking about. If you’re a phony, and this hurts Toby, I’m going to come after you.” She glanced at Devon as she passed her. “Now tell me what to do to help him. She said we only have four hours.”

CHAPTER
    3
    Lake Cottage
    SOMEONE HAD FOLLOWED HIM, Doane realized, as he gazed down at the tracks.
    The man had stood in the shadows and watched Doane as he’d disposed of the car. Then he had slipped away.
    Did the fool think he hadn’t been aware of him? Kevin had taught him the art of hide-and-seek in the most dangerous game.
    This one probably was one of Venable’s men.
    So what did he do? What action to take. Ignore or pursue?
    The answer came to him immediately.
    Why, do what Kevin would do, of course.
    He moved silently through the woods.
    Summer Island
    THREE HOURS LATER, JANE CAME out of the exam room and sank down on the leather couch.
    “How is it going?” Caleb asked as he handed her a cup of coffee. “Anything I can do?”
    She shook her head. “Nothing anyone can do right now that’s not being done. This process could last for the next six or eight hours.” She rubbed her eyes. “They kicked me out. They said he might need me later, when he rouses, but not now.”
    “Then I’m sure you’ll be there for him. You’ve gone to extraordinary lengths so far.” He studied her. “And they may have kicked you out, but they can’t stop you thinking about him.”
    “How could I not think about him?”
    “By talking, not brooding.” He sat down in the chair across from her. “Talk to me, Jane. You care a great deal for Toby, don’t you?”
    “Yes.” She took a drink of coffee. “You probably don’t understand. Some people love animals, some people tolerate them, and some people don’t know why we go to so much trouble for them.”
    “And you think I’m trailing in the rear.” He grimaced. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
    “Well?”
    He was silent for a long moment. “I’ve never had a pet I loved. Affection isn’t … easy for me. Passion, on the other hand, is no problem at