16 Taking Eve by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online Page A

all. I admire animals, I find them interesting, but I guess I may be too close to being an animal myself to accept a relationship like that.” He smiled. “I still have moments of savagery if you’ll recall.”
    She did recall. Their history together had been filled with isolated incidents that had sometimes frightened her. She had a sudden memory of his throwing the body of a man who had been attacking them down at her feet. His eyes had been as wild as the primitive action itself. She considered herself civilized, but those moments of fear of him had not lasted long. Was that due to his cleverness and magnetism, which made those moments fade so quickly? Or was it that he was a constant puzzle that her curiosity was trying to force her to solve?
    His lips turned up at the corners as he read her expression. “Oh, yes, you remember. We’re nothing alike, but, then, we don’t have to be. It tends to make our relationship more interesting.” His gaze went to the examination room. “And my heart may not be as soft as yours, but I don’t like the helpless being targeted. Your Toby was no threat to anyone. Why would anyone want to poison your dog?”
    “I still can’t believe anyone would.” She paused. “But Devon Brady did take a look at the skin beneath the hair on his neck while they were setting up the IV. There was a tiny place that could have been from a shot.” She frowned. “And I was trying to think how it could even have happened. Toby is always with me when I’m home at the apartment. When I have to be gone for a day, I check him into Nedra Carlisle’s Dog Day Care. He likes being with other dogs. They have slides and pools and trainers to play with the dogs.”
    His brows rose. “Day care?”
    She gave him a cool glance. “Don’t go there.”
    “I’m not. It’s just a new concept for me. When was the last time he was at this day care?”
    “A week ago.”
    “And Toby became ill?”
    “Five days ago.”
    “Slow-acting poison. It could have been given at this day care.”
    “Nedra and her people are totally trustworthy, or I wouldn’t have sent Toby there.”
    “But what about the other owners who bring their dogs there? What do you know about them?”
    Nothing. But it hadn’t seemed necessary that she know anything except about the people who ran the place. She supposed it would have been easy for one of the clients to go up to Toby and pet him … and then administer the poison. Easy and totally evil.
    “Why?” she whispered.
    “Revenge? Have you antagonized anyone lately who might want to get back at you?”
    She shook her head. “I’m an artist. And you know I keep pretty much to myself.”
    “Yes, but that doesn’t stop trouble from swirling around you, does it?” He was silent, thinking. “How long has it been since you’ve seen Eve and Joe?”
    “Several months.” She frowned. “You’re suggesting someone poisoned Toby because they want to hurt Eve or Joe?” She shook her head. “That’s really reaching.”
    “Probably. I’m just trying to put together a logical scenario.”
    “It doesn’t have to be logical. It could be some sicko.”
    “Who used a very sophisticated poison and waited until you put the dog in that fancy day care to do it. Which means that he knew your schedule.”
    “Then why not target me and not my Toby?”
    “I don’t know. Let me think about it.” He smiled. “It will give me something to do while you’re busy saving your Toby.”
    “I’m not saving him. Devon Brady is saving him, that dog-whisperer person is saving him. I’m just standing by in case I’m needed.” She rubbed her temple. “I wish I could be the one to be able to help him. I feel helpless.”
    “Have you called Eve yet?”
    “No, I don’t want to call until I have something positive to tell her.”
    “So she’ll think that the fact that you ran the risk of involving me will have been worth it.”
    “No.” She shrugged. “Partly.”
    He was looking around