Shadow Play by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online

alarm.
    Whoever had killed that deputy wasn’t stupid. The threat had been there, and it was aimed at her. There might not have been anyone out there in the woods tonight, but there might be tomorrow. Or any other night while she was working on Jenny.
    That was the key. Jenny. As she’d told Nalchek, once she was done with the reconstruction, the threat was gone.
    So do her job and let Nalchek do his.
    As quickly and efficiently as possible.
    She tightened the belt of her robe and went to get a cup of coffee.
    â€œYou didn’t win, Jenny.” She took her coffee over to the worktable. “But I’m going to work very hard, and you’d better help me. I’ve got to find out what you look like.” She sipped her coffee and looked down at the skull. “You’ve already caused a good deal of trouble and hurt. Let’s get this done.”
    No answer.
    But … sorrow. Overwhelming sorrow.
    Eve closed her eyes. “Okay, I guess I forgot for a moment that you’re the victim here. You’re so strong, little girl, that it’s easy to forget. I got upset when I thought you were trying to control me. It brought back memories of that time I told you about when I had to fight off that monster whose skull I was working on.”
    Pain.
    â€œ Am I … a monster? ”
    She seemed to be constantly hurting this child, Eve thought in frustration. But at least Jenny was talking to her again.
    â€œNo,” Eve said quickly. “I didn’t say that. I just said it reminded me of— I was very defensive during that time.” She grimaced. “And evidently I still have lingering aftereffects that make me—” She stopped and then said, “And I’m finding it awkward talking to you. I don’t know whether I’m speaking to this skull or if you’re a spirit floating around somewhere.”
    â€œ I don’t really feel any connection to that skull. But I’m not floating around, either. I’m … just here. ”
    â€œBut you didn’t contact me until I took that skull out of the box.”
    â€œ But I knew I was coming … to someone who was important. I knew that you were waiting for me. ” She paused. “ And I was waiting for you. ”
    â€œBecause you knew that I could help that sheriff find out who you are?”
    â€œ I guess that was why. It’s all coming back to me in bits and pieces. I only know what I have to do. But I … don’t really know what your part is going to be. ”
    â€œThat’s not very helpful. And what do you have to do, Jenny?”
    She didn’t answer.
    â€œOkay. I may not need to know your motives. You told me your name was Jenny. What’s your last name?”
    â€œ I don’t remember. Only … Jenny. ”
    â€œBut you remember that you want to know more. That it’s important to you that I finish this reconstruction.”
    â€œ Yes. I have to know. I have to stop him. Because it’s going to go on. When the sheriff pulled me out of that grave, I could feel him watching me. ”
    â€œHim? Who?”
    â€œ I don’t know. I just know … he was watching. And he was angry. ”
    â€œThe man who killed you?”
    Silence.
    â€œSurely you remember that, Jenny.”
    â€œ I don’t, ” she whispered. “ I’m sorry, Eve. It’s all a blur until I came to you. I think it’s supposed to come to me slowly. I remember being angry and telling myself that I mustn’t show him I was afraid. He likes me to be afraid. I remember thinking that it had been a long time, and maybe I wasn’t ready. ”
    â€œReady for what?”
    â€œ What was coming. But nothing good can come until it’s finished. ”
    â€œDouble talk. Until what’s finished?”
    Silence.
    â€œOkay, I’m being impatient. Let’s go through this slowly and logically. I’ll ask you