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it, there’s no way I’ll be able to talk you out of it. But I’m not going to fade into the background as I’d planned.”
    “I’m sure that would have been a first.”
    “I can be unobtrusive.” He grinned. “It’s just not so much fun.” He moved toward the door. “But I’m going with you to the church every day. And I’m your official food taster. I stay with you night and day. Agreed?”
    “This may all be for nothing.”
    “But you feel safer, don’t you? How could you not with me on the job?”
    Eve made a rude sound.
    “That was indelicate.” He glanced at her over his shoulder. “You’re sure I shouldn’t tell Quinn about this?”
    “I’m sure.”
    He gave a mock shiver at her tone. “Just checking. The situation between you two seems to be taking on some heat.”
    She stared at him challengingly. “What’s the matter? Can’t you handle it, Galen?”
    “That was a low blow. You’re a tough lady. I heard you grew up on the streets. I can believe it.”
    “Takes one to know one. I’m sure Atlanta is no tougher than Liverpool.”
    “No, it isn’t.” Galen nodded. “Okay. No Quinn.”
    She watched the door swing shut behind him.
    No Quinn.
    The words echoed in her mind. Joe Quinn had been a part of her life for so long, the idea of his not being there was practically incomprehensible. It would take time to understand what it meant.
    Could she become accustomed to Joe not being in her life? Eve wasn’t sure whether it would hurt more to cut the ties between them or to live with what he had done. She didn’t know and she didn’t want to think about it right now. She didn’t want to think of anything but the work she had come here to do. She would do the reconstruction, and then perhaps send for Jane and go to New Orleans for a while. She should see something besides her little corner of the world. She didn’t have to go home.
    And the idea of Marie Letaux making an attempt on her life was as bizarre as the ugly picture Galen had drawn of the way Marie might have died. No one could be that cold-blooded.
    Yes, they could. Bonnie’s killer had been that kind of monster, and she had known other murderers equally terrible. She just didn’t want that kind of horror to touch her now when she was trying to work through a horror of her own. She didn’t want it to be true.
    Maybe it wasn’t. Galen’s experience had made him suspect everyone and everything. Well, let him be suspicious. Let him protect her. It wouldn’t hurt.
    Not if it would allow her the freedom of mind to get her work done.
    “I know you didn’t want any interference, Jules,” Melton said. “I attempted to get her to dismiss him, but she’s being very stubborn about it. I wanted you to know that I’m not letting the matter lie. I’m going to call a few people and see what kind of pressure they can put on him to nudge him out of the situation.”
    “Leave him alone,” Hebert said. “He’s not going to be a problem for us.”
    There was a silence on the other end of the line. “Perhaps I should send you a dossier on him?”
    “I already have one.”
    “And you don’t think he could be troublesome?”
    “I believe he’ll be more troublesome if we try to get rid of him. I want her mind at rest when she’s working on the skull. Galen’s presence will assure that she feels entirely safe and secure.”
    “Yes, that’s important.” Melton was silent a moment. “I was uneasy when I heard about the food poisoning. It was an accident?”
    “Of course it was.” It was a half-truth. It was an accident that Eve Duncan had not died.
    “I’ve just been told that Marie Letaux was found dead of food poisoning a few hours ago.”
    “Then that should prove it was an accident to you.”
    “Should it? What about those deaths last month? They were supposed to be accidents, too.”
    “And probably were.” Hebert added mockingly, “You’re getting paranoid. Have you started looking over your shoulder lately,