Read Online Shadow Play by Iris Johansen - Free Book Online

her temple. “But I’m glad that she’ll be out of your head soon.”
    But would she? Eve wondered. Jenny was full of mysteries and contradictions, and Eve was irresistibly drawn to try to solve them. “I suppose I’ll be glad, too.”
    â€œSuppose?”
    â€œJenny is appealing. She … touches me. Do you know, I’ve been wondering if there’s some reason why I can communicate with her. That maybe I was meant to help her.”
    â€œYou are helping her. You did her reconstruction.”
    â€œMaybe I was meant to go a step further.”
    Joe was silent, his arms tightening around her. “I’m not going to argue with you. You’ll do what you think is right.” He added harshly, “But I don’t like it, dammit.”
    â€œI’m not sure I do, either. And I’ll probably send her off to Sheriff Nalchek tomorrow. He can do more than I can to find out who she is. It’s just…” She wearily shook her head. “She’s become too close to me. I feel as if I’m responsible for her.”
    â€œEve.”
    â€œI know. I know.” She suddenly chuckled. “I wish Bonnie would drop in and have a chat with me. I could use a little advice from the other side. Jenny isn’t nearly as integrated there as Bonnie, and she seems to be missing key memories. Maybe Bonnie could help her out.”
    â€œSend your Jenny to Nalchek,” he said firmly.
    She nodded. “You’re right.” She turned in his arms and clasped him tightly. “I can’t be responsible for everyone. I have to pick and choose.” She kissed him. “And I choose you.”
    â€œAnd I humbly thank you.” He raised himself on one elbow and smiled down at her. “Does that choice offer fringe benefits?”
    â€œYou bet it does.” She kissed him, long and deep. She felt the familiar stirring, the hot need that never changed and yet was forever new. She pulled her sleep shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor beside the bed. “All you have to do is put in a request.” She climbed on top of him. “Or not.”
    He chuckled. “Consider it entered.” His smile faded, and he was suddenly intense. “And then let’s do a little more entering.” His hands were on her breasts. “And I’ll prove you didn’t make a mistake in making that choice.”
    And would Jenny be aware that they were making love, Eve wondered suddenly. It was possible. She was curious. She had liked the warmth.
    â€œEve? Something wrong?”
    And what difference did it make, Eve thought recklessly. There was no shame in the love she and Joe shared. It was beautiful, and the warmth that Jenny had noticed lit up both their lives.
    â€œNo, nothing is wrong. Everything is right.” She leaned down and whispered, “I love you, Joe Quinn.”
    *   *   *
    â€œI see what you mean.” Joe was looking at the reconstruction on the worktable when she came out of the bathroom the next morning. “She’s extraordinary. You’re right, unusual. You usually get the resemblance right but she looks … alive. And there’s an amazing joi de vivre.”
    â€œYes.” She went to the cabinet and poured a cup of coffee. “My first thought was how could anyone kill anyone who had that much joy in living. She’s almost … alight.”
    â€œAnd that made you think that maybe you should be doing something more.”
    She nodded. “But Nalchek can do it. I’ve done my part.”
    â€œShe goes off today?”
    â€œThis afternoon. I’ll do the photographs and the computer input this morning.” She followed him out to the porch. “Then I’ll call Nalchek and FedEx.”
    â€œGood.” He gave her a quick kiss, then glanced over his shoulder as he started down the porch steps. “And keep the door locked until you get that FedEx