Iris Johansen - Chasing the Night

For my wonderful Tamara, who juggles golden balls and carries heavy burdens with equal grace and style

Broken bones.

Eve Duncan shuddered as she looked down at the pitiful remains of the little girls skull that shed carefully spread on the special tarp on her desk.

The childs skull was shattered, and the cheekbones and nasal and orbital bones were only unidentifiable splinters. The Detroit Police Department thought that the child had been beaten to death with a hammer. How the hell was she going to put that little girls face together again?

Youre angry.

Eve glanced at Joe Quinn sitting on the couch across the room. Youre damn right I am. She reached out and gently touched one of the little girls remaining facial bones still left intact. Whoever killed this child had to be insane. Who would think it necessary to do thisthis monstrosity? She couldnt have been more than eight years old.

And after hundreds of these reconstructions, it still makes you furious. His lips tightened. Me, too. Youd think wed get used to it. But that never happens, does it?

Yes, Joe might be a tough, experienced police detective, but he could be as emotional as Eve when the victims were helpless children. Sometimes I can block it. But this savageryA hammer, Joe. He used a hammer

Son of a bitch. Joe got up and moved across the room to stand behind her. Have you given her a name yet?

Eve always gave her reconstructions names while she worked on them. It made her feel a connection while she strove desperately to give a name and identity to those poor, murdered children who had been thrown away. She shook her head. Not yet. I just got the skull by FedEx this afternoon. Detroit forensics warned me to expect this, but it still came as a shock.

It looks like a lost cause. Joe was gazing down at the splintered bones. Its going to be a nightmare putting her back together. How do you know youve got all the pieces?

I dont. But theres a good chance. Forensics thinks that she was already completely wrapped in the yellow plastic raincoat in which he buried her when her murderer started this carnage. Maybe he just wanted to make sure that she was dead or that no one would ever recognize her.

This one is going to tear you up. Joe reached out and began to massage her neck. Youre already tense, and you havent even started.

Ive started. She closed her eyes as his thumbs dug gently into exactly the right spot on the center of her neck. After all of these years of living together, he knew every muscle, every pleasure point of her body. He was right, she was tense. She would take this brief moment before she began to work. Joes touch, Joes support. It was a soothing song that helped to drown out the ugliness of the world. Once she actually began the reconstruction, there would be only her and this child, who had lost her life over ten years ago. They would be bound together in darkness until Eve could finish working and shine a light that would bring the little girl home. And she would bring her home. Shed give her back her face, then let the media publish a photo and surely someone would recognize her. I started the moment I saw what that bastard had done to her.

You havent given her a name yet, Joe said. Tell Detroit to give her to Josephson to do the reconstruction. You may be the best, but youre not the only forensic sculptor in the country. Youve got a backlog of requests that will keep you slaving for the next six months. You dont need this kind of pressure.

She didnt need for some creep to do this to her. She opened her eyes and gazed down at the broken skull. Shes my job, Joe. She thought for a moment. And her name is Cindy. She straightened in her chair. Now let me get to work.

Dammit. He stepped back, and his hands dropped away from her. I knew it was a long shot, but I thought Id give it a try. Youve been working yourself to exhaustion for the last few months. He wheeled and went back to the couch. Go ahead. Break your heart trying to put that kid back together again. Why should I care?

I dont know, Joe. She smiled. But I thank God you do. She looked down at the bone splinters that might belong to the nasal cavityor might not. And Cindy will forgive you for trying to push her off on Josephson.

Im relieved, he said dryly. But Ill take my chances on being in her bad graces. After all, shes been dead ten years. At the moment, youre the only one I care about. I dont want

Eves cell phone rang.

She glanced at the ID.

She tensed.

Who is it? Joe asked.

Venable.

He frowned. Not good.

That was Eves reaction. They had dealt with Venable and the CIA on several occasions, and it usually ended with her being pulled away from her work and into deep trouble. Not this time.

She punched the button on her cell. What do you want, Venable?

Why are you on the defensive? Venable asked. Maybe I only want to check in and see if youre okay. You were in a hospital in Damascus recovering from a gunshot wound the last time I saw you.

That was six months ago, and Im sure that you know Im fully recovered. You make it your business to know everything.

Im not the NSA. Im only interested in specific subjectsand people. I feel a certain attachment for you and Joe.

What do you want, Venable?

He hesitated. A favor.

What kind of favor?

Nothing thats dangerous or out of your realm of expertise. Id like you to do a computer age progression.

No.

It wouldnt take you that long, and Id appreciate it.

Im swamped, and even if I werent, you know I wont work for the CIA. Get one of your own experts to do the job. You have qualified people. Some of them are far more experienced than I am with computer age progression. I dont even know why youre bothering to ask me.

Because I have to ask you, dammit, he said sourly. It has to be you.

Why?

Because like everything else in my life, its a question of bargaining and balancing. I need you to do this, Eve.

Then youre going to be disappointed. I just started a new reconstruction, and I wont drop it for one of your twisted little jobs. Im not going to help you identify someone so that you can track him down. Im never sure whether the prey youre stalking is a saint or a slimeball. Or if hes a saint, that youre not using him in ways that Id never go along with. Youre capable of manipulating anyone to shape a deal.

Yes, I am, he said wearily. And some of those deals keep you and your friends from being blown to kingdom come by the bad guys. Someone has to stand guard, and I do a damn good job of it. Dirty sometimes, but effective.

She supposed he did, but she didnt want to be involved in that morass even on a purely scientific level. Let your own agents do it, Venable.

What can I offer you to do the job?

Nothing that I cant refuse, she said softly but emphatically. Take no for an answer. Its all youre going to get from me.

Ill try, but I may have to come back. Youre a prime bargaining chip in this one, Eve.

Listen, youre beginning to annoy me. Im not a chip, and Im not a chess piece for you to manipulate.

We can all be manipulated. It depends on the determination factor. He paused. Youd be safer if Im the one who does it. Im trying to avoid throwing you to the wolf.

Are you threatening me?

She put up her hand as she saw Joe straighten at her words.

I wouldnt be that stupid. Im just trying to keep you from making a mistake. Ive always liked you.

He probably believed he was telling the truth, but it wouldnt keep him from using her. She was tired of arguing with him. Im hanging up now, Venable.