Blood Game Read Free Page A

Yes, you told me all that. But you also said I didn’t have to worry because you were in a coma when I touched you in the swamp.”
    “But it just occurred to me that I was still aware of those dead children that were buried on that island even then. That means that the coma wasn’t deep enough. At least, I don’t think it was. I just don’t know.”
    “Shh. You’re upset for nothing, Megan.”
    “Don’t tell me that.” Megan was silent a moment. “Look, I know you probably didn’t believe me when I told you about this weird facilitator stuff. You accept that I can hear echoes of what happened to those murdered children in the place where they were killed because you were there, you saw me going through it. But the other is too bizarre for you. Well, it’s bizarre to me too. But I’m not going to let anyone be hurt by it if I can help it. I touched you. I held your hands. That’s all it takes sometimes. Lord, I don’t want to hurt you, Eve.”
    Jane was coming toward her, pulling her duffel bag, her brows lifted inquiringly.
    “I’m not hurt,” Eve said. “Nothing is going to happen to me, Megan.”
    “I hope not. But if anything strange does happen, don’t be afraid. We’ll work through it together.”
    “I don’t think we’re going to have to work through it. I feel perfectly normal, Megan. Besides, you said the danger period had long passed by the time I left you at the hospital.”
    “But that was before I realized that my emotional response was still active even though I was in that coma. The effect may have been delayed. Tell Jane to stay with you anyway. Just in case. Will you do that for me?”
    “I’m not going to have her holding my hand, Megan. I’ll be fine. If there’s a problem, I promise to call you. Just try to relax.”
    “No way. Dammit, I know this all sounds crazy to you. Hell, it is crazy. But I can’t let go until I know for sure that you’ve not been affected. I’ll check back later.” Megan hung up.
    “What was that all about?” Jane asked. “You sounded very soothing. And why should I have to be holding your hand, Eve?”
    “You shouldn’t, that’s the point.” Eve turned and walked with her toward the exit. “I’m fine.”
    “And why doesn’t Megan Blair think you’re fine? She should know. She’s a doctor, isn’t she?”
    Eve nodded. “ER. But she’s not practicing right now.”
    “Too busy with this voodoo stuff?”
    Voodoo. Yes, that was what Eve had thought when she had first met Megan. She had believed all psychic powers were crap and everyone who claimed to have them charlatans. But she had seen too much in that swamp while they were chasing that killer, Henry Kistle, to discount anything that Megan told her.
    Except that last facilitator revelation. Eve still couldn’t quite accept that possibility as reality. It was too bizarre, as Megan had said.
    “I guess you could call it voodoo. But Megan isn’t . . . I respect her, Jane.”
    “Then I apologize for being flip. Heaven knows, I realize that there’s more out there than we can see or touch. It’s just that someone like Megan Blair is outside my realm of experience. Where’s your car parked?”
    “Short-term lot.” She started across the street. “I brought the Jeep. I was expecting more luggage, or maybe a canvas or two.”
    “No, I left everything in Paris. I’ll go back, or they can send it to me.” Jane’s brow was furrowed. “Why did Megan think I should hold your hand? You told me Kistle was dead. There’s no threat from him, right?”
    “Right.” Jane wasn’t going to let it go, Eve thought. She was in protective mode, or she wouldn’t have flown here from Paris just to be with Eve. “And there’s no threat, period. Megan is just having second thoughts about something.”
    “What?”
    Tell her, but keep it light. “She thinks I may go off my rocker.” Eve made a face. “Or become a voodoo priestess myself.”
    “Not likely.”
    “That’s what I told