Page 69 of Deeper Than the Dead

Eve wiped her sticky fingers on a napkin. “I don’t know. Maybe that during my alcohol binging blackouts, maybe I killed people and put them in that cave.”

Vera made a face. “What the hell, Eve? Don’t say things like that. Don’t even think along those lines.” Jesus! Had she lost her mind? “Besides, the women were put there when we were just little kids.”

Eve shrugged. “So maybe I did the guy. I could be a blackout killer.”

Vera so regretted opening that Pandora’s box. “Okay. To put your mind at ease, let’s talk about that possibility then.” She reached for her coffee. “Have you ever woken up with scratches or bruises you couldn’t remember getting? Maybe with your clothes or shoes soiled or your car left someplace you don’t remember going?”

Eve considered her questions, then laughed: a dry sound. “Actually, yes to all of the above.”

A groan welled in Vera’s throat. “Was this something that happened often?”

Eve made a face as she considered the question. “Remember, when I drink, I don’t have just a couple of beers or cocktails. I go all out. I drink myself to the verge of alcohol poisoning. I rarely remember anything.”

Vera decided she’d lost her appetite. Somehow knowing this was a possibility and hearing Eve say it out loud were different. “All right then. How about anyone who saw you out, and you didn’t remember seeing them? Have you ever had anyone insist they saw you somewhere you don’t recall going?”

“Only like a gazillion times.” Eve finished off her cinnamon roll. “I never had anyone tell me I got into a fight or left with some stranger. Maybe that’s a plus.”

Definitely a plus. “Have you ever found any items in your car or in your room that didn’t belong to you, and you didn’t recall how you came to be in possession of them?”

She moved her head side to side. “Not that I can remember.”

“Has Suri ever mentioned you saying things in your sleep or any other odd behavior?”

Another shake of her head. “Never. She says I sleep like a rock.”

Vera slid off her stool and walked around to her sister. She put her arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “I’m sorry I made you feel you had to question yourself this way.”

“No biggie.” Eve searched her face. “Will the FBI be wanting to talk to us?”

Her sister looked worried now. Vera wished she could make her understand this was just a step in the process. “They will. But you don’t talk to anyone without me present. Understood?”

Eve nodded.

“I’ll make sure Luna knows to do the same.” Vera was well aware how conversations could be manipulated in an effort to prompt the desired response. She was an expert at exactly that sort of interrogation. Funny how different it looked when you were on the receiving side of the manipulation.

Her cell vibrated, and she tugged it from her jeans. Text message. Eric. She smiled. The content of the message pulled her smile into a frown. “The cell phone that sent us the text messages,” she said to Eve, “was a burner.”

“Like in the TV cop shows? Untraceable?”

“Pretty much.” A second text told her he’d be in touch about her other request soon. She sent a thank-you with multiple exclamation points, then slid her cell back into her pocket. “There’s no way to determine if our messenger is a legitimate threat or just some asshole playing games. Our best course of action is to play it safe—assume he’s a real threat. Which means”—she looked directly into Eve’s eyes as she spoke—“we should be careful and always watchful.”

Eve grinned. “I love you so much. I’ve always wanted to be you.”

Vera laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. Then who would be the amazing Eve?”

Vera’s cell vibrated again, with an incoming call this time. She dug it out once more. “Bent.” She looked to Eve. “If he tells me we have another set of remains, I might just scream.”

“How the hell many more could be in there? It’s not that big.”

The fact that Eve didn’t mention the deeper cavern provided Vera with a measure of relief. She should never have allowed her imagination to run away with her. Her sister couldn’t have known the others were there.

“Hey, Bent. What’s up? I was just about to head to your place.”

Eve shot her a look that said “told you so.” Vera rolled her eyes.

“Meet me downtown, Vee. We have a problem.”

Vera swallowed to dampen her suddenly dry throat. “I’m coming now.”

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