me what Sandra had been up to.” He shrugged. “I didn’t find out much. The local police made me jump through hoops to prove I was a detective with ATLPD, then they were brief as hell about any progress they’d made on finding Beth Avery. According to them, zilch. Then I was transferred to the captain, and he started asking me questions about where I’d received information about Beth Avery’s escape from the hospital.”
“‘Escape’?” Eve frowned. “That sounds … odd. It brings to mind padded cells and bars on windows. Sandra said she just wandered off. I got the impression it was very light restraint.”
“The word was ‘escape.’” He paused. “And I got the same word when I talked to Joseph Piltot, the human resources manager at Seahaven Behavioral Health Center. Only there it was accompanied by panic and a denial that there had been any escape from the hospital. He said I’d been misinformed, and I’d be wise not to spread rumors to that effect.”
“I don’t like that,” she said slowly.
“Neither did I. Of course, it could be that the Averys are trying to keep media coverage of a deranged relative to a minimum. If Richard Avery is going to run for president, a family mental-health issue could be awkward. There’s still a stigma out there that’s hard to overcome.”
Her lips tightened. “And if the media started digging, they might unearth the fact that Avery is a pedophile who impregnated a fourteen-year-old girl.”
Joe nodded. “That would be even more awkward.” He kissed her again and got to his feet. “But something that you told me is making me uneasy. I believe I’ll do some digging myself.”
“What?”
“It may be nothing. It’s just that all the years Beth Avery was growing up, the Avery family went to a hell of a lot of trouble keeping her out of view and away from anyone who might ask questions. She even spent most of her life in Europe.”
“So?”
“There’s nothing farther out of view than a mental hospital. Sandra said she was under heavy sedation.”
Eve inhaled sharply. “My God.” She felt sick as she saw where he was going. “They’d have to be monsters.”
“Yes, but we both know there are monsters out there.”
“She had an accident. Brain damage.”
“I’d like to see the accident report, talk to witnesses, and see the X-rays.”
“You’re jumping to conclusions.”
“I didn’t say I was going to do that yet. I’ll just put out feelers to see where I can put my hands on them.” He smiled recklessly. “You know what a suspicious bastard I am.”
Yes, she knew. Joe had been a cop too long to take anything at face value. He was always instinctively searching below the surface, probing, brushing away the lies until he glimpsed the truth. “I hope you’re wrong this time. I can’t imagine who could be that cruel, to condemn a woman for no reason to exist in a living hell like that for all those years.” She shuddered. “She was seventeen, Joe.”
“And everything Sandra was told might be true. I’ll fly out to Santa Barbara and see what I can find out. If it still doesn’t feel right to me, I’ll take the next step.”
“I’m going with you.” She got to her feet. “I’ll go pack.”
He shook his head. “I’m going to have to bulldoze my way on this one. It’s clear no one without police ID and title is going to be allowed at the hospital or the police headquarters. You’d just have to stay in a hotel room and wait.” He brushed her nose with his lips. “Stay here, work on Janelle, and I’ll let you know what’s happening and if there’s any reason for you to come out. It may end up with me asking you to man the phones and the computer to track down the details of how Beth Avery was injured.” He wrinkled his nose. “And stop looking at me like that. I’m not trying to protect you. I’m telling you the truth.”
“She’s not your problem. I’ve no intention of staying here while you do my job. She’s my sister, Joe.” Lord, it felt strange saying that. “I promised Sandra I’d take care of it. There has to be something I can do out there.”
“There may be something if I don’t get what I want. I have an idea that might pan out. But not if you’re going to be seen or identified with me. You’d blow it.” He tossed over his shoulder as he opened the door, “Hell,