Eve fished in her pocket and pulled out an off-white keychain fob. “While you were taking stock of the DVDs on that nurse’s desk on the second floor, I unclipped this from a dietician’s lab jacket hanging on a chair back.”
Kendra’s eyes widened. “Damn. I didn’t even see you do that.”
Eve chuckled. “Is that chagrin? I take that as a great compliment. Not much gets past you.” She brandished the fob. “I saw a nurse swipe one of these over a reader at a computer workstation. It gave her access to a patient’s medication list.”
“That I did see,” Kendra said. “But we also need to get back inside the building. Are you going to get Joe to help you?”
She shook her head.
“Somehow I didn’t think so.”
“He’s a detective. Breaking and entering could destroy his career. Beth is my sister. This is my job.”
“I should point out that we could report our suspicions to the local police,” Kendra said. “But then they’d come and wave badges around, and whatever useful records there are in that office will be wiped clean if they haven’t been already. It makes sense for us to go in and get them right away. Okay, you’ve been able to get us access into the computer. Now how do we get into the office?”
“I haven’t gotten that far. Do you have any ideas?”
Kendra was silent for a moment, and Eve could almost see the wheels turning, rapidly processing all the information she had assimilated that afternoon. What must it be like to experience the world as Kendra did?
Kendra finally said, “We’ll walk in through the side gates.”
Eve raised an eyebrow. “Just like that?”
“Two members of the kitchen staff come in at 3:30 A.M.” Before Eve could ask, she added, “The schedule is posted in the office of the food services director that we passed. We’ll be waiting in the trees that line the driveway. When the gate opens for one of their cars, we’ll scramble in under the cover of darkness.”
“That doesn’t get us inside the building.”
“No. But we know that the early-morning kitchen staff takes frequent smoke breaks and is fond of propping the outside door open.”
“Oh, we know that?” Eve asked, deadpan.
“Sorry, I got ahead of myself. The concrete walkway outside of the kitchen entrance is heavily stained by tobacco ash, like no place else in the entire complex. Even if the kitchen workers try flicking their ashes over the railing, the offshore breeze no doubt blows them right back. Early-morning condensation also causes the ash to stick and stain more easily than it would later in the day, when it would tend to blow around even more. And there’s a wood-wedge doorstop on the walkway, meaning that they probably prop the door open to take advantage of those cool, morning sea breezes.”
Eve nodded. “So we wait around the corner and slip in through the open door while they’re standing outside smoking?”
“At least while one of them is out there. Even if the other employee is inside working, we don’t have to cross through the kitchen to get to the food services office.”
“Food services? We need to get to personnel.”
“Not necessarily. Food service has a computer. If you have someone skilled enough at accessing the info, they might be able to get what we need if the system is linked.”
“But won’t that office be locked?”
“Doubtful. It looked like it doubles as a kitchen storage area for cleaning and paper products. The staff needs ready access. Once we make our way there, there’s a computer that we can use to try to access your sister’s file.”
Eve held up the fob and shook her head. “This will get me into the system, but it might not give me the kind of deep access I’m looking for, into her confidential patient records, psychiatrist’s session notes, that kind of stuff.”
“You’re probably right.” Kendra thought for a moment. “But I think I know someone who can help us. I was mulling possibilities over while we were touring the hospital.” She took out her phone and accessed the directory. “I tried to squeeze a moment to make a call earlier in the afternoon, but Piltot was sticking to us like glue. I’ll be lucky to get hold of Sam now.”
“And who is this Sam you’re going to call?” Eve asked.
“Our way into those computer files. I was also considering using him to get us back into the hospital, but I believe we’ve got that covered.” She made a face. “Voice mail. Sam, this is Kendra Michaels. I’m in Santa Barbara, and I need your help tonight. Pack up your tools and head my way. If I don’t hear from you in two hours, I’ll try to find someone else.” She hung up. “We might as well grab something to eat while we wait and see if I can use Sam. I have a couple other prospects, but they’re second-best.”
“And this Sam is tops on your list?”
“He’s tops on everyone’s list. Just ask him.”
“It would be difficult since I don’t even know his last name,” she said dryly as she drove out of the parking lot. “How would he be able to get us into the hospital? Is he some kind of thief?”
“Don’t be crude. Sam Zackoff is an expert at entry and exit.”
“A cat burglar?”
“Closer. I’ve never seen a lock or security system he couldn’t get around. But he doesn’t do it for a living any longer. That was during his misspent twenties. He’s the shining sun of Silicon Valley.”
“Computers?”
“He’s a genius.” She shrugged. “And a nerd. He’s involved with defense against cyberwarfare now. It suits him just fine. He gets to invent ways to get beyond all the firewalls, then close them up so no one else can.” She grimaced. “My only problem is that he’s so valuable to the Pentagon that they have him guarded night and day. We don’t want him followed here.”
“Wait a minute,” Eve said. “You think he’d leave a job like that to break into the hospital and tap sensitive records for you? Not likely.”
“Not for me. For himself. Sam gets bored occasionally and has to step beyond that gold-lined fence they try to keep around him.”
“And risk landing in jail?”
“It’s only a slight risk. Unless he burgled the White House, his bosses would find a way to get him off. He’ll be a lot safer than we are.”
“That’s comforting.”
“We don’t have to do this, Eve.”
An almost invisible deadly streak on the wall.
“Yes, we do. There have to be answers in those files in the office.” She pulled into the parking lot of an Applebee’s restaurant. “I’m just having a few second thoughts about whether I should call Joe and get him out here. I hate leaving him out of this. He’s going to be royally pissed.”
“If you’re wondering, I don’t think you’re going to do it,” Kendra said shrewdly. “As you said, you consider Beth Avery your responsibility, and you wouldn’t want to involve Quinn in something that would possibly be detrimental to his career as a police detective. I agree that his police captain would not consider breaking and entering particularly cool.”
Neither did Eve, and even though Joe had indicated that it might be necessary, he shouldn’t be the one to take the risk. “No, when we were looking for the body of my daughter, I ignored everything but my obsession to find her. I risked Joe then, but I’m not starting back down that trail.” She added soberly, “I should make that same rule apply to you, Kendra.”
“My choice. I’m not a cop, and if I break the rules, I can find a way to talk my way out of it.” Her lips tightened. “And I don’t like the idea of Beth Avery helpless, tied to that bed by those damn pills and just waiting to die. It pisses me off.” She got out of the car. “Come on, let’s grab a burger and a cup of coffee and wait and see if Sam is going to come to our rescue. I want to be—” Her cell phone rang, and she smiled. “Sam.” She answered it. “It’s the personnel office of a mental hospital. We’ll need to copy computer files, possibly break into file drawers, then get out without anyone’s knowing we were there. Yes or no.” She listened. “Wh
at do you mean I’ll owe you? You’ll owe me. I can tell when you’re bored out of your mind. The Chinese haven’t been inventive enough for you lately, have they?” She smiled. “We’re at the Applebee’s restaurant on Sunrise Drive. We’ll be waiting.” She hung up. “Sam’s on his way. He’ll be here in a little over an hour.”
“He sounds … extraordinary. And you must know him very well,” Eve said as she opened the glass doors of the entrance. “How did you meet him?”
“I was playing keyboard in a cheap little club in San Francisco about a year after my operation. Sam would come in after hours and play clarinet with the band.”
“He’s a musician, too?”
“Not a very good one. But you don’t have to be good, you just have to love it. He loved it. But I couldn’t stand him to be quite that bad, so I gave him a few lessons. We got to know each other pretty well.”
“How well?”
She smiled. “Now that’s another tale.” She smiled at the hostess who was approaching. “Two for dinner, and we’ll have someone joining us later.”
* * *
SAM ZACKOFF ARRIVED AT THE RESTAURANT fifty-five minutes later.
“There he is.” Kendra waved at the man in jeans, a black T-shirt on which something was written in bold white letters, and black-and-white tennis shoes who had just strolled into the restaurant. “He made good time. Too good. All we’d need was for him to be stopped by a traffic cop when we’re trying to be low-profile.”
“He doesn’t look like he’d care,” Eve murmured.
Zackoff was probably in his middle thirties, but he appeared younger. A little above middle height and very muscular, his hair was dark, curly, and cut close to his head. Blue eyes lit a square face that was more interesting than handsome. He swaggered with confidence as if he owned the restaurant. No, Eve corrected her impression, as if he owned the universe. “Interesting. But can you control him?”
“For short periods of time.” She got up from the booth as he reached them. “Hi, Sam.” She gave him a quick, hard kiss and pushed him down in the booth. “This is Eve Duncan. Sam Zackoff. Sam and I are old friends.”
“Delighted.” Sam didn’t take his gaze off Kendra. “I’ve missed you. Why do you only call me when you need me?” He added mockingly, “I feel so used.”
“Stop it. We’ve discussed this before, and I don’t want Eve to feel awkward.” She gazed directly into his eyes. “You can’t take too much of me. I scare the hell out of you. You can’t figure me out, and it drives you crazy.”
He smiled crookedly. “You’re right, you drive me crazy. You always have, and you always will.” He turned to Eve. “Sorry. She’s right, I’m being rude. I have a tendency to go after what I want and toss everything else aside.”
“You’re forgiven.” She found herself smiling as she was finally able to discern the words written on his black T-shirt.
The geek shall inherit the earth.
It appeared she had mentally overestimated him. He was claiming to own only the earth, not the universe.
“Thanks.” He gazed at her curiously. “And how do you figure in the game?”
“It’s not a game.” Eve’s smile disappeared. “I have a sister who may have been a prisoner and a victim for over a decade in that hospital. I have to know who is responsible and how I can find her.”
“She’s not in the hospital?”
“No, though they’re trying to tell me that she is.”
He glanced at Kendra. “What do you think?”
“I think she escaped, and if they ever catch up with her that she won’t last a day. Here’s the layout of the hospital. I have an idea how we can get in. I don’t think we should try to get in until after three in the morning.” Kendra drew up the layout of the hospital on her phone. “Can you do any prep work to find out what you’ll need to access their computers?”
“I’ve already done most of it on the way down here. I’ve— It will only take a little while longer.” He took his computer out of his bag. “Order me a pot of coffee.” He glanced up at Kendra with sudden mischief. “You should say, ‘Yes, sir.’ Don’t I deserve a little ego stroking? It’s only in a situation like this that you’d ever take orders from me.”
Kendra’s lips turned up at the corners. “Yes, sir.” She lifted her hand to summon the waitress. “Anything else?”
“Just sit there and let me look at you while I’m working.”
She snorted. “As if you’d pay any attention to anything once you’re in the zone.”
“Subliminal.” His gaze was on the computer screen. “You know about things like that…”
“I seem to be de trop.” Eve got to her feet. “I’m going outside to call Joe. He’ll worry if this is going to go on into the wee hours. I’ll see you later.”
“I was rude again, wasn’t I?” Sam made a face. “She’ll make me pay.”
“No, she won’t. I don’t care if you’re rude. Not if you can get me what I need. Get to work.”
“Yes, Sam, do what she says.” Kendra was chuckling as she leaned back in the booth. “Get to work.”
* * *
EVE STEPPED OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT and sat down on the wrought-iron bench at the curb. She was glad to get away from Kendra and Sam for a few moments. They were both clever, quick-witted, and trying their best to help her, but Eve had been trying to suppress the shock and sickness she was feeling ever since she realized that suspicion had become fact. She drew a few deep breaths of cool air before she pulled out her phone. She was dreading this call. Joe wasn’t going to be pleased about being excluded from the action. And she didn’t like going forward without him.
Too bad. Beth Avery was her sister and her responsibility, and she wouldn’t involve Joe in something that was potentially illegal. Potentially? Definitely, illegal. But what then was attempted murder? Just make the call, tell Joe everything that Kendra had found and deduced, then take it on the chin when Joe displayed his displeasure.
She quickly dialed his number. “Joe, here’s what’s happening.”
He was very quiet, asking no questions until she had finished. “So it was poison? No wonder she ran for her life.” He paused. “But I wouldn’t imagine that conium would be used by any of the doctors or staff at the hospital. I’d think that if they were trying to kill her, they’d use a medical derivative to simulate an overdose. Conium is a little exotic.”
“A hit man?”
“Possibly. If Pierce didn’t want to get his hands dirty. He impressed me as a man who always covered his ass.”
Eve had gotten the same impression. “Kendra thinks she had to have someone help her get away that night. And to start her drying out from those drugs.”
“Then we’ll have to see who was around her during the last months.”
“Yes.”
He was silent. “You’re hesitating. Does that mean what I think it means?”
“I have Kendra and Sam. You don’t have to go along.” That sounded wimpy as hell. She added firmly, “You’re not going, Joe. I’m not having you risk your job breaking into that place. Forget it.”
He was cursing softly.
“It’s going to be fine. This Sam evidently knows what he’s doing.”
“And I’m supposed to be comforted by the fact that one of Kendra’s old buddies is a professional thief?”
“He not a thief now. He’s reformed.”
“Except that he jumped at the chance of delving into the old life. No, Eve.”
“I’m not asking, Joe,” she said quietly. “I’ll call you when we leave the hospital. As I said, it will be fine. Sam’s not going to let anything happen to Kendra. Good-bye, Joe.” She hung up and leaned back on the bench, trying to relax the tension that was gripping her muscles.
“I take it he’s not happy.” Kendra sat down beside her on the bench. “Are you still going to go for it?”
“Of course.” Eve stuffed her phone in her pocket. “I have to find her. This isn’t about Joe.”
/> “You could have fooled me,” Kendra said. “I believe he thinks everything concerning you is about him, too. You’re like two halves of a whole.”
She shook her head. “That sounds sappy. We’re two individuals who happen to love each other so much that it causes us to worry.”
Kendra shrugged. “Describe it how you like. I’m just a simple woman, and I prefer to be sappy.”
“Simple? You?” Eve chuckled. “Not likely.”
“Well, inexperienced in that particular area. I don’t like to dive into deep waters.”
“What about Sam?”
“Oh, we made a few mistakes together. I’ve learned better, but Sam still likes to skate on thin ice. It’s the male thing. But most of the time, we can maintain a decent friendship.” She got to her feet. “Sam’s going to take another hour or so. Don’t stay out here. Come in and have a cup of coffee with me.”
Eve smiled. “Are you being protective now? I assure you that I wasn’t feeling deserted.”
“Why should I be protective? You’re a grown-up. Maybe I want company to ward off Sam.”
“And maybe not.” Kendra was complicated and strange, and Eve couldn’t quite read her. She had an idea that it had been a desire to protect and help that had drawn Kendra out here in spite of her denial. An idea but she wasn’t sure. Yet there was no doubt that talking with Kendra had relieved a little of the tension that had gripped Eve. She was feeling less upset than when she had disconnected from Joe. So accept the good and ignore the uncertainties.
She started toward the glass doors. “At any rate, I could use a cup of coffee.”
Seahaven Behavioral Health Center
EVE CHECKED HER WATCH—3:22 A.M. She glanced at Kendra and Sam kneeling beside her, huddled behind the row of trees lining the service driveway. No sign yet of the kitchen workers arriving for their three-thirty shift.