Page 79 of The Dysasters

“Sir, we do apologize and know that this is a difficult subject. We are extremely sorry for your loss. But we need to be very clear. You are saying that you have not heard from Tate. At all?” Eve said.

“Was I not clear enough when I said I’d buried the boy beside his mama and daddy?”

“Yes, sir. You were,” Mark spoke up. He took a card from his pocket and held it out to Bowen. When the old man didn’t take it, Mark placed it on the coffee table. “But if you think of anything—anything at all you’d like to talk with us about—don’t hesitate to call. We won’t judge you. And you won’t be in any trouble.”

“My partner is correct, Mr. Bowen,” Eve said. “You aren’t in any trouble. Nor would Tate be if he came to us. Actually, if Tate is alive and somehow mixed up with this Foster girl, well, sir, I’m sorry to say that he’s in trouble right now. Big trouble.”

“I like to be helpful to you law enforcement typesunlessyou’re up to tomfoolery. Well, young woman, I believe you and yourpartnersare up to some serious tomfoolery. And this time I’m not asking. Leave my property. Now.” The big dog stood, her back easily reaching Bowen’s hip. Her yellow eyes were trained on the four interlopers as her growl deepened.

“Thank you for your time, Mr. Bowen,” Eve said as the four of them filed from the living room and headed to the entry foyer. Eve was directly beside an ancient-looking rotary dial phone when it began to ring. She’d been watching Bowen as he murmured in low tones to the dog, so she saw the fear and guiltthat flashed across his face when the phone rang. Without looking at the old man she lifted the phone and didn’t say a word.

“G-pa! I’m so glad you’re home. Okay, I finally told Foster that we’ve been talking and she’s totally freaked. So, she’s here with me now. Would you please tell her everything’s okay?”

Eve looked up to see Linus Bowen standing directly in front of her. Her smile was feline as she said, “Oh, hello, Tate. This is Eve. I’m sure you know who I am.”

“Tate!” Bowen shouted and lunged forward, trying to grab the receiver from her, but Matthew and Luke rushed him, knocking him to the ground and wrestling roughly with him, pinning his arms behind his back as the giant dog went into high gear, barking and growling menacingly while she slowly approached them.

“Bowen! Tell your dog to back down if you ever want to talk to your grandson again!” Eve snapped at him.

“G-pa! G-pa!” Tate’s panicked voice echoed through the phone.

“Bugs, down!” Bowen commanded. The dog obeyed, hitting the ground where she stood, but she kept her yellow-eyed gaze on Matthew and Luke, and her growl was a rolling symphony of anger.

Eve smiled. “That’s better.” She spoke in the phone again. “Tate, your grandpa is right here, but—”

“This is Foster. Let Tate’s grandpa go.”

Eve’s smile widened. “Foster! How good to hear your voice!”

“Cut the crap, Eve. What do you want?”

“Why, only you and Tate. That’s all.”

“Don’t come here!” Bowen shouted as he began to stand up.

“Shut him up,” Eve snapped. Matthew and Luke knocked the old man off his feet again and dragged him into the kitchen.

“Eve! Let Tate’s grandpa go, and Tate and I will meet you wherever you want.”

“No. That’s not how we’re playing this. Mark, Matthew, Luke, and I are going to stay here—at Tate’s grandpa’s home—and keep an eye on him. So sad he’s way out here by himself on this lonely peninsula, isn’t it? It’s simply not safe. So, we’ll be here. Alone with the old man. Until you and Tate arrive. Oh, and the sooner the better. I get the idea Mr. Bowen doesn’t like visitors. Good-bye, Foster. See you soon.”

Eve hung up.

24

TATE

“Don’t worry!” Sabine hugged Tate and then Foster. “Finn and I will take care of everything while you’re gone. Just get on that plane and save Tate’s g-pa.”

“Remember our plan B,” Foster spoke low and quickly as she and Tate backed toward the security line at PDX airport. “If you don’t hear from us by this time next week—”

“Take the stuff from the Batcave to the FBI and tell them everything we’ve figured out. We know—we know,” Finn said.

“No, it’s not going to come to that,” Sabine said sternly. “You’ll be back to our Fortress of Sauvietude soon. With G-pa. Don’t get all dark and twisted and negative on me. Again.”

“We’ll be back. With my g-pa. I believe it, and so does Foster,” Tate said. But he didn’t take Foster’s hand. Actually, he hadn’t said muchtoherortouched her since he’d told her about G-pa. Then they’d all rushed to the pay phone, and…

Tate shuddered, remembering Eve’s hard, cold voice and G-pa’s panicked shouts. And after Foster had let loose a stream of curses that had even impressed Finn, whose father was a Marine, she’d hardly spoken to him.