The Face of Deception (26 page)

Id never do that. I know you. Im sure you did only what you had to do.

Then turn around and let me see your face.

She braced herself, turned, and looked at him.

Shit, he said through his teeth.

I just have to become accustomed to the idea. I feel as if I dont really know you.

You know me better than anyone on this earth, just as I know you better than anyone else does.

Then why didnt you tell me about

All right, Ill tell you. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. You want a body count? Three. Two of them were into drug running. The third just liked killing and reminded me of Fraser. Ive often won-dered if that one really was self-defense. Maybe I didnt want to take the chance of him walking. His voice lowered. And I never lost a minutes sleep over any of them. Does that make you feel like you know me any better?

Joe, I dont

Do you want me to talk about my stint in the SEALs? No, I can see you dont. Three is enough for you. You dont want the grim reapers shadow any-where near you. I knew that and accepted it.

Why didnt I hear about those deaths?

Because I saw that you didnt want to know about them. Figuring that out was easy. You never watched or read local news after Bonnie. I just had to make sure no one in the department talked. He gazed into her eyes. And Id do it again. You werent ready to face the idea that I wasnt Andy Griffith am-bling around Mayberry. You may never be ready. His glance shifted past her to the hall leading to the lab. And Im not pleased with our Mr. Logan for stirring up this hornets nest.

Then you shouldnt have threatened him.

Do you think I dont know that? I was stupid. I was angry and I let you see it. He smiled recklessly. Or maybe Im lying to myself. Maybe I meant to do it. It could be I was sick and tired of But how the hell long do you think I can keep everything inside without He took a long breath. Dont blow what weve got, Eve. Weve been together a long time. Like you said, you know me.

Do I? she whispered.

Okay, well start over. Ill be honest with you even if it tears you apart. Satisfied? He turned away from her. Because Im not. But then, Im used to that. Its become a way of life to me.

What do

This isnt getting us anywhere. Ive got to go check out the perimeter. He started down the steps. But dont worry, if I find any bad guys, Ill handle them with kid gloves. We wouldnt want any more blood on my hands, would we?

He was angry with her. Maybe he had a right. He was her friend, closer than a brother, and she had pushed him away and closed him out. Joe knew her too well not to be aware of everything she was feeling.

But she didnt know him that well. She had thought she did, but shed had no idea of all that hed hidden from her.

Face it, she hadnt wanted to know. Policemen dealt with violence every day and, if she had let her-self think about it, she would have known it would touch Joe.

I didnt want you to look at me and see Fraser.

She had denied it, but hadnt that been her first thought when Logan told her about the deaths in Joes past? It wasnt rational, it wasnt fair, but the thought had been there.

Another ripple Logan had set in motion to disturb her life. Only this time it was more like a tidal wave.

Block it out. She had enough to worry about just then. Easy to say. The idea of angering Joe wasnt easy to block out.

And what if it wasnt only anger? What if she had hurt him? Joe was tough, but he could be hurt. God, she didnt want to hurt him.

She couldnt dismiss the idea, but she had to put it on the back burner and consider all the ramifications later. Joe was too important to her. If she began to worry about him, she wouldnt be able to do any-thing else.

So go back in and see if you can help Gary. Get this business over with so you can go back to living a normal life with normal problems.

She turned and strode down the hall toward the lab.

Kessler glanced up as she reached him. You okay?

Sure. I just needed some air. How are you doing?

Not good. He looked back down at the molar he was cutting. The poor bastard may be toothless before I get enough for a sample. This is the third one Ive cut into.

Do you need me to help?

And share the credit? She smiled. I promise Ill never tell.

Sure. Ive heard that before. Go away.

Whatever you say. But she didnt move, watching as he carefully cut through the enamel on the tooth. Ive been thinking. After we get the sample, it might be a good idea if you went away for a while. Maybe to your place on the shore.

Ah, are you trying to save my neck, Duncan? Maybe feeling a little stirring of guilt?

Yes.

Good. A little guilt is good for the soul. His gaze was narrowed on the tooth. But dont flatter yourself that Im doing this for you. This job is going to make me a star. Ive always wanted to be the center of at-tention.

Yeah, sure, thats why you work like a demon and live like a hermit.

It takes one to know one. Another fifty years and youll probably be living in your lab, eating cold Dominos pizza.

And lying about wanting to become famous? Admit it, youre just curious.

Partly. He carefully started opening the tooth.

And whats the rest of it?

Did you know I spent my early childhood in Munich during the thirties?

She shook her head, gazing at him in surprise. Youve never talked about it.

No, we talk only about our jobs, dont we? The bones, the deadhellip; He adjusted his glasses on his nose. My mother was Jewish but my father was of good Aryan stock with high government connections. The Nazis put pressure on him to divorce her, but he refused. He owned a small bakery and for two months he had to replace the windows that were broken every day. He held out and still refused. Then one night he didnt come home from the shop and we were told hed been run over by a truck. He lost a leg and spent nine months in a hospital. By the time he was up and about, it was all over. The shop was out of business and the Nazis had begun to round up the Jews. We managed to get to Switzerland and then later to America.

Oh, God, thats terrible, Gary. Im sorry.

I wasnt sorry. I was mad. I watched those sons of bitches striding around the neighborhood, running over everyone who got in their way. Bullies. Taking away everything that made life worth living. God, I hate bullies. He nodded at the skull. And the people who did this are like those damn Nazis, running over the whole damn world. They make me sick. Ill be damned if they get away with it this time.

She swallowed to ease the sudden tightness in her throat. Why, Gary, you sound downright noble.

Hell, yes. Besides, this may be my swan song, and I want it sung loud and clear.

Swan song? Are you planning on retiring?

Maybe. Im past retirement age. Im an old man, Eve.

Eve shook her head. Not you, Gary. He chuckled. Youre right, Im not old. When-ever I look in the mirror, I see the young stud I was at twenty. Maybe a few more wrinkles, but I dont often notice them. Its like that superimposition you do. No matter whats on the top layer, that young man is underneath and I know hes there. Do you suppose every old geezer is as self-deluding as me?

Youre not self-deluding. We all see what we want to see. We all have a vision of ourselves. She tried to smile. And, dammit, youre not old and youre not going to retire. I need you.

True. It takes a benevolent and exceptional man to deal with someone of your headstrong nature and many faults. I may have to stick around just to keep you in Shit. He pushed the tooth aside. Another blank. Go away. Youre bringing me bad luck.

Well, thats a profoundly scientific notion. She turned away. Call me if you need me.

Not likely. He bent over the skull again as she walked away.

Any progress? Logan straightened in his chair across the room.

Not yet.

I saw a cot in the back room. Why dont you try to take a nap?

She shook her head. I need to be here in case he changes his mind about not needing help. She sat down beside him and leaned her head back against the wall. Its my responsibility. I brought him into this.

He seems to be enjoying himself. Logans gaze was fixed on Kessler. In a cerebral way.

Cerebral? Hell, he thinks hes Schwarzkopf or Eliot Ness or Lancelot or some other She drew a deep breath and said fiercely, And youd better see that nothing happens to him, Logan. I should have gone to your man at Duke. All I thought about was who was best for the job. I didnt think about how dangerous this could be for Gary.

As soon as we get the DNA sample and an affi-davit, well whisk him away out of the limelight.

Like you whisked my mother?

I told you she was safe, Eve. You talked to her.

Shes not safe. She wont be safe until this is over. None of them would be safe. Joe and Gary and her mother had been drawn into the net, and Eve had done it.

All right, shes not as safe as Id like her to be, Logan said. But its the best I can do right now. He paused. Kessler appears to have upset you. What did he say?

Nazis and swan songs and a young man in the mirror. Nothing much. Nothing important.

It was a lie. Garys life was important. The fact that she had never scratched more than the surface of Gary Kesslers past was important. It was a night of revelations, she thought wearily. Logan, Joe, and now Gary. She closed her eyes. Just keep him safe, okay?

THE WHITE HOUSE

7:20 A.M.

Kessler, Lisa said as soon as Timwick picked up the phone. Check out Kessler at Emory.

I know my job, Lisa. Im checking out Kessler. Hes on my list.

Then put him higher on your list. Duncans worked with Kessler several times. It was in the stuff on the disc you messengered over.

Shes worked with other people too. She heard him rustling papers. And she hasnt worked with him in over two years.

But he was the first anthropologist she ever worked with. They have a history. It would mean something to her.

Then why hasnt she worked with him lately? Logan researched Crawford at

Have they shown up at Duke?

No, but its early days yet.

Early? You should have caught them by now. Times running out. Put Kessler at the top of the shortlist. She hung up the phone.

She shouldnt have been so sharp; it wasnt smart. The more desperate Timwick became, the more resentful he grew and the more domineering he tried to be. But, Christ, how could an intelligent man have so little imagination? Couldnt he see that it was Duncan and not Logan who was the key?

She drew a deep breath and tried to compose her-self. She mustnt panic. She mustnt lose control. Okay, the problem was two-pronged. One, Bens skull must be recovered; any evidence was moot without the skull. Two, Logan and Duncan must be elimi-nated and any other possible evidence destroyed. Dammit, Timwick was doing neither. She had known he was a weak link since that mistake with Donnelli and had made alternate plans to enact whenever necessary.

It was necessary. The more time passed, the more dangerous everything became. She had to take the reins completely in her own hands.

How had she come to this point? She had never wanted any of this. It wasnt fair.

Well, the world wasnt fair. You just had to do whatever you had to do. There wasnt any way she could reverse what shed done that day, so she just had to protect herself and all shed gained.

She opened her phone book to the name and number she had gotten from Timwick three weeks earlier.

She quickly dialed the number. It rang three times before it was answered.

Mr. Fiske? Weve never talked before, but I be-lieve its time we did.

SIXTEEN

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY

11:50 A.M.

"Got it. Eves hand tightened on the thermal case that contained the vial with the DNA sample. Now lets get out of here. We cant afford any deterioration.

Is there enough? Logan asked.

Just enough. She turned to Kessler. Where do you suggest we take it, Gary?

I assume you dont want to take a chance on any of the obvious or well-known testing centers?

She shook her head.

But you want a place with excellent credentials.

She nodded.

Duncan, youre an incredibly demanding woman. And youre fortunate that Im incredible enough myself to meet your absurd demands. He lowered his voice dramatically. I know a man.

I dont want a man. I want a lab.

Youll have to settle for Chris Teller.

And who is Chris Teller?

A student of mine who went on to become a MacArthur Fellow. Brilliant man. Hes been doing re-search on the medical side of DNA, but he needed to put food on the table, so he opened a small lab in Bainbridge, Georgia, last year. Its a three-man opera-tion and they intend to keep it that way. The lab is listed as a medical research lab, not a forensic testing center.