The Face of Deception (30 page)

Screw it.

Or caught in the same trap.

Ditto. He got out of the car and went around to the drivers side. Ill need the car. Ill drive to Sa-vannah and hop a plane from there. You drive back to the motel with Gary.

She slowly got out, then reached into the back-seat and retrieved Bens case. What about the test results?

You get them. You said it might be days. He slipped behind the wheel. Im no help here anyway.

And Ivanhoe had action to be taken and a castle to be won.

She wanted to hit him.

Phone and let me know what happens. She opened the passenger door of Garys Volvo. Pro-viding youre alive to do it.

Ill be alive. He started the car. Ill be back to-morrow. You should be safe. He frowned. Should isnt good enough. I cant take the chance. Ill call Kessler from the airport and get him to pay one of Tellers security guards to go to the motel and keep watch until I get back.

And what excuse is he going to give Teller?

Kesslers been pretty innovative so far. Let him worry about it.

Timwicks probably still camped out at Duke, and itll take time for anyone to track us here. This is definitely off the beaten path as far as forensic labs are concerned.

But she was no longer certain that the Duke di-version had worked. Lisa Chadbourne wouldnt focus totally on Logan; she had too much respect for women.

A security guard parked out front at the motel wont hurt. Be sure and lock your door, Logan said. And call me if you notice anything suspicious. Anything.

Ill be careful.

He hesitated. I have to go, Eve. Gil is my friend and I brought him into this.

She got into the Volvo and put Bens case on the floor. So go. She gave him a cool glance. I dont need you, Logan. Ive never needed you. Ill handle this myself.

Keep Bens skull with you.

Have you ever seen me leave him anywhere? She smiled bitterly. I know whos important in the scheme of things.

Thats not true. Its just that

Go on. She waved her hand dismissingly. Go help Gil. Go do what you have to do.

Why the hell are you I thought you liked Gil.

I do and I want him safe. But she didnt want Logan dead, and the more she thought about Lisa Chadbourne, the more frightened she became. Im not arguing. I know it wouldnt do any good. Good-bye, Logan.

He still hesitated.

Good-bye, Logan.

He muttered an oath beneath his breath and backed out of the parking space. In another minute he was gone.

Alone.

Its not good for you to be alone, Mama.

She was accustomed to being alone. When the door was shut and the world closed out, wasnt every-body alone?

Yet it was strange that she was feeling more alone now than ever before.

Wheres Logan?

She turned and saw Gary had walked up to the car. Winging his way north. Gil Price needed him, Eve said. What did you find out?

Well, theres some bad news and some good news. The good news is that Chris has converted their method over to chemiluminescence. They could work up a DNA profile for me today.

And the bad news?

He said he wont do it. Hes too busy. He held up his hand. I know. I know. You dont have to say it. Hell do it. I just have to be a little more persistent. It wont be today, but I may be able to get the initial profile tomorrow. I just thought Id come out and give you a report. He tossed her his keys and started back toward the lab. Go back to the motel. Ill probably be here until after midnight. Ill take a taxi.

She didnt want to go back to the motel. She wanted to go into the lab and help. She wanted to do something.

Yes, sure, and blow everything Gary was trying to do.

Forget it. Her irrational impulse was only due to the fact that she had nothing to do, sitting there waiting was getting on her nerves. She could al-most sympathize with Gary and Logan, who had seized the opportunity to take action, any action, even if it held an element of recklessness.

What was she thinking? Recklessness had nothing to do with her life. She needed steadiness and serenity. Taking chances was not for her.

She mustnt begin to think about Lisa Chadbourne as if she were some kind of superwoman. Logan was probably right about Gary and her being safe for the time being. Accept it. Relax. After the tension and pace of the last days, she should be glad for a boring few days in Bainbridge.

Ive narrowed the possibility of the safe house at Lanier down to four, Timwick said as soon as Fiske picked up the phone. They were all booked day be-fore yesterday.

By Wilson?

How the hell would I know? Timwick asked sourly. Do you think shed use her real name?

Shed have to make a deposit. That means a credit card.

And whos to say that she doesnt have a phony? Do you think Logan wouldnt have made provisions for that? Got a pen? He rattled off the four ad-dresses. Get on it right away.

As soon as I can.

What the hell do you mean?

You told me to check out Kessler. Im at Emory now and he left on an unexpected trip yesterday morning.

Where?

Ive no idea. Im on my way to talk to his assis-tant and see if I can find out.

The mother is more important. Kessler is just a long shot. Logan will be going to Duke if he wants an expert.

Now that Im here, I might as well check it out.

I told you to drop it. Go to Lanier.

What do you want me to do if I find her?

Just stake her out. Ill let you know.

I told you I dont like stakeouts. Ill find her, but you assign someone else for the donkey work, Timwick.

The silence at the other end of the phone was frigid. The chicken bastard didnt like being told what to do. Well, hed better get used to it. Timwick didnt know it, but the game had changed and the queen was controlling the board.

You realize that you can be replaced, Fiske.

But it would be difficult at this stage of the game. Why not let me do what I do best?

Another silence, colder than the last. Very well, report to me as soon as youve located the women.

Right. Fiske hung up the phone and moved quickly toward the dorm where Kesslers assistant, Bob Spencer, lived. Hed tell Spencer he was an old friend of Kesslers, maybe take him out to dinner and pump him. Even if he didnt know Kesslers location, Fiske might be able to find out the lab where Kessler generally did his tests. Find out where the tests are being done, Lisa Chadbourne had said.

No problem.

He knew ? Lisa murmured. My God, he knew, Scott?

Not for sure. My take is that Logan made an educated guess.

And then sent Price to lay the cards on the table. Why?

Scott didnt answer for a moment. A deal. He wants you more than he wants me, Lisa.

What kind of deal?

Im out of the country, out of the picture, some-where with a new identity, if I furnish evidence against you.

Panic rushed through her and she fought to quell it. She had known Logan was smart and that he might suspect her, but shed hoped he wouldnt make the connection with Scott. Hes lying. Theyd never let you off.

Perhaps.

Her stomach clenched. And were you tempted, Scott? Just a little?

For Gods sake, Im calling you, arent I? Does that sound like I want to strike a deal?

No, Im sorry. Im scared. I never thought theyd guess it was you. Jesus, it was all falling apart.

No, it wasnt. She just had to think, to make ad-justments. We can work our way out of this. We may be lucky that they thought you might make a deal. They could have gone to the media.

But weve blocked that route for them.

Did you finish substituting the records?

Right after Price left me.

The panic subsided a little. It was going to be all right. She could see her way clear now. Thank God. Then Ill talk to Kevin right away and start the ball rolling. Its going to be fine, Scott.

Is it?

Of course it is. I promise you.

Youve promised me a lot of things, Lisa, he said wearily.

And havent I given you everything I promised? Youve lived the sweet life all these years.

You think I couldnt have done it without you?

I didnt say that, Scott.

He was silent a moment. Sorry.

He sounded odd, and she knew better than to overlook any change in him. The situation was too delicate. Whats wrong?

Price said something else. He told me about three people whod been murdered quite recently and that the murders conveniently erased problems for you. He asked if I wasnt afraid that Id be killed too.

And are you afraid, Scott? After all these years, are you afraid Id hurt you?

Silence. No, I guess not.

Thats not good enough. Dont guess, know.

He didnt say anything.

She closed her eyes. Christ, not now. Dont let him doubt now. Well talk. Ill prove it to you. But now we have to deal with Price as cleanly as possible to save you.

Not to mention you.

All right, save both of us. Go ahead and meet Price. Ill have Timwick there before you.

And?

Well take Price and try to use him as a bargaining tool for the skull. We have to have that skull back.

You think Logan will deal?

Weve got to try. She paused. Trust me, Scott. I wont let Logan take you down. Not after all youve done for me. She hung up.

Her heart was beating too hard. Breathe deeply, steadily. It was only another challenge.

But it was a challenge she shouldnt have had to meet. If Timwick had done his job with Donnelli, no one would ever have suspected Scott and she would not have had to make this decision. Panic was turning to rage. Logan and Duncan were coming too close and she was losing control.

So gain control. She had a way out. Shed call Timwick and tell him the problem.

But first she had to talk to Kevin and guide him on the path he had to take.

Joe called Eve at eight that evening. Ive managed to get a letter Chadbourne wrote to his sister when their mother died a few months before he took office. I dont think theres any doubt that he licked that par-ticular envelope himself.

Great. How did you get it?

You dont want to know. That would make you an accessory. But I havent gotten the sample from Millicent Babcock yet, and I thought that would be the easiest. Im following her and her husband to the country club this evening to see if I can get my hands on a glass. He paused. How are you?

Fine. Gary is going to be able to get the DNA right away.

Good. Another silence. Is Logan taking good care of you?

She avoided answering. He would go ballistic if he knew Logan wasnt here. I take care of myself, Joe.

I should be there. I should have told Logan to come here and follow that Babcock woman around. I didnt trust him to get the job done, but Im spinning my damn wheels.

Youll get it tonight.

Id better or Ill mug the damn woman and get a blood sample instead. Youre not laughing. I was joking, dammit.

Sorry, nothing seems very funny to me right now.

Me neither. Ill try to be there tomorrow. Take care of yourself.

Joe. She stopped him before he could hang up. Have you called Diane?

Before I left Atlanta.

Shell be worried about you. Im feeling guilty enough about involving you. I dont want to send her off the deep end too.

Ill call her.

Now?

Now, dammit. He ended the call.

She put the phone back on the table. At least Joe was safe and behaving with his usual protectiveness. Tomorrow hed be here and shed once more feel that sense of homecoming that was always present when she was with Joe.

Now she had only to wait for Logan to call and tell her he and Gil were okay.

Call her, Joe thought. You promised Eve youd call Diane. Now do it.

He dialed his home number and Diane picked up immediately.

Hi, babe, just thought Id check in. How are you doing?

Where are you, Joe?

I told you, out of town on a case. I should be able to wrap it up pretty soon.

What case?

Nothing youd be interested in.

Oh, I think Id be interested. Her tone was hard. Do you think Im stupid, Joe? Im tired of pre-tending Im blind. All this stuff on television. Its Eve, isnt it?

He was silent. He knew she wasnt stupid, but hed hoped shed pretend the problem didnt exist, as she usually did with issues that made her uncomfortable.

Isnt it?

Yes.

Its gone too far, Joe. Her voice was shaking. How long do you think I can put up with this? We have a good life and youre risking everything we have for her. Is she worth it?