The Face of Deception (41 page)

There are a lot of people who travel with the President on Air Force One.

Do you think that would matter to her?

Yes. No. She shook her head. God, I dont know. Maybe.

He took her arm. Come on, lets get out of here.

Where are we going?

Youre letting me choose? How refreshing. After bulldozing me into trapping Lisa Chadbourne, I was sure youd have some plan.

She was all out of plans. She was all out of energy. She felt drained. I want to go home.

Not yet, Im afraid. Were going to Senator Lathrops house and stay there until the first uproar is over and were officially cleared of suspicion. They dont want some gun-happy government man shooting us by mistake.

How kind, she said ironically.

Not kind. Were very valuable material wit-nesses. Well be under strict guard until this is over.

When can I go home?

A week.

She shook her head. Three days tops.

Well try. His brow lifted. But remember, we are, after all, dealing with the overturning of a presidency.

You deal with it, Logan. She got into the car. Three days. Then Im going home and see Joe and Mom.

TWENTY-THREE

WASHINGTON, D.C.

"Its a madhouse. Eve turned away from the lace-curtained window. There must be hundreds of re-porters out there. Why the hell dont they go bother someone else?

Were a big story, Logan said. Bigger than O.J. Bigger than Whitewater. Bigger than Clintons pecca-dilloes. Get used to it.

I dont want to get used to it. She was prowling back and forth across the senators library like a rest-less tiger. Its been five days. I need to get home. I need to see Joe.

You told me your mom said Joe was getting better every day.

But they wont let me talk to him.

Why not?

How the hell do I know? Im not there. She stopped before his chair, hands clenched. Im cooped up here in thishellip; this place. I cant go out without getting mobbed. We couldnt even go to Gils or Garys funerals. And its not going to stop, is it?

Logan shook his head. I tried to tell you. The minute Detwil broke down and confessed, it trig-gered a frenzy.

And they had been in the center of that frenzy, Eve thought. Theyd been kept virtual prisoners in the senators house, watching the explosion of events on television. Kevin Detwil confesses, Chet Mobry sworn in as president, Lisa Chadbourne imprisoned.

Its going to go on and on, she said. Its like living in a fishbowl. How will I work? How will I live? I cant stand it.

The media will lose interest eventually. After the court case is over, well be yesterdays news.

That may take years. I think I may strangle you, Logan.

No, you wont. He smiled. Then you wouldnt have anyone to share your misery with. Company is important at a time like this.

I dont want your company. I want Mom and Joe.

The minute you go home to them, theyll be tar-gets too. They wont be able to move without a camera fixed on them. They wont have a life either. Do you think your mothers relationship with her new beau will withstand that kind of stress? What about Joe Quinn? How will the Atlanta P.D. react to a detective who cant take two steps without being on TV? How about his marriage? Will his wife like

Shut up, Logan.

Im trying to give it to you straight. Youre the one who told me always to be honest with you.

You knew it would be like this.

I didnt think of the media repercussions. I sup-pose I should have considered them, but I just wanted her brought down. That seemed the only important thing.

He was telling the truth. She wished he werent. She was so frustrated, she needed to blame someone, anyone.

He added quietly, And I believe in the end that was the only thing important to you too.

Yes. She went back to the window. But it shouldnt be like this. We brought her down and now were drowning with her.

I wont let you drown. He was suddenly standing behind her, his hands lightly resting on her shoulders. Not if you let me help you, Eve.

Can you give me my life back?

I intend to do that. It just may take a while. He was massaging the taut muscles in her shoulders. He bent and whispered in her ear, Youre too tense. I be-lieve you need a vacation.

I need to work.

Maybe we can combine the two. Did you know I have a house on an island just south of Tahiti? Its very secluded besides having excellent security. I go there when I need to escape for one reason or another.

What are you saying?

Im saying that you need to escape, and so do I. It would take a very enterprising reporter to follow us that far. He added roughly, And look at you. Youve been through hell and Im to blame for most of it. Let me try to make amends. You need to rest and heal. Its boring as the devil on the island. Nothing to do but walk on the beach, read, and listen to music.

It didnt sound boring. It sounded like salvation. She slowly turned to look at him. I could work?

He made a face. I should have known that was coming. Ill have a lab built for you. Margaret will do it right this time.

Will they let us go?

The judicial powers that be? I dont anticipate any problem as long as they know where we are and that we arent going to disappear permanently. The last thing they want are leaks or testimony compro-mised by the media.

When could we leave?

Ill check and make sure, but possibly early next week.

I could stay there until Im needed?

As long as you like.

She gazed out the window at the horde of re-porters across the street. They looked hungry, but she knew theyd never get enough. Some of them were probably kind, but after Bonnie had disappeared she could remember an occasional reporter saying some-thing deliberately hurtful so they could catch the pain in her expression. She couldnt go through that again.

Youll do it? Logan asked.

She slowly nodded.

Good. And you wont mind if Im there too? Youre not the only one who needs to escape. Its a big plantation house and I promise I wont get in your way.

I dont mind. Peace. Sunlight. Work. She wouldnt mind anything if it meant getting away from all this uproar. Once I begin working, I probably wont know youre around.

Oh, I think you will. You have to surface some-time and well be fairly isolated. He moved toward the door. Ill be pretty hard to miss.

Ten minutes. The head nurse frowned as she stared over Eves head at the crowd of reporters being held back by hospital security. We cant tolerate this dis-ruption. Weve had enough trouble keeping the media away from Mr. Quinn. Hes a sick man.

I wont disturb him. I just want to see him.

Ill run interference with the reporters, Logan said. Take as long as you need.

Thanks, Logan.

And do you suppose since were going to go to a desert island together you might call me John?

Its not a desert island, its a tropical island, and I dont think I could get used to another name now.

Ten minutes, the head nurse repeated. Room 402.

Joe was sitting up in bed and she stopped inside the door just to look at him.

I didnt expect You lookhellip; wonderful. How long have you been sitting up?

He scowled. Youd know if youd bothered to call.

I did call. Every day. There was some foul-up. They wouldnt let me talk to you.

A flicker of undefinable expression crossed his face. You called?

Of course I called. Do you think Id lie to you?

No. He smiled. Then I suppose Ill have to permit you to come over here and give me a hug. Gently, of course. They just let me off my back yesterday and Im not going to make waves. These nurses are tough.

Ive noticed. Ive got only ten minutes. She walked over to the bed and hugged him. But that should be long enough, since youre being so surly. She sniffed. And you stink of antiseptic.

Always complaining. I give my lifes blood for you, and do I get any appreciation?

No. She sat down on the bed. You were stupid and Id have never forgiven you if youd died, Joe.

I know. Thats why I didnt.

She took his hand. It felt warm and strong andhellip; Joe. Thank you, God. I sent Mom a copy of the tape from the wire and told her to play it for you. I hope she got through that army of nurses. Logan had to promise the Justice Department the moon to get a copy of it.

She got through. You seem to be the only one having trouble getting through to me. He laced his hand through hers. And that tape nearly gave me a heart attack. Why the hell did Logan let you do it?

He couldnt stop me.

His lips tightened. I would have stopped you.

Bullshit.

Did you have to go rushing in? Couldnt you have waited?

She killed Gary. She whispered, And I thought she might still kill you.

So Im to blame.

You bet you are. So stop yelling at me. I couldnt wait for you to rise from the dead and help me. I had to do it myself.

With Logans help. He scowled. But not enough help, damn him.

Lisa held out an opportunity, but it was for me, not him. Logan helped big-time. He set up the sce-nario to reel in Timwick. He had your friend at the newspaper contact Timwick and show him the list, and then arrange for Logan to see him. Do you know how dangerous that could have been? What if Timwick hadnt been as desperate and frightened as we hoped?

Have they caught Timwick yet?

No, he seems to have dropped off the face of the earth.

No one can disappear without leaving traces. His brow was creased in thought. He has to be caught. Hes an end that has to be tied up or it will bug you for

Not you, Joe.

Did I say I intended to go after him? Im only a wounded crock of a man. Why are you worried? Timwick fell apart. Hes no threat.

You corner a rat and you get bitten.

Then why did you set up that meeting with Lisa Chadbourne and Timwick? You pushed her to the limit. There was no telling what her reaction was going to be. Someone should have been there to back you up.

It wouldnt have been logical for Logan to be at the meeting.

Screw logic.

You know Im right. Lisa Chadbourne would have known Logan would never agree to my giving up that skull for Bonnie. In order to ring true, I had to pretend Id taken the skull and run.

He was silent a moment. And did it ring true? Just how close did you come to going along with her?

You know the answer to that.

Tell me. How close?

Close.

Why not all the way?

She shrugged. Maybe I didnt trust her. Maybe I doubted she could do it. Maybe I was too angry about what shed done to you and Gary.

And maybe its the first step.

What?

Nothing. He squeezed her hand. But no more of this shit until Im up and strong enough to keep you in line. Logans doing a lousy job.

Hes smart enough not to try. She paused. And actually hes being very kind. Hes going to take me away to some island he owns in the South Pacific until all this media frenzy is over.

Oh?

She didnt like the sound of that. Its a good idea. I can work there. You know how impossible it would be for me here. Its almost worse than Its really a good idea, Joe.

He was silent.

Joe?

I think youre right. You need the rest and you need to get away. I think you should go with him.

You do?

He grinned. Dont look so stunned. You told me yourself what a good idea it is. Im just agreeing.

Good, she said uncertainly.

Is Logan here with you?

She nodded. Were leaving for Tahiti as soon as I say good-bye to Mom.

When you leave, will you tell him to come in and see me for a minute?

Why?

Why do you think? Im going to tell him to take good care of you or Ill toss him into a volcano. Does Tahiti have volcanoes?

She chuckled, relieved. His island is actually south of Tahiti.

Whatever. His hand tightened on hers. Now, shut up. I figure I have five minutes left and I want to spend it looking at you, not listening to you gush about Tahiti.

I dont gush.

But she didnt want to talk either. She just wanted to sit there and feel the peace and well-being she al-ways felt when she was with Joe. In a world where everything was turned upside down, he really hadnt changed. He was alive and strong and would get stronger every day.

It was good to know that when she came back, everything would be exactly the same.

You wanted to see me? Logan asked warily.

Joe gestured to the chair next to the bed. Sit down.