Company branches in Alabama and Louisiana.
Louisiana...
Don't jump to conclusions. The defacement could have nothing to do with Eve's reconstruction job in Baton Rouge. But he didn't like the way this investigation was shaping up, dammit.
And he wished to hell he could contact Galen without getting Eve's back up.
Just do your job. Find Capel and the man who bribed him. Do some more checking on the tire. Keep Jane as happy you can. Try to keep yourself from jumping on a plane and flying to Eve in Baton Rouge.
And hope to hell time was healing the rift he'd torn between them.
-------------------
"I fell asleep." Eve came down the stairs, trying to straighten her rumpled hair. "For heaven's sake, it's quarter past five in the evening. Why didn't you wake me?"
"Easy. You needed the sleep." Galen grinned. "And I needed time to prepare a meal par excellence."
"I've got to get over to the church. Didn't Melton show up?"
"He was here right on time. I told him to go away."
"You had no right to do that."
"I told him he could meet us in front of the church at six." He checked his watch. "That gives you forty-five minutes to eat my fine repast." He gestured to the dining room. "I don't like hurried meals; they dull one's appreciation. But I'll accept it this time."
"You should have woken me."
"You're wasting time. You don't want to keep our honorable senator waiting."
She followed him. "I've already kept him waiting for four hours."
Galen grinned. "He deserved it." He seated her at the table and shook out her napkin and put it on her lap. "Now start on the spinach salad."
"No way." She jumped up. "Galen, I want to go to meet Melton. I couldn't eat this meal, anyway. My stomach is still upset."
"What a dunce I am. Of course, you can't. I got carried away with my sheer culinary genius. Okay, maybe I'll make you some soup after we get back from the church tonight."
"I may not come back tonight. I often work at night."
"And then again you may. You still look pale around the gills."
"Galen."
"Don't worry. I'm not trying to bulldoze you. I sometimes take advantage of circumstances to get my own way, but I respect your free will."
"You really like to cook?"
"Eating is one of life's great pleasures. It dulls the roughest edges."
And Galen's life had probably had a multitude of sharp edges. Eve's gaze wandered from the white damask tablecloth to the flickering spring-green candles and then to the delicate bone china. It was as different as night and day from her cozy meal two nights ago in the kitchen.
And that had been his intention, she realized suddenly. He hadn't wanted to remind her of Marie Letaux or that last meal she'd had in this house.
"I'm sure your meal would have been wonderful. Thank you, Galen."
"You're welcome. It's just too bad I have to wait a little longer to be truly appreciated." He took her arm. "Let's get you over to the church so you can stop fretting."
-------------------
To her surprise, Melton was waiting impatiently outside the church when they arrived there. "Good, you're early. You're better? Galen said you weren't feeling well."
"I feel much better." Her gaze went to the door. "I expected you to be inside."
"I don't have a key. I've been waiting for— Here he is." His gaze was on the sandy-haired man hurrying toward them. "This is Rick Vadim. I hired Rick to help you out here. Rick, this is Ms. Duncan."
The young man nodded and smiled at Eve. "How do you do, ma'am. It's my pleasure to meet you."
"Hello. I'm very glad to meet you." She shook his hand. "This is Sean Galen. He's—"
"Ms. Duncan's assistant," Galen supplied. "I make things run smoothly for her."
"Then that makes two of us," Rick said solemnly. "That's also my assignment."
"Rick has been hired to assist Ms. Duncan in any way possible," Melton said.
"You're a forensic anthropologist?" Eve asked.
"No, I have no scientific background. But I'm very good at acquiring things and smoothing the way." He unlocked the door. "You'd like to see the skull?"
"That's why I'm here." Eve glanced around the vestibule. She'd half expected the interior of the church to be covered with dust, but it was spotless. "Where is it?"
"The main chapel." Rick gestured to the arched doorway. "This way, please."
"The chapel?"
"It seemed more respectful," Rick said. "From what I've read about your work, you believe in showing respect for those who have passed on."
"Yes, I do. But I doubt if I'll be able to work in your chapel. I require a good deal of light, a work-table, and a pedestal for my equipment."
"I've already set up a room for you. I think you'll be satisfied." He threw open the door. "There it is."
A huge black coffin.
She stopped short in the doorway and stared at it. The coffin dominated the small sanctuary.
"I'll wait out here," Melton said.
Eve felt the same strange reluctance to approach the coffin as he obviously did. "I thought you would have already removed the skull from the coffin. I didn't expect to see—It's very ... big..."
"The coffin is designed to protect the remains from further damage or decay. We wanted to make sure the skull was perfectly preserved," Rick said earnestly. "Believe me, I'm very upset that the rest of the skeleton has been misplaced. I wasn't in charge here when that happened."
"Misplaced?" Eve repeated. "I don't believe that's the term I'd use."
"It seems incredible to me, too. This entire affair is bizarre. But that's not my business. My job is to make sure nothing goes wrong from now on." Rick moved forward until he stood beside the coffin. "And I've been told the skull is in very good condition." He opened the lid and stepped aside. "What do you think?"
"I think I need some light. I can hardly see it. It's too dim in here."
"I'm sorry." Rick quickly lit a candle on the altar. "You have wonderful light and heat in the workroom I set up for you. I didn't know you'd want to do a close examination of the skull in here. I should have thought..."
He was so upset that Eve Smothered the impatience she was feeling. "It's okay, Rick. If there's a problem, I can take the skull back to the house."
"No, please don't do that. Believe me, I've made your workroom everything you could ask," Rick said. "The senator wants the work done here."
"Why?" Galen asked.
"It's on an island. Senator Melton was very concerned about the missing skeleton. He wants Ms. Duncan to be perfectly safe, and the security people he hired say the church will be much easier to keep protected. I promise I'll do everything I can to make the church comfortable for you."
"That will take some doing." Galen stepped closer, took a penlight out of his pocket, and shone it down into the coffin. "It's damn chilly. It must be damp in every molecule of this place."
"It's very warm in her workroom."
"It's fine," Eve said absently, her gaze on the skull. She still couldn't see worth a damn, but the pen-light was better than nothing. Although the skull was blackened by fire, it was intact, except that there were no teeth and the jaw was shattered. But there were no visible punctures or breaks. That was lucky.
"It's a male. Caucasian. The skull is surprisingly well preserved. I'll be able to work with it."
"He's been roughed up a little." Galen pointed to the shattered jawline. "And no teeth. He's been through one hell of a battle. Reminds me of that gladiator movie."
"Shut up, Galen," Eve said. "I have to have an unbiased mind when I do the final stage. I don't want the face to look like Russell Crowe."
"Great movie." Galen glanced at Rick and winked. "You can tell me who you think he is later when she's not around."
Rick smiled and shook his head. "I'm as much in the dark as you are. I can only guess." He turned to Eve. "I've got a pedestal and two worktables in you
r studio. I understand you'll need a video and computer setup for confirmation. I've been in touch with the Forensic Department at LSU and I think I've got it hooked up right. As soon as you're ready, I'll bring the skull to you."
He was obviously ready to whisk her out of the chapel and set her to work. His eagerness was very appealing, but she wasn't ready to leave the skull yet.
"Galen, why don't you go with Rick and check out the workroom for me while I try to take a better look at the skull?"
"Sure." Galen handed her the penlight. "Not my most interesting assignment, but I live to serve."
"Thanks." She shone the penlight into the nasal cavity. "Definitely Caucasian..."
"Come on, Rick. We're not wanted."
Eve was vaguely aware that they were gone and she was alone in the chapel. It didn't matter. Her feelings of unease had completely dissipated the moment she had seen the skull. He was just another one of the lost ones. It didn't matter if this was Bently or some poor vagrant. In the end he had clearly been as much a victim as little Carmelita, whose reconstruction she had just finished. Judging by the condition of the skull and the fact that those teeth had probably been jerked out after death, he might have been more of a victim.
Time to get to know him. Eve gently touched his cheekbone. "What do I call you?" She knew it would seem nuts to anyone on the outside, but she made it a practice to give all her subjects names. Each one had a history and a life. They had laughed and been loved by someone, even this poor beat-up warrior. He'd obviously not won this last battle, but she hoped he'd had his share of victories.
"Victor? Not a bad name." She nodded. "Works for me." She carefully swung down the heavy lid. "I'll see you tomorrow, Victor. And we'll see what we can do about bringing you home."
"Ready?" Galen was standing in the doorway. "Rick's done you proud. Your workroom is wonderfully equipped, lots of light and heat. Clean and shining as a Marine recruits' barracks. Do you want to see it?"
She started to tell him yes, and then stopped. Dammit, the energy she'd thought she'd regained was draining out of her. She came toward him. "No, I trust you. I'll see it tomorrow when I move in."
"Tomorrow?"
"Okay, you were right about my not being up to full speed. I thought I could start tonight, but I'm too tired. I can't begin him when I'm this weak." She grimaced. "I'll be glad when I get back to full strength. I took that long nap this afternoon, but even so, all I want to do is sleep."
"Then that's what you should do. I'm glad you're not going to insist on starting work tonight."
"I've already started work." Eve glanced over her shoulder at the black coffin. "And keen wits and alertness are essential to set up my equipment and start the measuring. Victor can wait a few more hours."
"Victor?"
"The skull."
"Oh." Galen didn't look at her as they started down the hall. "I don't want to be impolite, but do you always talk to skulls?"
"No." She gave him a limpid stare. "I'm very selective."
"It's okay with me. Just thought I'd ask." His gaze went to Rick standing with Melton at the front door. "Rick seems to be a nice guy. Sharp, too. He went to school up north."
"That doesn't surprise me. He sounds like a Yankee. Where did he go?"
"Notre Dame. Big football fan."
"It goes with the territory. He looks like the all-American boy, with that fair hair and those rosy cheeks." She dismissed the subject. "Did you find out when Marie's funeral is tomorrow?"
"Eleven. Are you still going?"
She nodded. "I'll set up early and then break to go to the funeral." As Eve and Galen left the church she held out her hand to Rick, who was still waiting by the front door with Melton. "Thank you for everything. I suppose I'll see you in the morning."
"It will be my pleasure." He shook her hand. "I'll have everything ready for you. I notice the skull is a little dirty, but I left it for you to clean."
"That's exactly right. We don't want to risk any more damage."
He nodded solemnly. "Certainly. Is there anything else I can do?"
Good Lord, he was intense. But that almost childlike earnestness was kind of sweet. "You won't find me very demanding. Just let me do my work."
He smiled. "No one will disturb you. I promise you." He turned to Galen. "An honor, sir."
Galen looked taken aback. "See you, Rick." He said in an undertone as he and Eve left the church, "Sir? Am I getting that old?"
"You don't see that kind of courtesy anymore. I think it's refreshing."
"You didn't answer me."
"How old are you, Galen?"
"Thirty-seven."
"That qualifies." She had a sudden thought and glanced back at Rick, who was still talking to Melton. "Rick."
He broke off and looked at her. "You need something? You only have to ask."
"A dragon to kill, a Holy Grail to find," Galen murmured sarcastically.
She ignored him. "Were you here two nights ago when I came to the church, Rick?"
He frowned. "You were here before?"
"The first night I arrived in Baton Rouge. I came and knocked on the door. No one answered."
"Because no one was here. I was at LSU arranging for the video equipment. I just arrived yesterday morning. I would have answered the door if I'd been in the church."
"No one was here?"
He shook his head. "Only the guards patrolling the grounds. And I guess they must have realized you weren't an intruder. You thought there was actually someone inside the church?"
"No, I guess not. I just had a feeling that ... Never mind. I'll see you in the morning." She turned to Melton. "Good-bye, Senator."
"I take it you're going to accept the job? I wasn't sure you would. I'm very grateful."
"I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for that man's family."
He smiled. "I'm still grateful. I'm glad everything is working out well. You have my phone number; please call me if there's any problem."
"You can count on it. Come on, Galen." Eve started toward the bridge.
"Did you see anything that led you to believe someone was here that night?" Galen asked.
"No, it was only a feeling."
He chuckled. "Maybe it was the ghost of our gladiator."
"I don't believe in ghosts."
"That's probably good. Considering how many skeletons you deal with, you could become a basket case.".
She glanced away from him. "Do you believe in ghosts?"
"I don't not believe in them. I think anything is possible. I just have to be shown." He smiled. "And so far our ghostly friends haven't seen fit to show themselves to me."
"The mind sees what it wants to see. It's all imagination ... or dreams."
"Dreams?"
She changed the subject. "And stop calling him a gladiator."
"That's right. His name is Victor. Isn't that what you called him?"
She glanced back at the church. Melton and Rick must have gone back inside. The door was shut, and the entrance had regained that air of forbidding secrecy she'd noticed the first time she saw it.
Well, secrets were meant to be solved, and tomorrow she would start. "Yes, his name is Victor."
-------------------
"Will you do it?" Joe asked. "All I'm asking is an afternoon of your time. Just come with me to Capel's neighbors and let them describe the guy to you."
"Don't bullshit me. That's only where it starts." Lenny Tyson penciled in a line beside the flaring nostrils of the woman in his sketch. "Then the real work begins, and I'm swamped right now. You know that, Joe."
"A favor, Lenny."
Tyson glanced up from the sketch. "Why? Is the guy a mass murderer or something?"
Joe shook his head. "This isn't department business, it's personal. I'll pay you twice what the department pays for composite sketches. George Capel was seen by two neighbors the day before he disappeared. He entered his condo with a small, dark-haired man in his late twenties or early thirties. T
hey came out a few hours later and drove off together. He was seen again later that same day at the bank where he has a safety-deposit box. The same man accompanied him. That was almost a week ago."
"And you want me to draw a sketch of Capel's friend?"
"Come on, Lenny. How long could it take?"
"It depends how good a memory the neighbors have." Tyson leaned back in his chair. "Seven days is a long time. It's promising that they remembered the color of his hair and that he wasn't a big man. How close does it have to be?"
"I want to try to compare it to mug files."
"Ouch. That's tough."
"Will you do it?"
"Twice what the department pays?"
"Three times."
Lenny sighed, stood up, and grabbed his art portfolio. "Let's go."
Chapter Six
Victor's skull was sitting on a pedestal when Eve walked into the workroom at seven the next morning.
"I told you I'd have everything ready." Rick beamed as he gestured around the small room. "There are your worktables, and I got the pedestal from a sculptor who lives here in Baton Rouge. Is it okay?"
"Very nice."
"And the video equipment?"
"I'll check it out later. That's the last stage." Eve set her case down on the worktable. "Now, if you'll get me several towels and a bowl of water, I'll be able to start."
"Sounds like you're going to operate or deliver a baby." Galen had appeared in the doorway.
Rick chuckled as he hurried out of the room.
"There are similarities to both." Eve rolled up the sleeves of her loose white shirt. "I was wondering where you were this morning."
"I was on the phone most of the night. I kept an eye on you from my balcony when you left the house."
"Why were you on the phone?"
"Research. Melton is a little too slick for my liking. So I called a few contacts." He made a face. "But Melton seems to be telling the truth on all fronts. Bently did disappear two years ago, and everything you were told about him seems to check out. Model citizen, husband, and father. From all accounts he was a genuinely nice guy. Sheriff Bouvier is a respected law enforcement officer and did release the skeleton to Melton."
"Skeleton?"
"Bouvier knew nothing about the skeleton disappearing. Melton promised him that he'd get an expert to quickly do a DNA test and then quietly return the remains to him. When I told Bouvier that there might be quite a few pieces missing, he was hopping mad. It's his job on the line. When he calmed down, he said he'd contact the senator, and he was sure Melton would use his influence to have the skeleton found and returned to him. He was just brimful of excuses and praise for the senator. He's solidly in Melton's camp."
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