The Face of Deception ed-1

by Iris Johansen

  Yes, since I sometimes do business as I move from place to place. Leaks can be costly.

  I imagine they can be. Particularly when you play around with something like a buried skeleton.

  Im not playing. He glanced at the rearview mirror again. Believe me, Eve.

  It was the second time in seconds he had checked the mirror, and the traffic wasnt that heavy. She glanced over her shoulder. Are we being followed?

  Maybe. Not as far as I can tell.

  Would you tell me if we were?

  It depends on if I thought it would scare you off. He glanced at her. Would it?

  No. I gave you my terms and Im committed. The only thing that would make me back away now would be if I thought you were lying to me. I wont stand for that, Logan.

  Point taken.

  I mean what I say. You hobnob with all those politicians who talk out of both sides of their mouths. Im not like that.

  My, how sanctimonious you sound.

  Think what you like. Im being up-front with you. I just dont want you to make any mistakes about me.

  Point taken. I assure you, no one could mistake you for either a politician or a diplomat, he said dryly

  I take that as a compliment.

  And I take it you dont like politicians.

  Does anyone? These days we all seem to have to choose the lesser evil.

  There are some people out there who want to do a good job.

  Are you trying to convert me? Forget it. I dont like Republicans any more than I do Democrats.

  Who did you vote for in the last election?

  Chadbourne. But not because he was a Demo-crat. He convinced me hed be a decent president.

  And you think he has?

  She shrugged. He got the aid to dependent children bill passed even though Congress had him gridlocked.

  A gridlocks like a logjam. Sometimes you have to toss in something explosive to break it up.

  Those fund-raisers youve been giving arent ex-actly explosive.

  It depends on your viewpoint. I do what I can. Ive always believed a person has to take a stand. If you want to change things, you have to work with the system.

  I dont have to work with it. I dont have to have anything to do with it except on election day.

  No, you bury yourself in your lab with your bones.

  Why not? She gave him a sly glance. Theyre better company than most politicians.

  To her surprise, he didnt take the bait. My God, maybe you do have a sense of humor. He chuckled. Suppose we agree to disagree. My dad always told me never to argue religion or politics with a woman.

  How sexist of him.

  He was a great guy, but he lived in a different world. He wouldnt have known how to deal with women like you or Margaret.

  Is he still alive?

  No, he died when I was in college.

  Am I going to meet Margaret?

  He nodded. I called her this afternoon and told her to be at the house.

  Wasnt that a little inconsiderate? She had to fly in from California, didnt she?

  I needed her.

  The bald statement said it all, she thought. He might pretend to be browbeaten by this Margaret, but he expected her to jump when he called.

  I asked her nicely. Nary a whip in sight.

  Sometimes they dont have to be in view to get the effect.

  Well, I promise I wont use coercion on you, visible or otherwise.

  She met his gaze with a cool one of her own. No, you wont. Dont even try, Logan.

  Theyre boarding now, Fiske said. What do you want me to do? Find out his flight plan and follow him?

  No, his secretary told her father she was going to the Virginia house. Hes got that place loaded with more security than Fort Knox. Weve got a surveil-lance team outside the gates, but we wont be able to touch him once hes inside.

  Then I should move before he gets there.

  I told you, hes too visible. We dont want to do anything to him unless its absolutely necessary.

  Then Ill go back to the house. The mother is still

  No, shes not going anywhere. You can pick up that string later if we decide we need a distraction. We have something more urgent for you to do. Come back here.

  FIVE

  The jet landed at a small private field near Arlington, Virginia. Their luggage was immediately transferred into a stretch limousine parked by the hangar.

  All the ease that money could buy, Eve thought wryly. No doubt the chauffeur would display the ob-sequious formality of a Wodehouse character.

  The red-haired driver got out. Hi, John. Good trip? He was freckled, good-looking, not over thirty, and dressed in jeans and a checked shirt that reflected the blue of his eyes.

  Good enough. Gil Price, Eve Duncan.

  Gil shook her hand. The bone lady. I saw your picture on 60 Minutes. Youre prettier in person. They should have concentrated on you instead of on that skull.

  Thank you, but I had no desire to appear on national television. Ive had enough of cameras in my life.

  John doesnt like cameras either. I had to break one last year in Paris. He grimaced. And then John had to settle out of court with the bastard who claimed Id broken his head instead of his camera. I hate paparazzi.

  Well, the paparazzi dont usually trail me around, so you wont have that problem.

  I will if you hang around with John. He opened the back door. Hop in and Ill get you to Bar-rett House PDQ.

  Barrett House? It sounds very Dickens.

  Nope, it used to be an inn during the Civil War. John bought it last year and had it completely remodeled.

  Has Margaret arrived? Logan asked as he fol-lowed Eve into the car.

  Two hours ago and crabby as hell. Im charging you hazard pay for that pickup. Gil jumped into the drivers seat. I cant understand it. How can she not love me? Everyone loves me.

  It must be a flaw in her character, Logan said. It certainly couldnt be because theres anything wrong with you.

  My thought exactly. Gil started the car and flicked on the CD player. The limo was immediately filled with the doleful strains of Feed Jake.

  The window, Gil, Logan said.

  Oh, right. He grinned over his shoulder at Eve. John used to have a Jeep, but he cant stand country music so he got this hearse so he could have a privacy window.

  I like country, Logan said. I just cant stand those songs of woe you hug to your bosom. Blood-stained wedding gowns, dogs at grave siteshellip;

  Thats because youre full of mush and you dont like to show it. Do you think I havent seen your eyes water? Now, take Feed Jake. Its a

  You take it. The window.

  Okay. The window glided up soundlessly and the music faded out.

  I hope you dont mind, Logan said.

  No, I have trouble with sad songs. But I cant imagine you crying in your beer over one.

  He shrugged. Im human. Those country-song writers know exactly how to hit you.

  Her gaze shifted to the back of Gils head. Hes nice. Not exactly what I expected in one of your employees.

  Gils not what anyone expects, but hes a good driver.

  And bodyguard?

  That too. He used to be in the Air Force Military Police, but he doesnt respond well to discipline.

  Do you?

  No, but I usually try to work my way around it instead of punching people out. He gestured out the side window. Well be on my land in a few minutes. Its pretty country with lots of woods and meadows.

  I suppose so. It was too dark to see more than shadowy trees. She was still absorbed with the com-parison Logan had made between himself and Price. And what do you do when you cant work around anyone who tries to discipline you?

  Why, punch them out. He smiled. Thats why Gil and I get along. Were soul mates. They turned a curve in the road, and a twelve-foot-tall elaborate wrought iron fence loomed before them.

  She watched Gil press a control on the dashboard, and the gates swung slowly open.

  Is the fenc
e electrified too? she asked.

  He nodded. And I have a security man moni-toring the grounds by video camera from the carriage house.

  She felt a sudden chill. Very high-tech. I want my own remote to open those gates.

  He looked at her.

  Gates that keep people out can also keep them in. I dont like the idea of being in a cage.

  Im not trying to keep you prisoner, Eve.

  No, not if you can get what you want any other way. But what if you cant?

  I cant force you to work.

  Couldnt you? Youre a very clever man, Logan. I want my own remote to open those gates.

  Tomorrow. It will have to be programmed. He smiled sardonically. I think its safe to assume I wont try to bulldoze you in the next twenty-four hours.

  Tomorrow. She leaned forward as the house came into view. The moon had come out from behind the clouds and lit the place. Barrett House was a sprawling two-story stone building that looked like the nineteenth-century inn Gil had said it had once been. There was nothing pretentious about it, and the ivy covering the walls softened the stone. As Gil stopped the car in front of the front door, she asked, Why buy an inn that you had to restore? Why not just build a new house?

  Logan climbed out of the car and held out his hand to help her. It had a few unique features that appealed to me.

  Dont tell me. It had its own graveyard.

  He grinned. The Barrett family cemetery is just over the hill. But that wasnt why I bought the inn. He opened the tall mahogany front door. There arent any live-in servants. I have cleaning people come in from town twice a week. Well have to fend for ourselves in the kitchen.

  It doesnt matter. Im not accustomed to ser-vants, and food isnt a high priority for me.

  His gaze ran over her. I can tell. Youre lean as a greyhound.

  I like greyhounds, Gil said as he carried the luggage into the hall. Graceful and those great, big wistful eyes. I had one once. Nearly killed me when he died. Where do you want her bags?

  The first door at the head of the stairs, Logan said.

  Right. Gil started up the steps. Pretty boring. My quarters are in the old carriage house, Eve. You should ask him to put you out there. More privacy.

  This will be more convenient to the lab, Logan said.

  And more convenient for Logan to keep tabs on me, Eve thought.

  Margaret must have gone to bed. Youll meet her in the morning. I think youll find everything you need in your room.

  I want to see my lab.

  Now?

  Yes. You may not have equipped it properly. I may have to supplement it.

  Then by all means come with me. Its one of the added rooms in the back. I havent seen it myself. I had Margaret get you everything she thought youd need.

  The efficient Margaret again.

  Not only efficient. Exceptional.

  She followed Logan across a huge living room with a fireplace large enough to walk into, plank floors covered by woven hemp carpets, and oversized leather furniture. It looked like a lodge, she decided.

  He led her down a short hall and then opened a door. Here you are.

  Coldness. Sterility. Gleaming stainless steel and glass.

  Oops. Logan grimaced. This must be Mar-garets idea of scientific heaven. Ill try to warm it up for you.

  It doesnt matter. I wont be here that long. She strode over to the pedestal. It was sturdy and ad-justable. The three video cameras on tripods next to it were top-notch, as were the computer, mixer, and VCR. She moved over to the workbench. The mea-suring instruments were high-grade, but she pre-ferred the ones she had brought with her. She took the wooden box from the shelf above the bench, and sixteen sets of eyes stared up at her. All variations of hazel, gray, green, blue, brown. Blue and brown would have been sufficient, she said. Brown is the most prevalent eye color.

  I told her to get you everything you could pos-sibly need.

  Well, she did that. She turned to look at him. When can I start to work?

  In a day or two. Im waiting for word.

  And Im supposed to sit here and twiddle my thumbs?

  Would you like me to dig you up one of the Bar-retts to practice on?

  No, I want to finish the job and go home.

  You gave me two weeks. He turned away. Come on, youre tired. Ill show you to your room.

  She was tired. She felt as if a thousand years had passed since she had walked to her lab that morning. She had a sudden pang of homesickness. What was she doing here? She didnt belong in this strange house with a man she didnt trust.

  The Adam Fund. It didnt matter whether she be-longed here or not. She had a job and a purpose. She came toward him. I meant what I said. I wont do anything criminal.

  I know you meant it.

  Which didnt mean he accepted it. She flicked off the overhead light and moved past him into the hall. Are you going to tell me why you brought me here and why I should do what you want me to do?

  He smiled. Why, its your patriotic duty.

  Bull. Her gaze narrowed on his face. Politics?

  Why do you assume that?

  Youre known for your activities in public view and behind the scenes.

  I suppose I should be relieved that you no longer think Im a mass murderer.

  I didnt say that. Im exploring all options. Politics?

  Possibly.

  A sudden thought occurred to her. My God, are you trying to smear someone?

  I dont believe in smear campaigns. Lets say things arent always what they seem, and I believe in bringing the truth to light.

  If its to your advantage.

  He nodded mockingly. Of course.

  I dont want to be part of it.

  Youre not part of ithellip; unless Im right. If Im wrong, you go home and we forget you were ever here. He was preceding her up the stairs. What could be more fair?

  Maybe his reason didnt involve politics. Maybe it was entirely personal. Well see.

  Yes, we will. He opened her door and stood aside. Goodnight,Eve.

  Good night. She went inside and closed the door. The room was country comfortable with a canopy bed with a rust and cream quilt, simple pine furniture. The only thing in it that interested her was the telephone on the end table. She sat down on the bed and dialed Joe Quinns number.