The Face of Deception

by Iris Johansen

  Eve nodded.

  Hazard pay. Logans generosity was making sense to her now. This wasnt about dead cats and vicious vandalism. This was about murder. They had tried to murder Gil. They might have killed all of them if the limo had ended up in that ditch.

  Better? Logan had come down the stairs. You have more color.

  Do I? She took another sip of coffee. Hows Gil?

  Flesh wound. Braden says hell be okay. He turned to Margaret. We dont want the police report filed yet. Talk Braden into a delay.

  Yeah, sure, and let them accuse me of suppressing She sighed and headed for the stairs. Ill take care of it.

  Margaret had reached the top before Logan turned back to Eve. We need to talk.

  Id say thats an understatement. She moved toward the kitchen. But, right now, I have an empty cup and I need more coffee.

  He followed her and dropped down into a chair at the table. Im sorry you were frightened.

  Is that supposed to make me feel all warm and fuzzy? Her hand was shaking as she poured the coffee. It doesnt. Right now Im scared, but when I get over it, Im going to be mad as hell.

  I know. I cant expect anything else. He paused. You were pretty amazing tonight. You probably saved Gils life. Where did you learn karate?

  Joe. After Bonnie was I told you Id never be a victim again. Joe taught me how to take care of myself.

  He smiled. And everyone else too, evidently.

  Somebody had to help him. You obviously thought more of that damn coffin than of your friend. My God, youre obsessed. Im surprised you agreed to slow down so I could toss that thing out.

  His smile faded. Gils been trained to take care of himself too. He had his job. I had mine.

  And I have mine. She stared into his eyes. But I never bargained for anyone shooting at me.

  I told you theyd try to stop us.

  You didnt tell me theyd try to murder us.

  No, I guess I didnt.

  You know damn well you didnt. Her voice rose with anger. The whole thing was a disaster. You risked your life on a wild-goose chase and dragged me along with you. You almost got me killed, you son of a bitch.

  Yes.

  And there was no reason for it. I didnt have to be there.

  Yes, you did.

  What was I supposed to do? Work on the skull in the damn cornfield?

  No.

  Then, why did

  Dr. Bradens leaving. Margaret was at the entryway. I believe things will go smoother if you clap him on the shoulder and see him on his way, John.

  Right. Logan stood up. Will you come with me, Eve? Were not finished.

  You bet were not. She followed him into the foyer and watched him with the doctor. Smooth as honey. Persuasive as Lucifer. It took only a few min-utes for him to send the man happily on his way.

  She stood in the doorway as he escorted the doctor to his car.

  Hes good, huh? Margaret murmured.

  Too good. Suddenly the rage was gone, re-placed by weariness. What the hell difference did it make? Let him weave all his little webs and plots. None of it concerned her any longer.

  Logan waved at the doctor, and then turned back to face her. His gaze narrowed warily. Youre not angry anymore. That could be bad or good.

  Or neither. Why should I get upset? Its all water under the bridge. Im going upstairs to pack. Its over and Im out of here.

  Its not over.

  She stiffened. The hell its not.

  Margaret hurriedly said, I think Ill go check on Gil, and left them.

  Logans gaze never left Eves face. He repeated, Its not over, Eve.

  I agreed to one job and one job only. Even if I werent ready to cut your throat for putting me in the spot you did tonight, that job ended when I tossed that skull out of the limo. If you think Im going to hang around here while you try to retrieve it, youre crazy.

  I dont have to try to retrieve it.

  Her eyes widened. What the hell do you mean?

  Come with me.

  What?

  You heard me.

  He turned and walked away from her.

  NINE

  The cemetery.

  He was already past the wrought iron gate when she caught up with him. He moved purposefully down the row of graves.

  She didnt follow. What are you doing?

  Retrieving the skull. He stopped before Ran-dolph Barretts grave, lifted the pallet of carnations, and moved it aside. He picked up the shovel that had been hidden beneath it and began to dig. The earth was soft, recently turned, and the task went quickly. Since you called my hand, I have to supply you with a skull.

  She stared at him in disbelief. Are you com-pletely crazy? Digging up any old corpse to She inhaled sharply as a sudden thought occurred to her. Good God.

  He glanced up at her and answered her unspoken question. Yes, I retrieved the skull from that corn-field two months ago.

  And you buried it again here. Thats why you covered all these graves with flowers. You wanted to erase any sign the grave had been disturbed.

  He nodded as he kept on digging. Theres an old saying that the best place to hide anything is in plain sight, but I admit Im too anal to just leave it at that. I had Mark install an alarm that would go off if the box is touched, and I had him turn it off when I was in the house just now.

  And you must have substituted another skull in that coffin in the cornfield. She glanced at the name on the tombstone. Was it Randolph Barretts?

  No, Barretts only temporarily sharing his quar-ters. He died when he was sixty-four. I wanted a younger skull, so I bought one from a medical school in Germany.

  Her head was whirling. Wait a minute. Why? Why have you gone to all this trouble?

  I knew theyd tumble to what I was doing even-tually and that I might need a diversion. I hoped I wouldnt have to use it. I tried every way I could not to tip my hand, but something must have gone wrong. You hadnt even started the project. Things were moving too fast and I had to throw them off the track.

  What do you mean, moving too fast? I dont know what the hell youre talking about.

  You dont have to know. Its safer for you if you dont. He threw down his shovel, bent, and picked up the square lead box hed uncovered. All you have to do is the job I paid you for.

  I dont have to know? Shock reverberated through her as all the implications of his deception hit home. Why, you son of a bitch.

  Maybe. He set the box aside and began shovel-ing the dirt back into the grave. But it doesnt change anything.

  It changes everything. Her voice was shaking with anger. You took me out there to that damn cornfield, knowing it was for nothing.

  It wasnt for nothing. They knew you were on the job and I needed you there for window dressing to make the trip more convincing.

  And almost got me killed.

  Sorry. I cut it a little close.

  Sorry? Is that all youve got to say? What about Gil Price? He was shot. He was trying to save that skull for you and it wasnt even the right one.

  I hate to disappoint you. I know you want to pile all the guilt you can on my shoulders, but Gil knew exactly what he was doing. He arranged for the pur-chase of the skull for me.

  He knew? Im the only one who was left in the dark?

  Yes. He put the shovel down and drew the pallet of carnations over it and the grave. I wouldnt have let him walk into something like that without warning him.

  But you let me walk into it.

  You were supposed to be a bystander. Gil was going to participate. I didnt know youd be forced to

  Bystander. She was growing more furious by the second. You set me up. I wondered why you wanted me there, but I didnt think it was to use me as bait.

  The skull was the bait. As I said, you were there to make it all credible. I needed to make sure that theyd think our trip had enough significance for them to follow us.

  You wanted them to chase us. You wanted them to get close enough so there would be a valid excuse for shoving that coffin out the
limo.

  He nodded. They had to believe that only des-peration would force me to give up the skull. I was planning on being the one to toss out the coffin, but then Gil was hurt and I had to drive.

  And Gil told me to do it. Christ, you even ar-gued with me.

  I figured it was the quickest way to get you to do it. You were angry enough with me to do anything I didnt want you to do.

  And you would have risked letting Gil and me die to fool them.

  I was in that car too.

  If you want to commit suicide, thats your busi-ness. You had no right to endanger anyone else.

  I thought it was the only solution.

  Solution? My God, youre so obsessed with your damn politics, you were willing to stage a charade that could have killed all of us.

  I needed to buy you some time.

  Well, then, you did it for nothing. Her eyes blazed at him. If you think Id touch this job now, youre crazy. Id like to strangle you and bury you here beside Randolph Barrett. She whirled away from him. No, Id like to bury you somewhere no one would ever find you. You deserve it, you callous bastard.

  Eve.

  She ignored him as she started down the hill.

  You have a perfect right to be angry with me, but there are things for you to consider. Will you let me clarify the situation so that you

  She continued to ignore him and speeded up her pace. Manipulative son of a bitch. Crazy, conniving bastard.

  She met Margaret on the stairs as she headed for her room. Gils asleep. I think

  Arrange a car and a flight for me, she said curtly. Im out of here.

  Oops. I gather John wasnt very persuasive. She grimaced. Cant say I blame you, but you really can trust John to

  Forget it. Make that flight the next one out.

  Ill have to check with John.

  Get me out of here or Ill walk to Atlanta. She slammed the door of her room, flipped on the light, and moved toward the closet. She dragged her suit-case out, tossed it on the bed, and headed for the bureau.

  You do have to listen to me, Logan said quietly from the doorway. I know its difficult to see things clearly when youre this upset, but I cant let you leave until you know what youre facing.

  Im not interested in anything you have to say. She threw an armful of underthings into the suitcase. Why should I? Theyd probably be lies. Your credi-bility with me is the pits. You deceived me and you nearly got me killed.

  But you werent killed. Getting you killed is the last thing I want.

  She went back to the bureau and opened another drawer.

  Okay, lets explore the situation. You didnt think what I wanted you to do was dangerous enough to cause anyone serious problems. It seems you were wrong. They wanted the skull enough to kill for it. Therefore, they think its as important as I do.

  She dumped the contents of the second drawer into the suitcase. Its not Kennedy.

  Then prove it to them. Prove it to both of us.

  Screw you. I dont have to prove anything to anyone.

  Im afraid you do.

  She whirled to face him. The hell I do.

  You do if you want to keep alive. He paused. And keep your mother alive.

  She stiffened. Are you threatening me?

  Me? No way. Im just telling you how it is. The situations escalated to the point where you have only two options. Prove Im right and let me go after the bastards with evidence. Prove me wrong and you can go to the media and get everyone off your back. He looked directly into her eyes. Because the alternative is to have them go after you and put you down. They wont care if Donnellis story is true or not. They wont want to take the chance.

  I can get police protection.

  That might help for a while. But its not a per-manent solution.

  I can have Joe drag your ass in for questioning. I can tell them everything.

  And Ill find a way to walk out, smelling like a rose. Thats what lawyers are for. He added soberly, I dont want to fight you, Eve. I want to keep you alive.

  Bull. You want exactly what youve wanted from the beginning.

  Yes, but one doesnt rule out the other. What happened at your lab was a warning, but what hap-pened tonight showed theyve pulled the gloves off.

  Maybe.

  Listen, think about it. He studied her face and then shook his head. Im not getting through to you, am I? Okay, I didnt want to tell you, but other wit-nesses are already being eliminated. Three people have been killed in the last few days.

  Witnesses?

  My God, the case has been riddled with unex-plained deaths since the assassination. You must have read about it. He paused. And now its started again. Thats why I wanted to cause a diversion tonight. I hoped the killing would stop if they had another focus.

  Why should I believe you?

  I can give you the names and addresses of the victims. You can check with the local police. As God is my witness, Im telling you the truth.

  She believed him. She wished she didnt because his words shook her. Theres no reason for anyone to hurt my mother.

  Not if they can get at you. If they cant, they might decide to use her as a threat or an example like that cat in your lab.

  Blood. Her terror and horror at the first sight of the wreckage surged back. He had probably meant the reminder to do just that, but it wasnt necessary. The memory was vivid and knife-sharp and couldnt be pushed away. You keep saying they. Im tired of walking around in the dark. Who were those men fol-lowing us tonight? Whos doing this?

  He didnt answer for a moment. The man whos calling the shots right now is James Timwick. Do you recognize the name?

  She shook her head.

  Hes very high in the Treasury Department.

  And he was there tonight?

  No, Im not sure who those men were. They probably dont have any official status. Timwick wouldnt want any direct connection to him. In a con-spiracy like this the fewer people who know, the safer hed be. It would be much easier for him if he could use the full force of the government. But Id bet theyre hired guns.

  Hired guns. It sounded like something out of a bad western. And who did that to my lab?

  Gil says it could be Albert Fiske. Hes worked for Timwick before.

  Fiske. That blood and horror now had a name. I want Joe to know. He can track the bastard down.

  Do you really want to involve Quinn before you have proof? Timwick is a heavyweight. With one phone call he could make your friends life very diffi-cult. His voice lowered persuasively, Go for that proof, Eve. Do your job. Youll make things easier for Quinn and safer for yourself.

  And do what you want.

  Theres a downside to everything. But dont cut off your nose to spite your face hellip; or me. You think Im wrong. Wouldnt proving it punish me for all the problems Ive forced on you?

  Attempted murder can hardly be called a problem.

  Ive leveled with you. And Ive warned you. Its your decision now.

  It always has been.

  Then make the right one. He turned to leave. It will take a little time to arrange security to take you home. Ill tell Margaret to make reservations for you on the afternoon flight out of Reagan National.

  What if I want to leave now?

  He shook his head. Ive made you a target and Im going to protect you as best I can. Ill also double the security surrounding your mother and the house in Atlanta. He looked back at her. Change your mind, Eve. Forget how angry you are at me and do whats best for you and your mother.

  The door closed behind him before she could an-swer. Hit and run. Manipulative bastard.

  Keep your mother alive.

  She tried to smother the panic rising inside her. He had cleverly chosen the words that would strike deepest. She should ignore everything hed said and get the hell out of there. Shed never have come if shed known it could lead to this. Hed deliberately deceived her and embroiled her in a situation that

  Slow down. Forget the fact that she wanted to wring Logans neck. The situation existed. Now
what could she do about it?

  Prove me wrong.

  Tempting bait. If she worked hard, in a couple days she could have the proof.