The Face of Deception

by Iris Johansen

  He chuckled and moved toward her, eager as a kid for the romp to come. She kept the teasing, bold smile as she slipped into bed.

  She and Ben had shared a bed, and bringing Kevin immediately into hers was a necessary part of the plan. He had been hesitant, even shy at first, and shed had to use her every skill to draw him in without appearing too aggressive. She could have found other ways to manage him, but this was best. It was her job to make sure Kevin was controlled.

  And sex was the greatest controller of all.

  Arrogant bitch.

  Timwick leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. It was all very well for Lisa to order him around and then go to bed and let him do the work. She was there in the White House, acting like royalty, and he was in this crummy office, working his ass off. She wanted results, but she didnt want to dirty her hands, and she turned a blind eye to what she didnt want to see. He was the one who kept things running and pro-tected them from disaster. Where would she be now if he hadnt stepped in?

  Eve Duncan. She was Logans tool, nothing more. It was stupid to make her a priority. If Lisa hadnt been such a feminist, she would have admitted that Logan was the prime threat.

  Jesus, it seemed as if there were threats closing in all around him.

  His hands clenched the arms of the chair. Keep calm. He was doing everything he could to save the situation. He would save it. He had too much at stake to take off and run. If he stuck it out, hed have every-thing hed ever wanted.

  He reached for the telephone. Do what she saidfor now. He needed her to help stop the expo-sure of the cover-up and he needed her to push Detwil into the White House for another term. After that hed find a way to gain control. Let Lisa think she was running the show.

  Hed give her enough information on Eve Duncan to choke her.

  Wake up, were here.

  Eve opened her eyes to see Logan getting out of the drivers seat.

  She yawned. What time is it?

  After midnight. Gil reached for the door latch. You slept most of the way.

  It seemed impossible that she could have fallen asleep. Her nerves had been taut as wires.

  Youve had a rough couple of days. Gil an-swered her unspoken question. I dozed a little my-self. But I admit Ill be glad to stretch out.

  She was so stiff, she had to catch hold of the door when she got out of the car. She watched Logan climb the steps and unlock the front door. He was car-rying the leather case with Chadbournes skull. Trust Logan to keep his priorities in order, she thought dryly

  Ready? Gil asked as he grabbed her suitcase. Ill take that.

  I can manage. Take Mandys box. He was al-ready following Logan up the steps.

  She didnt want to go inside. The air was cool and wet in her nostrils, and the sound of the sea against the shore was like a blessing. She hadnt been to the shore in a long time. Joe had taken her to Cumber-land Island after shed left the hellhole but she had no memory of what the island looked like. All she could remember was Joe holding her, Joe talking, Joe holding back the night.

  Joe. She had to call Joe. She hadnt spoken to him since before the night theyd gone to the cornfield. She had deliberately avoided calling him and pulling him deeper into this morass. But if she didnt call him soon, hed be storming Barrett House with a SWAT team.

  The wind was coming up and blowing the surf into whitecaps before they reached the shore.

  Bonnie had liked the ocean. Eve and Sandra had taken her to Pensacola a few times and she had streaked up and down the shore, laughing and chat-tering and looking for seashells.

  She closed the car door and walked down to the pier.

  Eve.

  She didnt turn around at Logans call. She didnt want to go into the house. She didnt want to face him or anything else just then. She needed time for herself.

  She pulled off her sandals, sat down on the low pier, and dangled her feet. The water was cool and silken as it flowed against her skin.

  She leaned her head against the post, listening to the rush of the sea.

  And remembering Bonniehellip;

  Are you going after her? Gil said. Shes been out there almost an hour, John.

  Soon. God, she looked lonely. I dont think she wants company.

  You dont want her to think too much. Thinking can be a dangerous thing. Shes already resentful.

  Im tired of driving her, dammit. Let her have some peace.

  I doubt if she allows herself to be driven in a di-rection she doesnt want to go.

  But its possible to block out every other path so shes forced to take the only one left. Logan had done that since the moment he had met her. He was doing it now.

  So was he going to stop because he was having a few twinges of conscience?

  Not likely.

  So repair her broken trust and use her again. Ill go get her. He went down the porch steps and strode across the sand to the pier.

  She didnt look at him as he approached. Go away, Logan.

  Its time you came in. Its getting chilly.

  Ill come in when Im ready.

  He hesitated and then sat down beside her. Ill wait for you. He took off his shoes and socks and dangled his feet in the water.

  I dont want you here.

  You know, I havent done anything like this since I was in Japan. He gazed out at the ocean. There doesnt seem to be time enough in the day to relax.

  Are you trying to bond with me, Logan?

  Maybe.

  Well, youre not doing it.

  No? Too bad. Then, I guess I might as well just sit here and relax.

  Silence.

  What are you thinking about? he asked.

  Not Chadbourne.

  Your daughter?

  She stiffened. Dont use Bonnie to try to get close to me, Logan. It wont work.

  Just curious. I guess I dont understand your ob-session with identifying skulls. Oh, I know your daughter was never found, but you cant expect to

  I dont want to talk about it.

  I watched you with Mandy and then with Ben Chadbourne. Theres almost ahellip; tenderness.

  So Im a little crazy. Everyones a little bonkers on some subject or other, she said jerkily. I assure you I dont think their souls are hanging around those bones.

  Do you believe in an everlasting soul?

  Sometimes.

  Only sometimes?

  Okay, most of the time.

  He was silent, waiting.

  When Bonnie was born, she wasnt like me or Mom or anyone. She was justhellip; herself. All completehellip; and wonderful. How could that be if youre not born with a soul?

  And that soul is eternal?

  How do I know? Ihellip; think so. I hope so.

  Then why are you so passionate about returning those bones to their families? It shouldnt make any difference.

  It makes a difference to me.

  Why?

  Life is important. Life should be treated with re-spect, not tossed away like some useless bit of trash. There should be a hellip; home for everyone. I never had a real home when I was a kid. We moved from tene-ment to tenement. Motel to motel. Mom was It wasnt her fault. But everyone should have a place, a permanent place in the scheme of things. I tried to give Bonnie a home, the best home I could manage, where I could love her and take care of her. When Fraser killed her, I had nightmares about her lying in the forest for the animals to She was silent a mo-ment and her voice was uneven when she spoke again. I wanted her home, where I could take care of her as I always had. Hed taken her life, I didnt want him to take that last bit of caring away from either of us.

  I see. Christ, he was seeing more than he wanted to see. Do you still have nightmares?

  She was silent again and then she said, No, not nightmares. She swung her legs out of the water and onto the pier. Im going inside. She picked up her sandals and rose to her feet. If your curiosity is satis-fied, Logan.

  Not entirely. But youre evidently not going to confide anything else to me.

  Youve got th
at right. She looked down at him. And dont think youve made any headway with this cozy chat. I havent told you anything I wouldnt tell anyone else. Joe and I agreed that it was healthiest for me to talk about Bonnie.

  We need to talk about Chadbourne.

  No, we dont. Not tonight.

  She walked away from him.

  Tough lady. Exceptional lady.

  He watched her start up the steps of the beach house. The light pouring through the windows shim-mered on her red-brown hair and silhouetted her slim, strong body.

  Strong but vulnerable. That body could be hurt and broken and destroyed.

  And he could very well be responsible for just that happening.

  Maybe trying to reconnect with her hadnt been such a good idea. She had walked away as strong and independent as ever, and he was the one feeling uncertain.

  And, yes, perhaps even a little vulnerable.

  Ive been thinking, Lisa, Kevin murmured in her ear. Maybe we should What do you think about a baby.

  Oh, good God. A child?

  He got up on one elbow and gazed down at her. A child would be very popular. Everyone loves kids. If we started now, it would be born right after my next term starts. He hesitated. And Idhellip; like it.

  She reached up and stroked his cheek. Do you think I wouldnt? she asked softly. Nothing would please me more. Ive always wanted a child. But its not possible.

  Why? You said Chadbourne couldnt have chil-dren, but we can take care of that now.

  Im forty-five years old, Kevin.

  But there are all those fertility drugs now.

  For a moment she was actually tempted. She had spoken the truth; she had always wanted a child. She and Ben had tried so hard to conceive. She remembered him joking and saying what an advantage kids were to any politician, but that was one time she hadnt cared about political advan-tage. Shed wanted someone of her own, someone to belong to her.

  Forget it. Impossible. The tears that filled her eyes werent totally for Kevins benefit. Dont talk about it. It hurts me that we cant do it.

  Why cant we?

  It would be too difficult. There could be all kinds of problems for a woman my age. What if the doctor decided I had to have complete bed rest for the last months of pregnancy? That happens sometimes, and I wouldnt be able to travel with you during the campaign. That could be dangerous for us.

  But youre so strong and healthy, Lisa.

  He must have been brooding about this for a long time to be this persistent. It would be a risk we shouldnt take. She pushed the one button she knew would stop him cold. Of course, we could give up our plans for another term. But youre such a wonderful president, everyone admires and respects you. Do you want to give all that up?

  He was silent. Youre sure it would be that risky?

  He was already relinquishing the idea, as shed known he would. No way would he go back to ano-nymity after the power and respect hed become ac-customed to. Right now is just the wrong time. Im not saying we couldnt consider it later. She stroked his lower lip with a forefinger. But do you know how touched I am that you think so much of me? Id love nothing better than to

  The phone on the bedside table rang, and she reached over to pick it up.

  The bodys arrived at Bethesda, Timwick said.

  The body. Cold. Impersonal. Thats how she should view it too. Thats how she had to view it. Excellent.

  Have you managed to contact Maren?

  Hes somewhere out in the desert. Ill have to try again.

  We dont have much time.

  I said Ill take care of it.

  The media is crawling all over the hospital. Should we start it in motion?

  No, let them speculate and then pop the story on them in the morning. We want them hungry enough to jump on any tidbit of information. She hung up.

  Timwick? Kevin asked.

  She nodded absently, her mind still on Bethesda.

  I dont like the bastard. Do we still need him?

  Be a little grateful, she said teasingly. Hes the one who discovered you.

  He always treats me like a stupid ass.

  Not in public?

  He shook his head.

  Well, maybe you wont have to see much of him. Ive been thinking you should give him an ambas-sadors post. Maybe in Zaire. After all, you are the president.

  He laughed delightedly. Zaire.

  She got up and slipped on her robe. Or Moscow. Its supposed to be very uncomfortable in Moscow.

  But you promised him the vice presidency next term. Well have to name him as my running mate at the convention. He grimaced. Hes not going to give that up.

  No, the vice presidency was the only carrot that had drawn Timwick into the plan. Hed been bitterly disappointed that Ben had not given him a cabinet post, and Lisa had never seen a more ambitious man. A hunger that intense could pose future problems for her, but she couldnt worry about Timwick now. Maybe we can think of a way of getting around it.

  It would really be better if we can keep Chet Mobry as vice president. He hasnt caused us any trouble.

  He could have caused us big trouble if we hadnt kept him on the road with nonstop goodwill missions. He never agreed with our policies. We could do the same with Timwick.

  I guess so, but hes been Where are you going?

  I have a little work to take care of. Go to sleep.

  Is that why Timwick called you? He frowned. You never tell me what youre doing.

  Because its only small, unimportant details. You take care of the big picture, I do the little stuff.

  His frown disappeared. Youll come back when youre finished?

  She nodded. Im only going into the next room to look at a dossier. I want to be prepared for your next meeting with Tony Blair.

  He lay back down on the pillows. Hell be a piece of cake after the Japanese.

  He was getting cocky. But it was better than the intimidation hed shown when hed first slipped into Bens place. Well see. She blew him a kiss. Go to sleep. Ill wake you when I come back.

  She closed the door and walked to the desk across the room. It took her ten minutes to get through to Scott Maren and another five to explain the situation and its urgency.

  Christ, Lisa, its not that easy. What excuse am I going to give for cutting my stay here short?

  Youre clever. Youll come up with something. She added quietly, I need you, Scott.

  Silence. It will be all right. Hang tough, Lisa. Ill call the hospital and tell them to hold off the au-topsy. Ill be there as soon as I can.

  She hung up the phone. God, she was lucky to have Scott. He was going to be essential with damage control.

  She turned on the computer, entered her pass-word, and opened the file on Eve Duncan. Every-thing was moving smoothly toward a salvage of the situation, and yet she was uneasy.

  Eve Duncans image on the screen stared back at her. Kinky tousled curls, only a minimum of makeup, large brown eyes behind round wire-rimmed glasses. There was a world of character in that face, more than enough to make her fascinating-looking instead of just attractive. But the woman ignored the basic rules of power; she didnt use the assets she was given. She reminded Lisa of herself during her first few years of college, when shed thought brains and de-termination would do it all. God, that seemed a long time ago. Shed probably had the same intensity she saw in Eves expression. It hadnt taken her long to learn that intensity scared people. It was better to hide your passions behind a sweet smile.

  Yet Eves background showed she was a survivor, and Lisa respected survivors. She was one herself, or she would never have been able to make it through these last years. Smiling sadly, she gently touched Eves image.

  Sisters. Opposite sides of the same coin. Survivors.

  Too bad.

  She started reading Eves dossier, looking for a weakness, a way to topple her.

  She was only two-thirds through the report when she found it.

  Gil and Logan were sitting in front of the television set when Eve came into the living
room the next morning.

  Shit, Gil murmured. They really gutted it. I liked that old house.

  What happened? she asked. Barrett House?