Kessler was silent a moment. Maybe.
He wanted it all right. She could see the excite-ment he was trying to hide.
It would be megadifficult, she said. Hell, youll probably have enough for a book.
Not so difficult. He scowled. Unless you screwed up the teeth too.
I didnt touch them any more than I could help. She smiled. And you know my work doesnt interfere with yours. Its all there, waiting for you.
He glanced up from the skull. I know exactly what youre doing, you know.
Of course you do. Now, are you going to do it, or do we take the skull to Crawford at Duke?
Appealing to my competitiveness wont work ei-ther. I know Im the best in the business. He sat back down in the chair. But I may do you the favor. Ive always liked you, Duncan.
Youd do it even if you hated my guts. Her smile faded. But Im not going to lie. The situation is more dangerous than getting in trouble with the law.
I gathered that. He shrugged. Im an old man. I need a little something to keep the adrenaline pumping. Can I use my own lab?
Wed rather you dont. We think were safe, but we dont want to take any chances. Is there someplace else you can work?
You do make things hard for me. He thought for a minute. My lab at home?
She shook her head.
Ive a friend whos a professor at Kennesaw State, which is about forty minutes from here. Hell let me use his lab.
Fine.
What about my assistant?
She shook her head. Let him take over your classes. Ill help you.
I probably wont need it. He added testily, But you can clean off all this damned clay. I want a nice, clean surface.
Okay. She braced herself. But I need to do a superimposition first.
And Im supposed to twiddle my thumbs and wait?
Ill hurry. We need it, Gary. You know the teeth are important with superimposition and we dont know how many teeth youre going to have to take. We cant verify the dental records, so we need every bit of evidence we can get our hands on.
Maybe, he granted reluctantly. But my DNA will carry the day.
I know. But will you use your pull to borrow video equipment from the audio-visual department? I already have the mixer.
You dont want much, Gary said sourly. Tak-ing valuable equipment off campus? Theyll yell bloody murder.
Dont tell them youre taking it off campus.
Theyll still kick up a fuss.
Charm them.
Yeah, sure. Then they really will suspect Ive gone around the bend. Ill threaten and blackmail them instead.
Youre right, we wouldnt want you to act out of character.
But youll work your skinny butt off and get your stuff done pronto.
Im not arguing.
Amazing, Kessler murmured. How long to clean up the skull?
An hour, maybe two. I want to be very careful.
Then Ill get your equipment and then run down my assistant and tell him Ill be gone for a couple of days. Kessler moved toward the door. Pack up our presidential friend. Ill be back as soon as possible.
She said quietly, Thanks, Gary. I owe you.
Yes, you do, and Ill make sure you pay me.
You played him very well, Logan said as the door closed behind Kessler.
We understand each other. She glanced at Joe. Will you follow him and make sure hes safe? I didnt want to make an issue of it, but I dont want him running around the campus all by himself.
You said yourself that you didnt think theyd figure out the connection.
I dont want to take any chances. I persuaded him to help us. I feel responsible.
And I feel responsible for you.
Please, Joe.
I dont want to He broke off as he saw her expression. He turned away abruptly. Stay with her, Logan. If you let anything happen to her, Ill break your neck. The door closed behind him with a deci-sive click.
Violence again. She gazed blindly down at the skull.
Are you ready to go? Logan asked.
Not yet. Im going to pack up Ben and then rifle through Garys equipment for something to chip this clay off. She crossed to the table and opened the cabinet. You can contact Margaret and find out when my mother will be safe.
I can phone from here.
I dont want you underfoot. Go outside and do it.
Id like to oblige, but Quinn gave me orders. I really would like to keep my skin intact.
Im giving you orders. Youre not doing any good here. Get out of my way and see that Moms safe or Ill go home and do it myself. Its what I want to do anyway.
He held up his hand in surrender. Im on my way.
He was gone.
She drew a breath of relief. She didnt want any of them around her right now. She was too unsettled and needed to get things back in perspective. Work was the only thing that would do that. The sooner they got to that lab at Kennesaw State, the better shed be.
She found three wood instruments that looked sharp enough to be effective but not too sharp to do crucial damage if her hand slipped. She dropped them in her handbag and then carefully repacked Bens skull in the case. Okay, Ben. Sorry to put you through this, but Ive got to take all that clay off you. Put it on, take it off. All this running around and fussing doesnt seem fair, does it? She fastened the case. But here we go again.
Mrs. Duncan? Open the door. Margaret Wilson.
Sandra studied the plump woman through the peephole and compared her to the photograph in her hand.
Mrs. Duncan?
I heard you. Sandra unlocked the door. Come in.
Margaret shook her head. No, I have the van at the curb. We have to leave now. Are you ready?
As soon as I get my suitcase. She went to the living room and came back with the case. Where are we going?
We cant talk here. Margaret preceded her down the porch steps. Dont worry, youll be safe.
Why cant we talk here. Im not Sandra made the connection. Bugged? You think my house is bugged?
Thats what I was told. Hurry.
Bugged. Sandra locked the front door. What the hell is going on?
I hoped youd know. Margaret moved briskly down the walk. I thought wed compare notes and come up with some answers. Usually, I dont mind traveling blind for John, but Im a little uneasy about all this. She opened the passenger door. Get in. She indicated the short, burly man in the drivers seat. This is Brad Pilton. Hes with Madden Security and hes one of the crew whos been watching over you the past several days. Hes supposed to be our bodyguard.
I am your bodyguard, Pilton said, pained. He nodded politely at Sandra. Maam.
Well, youre not very big. Margaret climbed into the backseat. Not that thats a hindrance in most cases. I approve of small. Still, I think Id have chosen someone else for the job if Id seen you first. There are uses for big and brawny. Not that you dont have excel-lent credentials.
Thank you. He started the van and edged away from the curb.
Where are we going? Sandra repeated. Or cant we talk?
The vans safe. It belongs to the security com-pany, but I insisted Pilton check it out for bugs anyway. Were going to the mall.
The mall?
North Lake Mall. She smiled at Sandra. We need to do a car switch in case were followed. Well go in one door and out another.
And from there?
Lake Lanier. Ive rented a small cottage. Youll be safe and cozy.
Lake Lanier. She and Ron had talked about going up there over Labor Day, Sandra remembered wist-fully. But hed said theyd stay at the hotel on Pine Island. He wasnt much on rustic. Well, neither was she. In spite of their differences, they had a lot in common.
Something wrong? Margarets gaze was on her.
I guess not. All this seems like a bad dream to me.
Me too. Margaret leaned forward and squeezed Sandras shoulder. Dont worry. Well get through it together.
I think were being followed, Pilton said.
Sandra tensed and glanced over her
shoulder. Where?
The dark blue Mercury.
Are you sure?
Pilton nodded. Dont worry. We expected it. Well lose him at the mall.
Someone was following them. Someone who might want to hurt her, Sandra thought with a shiver.
For the first time, the threat became real to her.
Fiske watched the van pull into a parking space at North Lake Mall and the three passengers hurry through the doors of the south entrance. He didnt bother to park. Hed cruise around the mall and see if he could spot the three as they came out an-other door.
It was doubtful. There were too many lots and too many exits.
It didnt really matter. His favorite listening de-vice had paid off again. He knew where they were going, though he wished Margaret Wilson had been a little more explicit. Lanier was a huge resort area with thousands of rental properties.
Which meant he should start the ball rolling on locating the right one immediately.
He took out his electronic earpiece and punched in Timwicks number on his phone. Duncans mother is being taken to a cottage on Lake Lanier. The place was probably rented yesterday or today by Margaret Wilson. I need to know where it is.
Ill get on it. Timwick hung up the phone.
Fiske decided that in the meantime hed check into a hotel and wait. Things were proceeding very well. Hed been upset about leaving Atlanta before everything was tidily brought to completion.
But now he was back.
Everythings fine, Margaret told Logan on the phone. Weve changed cars and were on our way to Lake Lanier.
Call me when you get there.
I told you, everythings fine. Pilton is sure were not being followed any longer.
Pilton?
The bodyguard. Though his body isnt much bigger than mine.
No big deal. Id bet on you over Goliath any day.
Me too. Thats why Im reassuring myself about Pilton. Okay, Ill call you when we get to the cottage. Anything else?
Just stay out of sight. He ended the call.
Everythings fine.
Maybe it was fine, but he was still uneasy. Hed expected getting Sandra Duncan away from the house to be more difficult.
Unless they wanted her out of sight as much as he did. It would be easier to dispose of someone who was hiding from the world.
But only if they found her.
I told you to stay with Eve. Joe Quinn was walking up the steps toward him.
And she told you to stay with Kessler.
Hes right behind me.
And Im a hundred yards from the lab.
Thats a hundred yards too far.
I had phone calls to make and I think she wanted me out of her hair.
She has good taste.
Time to try to bridge the gulf. Youre absolutely right. Shes perfectly right to resent me. So are you. He gazed into Quinns eyes. But dont give me or-ders. Were on the same team and Ill do everything I can, but Ill work with you, not for you, Quinn.
Joes lips twisted. And not against me? Just what did you tell her about me?
What I had to tell her to protect my position. I assure you that it was nothing but the truth.
As defined by John Logan.
Logan nodded. I think you know what I told her. I imagine its what youve been carefully hiding for years.
Damn you.
I believe I was entitled to protect myself. You were becoming a little too lethal. Suppose we come to an agreement. You agree to work with me willingly, if not amicably, and Ill stop bringing up your alter ego to Eve.
Quinn stared at him a moment. Screw you. He passed him and went into the building.
Logan let out the breath he hadnt known he was holding. He had confronted many dangerous men in his time, but Quinn was definitely in a class by him-self. It astonished him that Eve hadnt picked up on it.
Maybe not so strange. To her Quinn was the pro-tector, the man who had saved her and sustained her.
It was difficult to equate a savior with a terminator.
FIFTEEN
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
1:05 a.m.
"Hows it going? Logan squatted beside Eves chair. Have you got a minute?
No, I havent got a minute. It took me forever to jerry-rig this equipment and set it up. She adjusted the TV monitor. And Ive just started.
Margaret called from Lanier. I have the phone number. I thought youd want to talk to your mother.
Why didnt you tell me? Of course I want to talk to her.
Logan dialed the number and handed his phone to Eve.
How are you, Mom?
Tired. Worried about you, Sandra said. Hell, worried about me. Other than that, Im in great shape. When is this going to be over, Eve?
I wish I knew. She changed the subject. Hows the cottage?
Nice. Its on the water. Great view.
But Sandra didnt sound as if she appreciated either the cottage or the view. Who could blame her? Eve had disrupted her life and yanked her away from the pleasant, comfortable niche shed made for her-self. Try to enjoy it and relax. Do you have any books to read?
Margaret brought a few suspense novels, but you know I dont read much. Theres a big TV set. A pause. Do you suppose I could call Ron? I wouldnt tell him where I was.
No, dont do it. Honest, Ill try to have you out of there in a few days.
Okay. Sandras tone was despondent. I guess Im kind of lonely. Ill be fine. You just take care of yourself.
I will. Good night, Mom. Ill call you every day. She handed Logan the phone. Thanks. I feel a little better now.
That was the intention. How is she?
Depressed. She wants her life back. She gazed blindly at the monitor. She deserves a good life. Shes had a hard time and now things are looking up for her. Shes met someone she cares about. Moms al-ways needed people.
And you havent?
She shrugged. I guess Ive never thought about it. There was always too much work to do.
Always?
Not always. Not when Bonnie She turned to look at him. Youre probing again, Logan.
Sorry, Im just wondering what makes you tick. He gazed at the skull on the pedestal. Besides an obsession with our friends who have passed over. Its in-teresting that you dont seem to have made any close friends after your daughter was killed.
Ive been busy.
And perhaps you dont want to come close to anyone again and risk being hurt.
Do you expect me to be awed by your percep-tiveness? Im well aware Im avoiding new relation-ships and the reason for it.
Of course you are. Youre a brilliant woman. So why dont you do something about it?
Maybe I dont want to do anything about it.
Not even to live a fuller, richer life?
You dont know how full and rich my life is com-pared to what it was before. I was lost and now Im found. She said haltingly, I was drowning in pain and Ive managed to climb to dry land. Thats enough, Logan.
Its not enough. Its time to go on.
She shook her head. You dont understand.
Im trying.
Why?
I like you, he said simply.
She stared at him. What are you up to, Logan?
I dont have an agenda. I do make new friendshellip; even if theres a risk of losing them. I like you and I admire you. I just thought Id tell you.
Before you start using me again.
Yes.
Youre totally incredible. She looked back at the monitor. Do you expect me to say all is forgiven and lets go play in the sandbox?
No, I told you, no agenda. Were past all that now. I just wanted to be honest with you for a change. Sorry I disconcerted you. He rose to his feet. Id better let you get back to work.
Yes, you had.
I thought youd have more done by now.
She was relieved that odd moment of revelation and intimacy was over and that Logans usual de-manding self was back. He was right. He had discon-certed her. It took me longer than I thought to cl
ean up Ben. She glanced at Kessler, who was seated at the table at the far end of the lab. Gary wasnt pleased. Hes been chomping at the bit to get to work and I still need the skull for verification.
The Face of Deception Page 21