The Face of Deception (11 page)

What does it matter?

Im curious.

Her hand tightened on the banister. Stop trying to read some significance into everything I say or do. I went there because it was night and I knew the way. I didnt want to get lost.

Thats all?

What did you expect? I was up there having a seance?

Dont bite my head off. I was just curious. I was actually hoping the walk had cleared your head and youd come to a decision about the

It didnt. She started up the stairs again. Ill talk to you in the morning.

Ill be working most of the night, if you come to any

Back off, Logan.

Whatever you say. He added, Since you obvi-ously know Im keeping an eye on you, I thought it only fair to keep you informed about my own whereabouts.

Sure you did. She slammed her bedroom door behind her and headed for the bathroom. A hot shower would get rid of this tension. Then maybe shed go back down to the lab and work on Mandy. She knew she wasnt going to sleep well tonight, and she might as well be productive.

It wasnt as if she were afraid of going to sleep and dreaming of Bonnie. Bonnie was never a threat. How could a loving dream be a danger?

And it had been pure impulse, not Bonnie calling her, that had led her to the graveyard that night.

The two bodies were lying in one sleeping bag, their arms draped around each other in a final embrace. They were naked and their eyes were wide open, staring into each others face with terror.

A long tent stake was driven through both their bodies.

Son of a bitch. Killing them was bad enough, but Gil felt there was something obscene about the way the old couple had been posed. It robbed their death of all dignity.

He looked around the campsite. No footprints. No visible evidence. Fiske had taken time to clean up.

Gil flipped open his phone and called Logan. Too late.

Both of them?

Yeah, nasty. More than nasty. Twisted. What do you want me to do?

Come back. I havent been able to contact Maren. Hes in the desert somewhere. But that may be good. If we cant reach him, I doubt Fiske will be able to. We may have a reprieve.

Dont count on it. He glanced at the two bodies. Fiske isnt going to be twiddling his thumbs.

Im not counting on anything, but theres no way I want you heading for Jordan. I may need you.

Gil went still. The skull?

I cant wait any longer. Everythings moving too fast. Come back.

Im on my way.

Very satisfactory.

Everything neat and hed even been able to add a little whimsy.

Fiske was humming softly to himself as he un-locked his car and got in. He quickly dialed Timwick. Cadros done. Im heading for Jordan on the next plane. Anything else?

Forget Maren for the moment. Go join the sur-veillance team at Barrett House.

Fiske frowned. I dont like surveillance.

Youll do this one. If Logan and the Duncan woman sneeze, I want to know about it and I want you on the spot.

I dont like jumping all over the place until I finish the job. I still have Maren to

We followed Gil Price when he left Barrett House yesterday morning. He went directly to Dora Bentzs apartment.

So? I left it clean.

You dont get the point. He knew about Dora Bentz and that means Logan knows. We cant Timwick drew a deep breath. We need Logan, Price, and the Duncan woman dead.

You said it was too risky.

That was before we were sure Logan was on the right track. Theres no question we can leave them alive now.

At last Timwick was showing some balls. When?

Ill let you know.

Fiske pressed the end button of the phone. Things were definitely looking up. Both the chal-lenge and monetary opportunities were escalating. He started humming again as he opened the glove compartment and took out Timwicks list. He drew a neat line through the second name and below Marens name carefully wrote in block letters John Logan, Gil Price, and Eve Duncan.

Might as well keep things orderly.

He started the car, then grinned as he suddenly realized the song he was still humming.

Making a list, checking it twice.

Gonna find out whos naughty or nice hellip;

EIGHT

"Wake up, Margaret said. For Gods sake, do you even have to sleep with those bones, Eve?

Eve groggily lifted her head. What? She shook her head to clear it of sleep. What time is it?

Margaret was standing in front of the desk. Its almost nine in the morning. John told me you werent going to work anymore last night.

I changed my mind. She looked down at Mandy on the desk in front of her. I fit a few more pieces to the puzzle.

And fell asleep working on it.

I was going to close my eyes for just a minute. Her mouth felt nasty. I guess I was tired. She pushed back her chair. I need to go brush my teeth and shower.

Not until you tell me what a good job I did on this lab.

She smiled. Sorry, its wonderful.

Your enthusiasm is truly astonishing. Margaret sighed. I knew I should have told them to do it in sackcloth and ashes.

I told you it didnt matter. She stood up and moved toward the door. But I appreciate your effort.

John wants to see you. He sent me to find you.

Ill see him after I shower and change.

Could you hurry? Hes been pretty edgy since Gil got back.

Eve turned at the door. Hes back?

Margaret nodded. About an hour and a half ago. Theyre waiting for you in the office.

Waiting for her decision. Waiting to see if shed go along on Logans wild-goose chase.

Kennedy.

My God, in the clear light of day the idea was even more bizarre than it had been the previous night.

And John authorized me to shift that other pay-ment you agreed on to the Adam Fund, Margaret said. I called the bank and you should be able to verify the transfer within another hour.

She hadnt agreed to that other payment. Logan was applying pressure, bribing her without insisting on a return favor. Well, let him give the money. It wouldnt influence her decision and the kids would benefit. I trust you.

Verify, Margaret said. John insists.

Logan could insist until he was blue in the face. Shed do exactly what she wanted to do. Working on Mandy last night had been good for her. She felt much more in control of the situation that morning. Ill see you later, Margaret.

You took enough time. Logan scowled at her as she walked into the study. Weve been waiting.

I had to wash and blow-dry my hair.

And very nice it looks, Gil said from the corner of the room. Worth every minute of the delay.

She smiled at him. I dont believe Logan thinks so.

I dont, Logan said. Its rude to keep people waiting.

It depends on whether you have an appoint-ment or a summons.

Gil chuckled. You shouldnt have sent Margaret, Logan.

Dammit, I didnt want to appear pushy.

Her brow lifted. Oh, yes?

Well, not obviously pushy. Logan gestured to the chair. Sit down, Eve.

She shook her head. This wont take long.

Logan tensed. Look, I dont want you to

Shut up, Logan. Ill do it. Ill go to your damn cornfield to get this skull. Well bring it back here and Ill do the work you want me to do. She gazed di-rectly into his eyes. But we do it right away. I want this over with.

Tonight.

Fine. She started to leave.

Why? Logan asked suddenly. Why are you doing it?

Because youre wrong and the only way I can prove youre wrong is to do the work. I want to be done with it and get back to whats important to me. She added coolly, And, yes, I do want to see you with egg on your face. I want it so much that I might even volunteer to work on Chadbournes reelection campaign.

And thats all?

She carefully kept her face without expression. Dont let him see anything. Dont let him know the panic shed had to overcome last night. Dont give him a weapon to use against her. Thats all. When do we leave?

After midnight. He smiled crookedly. As is proper for such a nefarious enterprise. Well take the limo. Its only about an hours drive from here.

She glanced at Gil. Are you coming too?

I wouldnt miss it. I cant remember the last time I dug up a skull. Particularly one that promises to be this interesting. He winked. Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him, Horatio.

She headed for the door. Actually, that quote is closer to the mark than anything Logans told me. That skull has a hell of a lot better chance of be-longing to Shakespeares Yorick than to Kennedy.

Theyre on the move, Timwick, Fiske said into the phone. Price, Logan, and the Duncan woman. They just drove out the gates.

Be careful. Youll blow everything if they realize youre following them.

No problem. We dont have to get close until theres need. Kenner planted a signal device in the limo when Price was at the Bentz apartment. Well wait until theyre on a deserted road and then over-take them and

No, youll let them get where theyre going be-fore you act.

That may not be the ideal situation. I should

Screw the ideal situation. Youll let them get where theyre going. Do you hear me, Fiske? You let Kenner handle it. Ive given him exact instructions and youll do what he says.

Fiske hung up the phone. Son of a bitch. It was bad enough having to give in to Timwick without knuckling under to Kenner. Hed had a bellyful of the prick in the past twenty-four hours.

I told you I was in charge, Kenner said from the drivers seat. Youre just along for the ride until I give the word. He jerked his head at the two men in the backseat. Just like them.

Fiske gazed straight ahead at the limos taillights in the distance. He drew a deep breath and tried to relax. It would be all right. He would manage to do his job in spite of Kenners interference. Hed kill the three in the limo up ahead and cross their names off the list.

And then hed start his own list with Kenners name at the very top.

The cornfield should have reminded Eve of some-thing as all-American as a state fair but all she could think about was a horror movie shed seen about a group of ghoulish children living in a cornfield.

No children here.

Only death.

And a skull buried beneath the rich brown earth.

Waiting.

She slowly got out of the car. Its there?

Logan nodded.

The field looks well tended. Wheres the farm-house?

About five miles to the north.

Its a big field. I hope Donnelli gave you good directions.

He did. I have them memorized. He got out of the car. I know exactly where its located.

Those directions had better be good. Gil had opened the trunk and was taking out two shovels and a large lantern flashlight. Diggings not my favorite pastime. I spent a summer on a road crew when I was working my way through college, and I swore Id never do it again.

Serves you right. Logan took the lantern and one of the shovels. Never say never. He strode into the cornfield.

Coming? Gil asked Eve as he started after Logan.

She didnt move.

She could smell the earth where death waited.

She could hear the breeze as it rustled through the rows of tall corn.

She felt her chest tighten at the thought of sinking, drowning into that swaying sea of corn.

Eve? Gil was standing at the edge of the field, waiting. John wants you with us.

She moistened her lips. Why?

He shrugged. Ask him.

Its stupid for me even to be here. Im not going to be able to tell anything until I get back to the lab.

Sorry, he wants you there when he digs it up.

Stop arguing. Do it. Get it over with. Get out of this place.

She followed Gil into the cornfield.

Darkness.

She could hear the rustling sound Gil was making ahead of her, but she couldnt see him. She could see nothing but the tall stalks all around her. It was like being buried. Even with a map and directions, how could Logan manage to find anything?

I see a light ahead. Gils voice drifted back to her.

It was more than she could see, but her pace increased.

Get it over with. Get out of here.

She could see the light now. Logan had set the flashlight on the ground and was already digging, his shovel spiking into the earth and tearing at the roots of the cornstalks.

Here? Gil asked.

Logan glanced up at them and nodded. Quick. Its buried pretty deep so the farmer wouldnt dig it up when he was planting. You dont have to be careful. Its supposed to be in a lead-lined box.