Текст книги "The Face of Deception"

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

She hit the print button on the Sony video printer.

3:35 A.M.

It was raining.

She hadnt realized that when she was working in the lab. Now she leaned against the open doorway of the front entrance, looking out over the manicured lawns of the campus. The cool, humid air felt good in her lungs as she took a deep breath.

She should be tired, but she was still pumped from working on the match.

You shouldnt be out here. Joe was leaning against the brick wall a few yards from the door. Go back inside.

I need some air.

Did you finish?

I finished the superimposition. Garys barely started on extracting the DNA. She looked at his clothes. Youre wet.

Not much. The overhead ledge protects me. It kind of feels good. He grimaced. I guess Im a little hot under the collar.

I noticed. But you shouldnt blame Logan. It was my decision to do the job. I knew there was a risk. The fee was just too good.

Ill bet he didnt let you know how risky before he drew you in.

It was still my decision. Why was she de-fending Logan? Joe was right to condemn Logans methods and she had been as angry as Joe when she found out how she had been used. She changed the subject. Its late. You shouldnt be here. Diane will be worried.

I called her.

If you told her you were with me, then that wouldnt stop her from worrying. She had to have seen CNN.

I didnt tell her.

You lied to her?

No, I just told her I was working late.

Thats almost a lie. Id be furious if you werent honest with me.

Youre not Diane. She prefers to be kept in the dark when something unpleasant raises its head. Shes never become accustomed to being married to a cop. Shed much rather I quit the force and find some-thing with a little more prestige to do.

Well, I cant argue the situation isnt as un-pleasant as it comes, but Id still want to brain you. Marriage should be a partnership.

There are all kinds of marriages.

I dont suppose I should be surprised. You dont tell me everything either. She glanced away from him, staring into the distance. For instance, you never mentioned youd killed anyone in the line of duty.

Youve had enough violence in your life. You didnt need any more.

Was that your decision? Just like the one you made to protect Diane? Keep the delicate females away from any hint of unpleasantness.

Did I want to protect you? he asked roughly. Hell, yes. But I also wanted to protect myself. I knew youd be like this. I didnt want you to look at me and see Fraser.

Id never do that. I know you. Im sure you did only what you had to do.

Then turn around and let me see your face.

She braced herself, turned, and looked at him.

Shit, he said through his teeth.

I just have to become accustomed to the idea. I feel as if I dont really know you.

You know me better than anyone on this earth, just as I know you better than anyone else does.

Then why didnt you tell me about

All right, Ill tell you. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. You want a body count? Three. Two of them were into drug running. The third just liked killing and reminded me of Fraser. Ive often won-dered if that one really was self-defense. Maybe I didnt want to take the chance of him walking. His voice lowered. And I never lost a minutes sleep over any of them. Does that make you feel like you know me any better?

Joe, I dont

Do you want me to talk about my stint in the SEALs? No, I can see you dont. Three is enough for you. You dont want the grim reapers shadow any-where near you. I knew that and accepted it.

Why didnt I hear about those deaths?

Because I saw that you didnt want to know about them. Figuring that out was easy. You never watched or read local news after Bonnie. I just had to make sure no one in the department talked. He gazed into her eyes. And Id do it again. You werent ready to face the idea that I wasnt Andy Griffith am-bling around Mayberry. You may never be ready. His glance shifted past her to the hall leading to the lab. And Im not pleased with our Mr. Logan for stirring up this hornets nest.

Then you shouldnt have threatened him.

Do you think I dont know that? I was stupid. I was angry and I let you see it. He smiled recklessly. Or maybe Im lying to myself. Maybe I meant to do it. It could be I was sick and tired of But how the hell long do you think I can keep everything inside without He took a long breath. Dont blow what weve got, Eve. Weve been together a long time. Like you said, you know me.

Do I? she whispered.

Okay, well start over. Ill be honest with you even if it tears you apart. Satisfied? He turned away from her. Because Im not. But then, Im used to that. Its become a way of life to me.

What do

This isnt getting us anywhere. Ive got to go check out the perimeter. He started down the steps. But dont worry, if I find any bad guys, Ill handle them with kid gloves. We wouldnt want any more blood on my hands, would we?

He was angry with her. Maybe he had a right. He was her friend, closer than a brother, and she had pushed him away and closed him out. Joe knew her too well not to be aware of everything she was feeling.

But she didnt know him that well. She had thought she did, but shed had no idea of all that hed hidden from her.

Face it, she hadnt wanted to know. Policemen dealt with violence every day and, if she had let her-self think about it, she would have known it would touch Joe.

I didnt want you to look at me and see Fraser.

She had denied it, but hadnt that been her first thought when Logan told her about the deaths in Joes past? It wasnt rational, it wasnt fair, but the thought had been there.

Another ripple Logan had set in motion to disturb her life. Only this time it was more like a tidal wave.

Block it out. She had enough to worry about just then. Easy to say. The idea of angering Joe wasnt easy to block out.

And what if it wasnt only anger? What if she had hurt him? Joe was tough, but he could be hurt. God, she didnt want to hurt him.

She couldnt dismiss the idea, but she had to put it on the back burner and consider all the ramifications later. Joe was too important to her. If she began to worry about him, she wouldnt be able to do any-thing else.

So go back in and see if you can help Gary. Get this business over with so you can go back to living a normal life with normal problems.

She turned and strode down the hall toward the lab.

Kessler glanced up as she reached him. You okay?

Sure. I just needed some air. How are you doing?

Not good. He looked back down at the molar he was cutting. The poor bastard may be toothless before I get enough for a sample. This is the third one Ive cut into.

Do you need me to help?

And share the credit? She smiled. I promise Ill never tell.

Sure. Ive heard that before. Go away.

Whatever you say. But she didnt move, watching as he carefully cut through the enamel on the tooth. Ive been thinking. After we get the sample, it might be a good idea if you went away for a while. Maybe to your place on the shore.

Ah, are you trying to save my neck, Duncan? Maybe feeling a little stirring of guilt?

Yes.

Good. A little guilt is good for the soul. His gaze was narrowed on the tooth. But dont flatter yourself that Im doing this for you. This job is going to make me a star. Ive always wanted to be the center of at-tention.

Yeah, sure, thats why you work like a demon and live like a hermit.

It takes one to know one. Another fifty years and youll probably be living in your lab, eating cold Dominos pizza.

And lying about wanting to become famous? Admit it, youre just curious.

Partly. He carefully started opening the tooth.

And whats the rest of it?

Did you know I spent my early childhood in Munich during the thirties?

She shook her head, gazing at him in surprise. Youve never talked about it.

No, we talk only about our jobs, dont we? The bones, the deadhellip; He adjusted his glasses on his nose. My mother was Jewish but my father was of good Aryan stock with high government connections. The Nazis put pressure on him to divorce her, but he refused. He owned a small bakery and for two months he had to replace the windows that were broken every day. He held out and still refused. Then one night he didnt come home from the shop and we were told hed been run over by a truck. He lost a leg and spent nine months in a hospital. By the time he was up and about, it was all over. The shop was out of business and the Nazis had begun to round up the Jews. We managed to get to Switzerland and then later to America.

Oh, God, thats terrible, Gary. Im sorry.

I wasnt sorry. I was mad. I watched those sons of bitches striding around the neighborhood, running over everyone who got in their way. Bullies. Taking away everything that made life worth living. God, I hate bullies. He nodded at the skull. And the people who did this are like those damn Nazis, running over the whole damn world. They make me sick. Ill be damned if they get away with it this time.

She swallowed to ease the sudden tightness in her throat. Why, Gary, you sound downright noble.

Hell, yes. Besides, this may be my swan song, and I want it sung loud and clear.

Swan song? Are you planning on retiring?

Maybe. Im past retirement age. Im an old man, Eve.

Eve shook her head. Not you, Gary. He chuckled. Youre right, Im not old. When-ever I look in the mirror, I see the young stud I was at twenty. Maybe a few more wrinkles, but I dont often notice them. Its like that superimposition you do. No matter whats on the top layer, that young man is underneath and I know hes there. Do you suppose every old geezer is as self-deluding as me?

Youre not self-deluding. We all see what we want to see. We all have a vision of ourselves. She tried to smile. And, dammit, youre not old and youre not going to retire. I need you.

True. It takes a benevolent and exceptional man to deal with someone of your headstrong nature and many faults. I may have to stick around just to keep you in Shit. He pushed the tooth aside. Another blank. Go away. Youre bringing me bad luck.

Well, thats a profoundly scientific notion. She turned away. Call me if you need me.

Not likely. He bent over the skull again as she walked away.

Any progress? Logan straightened in his chair across the room.

Not yet.

I saw a cot in the back room. Why dont you try to take a nap?

She shook her head. I need to be here in case he changes his mind about not needing help. She sat down beside him and leaned her head back against the wall. Its my responsibility. I brought him into this.

He seems to be enjoying himself. Logans gaze was fixed on Kessler. In a cerebral way.

Cerebral? Hell, he thinks hes Schwarzkopf or Eliot Ness or Lancelot or some other She drew a deep breath and said fiercely, And youd better see that nothing happens to him, Logan. I should have gone to your man at Duke. All I thought about was who was best for the job. I didnt think about how dangerous this could be for Gary.

As soon as we get the DNA sample and an affi-davit, well whisk him away out of the limelight.

Like you whisked my mother?

I told you she was safe, Eve. You talked to her.

Shes not safe. She wont be safe until this is over. None of them would be safe. Joe and Gary and her mother had been drawn into the net, and Eve had done it.

All right, shes not as safe as Id like her to be, Logan said. But its the best I can do right now. He paused. Kessler appears to have upset you. What did he say?

Nazis and swan songs and a young man in the mirror. Nothing much. Nothing important.

It was a lie. Garys life was important. The fact that she had never scratched more than the surface of Gary Kesslers past was important. It was a night of revelations, she thought wearily. Logan, Joe, and now Gary. She closed her eyes. Just keep him safe, okay?

THE WHITE HOUSE

7:20 A.M.

Kessler, Lisa said as soon as Timwick picked up the phone. Check out Kessler at Emory.

I know my job, Lisa. Im checking out Kessler. Hes on my list.

Then put him higher on your list. Duncans worked with Kessler several times. It was in the stuff on the disc you messengered over.

Shes worked with other people too. She heard him rustling papers. And she hasnt worked with him in over two years.

But he was the first anthropologist she ever worked with. They have a history. It would mean something to her.

Then why hasnt she worked with him lately? Logan researched Crawford at

Have they shown up at Duke?

No, but its early days yet.

Early? You should have caught them by now. Times running out. Put Kessler at the top of the shortlist. She hung up the phone.

She shouldnt have been so sharp; it wasnt smart. The more desperate Timwick became, the more resentful he grew and the more domineering he tried to be. But, Christ, how could an intelligent man have so little imagination? Couldnt he see that it was Duncan and not Logan who was the key?

She drew a deep breath and tried to compose her-self. She mustnt panic. She mustnt lose control. Okay, the problem was two-pronged. One, Bens skull must be recovered; any evidence was moot without the skull. Two, Logan and Duncan must be elimi-nated and any other possible evidence destroyed. Dammit, Timwick was doing neither. She had known he was a weak link since that mistake with Donnelli and had made alternate plans to enact whenever necessary.

It was necessary. The more time passed, the more dangerous everything became. She had to take the reins completely in her own hands.

How had she come to this point? She had never wanted any of this. It wasnt fair.

Well, the world wasnt fair. You just had to do whatever you had to do. There wasnt any way she could reverse what shed done that day, so she just had to protect herself and all shed gained.

She opened her phone book to the name and number she had gotten from Timwick three weeks earlier.

She quickly dialed the number. It rang three times before it was answered.

Mr. Fiske? Weve never talked before, but I be-lieve its time we did.

SIXTEEN

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY

11:50 A.M.

"Got it. Eves hand tightened on the thermal case that contained the vial with the DNA sample. Now lets get out of here. We cant afford any deterioration.

Is there enough? Logan asked.

Just enough. She turned to Kessler. Where do you suggest we take it, Gary?

I assume you dont want to take a chance on any of the obvious or well-known testing centers?

She shook her head.

But you want a place with excellent credentials.

She nodded.

Duncan, youre an incredibly demanding woman. And youre fortunate that Im incredible enough myself to meet your absurd demands. He lowered his voice dramatically. I know a man.

I dont want a man. I want a lab.

Youll have to settle for Chris Teller.

And who is Chris Teller?

A student of mine who went on to become a MacArthur Fellow. Brilliant man. Hes been doing re-search on the medical side of DNA, but he needed to put food on the table, so he opened a small lab in Bainbridge, Georgia, last year. Its a three-man opera-tion and they intend to keep it that way. The lab is listed as a medical research lab, not a forensic testing center.

It sounds good.

Of course its good. Its perfect. Youd think Id been dabbling in conspiracies all my life. Chris takes DNA profile jobs only when he needs to pay the bills, but hes absolutely accurate. We cant risk bungling. Im not sure I can get another sample.

She nodded slowly. Bainbridge, okay. Ill take it down myself and

Gary was shaking his head. Ill do it. You said you need speed. Ill appeal to him as a fellow scientist.

Look, Ill take Joe. Surely Teller will cooperate with the police.

Not if hes deep in research and doesnt want to stop. Hell just tell Quinn to go somewhere else. Well get better cooperation if I handle it.

Your job is done, Eve said. Its time for you to go somewhere and loll on the beach for a while. I cant ask you to do anything more, Gary.

I didnt hear you ask, Gary said. And Ill de-cide when my job is done. Are you trying to cheat me out of my book contract?

Im trying to keep you alive.

Gary took the thermal case from her and headed for the door. I have to stop by my house and pick up clothes and an overnight bag.

Gary, this is crazy. Let me

You want to be helpful? Go get me samples for Teller to compare this one to. He opened the door. If you want to follow me down to Bainbridge, come ahead. But Im in charge of this sample, Eve.

Gary, listen to Hed already left the labora-tory, and Eve hurriedly followed him down the hall and out the front door.

Whats going on? Joe came toward her. Wheres he going?

A DNA lab in Bainbridge. Hes got the sample. I told him Id take it, but he wanted to go himself.

Stubborn bastard. Joe started down the steps. Ill handle it, Eve.

No. Logan had come out of the building. Eve and I will follow Kessler to Bainbridge. You go see Chadbournes sister, Millicent Babcock.

I suppose you want a DNA sample from her?

Yes, but even if thats a match, it will be only an indication, not proof accepted in a courtroom. We also need direct DNA from Ben Chadbourne. He and his sister were very close. He stayed with her several times during the campaign and he must have sent her birthday cards or notes that still have saliva traces on the envelopes. Or if he left any clothes at her house, there might still be hair or

And how am I supposed to get those little mementoes?

Thats up to you.

And wheres Chadbournes sister?

Richmond, Virginia.

And, of course, youre not trying to get me out of the picture?

Not this time. We need those comparison sam-ples. The sooner we get them, the sooner this will be over.

Joe hesitated and then said, Okay. Chadbournes DNA and a sample from his sister. What do you need from her? Blood?

Saliva will do for now, Eve said. But the sample should be refrigerated and expressed imme-diately.

Ill bring it myself. He looked at Logan. I dont suppose you know if she smokes?

Logan shook his head. Sorry.

Joe shrugged. Salivas no problem. If she doesnt smoke, she probably drinks coffee. Its the national addiction these days. Its Chadbournes DNA thats going to be a headache. Letters will be the most likely source but how the hell am I going to get hellip; He started down the steps. Ill find a way to do it. Ill be on your heels before you know it. You just take care of Eve until I get down there, Logan.

Will you do me a favor and follow Gary to his house and stay with him until we get there? Eve asked. I have to pack up Bens skull and my papers, and I dont want him to be alone. Eves gaze was on Gary, who was now getting into his car. Take care of him, Joe.

And try to persuade him to stop at a lawyers of-fice and get an affidavit, Logan added.

Eve turned to face him.

He shrugged. Sorry to be callous, but its smart to have back-up evidence in case anything happens.

He meant in case Gary was killed, Eve thought, suddenly feeling sick.

Ill get the affidavit and the damned DNA sam-ples. Joe was hurrying after Gary. You just get Eve away from here and out of sight, Logan.

Its done. Logan took her elbow and nudged her back inside the building. Thats one order of Quinns I wont have a problem obeying.

In the lab he packed up the skull while Eve gath-ered the photographs and printouts and stuffed them in her briefcase. Theres no air service to Bainbridge. Well have to drive.

Its safer than taking a plane anyway. Particu-larly out of your home city. He started for the door. Ready?

It would have been too bad if she wasnt ready, she thought ruefully. Logan was on the move and she either had to follow him or be left behind.

And she wasnt about to be left behind.

Why dont you try to get some sleep? Logan said. You worked all last night. I promise I wont land us in a ditch.

I dont want to sleep. Weve been driving a long time. Its almost dark. Arent we almost there?

Another hour or so.

An hour was too long when Eve was this restless. Have you heard from Gil?

Last night. No progress yet. It may take time to approach Maren on a confidential basis. Im sure hes very busy overseeing the work on my corpse.

Thats not funny.

I didnt think so either, but its better if you laugh.

Is it?

Ive always thought so. It keeps you sane.

Then Ill vote for that. She gazed at the tail-lights of Garys car on the road ahead of them. Are you speaking from experience? How close have you come to the edge, Logan?

Close enough.

No. She turned to face him. Dont give me that evasive bull. Its not fair. Tell me. You know everything about me.

I doubt it. Youre a multifaceted woman. It wouldnt surprise me if you had a few secrets.

Tell me.

What do you want to know?

The edge.

Ah, you want to see my scars.

Youve seen mine.

He was silent a moment. I was married once when I was pretty young. It was during the time I lived in Japan. She was Eurasian and the most beau-tiful woman Id ever seen. Her name was Chen Li.

Youre divorced?

She died of leukemia. He smiled crookedly. It wasnt like your loss. No violence. Except on my part. I wanted to tear the world apart when I couldnt find a way to help her. I was a cocky bastard and sure that there wasnt a mountain I couldnt climb. Well, I couldnt climb that one. It took over a year for her to die, and I had to watch it. Is that a deep enough scar for you?

She looked away from him into the darkness. Yes, thats deep enough.

And do you know me better now?

She didnt answer. Did you love her?

Oh, yes. I loved her. He glanced at her. You know, you really shouldnt have asked. You have a soft heart and it would have been easier for you to dislike me if you hadnt seen Im human, like everyone else.

It was true. Understanding always made antago-nism more difficult. His very restraint underscored the pain hed undergone. Ive never doubted you were human.

Maybe. Maybe not. He changed the subject. Tellers lab may not be open when we reach Bain-bridge. Well probably have to check into a motel and wait until tomorrow morning.

Cant we call him or something? Maybe Gary could

Kesslers going to arouse enough suspicion by the pressure hes going to apply on Teller. It would be a little over the top to ask him to stay open until we got there.

No doubt he was right but, dear God, she wanted to move more quickly. You dont understand. It sometimes takes weeks to get a definitive report on a DNA sample. Garys going to ask Teller to do it in a few days. Private labs have the capability to be faster because theyre not as backlogged, but every minute is going to count.

Will some of my filthy lucre help urge him to do a little overtime?

She shook her head. I dont think so. He sounds like a dedicated professional.

He still has to pay the mortgage. Kessler seemed to think Teller might need money.