Iris Johansen 1998 - The Face of Deception

by The Face of Deception(lit)

  You need it. I dont think shed mind.

  She did need it. She couldnt stop shivering.

  He picked up the phone.

  What are you doing?

  Im calling my personal assistant, Margaret Wilson. Whats the name of your insurance company?

  Security America, but you dont

  Hello, Margaret. John, he said into the phone. I need you to Yes, I know its a Saturday. He listened patiently. Yes, Margaret. Its a terrible imposi-tion. Im duly grateful for your forbearance. Now, will you shut up and let me tell you what I need?

  Eve stared at him in surprise. Whatever she had expected, it was not Logan browbeaten by one of his employees.

  He grimaced at Eve, still listening. Now? he repeated into the phone.

  Evidently this time the answer was an affirma-tive, because he said, Make a report to Security America for Eve Duncan. He spelled the last name. Break-in, vandalism, and possible theft. If you need details or verification, call Joe Quinn, Atlanta P.D. I want a claims investigator out here right away, and arrange for a cleaning crew. I want that lab spick-and-span by midnight. He sighed. No, I dont want you to fly out here and do it yourself, Margaret. Sarcasm isnt necessary. Just take care of it. I dont want Eve Duncan bothered with anything more than signing her name to a claim report. I also want a security force out here protecting the property and Eve and Sandra Duncan. Call me if you run into any trouble. No, Im not doubting your efficiency, I just He lis-tened a moment more and then said gently but firmly, Good-bye, Margaret. He hung up, then reached into the cabinet for a cup. Margaret will take care of it.

  She doesnt want to.

  She just wants to make sure I never take her for granted. If Id done it myself, she would have accused me of not trusting her to take care of it. He poured hot coffee into the cup. Cream or sugar?

  Black. Has she been with you a long time?

  Nine years. He set the coffee down in front of her. We need to go back out there and collect any-thing that you dont want the insurance investigator going through.

  I dont think I need to hurry. She took a sip of coffee. Ive never seen an insurance company work that fast.

  Trust Margaret. Someone will be here soon. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down op-posite her. Shell regard it as a challenge.

  I dont know Margaret, so I cant trust her. Just as I cant trust you. She met his gaze. And I dont need any private security force out here. Joes going to have a police car keep an eye on us.

  Good. But a few extra precautions never hurt anybody. They wont get in your way. He studied her as he took a swallow of his coffee. Your color is better. I thought you were going to flip out.

  She did feel better. The shaking had eased a little. Dont be stupid. I wasnt going to faint. I deal with horror stories every day. I was just upset.

  You had a right to be, and this particular horror story hit very close to home. That makes a difference.

  Yes, her private life had been serene and free from violence since that night at the prison. She hadnt been ready to have this ugliness erupt. Its more than that. It makes me feel like a victim. I swore Id never beI hate it.

  I can see that you do.

  She finished her coffee and stood up. If you really think someone from the insurance company will be coming out right away, Id better go back and finish checking out the lab.

  Take a little more time. Like you said, theres no hurry.

  I want to get it over with. She moved toward the door. My mother will be coming home soon and I dont want her to feel that she has to do it with me.

  Youre very protective of your mother. He fol-lowed her down the steps. Youre close?

  Yes. We didnt used to be, but now were good friends.

  Friends?

  Well, shes only sixteen years older than I am. We sort of grew up together. She glanced over her shoulder. You dont have to go with me, you know.

  I know. He opened the lab door for her. But Margaret would be very upset with me if I made her work and didnt do a thing myself.

  FOUR

  "Lots of blood, Logan said matter-of-factly. But the cleaning crew will take care of it. He nodded at the pile of articles on the floor by the smashed bookcase. Why dont you check for anything there that can be salvaged? I see a couple of photographs.

  She nodded and knelt by the bookcase. Being here was easier with Logan, she realized in surprise. His matter-of-factness lightened the darkness. There was blood; it must be cleaned. There was destruction; probe to see what could be saved.

  And the pictures of Bonnie and her mother could be saved, she saw with relief. Only one corner was ripped on each. Its okay.

  Good. Then whoever did this isnt as clever as I thought. He didnt realize how tearing up the picture might hurt you. He was at the desk. Ill check the drawers and see if theres

  Wait! Theres a It was too late. Logan had already opened the drawer containing the dead rat.

  The rat was gone. The police must have taken it, but the drawer was still brimming with blood.

  He grimaced. Im glad I opened this before the cleaning crew did. We might have had some trouble keeping them here. He pulled out the drawer and carried it over to the door. Ill get rid of it for you.

  He hadnt even displayed a flicker of surprise. You seem to be taking all this in stride.

  Remind me to tell you what happened to my of-fice after my first major takeover. At least no one defecated in here. Keep on looking. Ill be right back.

  There wasnt much else to look through. The books were ripped, the hourglass her mother had bought for her at Six Flags was broken, the base of the pedestal was chopped into two pieces and

  The pedestal. Mandy.

  Why had Mandy been carried to the other side of the room before being shattered? The strangeness of it had occurred to her before, but she had been too dazed to have it sink home. Everything else about the destruction seemed coldly calculated. What had been the purpose of the skullhellip;

  She got to her feet and moved quickly to the other side of the desk. The only object that had been smashed in that particular spot was the computer. And the skull had been brought from the pedestal to be destroyed with it.

  She stared down at the computer and suddenly made the connection. My God.

  I thought youd get the message once you thought about it. Logan was standing in the doorway, watching her.

  You knew it.

  He nodded. Once you told me where the skull had been found. He tried to make it clear, didnt he? The Logan computer. The skull. A warning.

  Who?

  I dont know. Evidently someone doesnt want me to use your services.

  Her gaze traveled around the room. And thats what this is all about?

  Yes.

  She looked back at him. And you werent going to tell me?

  Not if you didnt figure it out yourself, he said bluntly. I was afraid it would tip the scales against me. This was meant to frighten you, and it did.

  Yes, she had been frightened. She had been scared and sick and saddened. Besides the destruction of property, Tom-Toms life had been taken and Mandys identity had been forever stolen.

  And all of it had been done to manipulate her away from a certain path. Fury burned through her as she remembered Mrs. Dobbinss face that morning.

  Damn him. Her voice was shaking with anger. Damn him to hell.

  Ill vote for that. Logans gaze was narrowed on her face. I hope theres some significance to the fact that youre damning him and not me.

  Vicious bastard. She strode out of the lab. She couldnt ever remember being so enraged except the day Fraser had been caught. She wanted to kill someone. He didnt care. People should care. How could he She knew how he could do it. He was probably a crazy freak like Fraser. Cruel and cold and without mercy. I want him to pay for it.

  Then Ill find out who it is for you, Logan said.

  She whirled on him. How can you do that? Did you lie when you said you didnt know who he is?

  I dont know him
but I know who probably hired him.

  Who?

  He shook his head. I cant tell you, but Ill find out who did this. He paused. If youll come with me.

  Tell me who hired him.

  Youll find out yourself if you come and do the job. Why not? It will take time to set up a new lab. Youll just be spinning your wheels now. Ill up the money for the Adam Fund another two hundred thousand and throw in the son of a bitch who did this to you.

  A sudden thought occurred to her. Maybe you had this done to push me into going with you.

  It would have been too chancy. You could just as well have jumped the other way. Besides, I dont kill helpless animals.

  But youre willing to take advantage of whats happened.

  You bet I am. Is it a deal?

  She looked around the bloodstained room, and once again rage rushed through her. Ill think about it.

  What if I raise the

  Stop pushing me. I said Id think about it. She picked up a box from the floor that had once con-tained printer paper and began to put Mandys skull fragments inside. Her hands were still shaking with anger, she noticed. She had to be calm. Go away. Ill call you when Ive made up my mind.

  I need to move fast on

  Ill call you.

  She could feel his gaze on her and expected him to continue to try to persuade her.

  Im at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead. He paused. I shouldnt tell you this. It compromises my bar-gaining position. But Im a desperate man, Eve. I have to have your help. There isnt anything I wouldnt do to get it. Call me and give me your price. Ill pay it.

  When she looked up, he was gone.

  What would make a man like Logan that des-perate? If there was any desperation in him before, hed kept it well hidden. Maybe the confession of vulnerability had been a ploy.

  Well, she would consider that later. She needed to get back to the house so her mother wouldnt come looking for her here. She picked up the pictures and Mandys box and started for the door. She could try to put the skull back together. Even if she couldnt get a completely accurate structure, it might be enough for computer imaging

  Another wave of helpless fury washed over her as she realized that couldnt happen. Joe had told her they had no idea who Mandy could be, so how would they find a photograph? Her only hope had been of building the face and using that face to lead to someone, anyone, who could identify her. That hope had been crushed by the bastard who had deliber-ately smashed the skull to warn her off.

  Eve? It was her mother walking toward her down the path. That was the insurance company on the phone. Theyre sending a claims adjuster out right away.

  Are they? Evidently Logans Margaret had pre-vailed. Hows Mrs. Dobbins?

  Better. Do you think we should get her a little kitten?

  Not for a few months. Let her get over the first hurt.

  Sandras gaze went to the lab. Im sorry, Eve. All your files and equipment.

  Theyll be replaced.

  This is such a nice, quiet neighborhood. Things like this never happen here. It kind of makes you scared. She frowned. Do you suppose we should get some kind of security system?

  Well talk about it. She opened the kitchen door. Theres coffee, would you like some?

  No, I had a cup with Mrs. Dobbins. She paused. I called Ron. He suggested we go out for lunch to get my mind off it. I told him no, of course.

  But it was obvious she wanted to go, Eve thought. Why shouldnt she? Shed had a hell of a morning and she wanted comfort. Theres no reason for you not to go. You cant do anything here.

  Youre sure?

  Im sure. Go call him back.

  She still hesitated. He asked you to go along too. You said you wanted to meet him.

  Not now. You said the insurance people were coming.

  Ill come right back.

  Eve set Mandys box down on the kitchen counter. Stay out as long as you like.

  Sandra shook her head and said firmly, Two hours. No longer.

  She waited until the door shut behind her mother before letting her fixed smile fade. It was stupid and selfish to feel this abandoned. Sandra had done every-thing she could to help. She just didnt realize how alone Eve was feeling.

  Stop whining. You are alone. Youve learned to deal with it. Even Sandra was sometimes more of a responsibility than a companion, but that was okay. She wasnt going to start feeling sorry for herself just because some slimeball had tried to scare her.

  Fraser.

  Why did he keep invading her mind?

  Because she felt as helpless and terrified as in those days after he had invaded her life. He had killed her daughter and she had been forced to plead with the authorities not to execute him. She had even gone to see him at the prison and begged him to tell her about Bonnie.

  He had smiled that charming smile that had lured twelve children to their death, shook his head, and told her no. The bastard had even refused appeal so the books would be closed and the children would never be found. She had wanted to tear him apart, but she had been trapped, caught by the words he wouldnt say.

  But she wasnt helpless now, or powerless. She didnt have to be a victim. She could take action. The knowledge sent a rush of fierce satisfaction through her. Logan could find who destroyed the lab for her.

  If she paid his price.

  Was she willing to pay it? She hadnt been sure before. She had been going to think rationally and unemotionally about the proposition before she gave him her answer.

  Logan was probably banking on the fact that she didnt feel rational or unemotional now. He would take advantage of every weakness she showed him.

  Then dont show him weakness. Take what you need and avoid the traps. She could do it. She was as smart as Logan and, as she had told him, she knew how to protect herself.

  She was not a victim.

  Ill do it, Eve said when Logan picked up the re-ceiver. But on my terms. Half my fee up front and the entire amount going to the Adam Fund deposited in their account before I leave this house.

  Done. Ill do it by electronic transfer today.

  I want proof that its been done. Ill call the fund headquarters in four hours and make sure theyve re-ceived it.

  Fair enough.

  And I want my mother and my home protected while Im gone.

  Ive told you that youd have security.

  You also promised me youd find out who de-stroyed my lab.

  Ive already got someone on it.

  And if I find out that what Im doing will make me an accomplice to any crime, Im bailing out.

  Okay.

  Youre being very agreeable.

  I told you to name your price. She was going to do it. Hell, he would have promised her the world. Pack a suitcase. Ill be around to pick you up later this evening.

  If I receive the confirmation from the Adam Fund.

  Exception noted.

  And I have to tell my mother where were going.

  Tell her youll be moving around and youll call her every other evening.

  Will I be moving around?

  Probably. I should be there by ten tonight.

  He hung up the phone. Yes. He had her. After hed met Eve and gauged her toughness, hed been afraid it would take much longer. He might still be arguing with her if the break-in hadnt made her so angry. Maybe he should thank that bastard Timwick. Authorizing that stupidity had been exactly the wrong thing for him to do. There had been enough violence to anger Eve, but not enough to completely scare her off.

  And the incident had warned Logan that Timwick was suspicious and possibly had inside knowledge of his actions. Interesting.

  Timwick was smart and didnt often make mis-takes. When he learned that Eve had not been scared off, he would correct the error and up the ante.

  And next time he would make sure it wasnt a cat that died.

  A block from Eves house Fiske smiled as he pulled the electronic listening piece out of his ear and laid it on the seat beside him. Hed always loved gadgets, and particularly admired thi
s powerful X436 ampli-fier. The concept of hearing through walls was so in-triguing. Actually, in this case, it was through panes of glass, but the feeling of power and control was the same.

  That Eve Duncan wanted his head as part of her price for going with Logan was flattering. It showed how well hed done his job. The dead cat had been a masterstroke. Death of pets always hit the nerve. Hed learned that when hed killed the dog that had belonged to his fifth-grade teacher. The bitch had come to school with swollen eyes for a week.