Eight Days to Live

by Iris Johansen

  MacDuff started the car. “Weismann is a self-serving son of a bitch. But he may be able to tell us what we need to know.”

  “Like why Yvette Denarve had to die?”

  “I think we have to assume that Weismann may have been right about the reason she was targeted.”

  Total extermination. On the way here, MacDuff had told her about Weismann’s message, and she had found it as incredible as everything else connected to this nightmare. She shook her head. “I can’t believe that.”

  “Because you’re in shock. Let it sink in, then we’ll talk about it.”

  She didn’t want to talk about it. She didn’t want to think about it. She wanted everything to do with this horror to just go away.

  And that horrible vision of Yvette Denarve’s headless corpse to fade from her memory.

  AT THE GALLERY, THEY HAD to show identification to an officer at the entrance and cross the yellow crime-scene tape.

  Marie Ressault, Celine’s assistant, came out of the office in the back. She was pale, her eyes red and swollen from weeping. “I was wondering where you were,” she said to Jane. “I thought that you’d be through talking to Yvette, and I could go over the funeral arrangements with her. Celine wanted to be cremated, you know.”

  What should I say? Jane wondered. Sorry, there would be no discussions because Yvette had been murdered with as much shocking cruelty as her sister? “Yvette didn’t show up here. Maybe you should just go home, Marie.”

  “I don’t know . . .” Marie shook her head. “I want to do the right thing.”

  “Go home,” Jane said gently. “Celine would want you to rest. You can handle everything tomorrow.”

  Marie nodded jerkily. “It’s so hard. I loved her, you know. Everyone loved her.” She straightened. “You’re right. Tell Yvette to call me when she gets here, and we’ll talk.” She headed for the front door. “There are cards of congratulations and boxes of flowers for you in the office. They’re on the table beside the door. They’ve been arriving all morning. They must have been sent last night before anyone heard about Celine . . .” Her voice broke, and she hurried out of the gallery.

  “She obviously cared very much for Celine.” Jock was looking after her. “You can see how difficult it is for her. It’s right that you didn’t tell her about Celine’s sister.”

  “She’ll have to know soon. I just wanted to give her a little recovery time.” The recovery time that Jane had been denied. Death upon death, shock after shock. “Like Marie, I want to do the right thing, but I’m not sure what that is. Everything’s a blur right now.” She started to turn toward the elevator. “I’ve got to finish with my suitcases, then come down and pack up those three paintings. At least, it will keep me busy until I can start thinking again. I seem to be having trouble with that—”

  MacDuff muttered a curse.

  She turned to look at him, but he was staring at something on the floor. “What’s wrong?” She followed his gaze. “Why did—”

  A thin trickle of blood was running under the door of the office.

  She stared at it, stunned.

  Then she slowly moved toward the door.

  “No,” MacDuff said sharply. He stepped in front of her.

  “Don’t tell me no.” She pushed him aside and opened the door.

  The blood was running slowly down the side of the table by the door. It was coming from a huge cardboard floral box on the table.

  She slowly crossed the few feet to stand before the table.

  “Don’t touch it.” Jock was there beside her, his hand on her arm. “Don’t open it. Please, Jane.”

  “I have to open it.”

  “No way,” MacDuff said. “Get her upstairs, Jock. Carry her if you have to do it.”

  “No.” Jane jerked her arm away from Jock. She glanced at MacDuff, and said fiercely, “I’m not going to hide away from this. Keep your hands off me. I know what you’re thinking. I’m thinking the same thing. But I have to know.”

  “Then let me do it,” Jock said.

  “It’s not addressed to you,” she said bitterly. “It’s addressed to me, aimed at me.” She reached out with a shaking hand and untied the silver ribbon. She took a deep breath and then lifted the lid of the box.

  Blasphemer.

  The single word on the card nested in the green tissue paper.

  The tissue paper now soaked in blood.

  She stared down at the paper.

  Do it.

  She pushed aside the paper.

  Dark eyes staring up at her, dark hair drenched in blood.

  She flinched back.

  “Jane.”

  Her stomach was heaving.

  “It shouldn’t have happened,” she whispered. She couldn’t stop staring down into Yvette Denarve’s eyes. “I didn’t know her, MacDuff. I hadn’t even met her.”

  MacDuff pulled her back and stepped between her and that box on the table. “No, it shouldn’t have happened. And you shouldn’t have opened that damn box.” He took out his handkerchief and was wiping her hand. “Now get out of here and go upstairs.”

  Why was he wiping her hand? She wondered dazedly. She looked down at the pristine white handkerchief and saw streaks of blood on it. Oh, yes, she’d gotten blood on her hand when she’d pushed the green tissue paper aside.

  Yvette Denarve’s blood on her hands. Celine’s blood on her hands.

  “Go upstairs,” MacDuff repeated. “Jock and I will call Venable and take care of this.”

  She wasn’t going to argue with him. It was one shock too many. She had to pull herself together before she could cope with any more.

  And she would cope with it. Monstrosities like these couldn’t be allowed to happen.

  “Yes. Take care of it.” Take care of the remains of an innocent woman who had done nothing to deserve this butchery. She wheeled and half staggered toward the elevator. “And then come and talk to me.”

  IT WAS OVER THREE HOURS LATER that MacDuff and Jock stepped out of the elevator.

  MacDuff gazed at Jane searchingly. “Are you okay?”

  “No,” Jane said. “I’m not okay. I threw up twice, and I couldn’t stop shaking for over an hour. I’m still sick and I’m angry and I’m scared to death.” She got up from the couch and headed for the kitchen. “I just made coffee. First, I had to take a shower. Though I was tempted to leave those traces of blood on my hands to remind me what they did to her.” She glanced at him as she poured coffee into the cups. “But I didn’t need any reminders. This is going to be with me for the rest of my life. And that’s why I’m so angry that every other emotion I’m feeling is fading into the background.”

  “None of this is your fault, Jane,” Jock said.

  She knew that was true, but it was difficult getting over that first feeling when she had looked down and seen the blood on her hands. “Not directly. But I have to have been the trigger,” she said. “Even if it was those monsters that actually did the killing.” She handed MacDuff the cup, making an effort to keep her hands from shaking. She couldn’t give in to weakness. The time was past when she could allow herself that luxury. “How did that flower box get here? It couldn’t have been more than a few hours from the time that they killed her. They had to work very quickly.”

  “The box was delivered by a man in a postal uniform together with a few other boxes and a bunch of cards. The box was heavy cardboard, and there was no blood on it when it was delivered. There were even a few utility bills for Celine in the mix. They had it all planned in advance.”

  “Like they did Yvette’s death. They knew her sister would come to Paris when she heard that Celine was murdered.”

  Jock nodded. “They were probably watching her to see if she would drive or take the train from Lyon.”

  And Yvette had driven that highway, and they had brutally taken her life, taken her head, and thrown her body into the woods. The memory was causing her to shake again. She had to keep control.

  “Was there any proble
m with—Did Venable take care of everything?”

  He nodded. “He had someone here right away. He’ll arrange for her death to look like a traffic accident, and he won’t let anyone know the gory details.” His lips twisted. “That may piss Millet off. I’m sure the bloody bastard likes to take credit.”

  “Good.” She handed a cup to Jock. “Yvette wasn’t married, but did she have anyone close to her besides Celine?”

  “Not as far as Venable can find out. Why?”

  “Because we can’t be sure who would be safe. The ugliness is spreading out like ripples from the center of a whirlpool. I wanted to be sure to protect anyone who needed to be protected.” She took a sip of her coffee. “And it seems as if anyone who even nodded at me on the street might fill that criteria. I want you to tell Venable that Marie Dessault has to be protected.” She looked at MacDuff. “And Joe and Eve will be close to the top of the list. I have to make sure to keep them safe. Will you help me?”

  “Of course. How?”

  “I’m going to bring them to MacDuff’s Run. The people in your villages and the estate are almost slavishly loyal to you. I can’t imagine anywhere they’d be safer.”

  “Neither can I.” He paused. “That’s why I wanted you to come home with me.”

  “I’ll have to come for a little while. Eve and Joe wouldn’t consent to go if I didn’t. I may have trouble getting them there anyway.” She had another thought. “Eve’s mother lives in Atlanta. It shouldn’t be as much of a threat for her, but I’ll have to make sure Joe arranges security for her at her condo.” She turned back to Jock. “And you’ll come to the Run, too. When you killed Folard, the chances are that you set yourself up for the same kind of retribution they’re dealing out to me. Isn’t that right?”

  He nodded. “But I knew that was a possibility. I made the choice.”

  “Well, you didn’t give me the choice. I won’t have your blood on my hands, too. And what about all the people who are close to you? How are you going to keep them from being hurt?”

  “My mother is dead now,” Jock said. “I have no one close to me they can hurt.” He glanced at MacDuff. “Except the Laird, and he can take care of himself.” He smiled. “Unless you’d like me to stand over you and shoo all the wicked villains away? It would be my pleasure.”

  “I believe I can handle my own protection,” MacDuff said. “I’ve managed a number of years without your help, Jock.”

  “Aye,” Jock said solemnly. “But those years may be telling on you, and I’m just going into my prime.”

  “You’ll go with us, Jock,” Jane said. “You said you would before.”

  “Again, it will be my pleasure. That’s what I want to do.” His gaze narrowed on her face. “You’re functioning at high efficiency. I didn’t expect it after seeing you downstairs.”

  “I was in shock when we found Yvette’s . . .” She had to stop before she could go on. “Head. I couldn’t believe that anyone could be that savage. I’ve been in a state of denial since I saw Celine nailed to that door. But I have to believe it now. I have to assume that they’ll do anything and everything that they feel like doing. It doesn’t matter if it makes sense to me.” Her lips tightened. “But they’re not going to hurt anyone else in my name. And I’m not going to stand by and let them kill one more person if I can stop it.” She put her cup down on the counter. “And I will stop them. It will just take a little time.”

  “They don’t want to give you that time,” MacDuff said.

  “That’s right.” She said. “Eight days till doomsday, didn’t you say?”

  “Seven days now,” Jock said.

  “And they’re killing everyone around me to prepare the way.” She frowned. “Why are they waiting? Why not kill me now? Even Folard thought he was committing some kind of a transgression by trying to kill me before April 1.” She glanced at Jock. “You got no hint about that when you were with them?”

  He shook his head. “I was an outsider. They didn’t talk to me.”

  “But this Ted Weismann says that he knows.”

  “Yes.”

  “Damn, there’s so much that we have to find out. Who’s the man who sent Millet that newspaper article? And to what kind of job is that article about me connected? We have to make Weismann tell us. Venable has to pay him.”

  “I’ve told him that,” MacDuff said. “After Yvette Denarve’s death, I can’t imagine him not doing it.”

  “We have to be sure. Shall I call him back or will you?”

  His brows lifted. “I’ll do it.”

  “And then make arrangements for us to go to MacDuff’s Run. Oh, and make sure Venable has men protecting Eve and Joe until I can get them there.”

  “Whatever you say.” He tilted his head. “What a bossy bit of goods you are, Jane.”

  “You bet I am.” She looked him in the eye. “Not too eager to claim me as a member of the family now?”

  “On the contrary. You’re displaying all kinds of MacDuff characteristics. No one ever said we were a tame lot.” He turned to Jock. “We’d better get moving and pack up those three paintings for Jane. I want to have her out of here and at the Run within the next several hours.”

  “Call Venable now,” Jane said. “I’ll pack my own paintings.”

  “I can do both.”

  “Venable first. Weismann is the key to all of this.” She turned away. “I have to know why it’s happening before I can stop it.”

  FIVE

  JANE’S PHONE RANG AS SHE was heading for the elevator to go down to the gallery. Joe Quinn.

  She braced herself as she pressed the button. “I was just going to call you. I need you and Eve to go to MacDuff’s Run. There are some problems that may involve—”

  “You mean a headless corpse and a danger that Eve might follow in her footsteps?” Joe asked bluntly. “Yes, I can see that would be a problem.”

  “How did—” She stopped. “MacDuff phoned you.”

  “Hell, yes,” Joe said. “He wanted to assure me that he’d be able to keep Eve safe if we came to him. He said he wasn’t only going to rely on his people on the estate. He’s hiring some of his buddies he served with in the Royal Marines to guard the castle. A very tough bunch.”

  “So will you come?” She paused. “Will Eve come?”

  “She’s in the middle of a reconstruction, but I had a hard time keeping her at the cottage after you called her the night of Celine Denarve’s death.” He was silent a moment. “She’ll come if she thinks you need her. I’d say that this latest murder constitutes a very real need.”

  “And you’ll come with her?”

  “I’ll come and check out MacDuff’s security arrangements.”

  “Joe.”

  “No, Jane. I’m not going to be walled up in that castle like a scared rabbit. As soon as I make sure the two of you are safe, I’m going to meet with Venable and see what I can do about catching those sons of bitches.”

  “Joe, dammit, you’ll be a target, too.”

  “Then let them try to take me down. They won’t find it easy going. I face scum like them every day of my life.” He paused. “I think you understand. You’re probably angry as hell by now. I’d say they’ve pushed you a little too far.”

  Joe knew her too well. “I do understand,” she said. “But will Eve?”

  “If it means keeping you safe. She’s lived with a cop too long not to know that I have to do what I have to do.” His voice became brusque. “When are you going to MacDuff’s Run?”

  “Tonight.”

  “Then we’ll see you there tomorrow afternoon. If we can tear through the red tape and get the skull Eve’s reconstructing through Security and Customs. Homeland Security is a little difficult these days about things like that.”

  “You’ll breeze right through. I have faith in you.”

  “And we have faith in you,” he said quietly. “We’ve always been a great team. Hold on until we can get there and give you backup.” He hung up.

 
She felt a surge of warmth as she pressed the disconnect. No sappy sentiment, just those final words of faith and support. Tough yet understanding. Joe. Her friend who had given her that same support and understanding during all those years since she’d come to live with him and Eve.

  She should have known he’d choose to team up with Venable. Another thing for her to worry about. Well, Venable would just have to take care of him or she’d—

  What was she thinking? Joe wasn’t only a detective, he was a former SEAL. No one took care of Joe but Joe. Unless she could find a way of doing it without infringing on his independence. That sounded familiar. Joe and she were a lot alike.

  MacDuff was just hanging up the phone when she got off the elevator in the gallery. “You got around to calling Venable?” she asked. “But you called Joe first. Why?”

  “I wanted to pave the way for you. And it’s the duty of the host to offer the invitation. I learned that at my mother’s knee.”

  “And what did you learn from Venable?”

  “Nothing good,” he said grimly. “Weismann’s running scared. He said he can’t trust Venable right now. One of his contacts with the agency set up a trap for him. He barely got away with his skin intact. He’s going underground until he decides it’s safe for him.”

  “No!” Jane said. “He can’t do that. Who knows how many people could die before he surfaces again. Venable has got to find him.”

  “He’s trying,” MacDuff said. “But Weismann has probably been preparing for his vanishing act for years. It’s not going to be easy trying to track him.”

  “I don’t care about easy. He’s got to do it.”

  “Weismann’s ended all communication with Venable. He told him not to come after him, not to try to reach him.”

  “The hell we won’t go after him.”

  “My thought exactly,” MacDuff said. “As soon as I get you to MacDuff’s Run, I’ll see what I can do. Jock may have some idea how we can trace him.”

  “But Jock’s already said that he didn’t know that much about Weismann.”

  “Jane, we have to systematically go down every path until we find the right one.”