The Face of Deception

by Iris Johansen

  Hed done his job; it wasnt his fault that Timwicks orders had backfired. Fiske had told him he needed a deeper strike, but Timwick had said it was premature, that it might not be needed.

  Chicken bastard.

  Your front porch light is out, Logan said when Eve opened the door. Do you have a bulb? Ill change it.

  I think theres one in the kitchen cabinet. She turned and started down the hall. Funny, I changed it just last week.

  The porch light was on when she returned a few minutes later with the new bulb. You got it on.

  It was just a little loose. Is your mother here?

  Shes in the kitchen. She wrinkled her nose. She took my going away very well. Shes already planning on repainting the lab.

  Could I meet her?

  Of course. Ill go get

  Mr. Logan? Sandra was coming toward them. Im Sandra Duncan. Im so glad youre taking Eve away during this stressful period. She needs a little vacation.

  Im afraid it wont be a vacation, but it will defi-nitely be a change. Ill try not to work her too hard. Logan smiled. Shes lucky to have someone like you taking care of her.

  Logan had turned on the charm and her mother was melting, Eve noticed.

  We take care of each other, Sandra said.

  Eve tells me youre going to paint her lab. That break-in was a terrible thing.

  Sandra nodded. But the cleaning crew has scrubbed it almost spotless. When she gets back, shell never know anything bad happened there.

  Well, I feel guilty taking her away before theyve caught whoever did it. Eve told you that Id arranged for security?

  Yes, but Joe will take

  Ill feel better adding my bit. If you dont mind, Ill have someone call and check in every night.

  I dont mind, but its not necessary. She gave Eve a hug. Dont work too hard. Get some rest.

  Youll be okay?

  Ill be fine. Im glad to get rid of you. Now maybe Ill be able to invite Ron here for dinner without worrying about you giving him the third degree.

  I wouldnt have She grinned. Well, maybe I would have asked him a few questions.

  See?

  Eve picked up her briefcase. Take care of your-self. Ill call as often as I can.

  A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Duncan. Logan shook her hand, then picked up Eves suitcase. Ill take good care of her and bring her back as soon as I can.

  That charisma again, flowing out and enveloping Sandra.

  Im sure you will. Good-bye, Mr. Logan.

  He smiled. John.

  She smiled back. John.

  She stood at the front door, watching them as they went down the stairs and the front walk. She gave a final wave and closed the door.

  What was the purpose of that display? Eve asked.

  He opened the car door for her. Display?

  You sent so much honey flowing toward Mom that she couldnt move.

  I was merely being polite.

  You were being charming.

  Ive found it greases a few wheels. You object?

  Its all lies. I hate it.

  Why do He paused. Fraser. I was told he was a Ted Bundy type. Dammit, Im no Fraser, Eve.

  She knew he wasnt. No one was like Fraser ex-cept Lucifer himself. I cant help It just reminds me of It annoys me.

  Since well be working together, thats the last thing we need. I promise Ill be as blunt and rude as I know how.

  Good.

  Not so good. Ive been known to be pretty ugly on occasion. He started the car. Ask Margaret.

  From the way you describe her, I doubt if shed put up with it.

  True. She can be much nastier than me. But I do try.

  Where are we going?

  Where did you tell your mother we were going?

  I didnt tell her. I said youre based on the West Coast and she assumed thats where were headed. She and Joe Quinn have my digital number in case of an emergency. She repeated, Where are we going?

  Now? The airport. Were taking my plane to my place in Virginia.

  Ill need equipment. Most of my stuff was de-stroyed. He missed only a few instruments.

  No problem. Ive already equipped a lab for you.

  What?

  I knew youd need a place to work.

  What if Id turned you down?

  I would have looked for second best. He smiled and added in a melodramatic growl, Or kidnapped you and locked you up in the lab until you did my bidding.

  He was joking. Or was he? she wondered suddenly.

  Im sorry. Too light? Just testing your sense of humor. By the way, you failed miserably. Is that rude enough for you?

  Yes, I have a sense of humor.

  I havent seen it. He drove down the exit ramp onto the freeway. But dont worry, its not required for the job.

  I wasnt worried. I dont care what you think of me. I just want to get this job done. And Im tired of going at this blind. When are we

  Well talk about it when we get to Virginia.

  I want to talk about it now.

  Later. He glanced at the rearview mirror. This is a rental car and not secured.

  At first she didnt realize what he meant. You mean its bugged?

  I dont know. I just dont want to take a chance.

  She was silent a moment. Are your cars usuallyhellip; secured?

  Yes, since I sometimes do business as I move from place to place. Leaks can be costly.

  I imagine they can be. Particularly when you play around with something like a buried skeleton.

  Im not playing. He glanced at the rearview mirror again. Believe me, Eve.

  It was the second time in seconds he had checked the mirror, and the traffic wasnt that heavy. She glanced over her shoulder. Are we being followed?

  Maybe. Not as far as I can tell.

  Would you tell me if we were?

  It depends on if I thought it would scare you off. He glanced at her. Would it?

  No. I gave you my terms and Im committed. The only thing that would make me back away now would be if I thought you were lying to me. I wont stand for that, Logan.

  Point taken.

  I mean what I say. You hobnob with all those politicians who talk out of both sides of their mouths. Im not like that.

  My, how sanctimonious you sound.

  Think what you like. Im being up-front with you. I just dont want you to make any mistakes about me.

  Point taken. I assure you, no one could mistake you for either a politician or a diplomat, he said dryly

  I take that as a compliment.

  And I take it you dont like politicians.

  Does anyone? These days we all seem to have to choose the lesser evil.

  There are some people out there who want to do a good job.

  Are you trying to convert me? Forget it. I dont like Republicans any more than I do Democrats.

  Who did you vote for in the last election?

  Chadbourne. But not because he was a Demo-crat. He convinced me hed be a decent president.

  And you think he has?

  She shrugged. He got the aid to dependent children bill passed even though Congress had him gridlocked.

  A gridlocks like a logjam. Sometimes you have to toss in something explosive to break it up.

  Those fund-raisers youve been giving arent ex-actly explosive.

  It depends on your viewpoint. I do what I can. Ive always believed a person has to take a stand. If you want to change things, you have to work with the system.

  I dont have to work with it. I dont have to have anything to do with it except on election day.

  No, you bury yourself in your lab with your bones.

  Why not? She gave him a sly glance. Theyre better company than most politicians.

  To her surprise, he didnt take the bait. My God, maybe you do have a sense of humor. He chuckled. Suppose we agree to disagree. My dad always told me never to argue religion or politics with a woman.

  How sexist of him.

  He was a great guy, but he lived in a different w
orld. He wouldnt have known how to deal with women like you or Margaret.

  Is he still alive?

  No, he died when I was in college.

  Am I going to meet Margaret?

  He nodded. I called her this afternoon and told her to be at the house.

  Wasnt that a little inconsiderate? She had to fly in from California, didnt she?

  I needed her.

  The bald statement said it all, she thought. He might pretend to be browbeaten by this Margaret, but he expected her to jump when he called.

  I asked her nicely. Nary a whip in sight.

  Sometimes they dont have to be in view to get the effect.

  Well, I promise I wont use coercion on you, visible or otherwise.

  She met his gaze with a cool one of her own. No, you wont. Dont even try, Logan.

  Theyre boarding now, Fiske said. What do you want me to do? Find out his flight plan and follow him?

  No, his secretary told her father she was going to the Virginia house. Hes got that place loaded with more security than Fort Knox. Weve got a surveil-lance team outside the gates, but we wont be able to touch him once hes inside.

  Then I should move before he gets there.

  I told you, hes too visible. We dont want to do anything to him unless its absolutely necessary.

  Then Ill go back to the house. The mother is still

  No, shes not going anywhere. You can pick up that string later if we decide we need a distraction. We have something more urgent for you to do. Come back here.

  FIVE

  The jet landed at a small private field near Arlington, Virginia. Their luggage was immediately transferred into a stretch limousine parked by the hangar.

  All the ease that money could buy, Eve thought wryly. No doubt the chauffeur would display the ob-sequious formality of a Wodehouse character.

  The red-haired driver got out. Hi, John. Good trip? He was freckled, good-looking, not over thirty, and dressed in jeans and a checked shirt that reflected the blue of his eyes.

  Good enough. Gil Price, Eve Duncan.

  Gil shook her hand. The bone lady. I saw your picture on 60 Minutes. Youre prettier in person. They should have concentrated on you instead of on that skull.

  Thank you, but I had no desire to appear on national television. Ive had enough of cameras in my life.

  John doesnt like cameras either. I had to break one last year in Paris. He grimaced. And then John had to settle out of court with the bastard who claimed Id broken his head instead of his camera. I hate paparazzi.

  Well, the paparazzi dont usually trail me around, so you wont have that problem.

  I will if you hang around with John. He opened the back door. Hop in and Ill get you to Bar-rett House PDQ.

  Barrett House? It sounds very Dickens.

  Nope, it used to be an inn during the Civil War. John bought it last year and had it completely remodeled.

  Has Margaret arrived? Logan asked as he fol-lowed Eve into the car.

  Two hours ago and crabby as hell. Im charging you hazard pay for that pickup. Gil jumped into the drivers seat. I cant understand it. How can she not love me? Everyone loves me.

  It must be a flaw in her character, Logan said. It certainly couldnt be because theres anything wrong with you.

  My thought exactly. Gil started the car and flicked on the CD player. The limo was immediately filled with the doleful strains of Feed Jake.

  The window, Gil, Logan said.

  Oh, right. He grinned over his shoulder at Eve. John used to have a Jeep, but he cant stand country music so he got this hearse so he could have a privacy window.

  I like country, Logan said. I just cant stand those songs of woe you hug to your bosom. Blood-stained wedding gowns, dogs at grave siteshellip;

  Thats because youre full of mush and you dont like to show it. Do you think I havent seen your eyes water? Now, take Feed Jake. Its a

  You take it. The window.

  Okay. The window glided up soundlessly and the music faded out.

  I hope you dont mind, Logan said.

  No, I have trouble with sad songs. But I cant imagine you crying in your beer over one.

  He shrugged. Im human. Those country-song writers know exactly how to hit you.

  Her gaze shifted to the back of Gils head. Hes nice. Not exactly what I expected in one of your employees.

  Gils not what anyone expects, but hes a good driver.

  And bodyguard?

  That too. He used to be in the Air Force Military Police, but he doesnt respond well to discipline.

  Do you?

  No, but I usually try to work my way around it instead of punching people out. He gestured out the side window. Well be on my land in a few minutes. Its pretty country with lots of woods and meadows.

  I suppose so. It was too dark to see more than shadowy trees. She was still absorbed with the com-parison Logan had made between himself and Price. And what do you do when you cant work around anyone who tries to discipline you?

  Why, punch them out. He smiled. Thats why Gil and I get along. Were soul mates. They turned a curve in the road, and a twelve-foot-tall elaborate wrought iron fence loomed before them.

  She watched Gil press a control on the dashboard, and the gates swung slowly open.

  Is the fence electrified too? she asked.

  He nodded. And I have a security man moni-toring the grounds by video camera from the carriage house.

  She felt a sudden chill. Very high-tech. I want my own remote to open those gates.

  He looked at her.

  Gates that keep people out can also keep them in. I dont like the idea of being in a cage.

  Im not trying to keep you prisoner, Eve.

  No, not if you can get what you want any other way. But what if you cant?

  I cant force you to work.

  Couldnt you? Youre a very clever man, Logan. I want my own remote to open those gates.

  Tomorrow. It will have to be programmed. He smiled sardonically. I think its safe to assume I wont try to bulldoze you in the next twenty-four hours.

  Tomorrow. She leaned forward as the house came into view. The moon had come out from behind the clouds and lit the place. Barrett House was a sprawling two-story stone building that looked like the nineteenth-century inn Gil had said it had once been. There was nothing pretentious about it, and the ivy covering the walls softened the stone. As Gil stopped the car in front of the front door, she asked, Why buy an inn that you had to restore? Why not just build a new house?

  Logan climbed out of the car and held out his hand to help her. It had a few unique features that appealed to me.

  Dont tell me. It had its own graveyard.

  He grinned. The Barrett family cemetery is just over the hill. But that wasnt why I bought the inn. He opened the tall mahogany front door. There arent any live-in servants. I have cleaning people come in from town twice a week. Well have to fend for ourselves in the kitchen.

  It doesnt matter. Im not accustomed to ser-vants, and food isnt a high priority for me.

  His gaze ran over her. I can tell. Youre lean as a greyhound.

  I like greyhounds, Gil said as he carried the luggage into the hall. Graceful and those great, big wistful eyes. I had one once. Nearly killed me when he died. Where do you want her bags?

  The first door at the head of the stairs, Logan said.

  Right. Gil started up the steps. Pretty boring. My quarters are in the old carriage house, Eve. You should ask him to put you out there. More privacy.

  This will be more convenient to the lab, Logan said.

  And more convenient for Logan to keep tabs on me, Eve thought.

  Margaret must have gone to bed. Youll meet her in the morning. I think youll find everything you need in your room.

  I want to see my lab.

  Now?

  Yes. You may not have equipped it properly. I may have to supplement it.