The Face of Deception (37 page)

Yes. Hes like the father and brother I never had. I dont know what life would be like without Joe. Funny, I never thought about it before. He was just al-ways there and I thought he always would be.

Hes not dead yet.

If Joe died, would he be with Bonnie?

Stop crying, Logan said hoarsely. He pulled her into his arms. Shh, its going to be all right. He was rocking her. Let me help.

He was helping. Comfort and warmth were flowing from him, surrounding her. He couldnt heal the wound, but he was touching her, keeping away the loneliness. For the moment that was enough.

TWENTY ONE

Sandra was frowning when she came back to the car two hours later.

Eve tensed. Joe?

Not good. They dont know if hell make it. Sandra got into the backseat. Theyve operated and taken him to intensive care.

I want to see him.

No chance. Only close family members are allowed.

Its not fair. Hed want me there. I need to She drew a deep breath. It wasnt what she needed but what Joe needed that mattered. Is Diane there?

She got here just as they were wheeling him out of the operating room. Sandra made a face. She was cold as ice to me. Youd think Id shot him.

Its not you. Shes really angry with me. Youre my mother. She probably blames you for bringing me into the world.

I guess so. But I thought she liked me. I had coffee with her only a few weeks ago. I thought she liked both of us.

Shes just upset. Itll be different when Joe gets better. If he got better. If he didnt die. When will they know?

Perhaps tomorrow. Sandra hesitated. But I cant go back in there, Eve. A policeman came into the ICU right before I left. He was checking on Joe.

Of course. Joe was a cop, and cops took care of their own. The hospital would soon be crawling with officers.

Logan was already starting the car. Then weve got to get out of here. Pronto.

And where are we going? Sandra asked.

I told Margaret and Pilton to meet us at that Hardees near Emory where we met Quinn. Logan drove out of the parking lot. Shell take you to Sanibel and then arrange to get you out of the country.

No, Sandra said.

Eve stiffened. Its the only safe thing, Mom. Youve got to do it.

I dont have to do anything. Her lips thinned. And who says its the safest thing? You? Logan? Nei-ther of you has done such a good job of keeping your-self safe, and Joes lying in that hospital. Why should I believe youd do any better at seeing that I dont get killed?

Panic iced through Eve. Mom, please. You have to do as I say.

Bullshit. Sandra looked her in the eye. Ive done everything you and Margaret told me to do. Youve all treated me as if I were some half-wit child. Its finished, Eve.

I want to keep you safe.

I intend to be safe. She turned to Logan. Drive me to the Peachtree Arms Apartments. Its right off Piedmont.

Eve recognized the address. Youre going to Rons place?

You bet I am. Its what Ive wanted to do all along.

Do you really think hell take you in and hide you?

Ill find out, wont I? Or maybe well discuss it and decide I should turn myself in as a material witness to Joes shooting. Ill ask them to put me in jail for protective custody. Whatever I do, it will be my decision. She looked back at Logan. Drive or let me out of the car.

Logan hesitated and then pressed on the accel-erator. This may be a mistake, Sandra.

If it is, it wont be my first. Hell, Ive made every one in the book at one time or another. She said to Eve, I wont be able to go to the hospital, but Ill call them several times a day and let you know how Joes doing.

Mom, dont take this chance. I could never for-give myself if anything happened to you.

Dont you dare say that. Youre my daughter, not my mother. You take care of yourself, Ill take care of myself. No guilt, dammit. I wont be another Bonnie.

Eves eyes widened.

Oh, shit, dont look at me like that. Sandra leaned forward and squeezed Eves shoulder. Just let me go, Eve. Let her go.

Were not talking about Bonnie.

Oh, yes, shes here every minute of every day. Shes behind your every word and gesture.

Thats not true.

Sandra shook her head. You dont have to forget her to let her go, baby. Just let a little light come into your life. God, its dark where you are.

Imfine. Everything will be okay once this is all over.

Will it?

Mom, I cant take this right now.

Ill be quiet. I know youre hurting. But dont try to run my life, Eve. Its taken me too long to learn how to do it myself.

Piedmont is right ahead, Logan said.

The Arms is around the corner.

What if Rons not home? Eve asked.

I have a key. Sandra smiled. Ive had it since our third date. That I never told you says something about the way you intimidated me, doesnt it?

I never tried to

I know. Logan had stopped before the apart-ment building and Sandra got out of the car and grabbed her suitcase. Ill check every three hours with the hospital. If you dont hear from me, youll know his condition hasnt changed.

Be careful. I hate your taking a chance like this.

And Im relieved that Im doing something on my own. Ive felt like some kind of pawn, moved back and forth by you and Logan and even this Fiske person. Its time I took control.

Stunned, Eve watched her mother walk into the apartment building.

Phoenix rising from the flames? Logan mur-mured.

Shes doing the wrong thing. Im scared to death.

Maybe not. Ron could be a good guy wholl do everything he can to protect her.

Against Lisa Chadbourne? Against Timwick?

Well, Fiske is out of the picture. Our first lady will have to hire another hit man and that may take a little time. Particularly if she doesnt find out right away that Quinn put him down.

Not enough

You cant do anything about it, Logan said. Your mother has made her choice, Eve. You cant protect her if she wont accept your protection.

She doesnt understand. Gary and Joe She doesnt understand what can happen.

I believe she understands very well. She saw Joe taken away in that ambulance. Shes not stupid.

I didnt say she was stupid.

Then why do you treat her as if she were?

I just want to protect her. I dont want to lose her.

Like you lost Bonnie?

Shut up, Logan.

Ill shut up. Sandra already said it all. He got on the I-85 entrance ramp. But Id think about what she said. Shes a smart lady. I had no idea how smart.

Where are we going?

To meet Margaret and tell her to get out of town. I dont suppose I could persuade you to go with her?

Anger was suddenly replacing fear. And will you go? How about you boarding that boat for Timbuktu, Logan? Why dont you forget about Gil? The words were tumbling out, exploding with fury that was building every second. Why dont you forget about Ben Chadbourne? Just run away and say screw the world.

He pursed his lips in a soundless whistle. You dont have to bite my head off. It was just a sugges-tion. I didnt think youd

It was a lousy suggestion. I wont leave Joe and Mom. Im tired of running and hiding and being afraid. Im tired of people I care about getting hurt and Im tired of feeling helpless. I swore a long time ago Id never be a victim again, and its happening. Shes making it happen. Her voice was shaking with intensity. I wont tolerate it any longer. Do you hear me? Ill never let her

I hear you, Logan said. I get the picture loud and clear, but Im fuzzy about how the hell were going to stop her.

So was Eve. Then she remembered her mothers last words to her, the words that had struck a deep chord and triggered her rage.

Its time I took control.

Lisa Chadbourne had been the one in control, the one on the attack. She had killed Gary. She might have killed Joe.

But her mother was alive. Eve was alive, so was Logan. And they were going to stay alive.

No more deaths, she had prayed.

She wasnt praying now.

She was taking control.

Margaret got out of the van, leaving Pilton in the passenger seat. Hows Quinn?

We dont know, Logan said. Intensive care.

Im sorry, Margaret told Eve. You okay?

Eve nodded.

Hows Sandra? She was pretty fond of him, wasnt she?

Yes. Her eyes were stinging. Change the sub-ject. Dont think about Joe. She wont be going with you. Shes staying here.

Margaret frowned. Do you think thats a good idea?

No, but she does. She wont listen to me.

Perhaps I could talk to

Shes through listening, Logan said. Now, you and Pilton take off.

Pilton deserves a bonus, you know, Margaret pointed out. He never figured hed be a fugitive when he took the job. The police will be looking for him.

Then give him a bonus.

A big bonus. Hes been a good

Wheres Fiskes car? Eve asked suddenly. Did you find it?

Pilton found it. It was parked in the driveway of an empty rental property about two miles from our cottage.

Did you clean it out?

Clean as a whistle. We dumped everything from the glove compartment and the trunk into garbage bags. Then I drove the car to the airport and left it in the long-term lot.

Where are the bags?

In the back of the van.

Eve moved toward the van. Lets get them, Logan.

Margaret watched them toss the garbage bags into the backseat of their car. You think he had something important?

I dont know, Eve said. Probably not, since he was a professional. But we dont have any other leads.

Be careful with that bigger bag. There was enough firepower in Fiskes trunk to start a small war, Margaret said as she climbed back in the van. A rifle, two handguns, shells, a few boxes that con-tained some kind of electronic bugging equipment. He didnt believe in traveling light. She smiled grimly at them. Good luck. Be sure you keep alive, John. The bonus Im going to charge you for my part in this mess is going to make Piltons look sick.

Eve was already crawling into the backseat as Piltons van left the parking lot. Ill look through the bags. You drive. She opened the bigger bag first. What did she know about weapons? That she didnt like them, that they frightened her, that to her they represented only violence and horror.

But they hadnt frightened Fiske. He had used these weapons. They wouldnt frighten Lisa Chadbourne. She had ordered their use.

Eve put her forefinger on the barrel of the rifle. The metal was warm, smooth, almost pleasing to the touch. Somehow she had expected it to be cold. Find anything? Logan asked.

Nothing she had wanted to find. Not yet.

I bet there wont be any way to trace those guns to Lisa Chadbourne.

I know. Lisa would leave no trail that could lead back to her. Eves search was probably hopeless.

To lose hope was to admit defeat. Shed be damned if shed lose hope.

She pushed the first bag aside and started on the second. Rental car papers in a green folder, a first-class ticket to Washington on Delta Airlines, an air-line schedule, a few receipts from restaurants, two in Atlanta, one in Bainbridge.

Bainbridge.

Dont think about Bainbridge. Dont think about the motel room where Gary had died.

A folded piece of paper. Another receipt?

She unfolded the paper.

She went rigid.

A list of several names. Some typewritten, some inked in.

Her own name, Logans, Joes, her mothers

And two other names that caused her eyes to widen in shock.

My God.

She forced herself to continue down the list.

Gary Kessler. Neatly crossed off.

She stared down blindly at Garys name.

Just another name on the list.

Gil had said Fiske was obsessed with neatness and efficiency. So kill a man and cross him off the list.

What is it? Logan was looking at her face in the rearview mirror.

A list. Garys name. She folded the paper and stuffed it into her purse. Shed look at it again later and think about it harder. It hurt too much just then. She went through the other papers. Nothing else of interest. Find us a place to stop.

A motel?

No, theyll be looking for us in this area. Shell wonder why she hasnt heard from Fiske and there will be discreet inquiries. Theyll find out about Joe.

Joe.

She quickly shied away from the thought of him. When she remembered Joe in that hospital, she couldnt focus on anything else.