The Face of Deception (40 page)

Sorry its not as handsome as you expected. Gary Kessler always liked to work on a clean skull, so he made me break down what Id done. You remember Gary. You told Fiske to kill him, didnt you?

Lisa couldnt take her gaze off the skull. She whispered, Ben?

Thats what a man looks like when you burn him. All the skin melts away and

Shut up. Tears were suddenly flowing down Lisas cheeks.

And you see the jagged hole in the back of the skull? Thats what happened when his brain ex-ploded. When youre in a fire, your brain boils and eventually

Shut up, you bitch.

But Garys death was different. You told Fiske that he had to show me that I had to give you the skull. You told him you wanted him crucified.

I didnt tell him that. I just told him he had to shock you into realizing you had to give in. I had to show you. It was your fault. I wanted it all to stop. I told you it would stop if youd give me Bens skull, but you wouldnt do it. She looked down at the skull. Benhellip;

How did you kill him?

Scott Maren gave him a shot. It was very quick, very merciful. He didnt suffer. She drew a deep breath and struggled for control. Making me look at this skull was very cruel, Eve.

Dont talk to me about cruelty. You had Gary and Gil killed. Joe almost died.

Are you satisfied now? Lisa asked. Christ, youre hard. I was actually feeling sorry for you.

You mean because you intended to kill me? Be-cause you never expected to let me leave here?

I told you to arrange a drop. I knew I couldnt let you stay alive if you gave me the opportunity Its my job. She jerkily turned toward Timwick. Were leaving, James. Take care of her.

Timwick slowly rose to his feet. You want me to kill her?

No, I dont want it, but it has to be done. So do it.

Timwick looked at Eve. Then he turned and walked toward the helicopter.

James!

Screw you.

Lisa went rigid. We agreed it had to be done.

He opened the helicopter door. And did we agree that Fiske would take me out too? When was it going to be, Lisa?

I dont know what you mean.

The list. You gave Fiske another list. I saw it. He combined your list and mine. I know his hand-writing.

How could you see something that doesnt exist. She moistened her lips. If there was a list, it certainly didnt come from me. You know he often had his own agenda.

He wouldnt kill the hand that was feeding him. Not unless another one was feeding him too. You thought you didnt need me any longer.

Nothing can be proved. Fiske is dead.

Youd find someone else to put me down.

Youre making a mistake. She started toward the helicopter. Listen to me, James.

Im through listening. Im out of here.

Theyll catch you.

Not if I have a head start. That was part of the deal. Ill call Camp David and tell them were on the way. That should give me enough time. He got into the helicopter. Burn in hell, bitch.

Timwick! She reached for the door. Its a trick. Its a lie. Dont give up all weve worked for. Kevin will appoint you

The helicopter lifted off and Lisa fell to the ground.

Eve watched her struggle to her knees.

Lisa Chadbourne gazed at Eve across the clearing. You did this.

Actually, you did it. Youre the one who told me Timwick was in a panic. A man in a panic will snatch at any straw.

You set me up. There was still a thread of dis-belief in her voice.

It was my plan. But it was Logan who ap-proached Timwick with the list.

But when I suggested bringing Timwick with me, you objected.

I knew youd want to bring Timwick. It was the smart move and youre a very smart woman. If you hadnt suggested it, Timwick would have persuaded you it was the thing to do. She smiled without mirth. But he didnt have to convince you, did he?

All this wont do you any good. I can work around having Timwick She froze. Oh, my God, youre wired, arent you?

Yes.

And you showed me Bens skull to deliberately shake me up.

I hoped it would. Most people find skeletons frightening. Particularly their victims.

Lisa was silent, obviously thinking back over their conversation. Very bad but not completely damning. In court any transcript can be interpreted to mean any

Logan also arranged for three witnesses to hear the transmission. Peter Brown, a reporter on the Atlanta Journal and Constitution , Andrew Ben-nett of the Supreme Court, and Senator Dennis Lathrop. All highly respected men. After we made the decision, Logan got moving. He had almost a full day to convince Timwick that he was your next victim.

Lisa turned pale and suddenly looked twice her age. She sank back on her heels. Howhellip; clever. I told Timwick in the beginning we had to be careful of you. The electronic monitoring was obviously bogus, but I saw the infrared so I assume we have a little time before Logan gets here.

Eve nodded.

Good. I need a few minutes to pull myself to-gether. It seems impossible its all gone down She swallowed. I thought I had you. I thought your Bonnie was the key.

She was the key.

But you gave up the chance to

The stakes were too high. You hurt people I cared about.

I was going to do it, you know. I was going to keep my promise about finding Bonnie. Keeping my word about her would have made me feel better.

I believe you.

Eve tensed as Lisa rose to her feet.

Lisa shook her head. Im not going to try to hurt you. Im the one whos the walking wounded. Youvedestroyed me.

You destroyed yourself. Where are you going?

I dropped Bens skull when I ran for the heli-copter. She fell to her knees beside the skull. Its so hellip; small. It surprises me. He was such a big man. In every way, Ben was larger than lifehellip;

Until you killed him.

Lisa acted as if she hadnt heard her. He was so smart. He had such dreams. And he would have made them all come true. She stroked the left cheekbone. She whispered, What an incredible man you were, Ben Chadbourne.

Lisas touch was almost loving, Eve realized with shock. All the horror, all the terror was gone.

Lisas eyes were glistening with tears when she glanced up at Eve. The tabloids are going to want photographs of him. They always like the shots that are the most morbid and ugly. Dont let them take a picture of Ben like this. I want everyone to remember him as he was. Fight them. Promise me.

I promise. No pictures except the ones entered as evidence at the trial. After that, Ill see that he goes home.

Home. She was silent a moment, and when she spoke again there was wonder in her tone. It actu-ally matters to me. But it wouldnt matter to Ben. He always said its what we leave behind that matters, not what we become or where we go after we die. She stared down at the scorched skull and tears welled in her eyes again. God, this hurts me, Ben. I didnt think Id have to see you. You told me I wouldnt have to see you.

Eve froze. What did you say?

Lisa looked at her. I loved him, she said simply. Ive always loved him. I always will. He was kind and caring and extraordinary. Did you really think I could kill a man like that?

You did kill him. Or had Maren kill him for you.

I persuaded Scott to prepare the shot. She low-ered her eyes to the skull. But Ben took the hypo-dermic from Scott and injected himself. He didnt want Scott to have the responsibility. That was the kind of man he was.

Why?

Ben was dying of cancer. He found out a month after he was inaugurated.

It was a moment before Eve recovered enough to ask, Suicide?

No, suicides are cowardly. There was nothing cowardly about Ben. He just wanted to spare She stopped for a moment to steady her voice. He planned it all. He knew that all his dreams were going down the tube. Wed worked for fifteen years to get him into the White House. What a team we werehellip; He had to choose Mobry as vice president because we needed the South, but he always said I was the one who should have been on the ticket. I didnt care. I knew Id be there to help him. Then to find out that he was going to die before he could accomplish what he needed to hellip; It wasnt fair. He couldnt stand it.

He planned it all.

He chose Kevin Detwil. He told me how to handle him, what to tell him to make him most effective. He knew Id need Timwick. He told me what bait to use to get him to cooperate.

Timwick knew about his illness?

No, Timwick thought it was murder. Ben be-lieved hed be more controllable if he thought he was an accomplice to the murder of the President. He was right. She smiled bitterly. He was right about everything. Everything was going well. We all had our jobs to do. Mine was to control Kevin and work behind the scenes to make sure that Bens bills passed. I managed to get seven through Congress this term. Do you realize how hard I worked?

And what was Timwicks job? Eve asked grimly.

It wasnt meant to be killing. He was just there for protection and to make it easier to deceive everyone. He got scared. He panicked and I couldnt control him.

Then your Ben evidently wasnt right about him.

He would have been right if everything had gone as planned. If Donnelli had done what he was supposed to do. If Logan had never entered the pic-ture. She looked at Eve. If youd decided to mind your own business.

If no one else became suspicious.

What were the odds of that happening? Bens plan was almost foolproof. Do you realize what youve destroyed? We wanted to bring compassion and order to government. We wanted only to help people. It wasnt fair that we werent going to get the chance.

You committed murder. Even if you didnt kill your husband, you ordered Fiske to kill.

I didnt want I didnt mean It all went crazy, I dont know how. But I promised Ben Id see it through. It was my job. I had to do it. Dont you understand? One thing just flowed into the other, and suddenly I was caught up in She stopped. Im behaving very badly. I should have a little dignity. Particularly since this is probably all still being taped. She straightened, threw back her shoulders, and suddenly a brilliant smile lit her face. You see, I can get through this. I can get through anything. Ill smile and be sincere and they wont believe those tapes.

Oh, I think they will. Its over, Lisa.

She lifted her chin. Not until Ive fought the last fight.

Would Ben want you to fight? A scandal of this magnitude will disrupt the government for months and tarnish everything youve done for him.

Ill know the moment to quit and step asidehellip; just as Ben did. She was silent a moment and then shook her head. Its rather ironic that you set up our meeting at Camp David. Did you know that FDR called Camp David Shangri-La?

No.

Shangri-La. A lost dreamhellip; Her gaze shifted to the edge of the trees. Theyre coming. I believe Ill go to meet them. Boldness is always best.

Eve watched her move gracefully across the glade toward the place where Logan and three other cars had pulled to a stop.

The gun.

Lisa had stopped beside the gun that Timwick had tossed away and was looking down at it.

No!

Youve destroyed everything Ben and I have worked for. You think Im a murderer. I could pick that gun up and prove you right. I dont think Im in range of your friends over there. Are you afraid of dying, Eve?

No, I dont think so.

I dont believe you are either. I think youre afraid of living. She glanced over her shoulder. I would have found your Bonnie. Youll have to live with that knowledge. Now you may never find her. I hope you dont. She gave the gun a little kick to one side. You see how nonviolent I am? Rejecting the op-portunity for revenge, going forward to meet justice. She smiled. Good-bye, Eve. Maybe Ill see you in court. She started back across the glade. And then again, maybe I wont.

She thinks she can get out of it, Eve told Logan as she watched Lisa get into the back of the car with FBI agents. She just might do it.

Not if we keep her separated from Kevin Detwil. Theyre going to try to isolate her for the next twenty-four hours. Its going to be difficult as hell considering who she is. Chief Justice Bennett is going directly to Detwil and play him the tape.

You think hell fall apart?

Probably. Hes always needed her to bolster him. If he doesnt crumble immediately, theres always the list. That should do it.

But why was Detwils name on the list too? I can understand Timwick. He was becoming unstable and threatening her plans. But she needed Detwil for an-other term.

I doubt if he was an immediate target. She probably put his name on the list to intrigue Fiske. What more difficult target than the President?

But she would have done it eventually.

Oh, yes, Detwil was living proof. I imagine she would have had Fiske set up some DNA-destroying accident. Maybe the explosion of Air Force One.