Yeah. And Logans a Republican, so that by it-self is already weird. He paid a visit to the Kennedy Library. He ordered copies of the Warren Commis-sion Report on Kennedys assassination. He went to the book depository in Dallas and then to Bethesda. Joe paused. He even talked to Oliver Stone about the research he did for his movie JFK. All done very ca-sual and quiet. No urgency. Youd never even make the connection between his actions unless you were looking for a pattern, like I was.
Kennedy. It was bizarre. That cant have any-thing to do with why Im here. Is there anything else?
Not so far. You asked for out of the ordinary.
Well, you certainly gave it to me.
Ill keep looking. He changed the subject. I ran into your moms current flame tonight. Rons a nice guy.
She thinks so. Thanks for keeping an eye on her for me.
I dont think Im going to have to do much more of it. Ron seemed pretty protective himself.
I havent met him yet. Moms afraid Ill scare him off.
You might.
What do you mean? You know I want whatevers best for Mom.
Yep, and youll kick ass until you get it for her.
Am I that bad?
Joes voice softened. No, youre that good. Look, Ive got to go. Diane wants to catch a nine oclock movie. Ill call you when I know anything more.
Thanks, Joe.
Forget it. I probably didnt help you much.
He probably hadnt, Eve thought as she hung up. Logans interest in JFK might be just coincidence. What possible connection could there be between the ex-president and her present situation?
Coincidence? She doubted if anything Logan did was coincidental. He was too sharp, too much in con-trol. His search for information about Kennedy was too recent not to be suspicious, and if hed tried to keep his interest in Kennedy under wraps, it was for a reason.
What reason? It couldnt be of
She stiffened with shock.
Oh, my God.
SEVEN
The library was unoccupied when she entered a few minutes later.
She slammed the door closed, flicked on the light, and strode toward the desk. She opened the right-hand drawer. Just papers and telephone books. She slammed it shut and opened the left-hand drawer.
Books. She pulled them out and set them on the desk.
The Warren Commission Report was on top. Be-neath it was the Crenshaw book on the Kennedy au-topsy and then a well-thumbed book titled The Kennedy Conspiracy: Questions and Answers.
May I help you? Logan stood in the doorway.
Are you crazy, Logan? She glared at him. Ken-nedy? Youve got to be out of your mind.
He crossed the room and sat down at the desk. You appear to be a little upset.
Why should I be upset? Just because youve brought me here on the wildest goose chase ever con-ceived by man. Kennedy? she repeated. What the hell kind of crackpot are you?
Why dont you sit down and take a deep breath. He smiled. You scare me when you loom over me like that.
Bullshit. This isnt funny, Logan.
His smile vanished. No, its not funny. I was hoping it wouldnt come to this. I tried to be so careful. I take it you didnt just decide to ransack my office out of curiosity. Joe Quinn?
Yes.
I heard he was very smart. He shook his head. But youre the one who sicced him on me. Why couldnt you have just left it alone?
You expected me to wander around in the dark?
He was silent a moment. No, I guess I didnt expect it. But I hoped. I wanted you to go into this unprejudiced.
Id be unprejudiced no matter what I suspected. You have to be when you do my kind of work. But I cant believe you want me to help you dig up Kennedy.
No manual labor is required. I just need you to verify
And get shot in the process. For Gods sake, Kennedy is buried at Arlington Cemetery.
Is he?
She went still. What the devil are you saying?
Sit down.
I dont want to sit down. I want you to talk to me.
Okay. He paused. What if it isnt Kennedy buried at Arlington?
Heaven help me, not another conspiracy theory?
Conspiracy? Yes, I guess that about covers it. But with a slight twist. What if it were one of Kennedys doubles who was shot in Dallas? What if Kennedy died before the Dallas trip?
She stared at him in disbelief. Kennedys doubles?
Most public figures have doubles to protect both their lives and their privacy. Its estimated Saddam Hussein has at least six.
Hes a dictator of a third-world country. No one could get away with that here.
Not without help.
Whose help? she asked sarcastically. Little John-John? Maybe brother Bobby? Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Youre nuts. Its the most outrageous thing Ive ever heard. Who the hell are you accusing?
Im not accusing anyone. Im just looking at possibilities. Ive no idea how the man died. He had all kinds of health problems that werent public knowledge. His death could have been by natural causes.
Could? My God, are you suggesting the cause might not have been natural?
Youre not listening. Dammit, I dont know. The only thing I do know is that a deception that exten-sive would have involved more than one person.
A White House conspiracy. A cover-up. She smiled mockingly. And isnt it convenient for you that Kennedy was a Democrat? You can paint the op-position as a bunch of unscrupulous connivers not worthy of winning the election this year. What a co-incidence that a massive smear like this might trans-late to a victory for your party.