As soon as we get the DNA sample and an affi-davit, well whisk him away out of the limelight.
Like you whisked my mother?
I told you she was safe, Eve. You talked to her.
Shes not safe. She wont be safe until this is over. None of them would be safe. Joe and Gary and her mother had been drawn into the net, and Eve had done it.
All right, shes not as safe as Id like her to be, Logan said. But its the best I can do right now. He paused. Kessler appears to have upset you. What did he say?
Nazis and swan songs and a young man in the mirror. Nothing much. Nothing important.
It was a lie. Garys life was important. The fact that she had never scratched more than the surface of Gary Kesslers past was important. It was a night of revelations, she thought wearily. Logan, Joe, and now Gary. She closed her eyes. Just keep him safe, okay?
THE WHITE HOUSE
7:20 A.M.
Kessler, Lisa said as soon as Timwick picked up the phone. Check out Kessler at Emory.
I know my job, Lisa. Im checking out Kessler. Hes on my list.
Then put him higher on your list. Duncans worked with Kessler several times. It was in the stuff on the disc you messengered over.
Shes worked with other people too. She heard him rustling papers. And she hasnt worked with him in over two years.
But he was the first anthropologist she ever worked with. They have a history. It would mean something to her.
Then why hasnt she worked with him lately? Logan researched Crawford at
Have they shown up at Duke?
No, but its early days yet.
Early? You should have caught them by now. Times running out. Put Kessler at the top of the shortlist. She hung up the phone.
She shouldnt have been so sharp; it wasnt smart. The more desperate Timwick became, the more resentful he grew and the more domineering he tried to be. But, Christ, how could an intelligent man have so little imagination? Couldnt he see that it was Duncan and not Logan who was the key?
She drew a deep breath and tried to compose her-self. She mustnt panic. She mustnt lose control. Okay, the problem was two-pronged. One, Bens skull must be recovered; any evidence was moot without the skull. Two, Logan and Duncan must be elimi-nated and any other possible evidence destroyed. Dammit, Timwick was doing neither. She had known he was a weak link since that mistake with Donnelli and had made alternate plans to enact whenever necessary.
It was necessary. The more time passed, the more dangerous everything became. She had to take the reins completely in her own hands.
How had she come to this point? She had never wanted any of this. It wasnt fair.
Well, the world wasnt fair. You just had to do whatever you had to do. There wasnt any way she could reverse what shed done that day, so she just had to protect herself and all shed gained.
She opened her phone book to the name and number she had gotten from Timwick three weeks earlier.
She quickly dialed the number. It rang three times before it was answered.
Mr. Fiske? Weve never talked before, but I be-lieve its time we did.
SIXTEEN
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
11:50 A.M.
"Got it. Eves hand tightened on the thermal case that contained the vial with the DNA sample. Now lets get out of here. We cant afford any deterioration.
Is there enough? Logan asked.
Just enough. She turned to Kessler. Where do you suggest we take it, Gary?
I assume you dont want to take a chance on any of the obvious or well-known testing centers?
She shook her head.
But you want a place with excellent credentials.
She nodded.
Duncan, youre an incredibly demanding woman. And youre fortunate that Im incredible enough myself to meet your absurd demands. He lowered his voice dramatically. I know a man.
I dont want a man. I want a lab.
Youll have to settle for Chris Teller.
And who is Chris Teller?
A student of mine who went on to become a MacArthur Fellow. Brilliant man. Hes been doing re-search on the medical side of DNA, but he needed to put food on the table, so he opened a small lab in Bainbridge, Georgia, last year. Its a three-man opera-tion and they intend to keep it that way. The lab is listed as a medical research lab, not a forensic testing center.
It sounds good.
Of course its good. Its perfect. Youd think Id been dabbling in conspiracies all my life. Chris takes DNA profile jobs only when he needs to pay the bills, but hes absolutely accurate. We cant risk bungling. Im not sure I can get another sample.
She nodded slowly. Bainbridge, okay. Ill take it down myself and
Gary was shaking his head. Ill do it. You said you need speed. Ill appeal to him as a fellow scientist.
Look, Ill take Joe. Surely Teller will cooperate with the police.
Not if hes deep in research and doesnt want to stop. Hell just tell Quinn to go somewhere else. Well get better cooperation if I handle it.
Your job is done, Eve said. Its time for you to go somewhere and loll on the beach for a while. I cant ask you to do anything more, Gary.
I didnt hear you ask, Gary said. And Ill de-cide when my job is done. Are you trying to cheat me out of my book contract?
Im trying to keep you alive.
Gary took the thermal case from her and headed for the door. I have to stop by my house and pick up clothes and an overnight bag.
Gary, this is crazy. Let me
You want to be helpful? Go get me samples for Teller to compare this one to. He opened the door. If you want to follow me down to Bainbridge, come ahead. But Im in charge of this sample, Eve.
Gary, listen to Hed already left the labora-tory, and Eve hurriedly followed him down the hall and out the front door.
Whats going on? Joe came toward her. Wheres he going?
A DNA lab in Bainbridge. Hes got the sample. I told him Id take it, but he wanted to go himself.
Stubborn bastard. Joe started down the steps. Ill handle it, Eve.
No. Logan had come out of the building. Eve and I will follow Kessler to Bainbridge. You go see Chadbournes sister, Millicent Babcock.
I suppose you want a DNA sample from her?
Yes, but even if thats a match, it will be only an indication, not proof accepted in a courtroom. We also need direct DNA from Ben Chadbourne. He and his sister were very close. He stayed with her several times during the campaign and he must have sent her birthday cards or notes that still have saliva traces on the envelopes. Or if he left any clothes at her house, there might still be hair or
And how am I supposed to get those little mementoes?
Thats up to you.
And wheres Chadbournes sister?
Richmond, Virginia.
And, of course, youre not trying to get me out of the picture?
Not this time. We need those comparison sam-ples. The sooner we get them, the sooner this will be over.
Joe hesitated and then said, Okay. Chadbournes DNA and a sample from his sister. What do you need from her? Blood?
Saliva will do for now, Eve said. But the sample should be refrigerated and expressed imme-diately.
Ill bring it myself. He looked at Logan. I dont suppose you know if she smokes?
Logan shook his head. Sorry.
Joe shrugged. Salivas no problem. If she doesnt smoke, she probably drinks coffee. Its the national addiction these days. Its Chadbournes DNA thats going to be a headache. Letters will be the most likely source but how the hell am I going to get hellip; He started down the steps. Ill find a way to do it. Ill be on your heels before you know it. You just take care of Eve until I get down there, Logan.