Why the hell are you I thought you liked Gil.
I do and I want him safe. But she didnt want Logan dead, and the more she thought about Lisa Chadbourne, the more frightened she became. Im not arguing. I know it wouldnt do any good. Good-bye, Logan.
He still hesitated.
Good-bye, Logan.
He muttered an oath beneath his breath and backed out of the parking space. In another minute he was gone.
Alone.
Its not good for you to be alone, Mama.
She was accustomed to being alone. When the door was shut and the world closed out, wasnt every-body alone?
Yet it was strange that she was feeling more alone now than ever before.
Wheres Logan?
She turned and saw Gary had walked up to the car. Winging his way north. Gil Price needed him, Eve said. What did you find out?
Well, theres some bad news and some good news. The good news is that Chris has converted their method over to chemiluminescence. They could work up a DNA profile for me today.
And the bad news?
He said he wont do it. Hes too busy. He held up his hand. I know. I know. You dont have to say it. Hell do it. I just have to be a little more persistent. It wont be today, but I may be able to get the initial profile tomorrow. I just thought Id come out and give you a report. He tossed her his keys and started back toward the lab. Go back to the motel. Ill probably be here until after midnight. Ill take a taxi.
She didnt want to go back to the motel. She wanted to go into the lab and help. She wanted to do something.
Yes, sure, and blow everything Gary was trying to do.
Forget it. Her irrational impulse was only due to the fact that she had nothing to do, sitting there waiting was getting on her nerves. She could al-most sympathize with Gary and Logan, who had seized the opportunity to take action, any action, even if it held an element of recklessness.
What was she thinking? Recklessness had nothing to do with her life. She needed steadiness and serenity. Taking chances was not for her.
She mustnt begin to think about Lisa Chadbourne as if she were some kind of superwoman. Logan was probably right about Gary and her being safe for the time being. Accept it. Relax. After the tension and pace of the last days, she should be glad for a boring few days in Bainbridge.
Ive narrowed the possibility of the safe house at Lanier down to four, Timwick said as soon as Fiske picked up the phone. They were all booked day be-fore yesterday.
By Wilson?
How the hell would I know? Timwick asked sourly. Do you think shed use her real name?
Shed have to make a deposit. That means a credit card.
And whos to say that she doesnt have a phony? Do you think Logan wouldnt have made provisions for that? Got a pen? He rattled off the four ad-dresses. Get on it right away.
As soon as I can.
What the hell do you mean?
You told me to check out Kessler. Im at Emory now and he left on an unexpected trip yesterday morning.
Where?
Ive no idea. Im on my way to talk to his assis-tant and see if I can find out.
The mother is more important. Kessler is just a long shot. Logan will be going to Duke if he wants an expert.
Now that Im here, I might as well check it out.
I told you to drop it. Go to Lanier.
What do you want me to do if I find her?
Just stake her out. Ill let you know.
I told you I dont like stakeouts. Ill find her, but you assign someone else for the donkey work, Timwick.
The silence at the other end of the phone was frigid. The chicken bastard didnt like being told what to do. Well, hed better get used to it. Timwick didnt know it, but the game had changed and the queen was controlling the board.
You realize that you can be replaced, Fiske.
But it would be difficult at this stage of the game. Why not let me do what I do best?
Another silence, colder than the last. Very well, report to me as soon as youve located the women.
Right. Fiske hung up the phone and moved quickly toward the dorm where Kesslers assistant, Bob Spencer, lived. Hed tell Spencer he was an old friend of Kesslers, maybe take him out to dinner and pump him. Even if he didnt know Kesslers location, Fiske might be able to find out the lab where Kessler generally did his tests. Find out where the tests are being done, Lisa Chadbourne had said.
No problem.
He knew ? Lisa murmured. My God, he knew, Scott?
Not for sure. My take is that Logan made an educated guess.
And then sent Price to lay the cards on the table. Why?
Scott didnt answer for a moment. A deal. He wants you more than he wants me, Lisa.
What kind of deal?
Im out of the country, out of the picture, some-where with a new identity, if I furnish evidence against you.
Panic rushed through her and she fought to quell it. She had known Logan was smart and that he might suspect her, but shed hoped he wouldnt make the connection with Scott. Hes lying. Theyd never let you off.
Perhaps.
Her stomach clenched. And were you tempted, Scott? Just a little?
For Gods sake, Im calling you, arent I? Does that sound like I want to strike a deal?
No, Im sorry. Im scared. I never thought theyd guess it was you. Jesus, it was all falling apart.
No, it wasnt. She just had to think, to make ad-justments. We can work our way out of this. We may be lucky that they thought you might make a deal. They could have gone to the media.
But weve blocked that route for them.
Did you finish substituting the records?
Right after Price left me.
The panic subsided a little. It was going to be all right. She could see her way clear now. Thank God. Then Ill talk to Kevin right away and start the ball rolling. Its going to be fine, Scott.
Is it?
Of course it is. I promise you.
Youve promised me a lot of things, Lisa, he said wearily.
And havent I given you everything I promised? Youve lived the sweet life all these years.
You think I couldnt have done it without you?
I didnt say that, Scott.
He was silent a moment. Sorry.
He sounded odd, and she knew better than to overlook any change in him. The situation was too delicate. Whats wrong?
Price said something else. He told me about three people whod been murdered quite recently and that the murders conveniently erased problems for you. He asked if I wasnt afraid that Id be killed too.
And are you afraid, Scott? After all these years, are you afraid Id hurt you?
Silence. No, I guess not.
Thats not good enough. Dont guess, know.
He didnt say anything.
She closed her eyes. Christ, not now. Dont let him doubt now. Well talk. Ill prove it to you. But now we have to deal with Price as cleanly as possible to save you.
Not to mention you.
All right, save both of us. Go ahead and meet Price. Ill have Timwick there before you.
And?
Well take Price and try to use him as a bargaining tool for the skull. We have to have that skull back.
You think Logan will deal?
Weve got to try. She paused. Trust me, Scott. I wont let Logan take you down. Not after all youve done for me. She hung up.
Her heart was beating too hard. Breathe deeply, steadily. It was only another challenge.
But it was a challenge she shouldnt have had to meet. If Timwick had done his job with Donnelli, no one would ever have suspected Scott and she would not have had to make this decision. Panic was turning to rage. Logan and Duncan were coming too close and she was losing control.