So gain control. She had a way out. Shed call Timwick and tell him the problem.
But first she had to talk to Kevin and guide him on the path he had to take.
Joe called Eve at eight that evening. Ive managed to get a letter Chadbourne wrote to his sister when their mother died a few months before he took office. I dont think theres any doubt that he licked that par-ticular envelope himself.
Great. How did you get it?
You dont want to know. That would make you an accessory. But I havent gotten the sample from Millicent Babcock yet, and I thought that would be the easiest. Im following her and her husband to the country club this evening to see if I can get my hands on a glass. He paused. How are you?
Fine. Gary is going to be able to get the DNA right away.
Good. Another silence. Is Logan taking good care of you?
She avoided answering. He would go ballistic if he knew Logan wasnt here. I take care of myself, Joe.
I should be there. I should have told Logan to come here and follow that Babcock woman around. I didnt trust him to get the job done, but Im spinning my damn wheels.
Youll get it tonight.
Id better or Ill mug the damn woman and get a blood sample instead. Youre not laughing. I was joking, dammit.
Sorry, nothing seems very funny to me right now.
Me neither. Ill try to be there tomorrow. Take care of yourself.
Joe. She stopped him before he could hang up. Have you called Diane?
Before I left Atlanta.
Shell be worried about you. Im feeling guilty enough about involving you. I dont want to send her off the deep end too.
Ill call her.
Now?
Now, dammit. He ended the call.
She put the phone back on the table. At least Joe was safe and behaving with his usual protectiveness. Tomorrow hed be here and shed once more feel that sense of homecoming that was always present when she was with Joe.
Now she had only to wait for Logan to call and tell her he and Gil were okay.
Call her, Joe thought. You promised Eve youd call Diane. Now do it.
He dialed his home number and Diane picked up immediately.
Hi, babe, just thought Id check in. How are you doing?
Where are you, Joe?
I told you, out of town on a case. I should be able to wrap it up pretty soon.
What case?
Nothing youd be interested in.
Oh, I think Id be interested. Her tone was hard. Do you think Im stupid, Joe? Im tired of pre-tending Im blind. All this stuff on television. Its Eve, isnt it?
He was silent. He knew she wasnt stupid, but hed hoped shed pretend the problem didnt exist, as she usually did with issues that made her uncomfortable.
Isnt it?
Yes.
Its gone too far, Joe. Her voice was shaking. How long do you think I can put up with this? We have a good life and youre risking everything we have for her. Is she worth it?
You know I cant turn my back on her.
Oh, I know that. Nobody knows it better. I thought I could take it, but she dominates your god-damned life. Just why the hell did you marry me, Joe?
Youre upset. Well talk about this when I come home.
If you come home. If she doesnt get you killed. Diane slammed down the phone.
Jesus, hed made a mess of it. Why had he thought the marriage would work? Hed given her everything he could, everything hed thought she wanted. Hed tried to balance honesty with kindness, but Diane had pride, and no matter how he tried to avoid inflicting pain, it was inevitable. Everything Diane had said was true. She had every right to wonder why he had married her.
He hoped she never found out.
EIGHTEEN
The scent of the damp, mossy riverbank hit Logan as soon as he got out of the car. The smell of earth re-minded him of the cornfield in Maryland.
Not a particularly happy memory, Logan thought. A successful diversion, but he still remembered Eves face when she found out hed used her as bait.
Smells good, doesnt it? Gil breathed deeply as he started to walk toward the river. Reminds me of home.
The area appeared deserted and, at least, Gil had chosen a meeting place with no trees or cover. The gulf? Youre from Mobile, arent you?
A little town outside Mobile.
Deep South.
Where else did you think I learned to love Garth Brooks?
Logans gaze raked the bank. It should be therehellip; God, he wished there were moonlight. But you tell me country is universal.
But every universe has to have a home planet. He glanced at Logan. Relax. Its going to be okay. No one can approach us without us seeing them. If anyone but Maren shows we can take off.
And if were cut off from the car?
We can always swim.
Ive got a better idea. He breathed a sigh of re-lief as the moon came out from behind the clouds and he saw the gleam of stainless steel. I rented a speed-boat and arranged to have it brought downriver and staked out over there.
Gil started to laugh. I knew you would. God, youre anal, John.
Its better than swimming.
Do you think I wouldnt have done it myself if I hadnt known youd provide?
How the hell do I know what youd do? You arranged this damn-fool meeting. Why couldnt you just have him call you?
Because he may need more persuading. Its too easy to hang up a telephone.
And you have a death wish.
I have a death wish? The risk isnt as great for me as for you. Ive already taken one bullet this month. I figure that puts the odds on my side. You should have stayed in Georgia and let me handle it.
Logan didnt answer.
Of course, I realize that you were afraid some-thing might happen to me. Gil gave him a sly glance. Naturally, you didnt want anything to happen to a man of my brilliance and charisma.
No?
And besides, you dont have that many friends who are willing to put up with your lack of appre-ciation for the finer things of life. Yes, I should have known youd hop on a plane for purely selfish reasons.
Purely selfish.
Ah, you admit it.
You bet I do. I couldnt stand another day at Bainbridge. The only thing I could get on the radio was Hank Williams Jr. and that damn song Feed Jake.
Gil chuckled. God, really? Thats got to be my kind of town.
I agree. Ive got an airline ticket in my pocket for you. His lips tightened grimly. If you survive tonight.
Gils smile faded. This is worth the chance, John. I managed to shake Maren. I could see it.
Then, where is he?
Were early. I think hell be here.
Only forty minutes early. But there was no sign of movement on the bank of the canal or the river. If there was a trap, he couldnt see it.
Maybe Gil had succeeded in convincing Maren. It was possible. Perhaps in a hour all this would be over and their work on Bens skull would be of sec-ondary importance.
Lord, he hoped so.
But where the hell was Maren?
The security guard looked up from talking to the clerk at the information desk. Good night, Dr. Maren, he said, smiling. Late night.
Paperwork. Its the bane of my existence. Good night, Paul. He went out the glass doors and headed for his reserved space, where his classic 1957 Corvette was parked. The timing was right. Thirty minutes and hed be at the canal.