And my mother?
You can take her with you. Can we deal?
No.
Why? What else do you want?
I want my life back. I dont want to spend the next fifty years hiding out for something I didnt do. I dont consider that option viable.
Its all I can offer. I cant have you here. Its too dangerous for me. For the first time, Eve could hear an edge of steel to Lisa Chadbournes voice, and something elsepanic. Give me that skull, Eve.
No.
Ill find it anyway. It will just be easier if you give it to me.
Even if you find it youre afraid the truth will come to light in an awkward and public manner. Thats the only reason youre offering me a deal.
God, no. Both the hardness and fear were gone from her voice now. It reflected only weariness and sadness. You refuse?
Ive told you that.
Would it be so bad to let me stay in the White House? Look what Ive done through Kevin. The new bill to save Medicare. Tougher laws on animal and child abuse. Theres a good chance I can get the Na-tional Health Bill passed before the election. Do you know what a miracle that is when we dont control Congress? Her voice hardened with desperation. But Ive only started. Theres so much more that Ive planned for next term. Let me do it, Eve.
And seize immortality for yourself? I dont re-gard murder as a permissible method for pushing bills through Congress.
Please. Reconsider.
No deal.
Silence. Im sorry. I wanted to make it easy for you. No, thats not true. I wanted to make it easier for me. I wanted it to stop. Lisa cleared the thickness from her voice. Youve misjudged your position, Eve. Its not as strong as you think, and there are al-ways two sides of a coin. I hope Ill be able to give you another chance later, but I doubt it. Ill have to move forward. You will remember it was your choice? She hung up.
Eve had thought she had grasped the womans personality and motivations, but she hadnt gone deep enough. She wondered if anyone could go deep enough with Lisa Chadbourne. She had been thinking about her as a ruthless monster like Fraser, but the woman she had just spoken to was very human.
But not vulnerable. She might not be a monster, but her determination would never waver.
Eves hand was shaking as she put down the phone on the table. Christ, she was scared. She had believed she had a slight advantage because she had studied and felt she knew Lisa Chadbourne.
The advantage was gone. Not only did she not know Lisa Chadbourne, but the woman had also been studying her. Lisa Chadbourne also knew Eve.
Two sides of a coin.
Bribery on one side. Death on the other. It couldnt be clearer. She had refused Lisas offer and now she had to face the consequences.
Why the hell couldnt she stop shaking? It was as if Lisa had been in the room with her and
A knock on the door.
Her gaze flew across the room.
Dont answer the door, Logan had said.
Two sides of a coin.
For Gods sake, Lisa Chadbourne wasnt some supernatural being who had transported herself to this motel. Eve rose to her feet and strode to the door. And assassins didnt knock politely.
The second knock wasnt polite though. It was hard, impatient, and demanding.
Who is it?
Logan.
She gave a quick glance through the peephole. Thank God. She unfastened the chain bolt and un-locked the door.
Logan strode into the room. Pack your clothes. Youre getting out of here.
Where have you been?
On my way here. He opened her closet, took out her bag, blazer, and windbreaker and threw them on the bed. I took a taxi to Baltimore-Washington airport, rented a car, and drove here.
Why didnt you call me?
He didnt answer.
Dammit, why didnt you call me? Didnt you know Id be worried?
I didnt want to talk to He unzipped her bag. Will you pack? I want you out of here.
The DNA profile isnt done yet. Gary found out the lab could escalate the process, but Joe hasnt come with the comparison samples and Gary says it wont
I dont give a damn, he said harshly. Youre out of it.
Thats going to be hard to do. Did you hear about Abdul Jamal?
On the radio coming down.
She watched him take an armful of underthings out of the bureau drawer and drop them into the bag. His clothes were rumpled and grass-stained and there was a scratch on his forearm. Im not going anywhere until you talk to me.
Then Ill pack for you and dump you in the car with the rest of the luggage.
Stop mishandling my property and look at me, dammit.
He slowly turned to look at her.
She stiffened when she saw his face. Jesus, she whispered. What happened, Logan?
Gils dead. His movement was jerky uncoordi-nated, as he flung more clothes from a drawer onto the bed. Shot. I dont think they even meant to kill him. They were just firing warning shots. But now hes dead. He threw clothes into the duffel. I left him in a boathouse near the river. Im sure you wont approve, considering how you feel. No home for Gil. I just left him and took off running.
Gil, she repeated numbly.
He was born near Mobile. I think he has a brother. Maybe later we can
Shut up. She grabbed his arms. Shut up, Logan.
He was joking before it happened. He said he was safe because hed taken his bullet for the month. He was wrong. He wasnt safe. He didnt know what hit him. He just
Im sorry. God, Im so sorry. Without thinking she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him. His body felt stiff and unrelenting, his muscles locked against her. I know he was your friend.
Thats more than I know. If he was my friend, would I have let him run the risks he did?
You tried to persuade him not to meet with Maren. We both tried. He wouldnt listen.
I could have stopped him. But I knew there was a chance he was right about Maren. I could have knocked him on the head or gone by myself. I didnt have to let him go.
Dear heaven, he was hurting and she couldnt reach him. It wasnt your fault. It was Gils decision. You couldnt know that
Bullshit. He pushed her away. Finish packing. Im getting you out of here.
And where am I supposed to be going?
Anywhere away from here. Ill put you on a boat to Timbuktu.
No. She crossed her arms over her chest. Not now. Youre too upset to be reasonable. We need to talk about this.
Pack. Theres nothing to talk about.
Were going to talk. Lets get out of here. She headed for the door. The emotion in the room was so thick, she felt as if she was suffocating. And, it would be better if she could get him away from that damn packing he was obsessing about. Ive been cooped up in here all day. Take me for a drive.
Im not going
Yes, you are. She grabbed Bens case, threw open the door, and glanced over her shoulder. Which car?
He was silent.
Which car, Logan?
The beige Taurus.
She moved toward the car parked across the lot. He reached it before she did. She waited for him to unlock the door.
His lips curved in a sardonic smile as he reached for Bens case. And everywhere that Eve goes, the skull is sure to follow, he murmured, then put the case in the backseat. But then I told you to never leave it alone, didnt I? Even though it makes you an automatic target.
Do you think Id pay any attention to what you said if I didnt think it was the right thing to do? Not likely, Logan.