The gun.
Lisa had stopped beside the gun that Timwick had tossed away and was looking down at it.
No!
Youve destroyed everything Ben and I have worked for. You think Im a murderer. I could pick that gun up and prove you right. I dont think Im in range of your friends over there. Are you afraid of dying, Eve?
No, I dont think so.
I dont believe you are either. I think youre afraid of living. She glanced over her shoulder. I would have found your Bonnie. Youll have to live with that knowledge. Now you may never find her. I hope you dont. She gave the gun a little kick to one side. You see how nonviolent I am? Rejecting the op-portunity for revenge, going forward to meet justice. She smiled. Good-bye, Eve. Maybe Ill see you in court. She started back across the glade. And then again, maybe I wont.
She thinks she can get out of it, Eve told Logan as she watched Lisa get into the back of the car with FBI agents. She just might do it.
Not if we keep her separated from Kevin Detwil. Theyre going to try to isolate her for the next twenty-four hours. Its going to be difficult as hell considering who she is. Chief Justice Bennett is going directly to Detwil and play him the tape.
You think hell fall apart?
Probably. Hes always needed her to bolster him. If he doesnt crumble immediately, theres always the list. That should do it.
But why was Detwils name on the list too? I can understand Timwick. He was becoming unstable and threatening her plans. But she needed Detwil for an-other term.
I doubt if he was an immediate target. She probably put his name on the list to intrigue Fiske. What more difficult target than the President?
But she would have done it eventually.
Oh, yes, Detwil was living proof. I imagine she would have had Fiske set up some DNA-destroying accident. Maybe the explosion of Air Force One.
There are a lot of people who travel with the President on Air Force One.
Do you think that would matter to her?
Yes. No. She shook her head. God, I dont know. Maybe.
He took her arm. Come on, lets get out of here.
Where are we going?
Youre letting me choose? How refreshing. After bulldozing me into trapping Lisa Chadbourne, I was sure youd have some plan.
She was all out of plans. She was all out of energy. She felt drained. I want to go home.
Not yet, Im afraid. Were going to Senator Lathrops house and stay there until the first uproar is over and were officially cleared of suspicion. They dont want some gun-happy government man shooting us by mistake.
How kind, she said ironically.
Not kind. Were very valuable material wit-nesses. Well be under strict guard until this is over.
When can I go home?
A week.
She shook her head. Three days tops.
Well try. His brow lifted. But remember, we are, after all, dealing with the overturning of a presidency.
You deal with it, Logan. She got into the car. Three days. Then Im going home and see Joe and Mom.
TWENTY-THREE
WASHINGTON, D.C.
"Its a madhouse. Eve turned away from the lace-curtained window. There must be hundreds of re-porters out there. Why the hell dont they go bother someone else?
Were a big story, Logan said. Bigger than O.J. Bigger than Whitewater. Bigger than Clintons pecca-dilloes. Get used to it.
I dont want to get used to it. She was prowling back and forth across the senators library like a rest-less tiger. Its been five days. I need to get home. I need to see Joe.
You told me your mom said Joe was getting better every day.
But they wont let me talk to him.
Why not?
How the hell do I know? Im not there. She stopped before his chair, hands clenched. Im cooped up here in thishellip; this place. I cant go out without getting mobbed. We couldnt even go to Gils or Garys funerals. And its not going to stop, is it?
Logan shook his head. I tried to tell you. The minute Detwil broke down and confessed, it trig-gered a frenzy.
And they had been in the center of that frenzy, Eve thought. Theyd been kept virtual prisoners in the senators house, watching the explosion of events on television. Kevin Detwil confesses, Chet Mobry sworn in as president, Lisa Chadbourne imprisoned.
Its going to go on and on, she said. Its like living in a fishbowl. How will I work? How will I live? I cant stand it.
The media will lose interest eventually. After the court case is over, well be yesterdays news.
That may take years. I think I may strangle you, Logan.
No, you wont. He smiled. Then you wouldnt have anyone to share your misery with. Company is important at a time like this.
I dont want your company. I want Mom and Joe.
The minute you go home to them, theyll be tar-gets too. They wont be able to move without a camera fixed on them. They wont have a life either. Do you think your mothers relationship with her new beau will withstand that kind of stress? What about Joe Quinn? How will the Atlanta P.D. react to a detective who cant take two steps without being on TV? How about his marriage? Will his wife like
Shut up, Logan.
Im trying to give it to you straight. Youre the one who told me always to be honest with you.
You knew it would be like this.
I didnt think of the media repercussions. I sup-pose I should have considered them, but I just wanted her brought down. That seemed the only important thing.
He was telling the truth. She wished he werent. She was so frustrated, she needed to blame someone, anyone.
He added quietly, And I believe in the end that was the only thing important to you too.
Yes. She went back to the window. But it shouldnt be like this. We brought her down and now were drowning with her.
I wont let you drown. He was suddenly standing behind her, his hands lightly resting on her shoulders. Not if you let me help you, Eve.
Can you give me my life back?
I intend to do that. It just may take a while. He was massaging the taut muscles in her shoulders. He bent and whispered in her ear, Youre too tense. I be-lieve you need a vacation.
I need to work.
Maybe we can combine the two. Did you know I have a house on an island just south of Tahiti? Its very secluded besides having excellent security. I go there when I need to escape for one reason or another.
What are you saying?
Im saying that you need to escape, and so do I. It would take a very enterprising reporter to follow us that far. He added roughly, And look at you. Youve been through hell and Im to blame for most of it. Let me try to make amends. You need to rest and heal. Its boring as the devil on the island. Nothing to do but walk on the beach, read, and listen to music.
It didnt sound boring. It sounded like salvation. She slowly turned to look at him. I could work?
He made a face. I should have known that was coming. Ill have a lab built for you. Margaret will do it right this time.
Will they let us go?
The judicial powers that be? I dont anticipate any problem as long as they know where we are and that we arent going to disappear permanently. The last thing they want are leaks or testimony compro-mised by the media.
When could we leave?
Ill check and make sure, but possibly early next week.
I could stay there until Im needed?
As long as you like.
She gazed out the window at the horde of re-porters across the street. They looked hungry, but she knew theyd never get enough. Some of them were probably kind, but after Bonnie had disappeared she could remember an occasional reporter saying some-thing deliberately hurtful so they could catch the pain in her expression. She couldnt go through that again.