Smokescreen Read online

  “That’s not enough? Say something.”

  “Give me a minute. Right now, anything I’d say would be obscene.”

  “I went down that road, too. But here I am, sitting here staring at this ugly skull that I hope is Nils Varak’s.” She added quietly, “Because I don’t think I could bear it if I find out that it’s not, and he’s still out there. Yes, I was drawn into this by deceit and subterfuge, but in the end, that’s the bottom line. I can’t let a monster who almost butchered an entire nation walk away.”

  “You told me that you could have died,” he said harshly. “I can’t think of anything else right now.”

  “But I didn’t.” She had to batter through that protective side of him, which was always present and paramount and make him start looking at the entire picture. “But the fact that I came close makes me wonder if Hadfeld wasn’t telling the truth as Jill thought. Even Jill can’t figure out why anyone would try to hurt me just for doing those children’s reconstructions here at Robaku. It was the perfect red herring.”

  “It certainly lured you,” he said curtly. He didn’t speak for a moment. Eve could almost hear the volatile storminess in that silence. “I want you out of there. But I’m not going to be able to persuade you to come, am I?”

  “Not now. I have to be certain.”

  “Eve.”

  “I know. But I can’t leave until I know the man who killed those children is dead, Joe.” She said with sudden passion, “You told me yourself what a monster he was. Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. If you could have seen that schoolroom, you’d understand.”

  “Yes, he was a monster, and that monster is making you go through hell even now that he’s dead.”

  “If he’s dead.”

  “You wouldn’t question those DNA results if Jill Cassidy hadn’t conned you.”

  “She conned me to get me here. She’s not conning me about her belief that Varak is still alive. Neither is Gideon or Novak. They’re all very smart and taking big risks because they think Varak might not have been on that helicopter.”

  “They should be the ones to take the risks and not drag you into it.”

  “All I’m doing is the reconstruction, Joe.”

  “And you won’t give that up,” he said. “Okay. Then do the damn reconstruction. But I’m not going to trust anyone else to keep the heat off you while you’re working on it. I’ll take the next plane out.”

  “I didn’t expect anything else,” she said. “But it’s not what I want, Joe. I believe that Novak will see that I’m safe. I don’t want you involved in this.”

  “And I don’t want you working on that reconstruction that could either get you thrown into jail or murdered. It’s a standoff.” He paused. “I’m involved in everything you do. It will always be that way. And prepare to see me involved up to my neck in this fiasco. I’ll make a few preparations, call Jane and Michael, then I’ll be leaving.”

  “Michael,” Eve repeated. “Don’t say anything to him that would worry—”

  “He’s already ahead of you. He called me yesterday and wanted us to take a trip to Maldara. I stalled him, but he won’t be surprised that I’m leaving. It was almost a direct order that I go and take care of you.”

  “Shit.”

  “Exactly. That’s why I have to call Jane and make sure she’ll see that he won’t try to find a way to join me.”

  “Heaven forbid.”

  “And why I have to wrap this up as quickly as possible. No doubts, no strings. Finished. I’ll call you when I know when I’ll arrive in Jokan. Bye, Eve.” He cut the connection.

  Michael.

  Eve had realized that he might be a problem since they’d always had that special sensitivity to each other. But recently he had also been reaching out to Joe in a similar manner. She should have been just as worried about that as Joe’s reaction. The mere idea of Michael’s being here in Maldara frightened her. Her gaze flew back to the skull on the dais in front of her.

  He liked to kill children.

  She didn’t want Michael anywhere near this place where so many children had died. Even if there proved to be no physical danger, he might sense that overpowering aura of death.

  “How did it go with Quinn?” Novak had come in and was standing behind her. “As expected?”

  She nodded. “He’ll be on his way soon. He’s not happy with any of us. He says this has to be wrapped up quickly. No doubts. No strings. Finished. That’s the way Joe always works his cases.” She stared into the skull’s gaping, empty eyes. Evil. Death. Terror. Had those eyes looked out with pleasure at the bloody savagery he had created? That’s what Jill had said, that’s what Eve had felt, when she had stared into the darkness of that schoolroom. “Joe’s right, Novak,” she whispered. “No matter what I find, I can’t stop until it’s finished.”

  Chapter

  ​9

  London

  Two hours later, Joe left Jane’s apartment and headed for the taxi stand on the corner of the block.

  “Could I give you a lift, Quinn?”

  Joe tensed, then he whirled to see a dark-haired man standing beside the door of the apartment building. Joe’s gaze raked his features with one quick glance. “You’re Sam Gideon. What the hell are you doing here?”

  “Easy.” Gideon put up his hands. “Just offering you a lift as I said. I expected you to be a bit edgy but not on the attack. And how did you know who I was, anyway?”

  “Did you think I wouldn’t find out every detail about everyone Eve was connected with at Robaku?” he asked coldly. “I could tell that she was beginning to trust you. That made you dangerous. And now she tells me that you were responsible for getting her poisoned. That might make you dead.”

  “I don’t blame you,” Gideon said. “I screwed up. I was supposed to take care of her, and I didn’t do it. I thought she was safe.” He made a face. “I really don’t want you to attack and make me defend myself. I’m pretty good these days, but you were a SEAL and can probably cause me intense bodily pain or death. Besides, I think Eve has forgiven me and might get pissed off if I end up seriously damaged. Wouldn’t it be better to just put up with me and let me help you to get to her as soon as possible?”

  “I’d have to think about it,” Joe said. “The other option is much more tempting.”

  “I was afraid of that.” Gideon sighed. “Novak warned me that you’d probably be major pissed off. But he also said you were smart and that might make a difference. How long is it going to take for you to think about it before I prepare for personal Armageddon?”

  “I repeat, what are you doing here? The last thing I heard from Eve was that you were in Maldara.” He was quickly processing the information he’d acquired about Sam Gideon. “You’re the rich guy who was banging Zahra Kiyani. Not a good recommendation. I don’t like what I hear about her.” He added, “But you also pilot a Gulf Stream, and I assume the lift you offered wasn’t just to the airport. How quickly can you get me to Maldara?”

  “Shall I go down the list? One, yes, I am rich, and I did have an interlude with Zahra that might prove beneficial to us. Two, the reason I’m here is that Novak knew that when Eve agreed to do the reconstruction, it wasn’t going to work unless we brought you into the mix ASAP. So he immediately sent me here to put myself at your disposal. Three, it took me seven hours and thirty minutes to get here from Maldara today, and I believe I can guarantee to get you back in the same time. Anything else?”

  “Novak sent you? Then he owns you?”

  “Was that meant to insult me?” Gideon smiled. “I have many talents, but I’m new to this game Novak knows so well. Yes, I let Novak own me because he’s an expert at what he does. I’d let you own me if you show me you’re better than Novak.” His smile faded. “I’d let the devil himself own me if it meant that he could deliver Varak to me. Is that clear?”

  Joe studied him. “It seems to be. I’ll have to give it time to verify whether you’re being honest or just telling
me what I’d consider acceptable.” He turned on his heel. “In the meantime, get me to Maldara. And seven hours and thirty minutes is not what I wanted to hear. So be prepared to spend that time filling me in on every phase of what you and Novak have been doing regarding that damn skull. Eve might be a major part of this, but I know Novak isn’t waiting for verification or permission from his director. He’s already on the move, isn’t he?”

  “You’d have to ask him.”

  “No, I’m asking you.” Joe’s smile was tiger bright. “And by the time we reach Maldara, I’ll have answers. I believe we’ll start with the DNA…”

  * * *

  Robaku

  “Hey, you said you were going to nap for a while. Isn’t it time you stopped working?”

  Eve looked up from the reconstruction to see Jill standing beside her. She realized she hadn’t heard her leave her cot on the other side of the room. But then she had been so absorbed that she hadn’t been aware of anything but the reconstruction in front of her. “Soon.” She stretched her stiff neck around in a circle. “I got carried away with doing Varak’s repairs. It took awhile. But I have a clean slate now. I can start with the measuring.”

  “He doesn’t look clean to me.” Jill was gazing at the blackened skull. “He still looks like something from a horror film.” Her glance shifted to Eve. “And you’re calling him Varak. I know you told me that you always have to name your reconstructions so that you can connect, but this is different, isn’t it? You’re assuming he is Varak?”

  “No.” Eve shrugged. “I didn’t know what to name him, so I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. If he is Varak, then I’ll have it right; if he’s not, then I still might be close.” Her lips tightened. “Because it would be almost certain that he’s a Varak victim, maybe even one of his butchers who was on that helicopter. Either way, this is a Varak entity.”

  “Complicated. Sort of a reconstruction with a split personality. But what else could we expect from Varak?” She asked curiously, “How does that affect you in making a connection with him?”

  Eve felt herself stiffening. She quickly looked back at the skull. “I won’t have to worry about that yet. There’s a lot to do first. The measuring, the initial sculpting.”

  “And you’d prefer not to dwell on it,” Jill said softly, reading her expression. “Have you ever done a reconstruction before on someone…like Varak?”

  “You mean an evil son of a bitch who scared the hell out of me?” She moistened her lips. “Once. Several years ago. I hoped I’d never have to do it again. Call me crazy. But when a soul is that evil…it seems to linger…And I imagine Varak would be a million times worse.” She straightened her shoulders. “I’ll face that when it comes. Now I have work to do.”

  “After you sleep a few hours,” Jill said. “You said soon.”

  “This isn’t soon,” Eve said flatly. “I let you stay with me, but I won’t have you ordering me around.”

  “I’ll back off. I just didn’t want you to get too tired.” Jill paused. “I was wondering after Joe Quinn called back and told you that he was on his way whether you might be waiting up for him. It will be a few hours yet before he gets here.”

  “I know that, Jill.” She found her lips curving with amusement. “It’s not as if I’m pining away and burning a candle to light his way.”

  “I wasn’t certain,” Jill said quietly. “You love him. I wasn’t sure how that worked. I’ve heard it’s different for different people.”

  Eve’s brows lifted. “You’ve heard?”

  She shrugged. “I had a major crush on a guy in college, but that went away fairly soon. And, though I’m usually too busy, I do love sex. But I’ve been around long enough to realize that it’s more than that to some people. It would be for you.”

  “Yes, it is,” Eve said. “But Joe and I have been together long enough that we don’t need burning beacons to find each other in the darkness. We know who we are and where we are, and there’s no question that we would ever lose each other. Burning beacons are fine, but they tend to be a little wistful.” She chuckled. “We just go straight for the heart of the flames.”

  “Which is very difficult to research,” Jill said. “Sorry that I misunderstood. But you have to admit I’ve been very good about keeping out of your way. You didn’t even know I was here all night.”

  Eve couldn’t deny it. Once Jill had set up her cot on the far side of the room and settled down, she had been totally silent. “The reality might have been better.”

  “Maybe. But you wouldn’t have had anyone to keep you company in warding off the monster.” She smiled. “I know about monsters, too, Eve. Company can be a help.” She turned away. “Could I get you a cup of coffee?”

  Yes, Jill knew about monsters, Eve thought. They were unlike in so many ways, but in that one way, they were sisters. Sisters…That thought had come out of nowhere. They had both grown up fending for themselves and fighting for survival. It would have been nice to have someone like Jill there to share that struggle. She felt a sudden rush of warmth. “Coffee? No thanks. I’ve had too much caffeine tonight as it is.” She leaned back on her stool. “For that matter, I’ve had more coffee since I met you than I’ve had in the last six months. I seem to need it to survive. Does that tell you anything?”

  “Sorry. But you can’t blame me entirely. You’re a workaholic, and you do like your coffee. Can I get you a water?” She was going over to the ice chest. “If you’re going back to work, I’ll stay with you in case you need a reminder that you promised you’d nap. Is it okay if I drag up one of those chairs I got Hajif to bring up and sit and watch you? I promise I’ll be quiet and won’t ask questions.” She took out two bottles of water from the chest and brought them back to the worktable. “Though it will be torture.” She wrinkled her nose. “You know how curious I am.”

  Eve shrugged as she took the bottle of water. “I don’t mind questions while I’m doing the basic measuring. It’s almost automatic since I’ve done it so many times. And it’s so important that I recheck it several times anyway. It’s when I get into the layers that I have to concentrate.”

  “Good.” Jill was dragging a chair over to the worktable. “I only had time for an overview of your work process while I was researching you, and I’ve been frustrated ever since. When I’m interested, I have to know everything.” She plopped down on the chair. “Now tell me where we’re going with this.”

  Eve laughed. “We? I wish it could be a joint operation. I could use a little help on this one.” She paused. “Okay, I’ll answer your questions, but then at some point you have to answer mine. You’re not the only one who is curious. All I got was a thumbnail sketch about Jill Cassidy.” She added mockingly, “And I have to know everything.”

  Jill was silent, wary. “That’s not…easy.”

  “Take it or leave it.”

  “I’ll take it. You have a right. But maybe not tonight.” She smiled with an effort. “Now tell me why you have to concentrate on ‘layers.’”

  “Because it tells me what I need to know.” She started to measure. “There are more than twenty points of the skull for which there are known tissue depths. Facial-tissue depth has been found to be fairly consistent in people the same age, race, sex, and weight. There are anthropological charts that give specific measurements for each point. For instance, in a Caucasian male like Varak, the tissue-depth thickness between the mid-philtrum point, which is the space between the nose and the top lip, is ten millimeters. The architecture of the bone beneath the tissue determines whether he has bulging eyes or jutting chin or whatever.”

  “What happens next?”

  “I insert the depth markers and take strips of plasticine and apply them between the markers, then build up all of the tissue-depth points. Kind of like a connect the dots game in three dimensions.”

  “Only that’s an enormous simplification,” Jill said quietly.

  Eve glanced at her. “Enormous,” she agreed. “But that’s
the basic step. Then you worry about being absolutely true to your measurements and keeping track of the placement of facial muscles and how they influence the facial contour. And so on and so forth. Are you bored yet?”

  “No way. I want to know about noses and mouths.” Her gaze was narrowed on Eve’s face. “But you’re getting tired. You’re fading. I can see it. I don’t want to be an extra stress on you. I’ll just sit here and watch quietly until you give up and go to bed.”

  She was right, Eve realized. She was suddenly feeling drained. She had thought she’d be fine for another hour or so, but if she wanted to finish these basic measurements, she needed to gather her strength and concentration. “Whatever.” She shrugged. “Later.”

  She closed Jill out and focused entirely on the hideous skull before her. Strange, she never considered skulls hideous. It must be the thought of Varak…

  Whatever it was, she wanted to be done with him for a while.

  But the last measurements, which should have taken her another thirty minutes, stretched out to an hour. She was totally exhausted when she pushed back her chair. “Enough,” she told Jill as she headed for her cot. “Now I need a nap.”

  “At last,” Jill murmured as she flicked off the overhead light and followed Eve. “Can I get you anything? Another glass of water?”

  “No…too tired.” She crawled onto the cot. She was yawning as she pulled up the sheet. “You wanted to know about mouths and noses? They can be difficult. I’ll tell you about it some other time…”

  “You do that. Don’t worry about it. That’s another story. I can wait.”

  “Another story…Sounds like you. But sometimes the story turns out to be a mystery and has to be guesswork that you have…”

  * * *

  Eve was asleep.

  Jill shook her head as she gazed down at her before she gently tucked the sheet higher around Eve’s shoulders. She was glad that Eve had finally given in, but she wished it had been before she was this exhausted. Yet she’d known it had to be Eve who made the call. She turned and glided away from Eve’s cot.