Smokescreen Page 4

  * * *

  Wrong.

  Two hours later, the tears were still running down Eve’s cheeks. So much worse than anything she’d ever encountered in her career thus far. Not only the butchery and the burning of innocents, but Jill had researched and interviewed parents, relatives, friends, and siblings of each child in the village. Then she had written their stories from birth to the day of their horrible death. Each word simple but poignant until Eve had felt that every one of those children belonged to her.

  She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, but the tears still flowed. She could still see that day, feel the darkness of terror as the militia had come and hacked and hacked with their machetes. Would she ever not see it? Jill Cassidy had made every moment come alive for her and anyone else who read those damnably beautiful, agonizingly human, stories.

  Close it out.

  Impossible.

  Jill had known it would be impossible. That’s why she had made Eve promise to look at them. Brilliant, wise, Jill Cassidy, who had done her homework and had no trouble reading her. She would have been resentful except for the fact that Jill could not have written those words if she hadn’t been caught up in the same agony as Eve was feeling now. They were bound together by the pain of those helpless children butchered in that village.

  But don’t let Jill Cassidy manipulate her. Push it away. Don’t give in to it. Six hundred thousand people had died in Maldara. These were only twenty-seven children.

  But now, she knew every single one of them.

  She opened her eyes. She would not cry again. Tears did no good. Find a solution or accept the pain. She reached for her computer and flipped open the lid.

  Maldara…

  * * *

  It wasn’t Joe but Jane who called her four hours later. “I’m calling from the apartment. Michael and Joe are here and safe,” she said. “But there’s something missing. You. I thought I was going to be reasonable and not harass you, but then when you didn’t show up at customs, I decided that was bullshit. Get on the next plane. I don’t care if you smuggle that skull through customs and just work here at the apartment. Or if you decide to go with us to the dig. At least you’d be here. That’s where you belong. Now do what I say, dammit.”

  Eve could almost see her toss her red hair as she said those last words. Jane was always passionate when it came to family, and this wasn’t totally unexpected. “I’m thinking about it. Though we both know that you’re all going to be so busy that you probably wouldn’t know I was around.”

  “We’d know.” She sighed. “I just thought that I’d add my two cents’ worth to the guilt trip Joe has no doubt been bombarding you with. I guess I’ll just have to leave it to him.”

  “You’ll have enough on your plate with supervising Michael on that dig. He’s so excited about it. I know it’s going to be wonderful.”

  “I think it will. Most of the time, they only permit older students on these digs. I went on my first one when I was a teenager, remember? So when I ran across the information on this one in Wales that was allowing younger kids, I jumped on it.” She chuckled. “And I’m not sure who’s going to supervise whom. Michael is already making plans and reading all my literature on it. I’m expecting sunrise to sunset to be the time-frame agenda.”

  “See? You’d have to squeeze me in.”

  “I’m not handling this well. I’d better hand you over to Joe. He has more experience at bulldozing you. I love you.”

  The next moment, Joe came on the line. “As Jane said, we’re here and already missing you. She insisted on trying her powers of persuasion one more time. We stopped for breakfast on the way from the airport. Did I wake you?”

  “No, it’s only a little after midnight here, and I’ve been busy,” Eve said. “Good flight?”

  “Passable. Michael and I played cards. He’s decided that counting cards shouldn’t really be considered illegal in the casinos, and he’s perfecting his technique.”

  “Heaven help us. Don’t you dare take him to a casino.”

  “I think he’ll be content with Jane once they start working at the dig in Wales. Why weren’t you sleeping? Nora?”

  “No.” She paused. “Just doing some research about some skulls found in Maldara. I didn’t know much about it.”

  “Maldara? From what I remember from the news stories, you’d do better researching almost anything else. Nightmare stuff. I remember you were very careful to keep it away from Michael’s eyes.”

  “Which meant I had to ignore a lot of it myself. I only knew it was a civil war between the Kiyanis and the Botzan factions in central Africa that tore the country and most of its people apart. It went on for almost two years before the U.N. sent in forces to stop it.” Her hand tightened on the phone as she remembered the photos of what those troops had found when they’d crossed the border. “The Botzan had hired a mercenary, a guerilla leader, Nils Varak, to run rampant over the country and attack the Kiyanis. Most of the butchery and burning was done by him and his men. He used the Botzan militia machete troops on occasion, but mostly he liked the personal touch.” She added harshly, “The news stories said he had more blood on his hands than Hitler before the U.N. forces managed to kill him.”

  “Not soon enough,” Joe said grimly. “When he first started that bloodbath, every police department in the world was canvassed for information about him. When I read his rap sheet, I was tempted to volunteer to go after the son of a bitch myself. Varak was into everything from child trafficking to terrorism. Pay him enough, and he’d do anything.”

  Even kill twenty-seven small children who had done nothing to deserve it. “I agree, he wasn’t killed soon enough. I don’t remember your telling me about that query.”

  “It was hardly dinner conversation. Since I decided not to do anything about it, I didn’t see why I should discuss it. I was just as glad you were in Michael-protecting mode. You didn’t need any more darkness hanging over you.” He paused. When he next spoke, his voice was curt. “And why were you researching skulls in Maldara? Whose skulls?”

  She didn’t want to get into this now, but she wouldn’t lie to him. “Children. I don’t really know. When do I ever know, Joe? I just heard about this massacre at a school in Robaku village from Jill Cassidy and felt I had to know more about it. But I couldn’t find out much. In spite of the U.N. presence, that country seems to still be in chaos.”

  “I can believe it,” Joe said grimly. “Which is why I don’t like you even thinking about it.”

  “Maybe if someone had thought about Maldara before that chaos started, I wouldn’t have had to hear about those children’s skulls today.” She drew a deep breath. “Go to bed, Joe. All I did was do a little research. No big deal. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Right now, I’m going to put in an hour or so on Nora. I’ve been neglecting her today.”

  Silence. “Yes, you have. And you were so anxious to get her finished. Now I’m anxious for you to do it, too, because I want you here, Eve.” He paused. “I love you. Being without you sucks. I’ll talk to you when I get back here to the apartment tomorrow night.”

  “I love you, too. Tell Michael I’ll call him before it’s time for him to leave for Wales this evening. Good night, Joe.” She cut the connection.

  She had worried Joe, and it might be for nothing. She should have just kept her mouth shut about Maldara. No, she shouldn’t. She rejected the thought immediately. Their relationship was based on total honesty, and silence could also be dishonest. Besides, they were so close, he would probably have sensed her disturbance.

  Just work on Nora for a few hours and go to bed and get to sleep. Maybe by the time she woke tomorrow, that aching unrest would have lessened.

  She picked up her ruler to check Nora’s mid-philtrum measurements one last time. That space between nose and lips was so small, so delicate, on a child. Six years old…

  There had been six-year-olds in that classroom in Maldara, too. One girl and two little boys. Robaku had been a village
school, and one teacher had taught various ages and grades. Jill Cassidy had spent a good deal of time and effort detailing the short lives of those six-year-olds.

  Eve had to stop working and close her eyes for an instant as the wave of horror and heartbreaking sadness overcame her once more. Then she got control again and put the ruler down and started to fill in the clay around the mid-philtrum.

  It might be a long night.

  Damn you, Jill Cassidy.

  * * *

  Next Day

  2:35 P.M.

  Do it!

  Eve stabbed in the phone number on the card that Jill had given her. She wasn’t surprised when Jill answered the phone in two rings. “Get over here. I want to talk to you.”

  “I thought you might,” Jill said quietly. “Actually, I thought it could be—”

  “Get over here,” Eve interrupted. “I’m angry, and on edge, and I want to see your face while I’m listening to what you say to me. You went to a hell of a lot of trouble to tear me apart, and I have an idea why. How quick can you be here?”

  “Ten minutes. I’m in a motel just off the freeway.”

  “I thought you’d stay close,” Eve said curtly. “I’m surprised you didn’t camp out in your car.”

  “I thought about it.”

  “I’m sure you did. I’ll expect you in ten minutes, and don’t expect either coffee or politeness. We’ve gone past that now.” She hung up.

  She got to her feet and moved toward the door to the porch. She needed air and to calm down a little before she confronted Jill. She hadn’t realized until she’d actually made contact with her how the anger had been building in the last few hours. Or perhaps it had started building earlier, during all the hours she’d been working on Nora last night.

  She took a deep breath and gazed out at the lake, trying to steady herself.

  Sunlight. Beauty. Peace.

  Everything that she wanted to surround her while she was working on Nora and others like her who had been robbed of all three.

  And this was Eve’s life, her home.

  The anger was growing again.

  But now she had a target.

  Jill was driving down the lake road and pulling into the driveway.

  Eve met her at the top of the stairs. “You’re early. You must be eager to see me.”

  “I broke a few speed laws. I figured that you needed to vent before you exploded,” she said. “You don’t get angry often, but when you do, it’s supposed to be impressive.”

  “Of course you’d know that about me, too. Research.”

  “Yes.” Jill’s gaze was studying her face. “Circles. You didn’t sleep last night. I’m sorry.”

  “Are you? I don’t believe you. I think it was all part of your plan to manipulate me. You knew exactly how to do it. You knew which buttons to push and took time to coordinate them in the right order.” Her lips tightened. “Those photos and biographies were a masterstroke. They brought me down as if I’d been run over by a fifty-ton truck. You knew they would, didn’t you?”

  “Yes. It was your principal weakness.” She added, “And your greatest strength. I had to use it.”

  “You’re not even denying it.”

  “Why should I? You’d know I was lying, and I wouldn’t insult you.” She paused. “Besides, I’ve won, haven’t I?”

  Eve stared at her in frustration. It was difficult to hold on to her anger as she gazed at the reporter. Jill wasn’t boasting; there was only vulnerability and that sadness Michael had noticed. “Not yet. I hate being manipulated. Last night, I started thinking about every way you’d done that since you walked in here yesterday afternoon. It took me a little while to get it together because you were so clever and so good at what you do. Even those photos weren’t close-ups of the children. Just loving family shots. Because you knew I never looked at facial photos of my reconstructions.” Her lips tightened. “And then you hit me with the photos after the massacre.”

  “I didn’t want to do it. But I had to convince you.” She moistened her lips. “We need you, Eve. You don’t realize how much. But I promise if you come, that you’ll see how worthwhile it is.”

  “I can tell that you think it is. But you’re asking me to put my life and career on hold while I do those reconstructions.”

  “Only for a few weeks. I told you, I wouldn’t expect more from you.”

  “How generous of you,” she said dryly. “It’s what I expect of myself that matters. You’ve been playing me to get what you want, but that’s over.” She was silent. “I’m the only one in charge of what I do, but there are things I have to know before I commit.” She stared her straight in the eyes. “Is everything you told me the truth?”

  Jill’s gaze didn’t waver. “Absolutely. Every word.”

  “Even those stories you wrote about the children at the school, their stories?”

  Jill nodded. “I swear it. You can ask their parents and grandparents. You believe me?”

  Eve couldn’t help but believe her. “You’re so good at what you do. I had to be sure.”

  “I am good. I’m a fantastic storyteller. It’s my primary talent. I have others, and I’ve always had to use whatever skills I have to survive. But I try to be honest, Eve.”

  “I had to be sure about that, too. You told me not to take you at face value. I didn’t. I spent a little time this morning finding out about you.”

  “I thought you might. Did you discover anything interesting?”

  “You spent your entire life until you were eleven years old trailing around the world with your father, who was a photographer. When he was killed in Tibet, it took the U.S. consulate over a year to get you back to the States. But you had no relatives, so you were fostered out for the next five years. Then you worked your way through a community college and started freelancing. Your gift for languages helped you to get ahead, but the first couple years must have been hard.”

  “Not that bad. I liked traveling around on my own again. I was a little gypsy until my father was killed.” She added, “But you didn’t find anything incriminating, did you? Other than being a loner, I’m pretty much what I appear on the surface.”

  “I wanted to find something.”

  “I know you did. It would have been an excuse to close your eyes again.” She paused. “Are you going to come with me?”

  “I’m close,” Eve said jerkily. “Not because you want me to do it. Whether it was for a good cause or not, you tried every weapon in your arsenal to make me do what you wanted. And I could see how you’d pried and researched into who I was to make that happen. That’s probably what I resent most. Talk about violation of privacy? And you did such a damn good job.” She gestured impatiently. “No, it’s because last night I realized those stories were like a poison inside me. I couldn’t forget them. And I knew the only way I might be able to was to do something to help, to heal, those children. But you probably knew that would be my reaction?”

  “I thought it was likely. You’re very caring.”

  “And I can’t heal them, but I might be able to heal those closest to them.”

  Jill nodded silently.

  “So when I decided that those stories might have trapped me into doing this, I decided I had to look the situation over and explore how bad it might be. First. My family. I have a husband and a son who need me. And I need them. From what I’ve been able to find out, Maldara is still too unstable to be considered safe on any level. Yet you said that I’d be safe while I did those reconstructions. How?”

  “I have friends at the embassy. And the U.N. staff on-site think reporters have to be given special protection. No bad press. I’ll just convince them to extend that protection to you.”

  “From what you said, they don’t even want the work done at Robaku.”

  Jill grimaced. “But I’ve been a thorn in their diplomatic asses over the last year. They’ll be glad to shut me up and get rid of my nagging as long as it doesn’t affect their budget.” She added, “But, y
ou know, it might be a good idea for you to call one of those charities you mentioned and tell them you’re volunteering to do the job. You have tremendous name recognition, so there’s no question they’ll jump at sponsoring you. Just ask them if they’ll contact the U.N. and advise them you’re operating at their request. That way you’d get the official protection and not raise any U.N. hackles by mentioning me.” She shrugged. “And the charity would get credit in the international community that might translate to donations later. Everyone wins.”

  “And more manipulation,” Eve said.

  “Would you rather I do it? I’ll do anything that will make you feel more comfortable.” Jill was obviously being perfectly sincere.

  “No, I’ll take care of it.” Eve ran her hand through her hair. “If it’s even possible. I just remembered I don’t have a visa, no documents. That could take—”

  “Twenty-four hours,” Jill said. “Give me your passport, and I’ll have it processed. We can stop and have the necessary shots on the way to the airport.”

  “Twenty-four hours?”

  She smiled. “I told you that I have friends in high and low places. This is a piece of cake.” She turned and strode toward the door. “And while you’re getting me your passport, I’ll make you a cup of coffee.” She glanced over her shoulder. “If I’m forgiven enough to be let back into your good graces?”

  “Marginally.” She followed her into the house. “I’ll let you know when we get to Maldara.”

  “Then you might never forgive me. It’s hot, humid, and the poverty will break your heart.” She started pouring the water into the automatic coffeemaker. “How will your husband take your decision?”

  Eve was not about to deal with that now. Later. “That’s not your concern.”

  “It is if it’s going to make you unhappy.” Jill was frowning. “He’s a detective. Let’s see…He’ll be worried about your safety. I’ll give you a couple of names of law-enforcement officials in the Kiyani government for him to contact. And I know a few agents with the CIA and MI6 who operate in Maldara who might reassure him.”