The Face of Deception ed-1 Page 5

  Right. Sandra hurried outside.

  Mindless savage.

  The destruction was savage, but it was neither mindless nor random. Instead, it was thorough and systematic. Whoever had done this had wanted to shock and hurt her.

  She gently stroked a piece of Mandys skull. Vio-lence had touched the girl even in death. It shouldnt have happened to her any more than brutality should have ended the life of that poor little cat. Both were wrong. So wrong.

  She carefully gathered up the skull pieces, but there was no place to put them. The pedestal across the room was smashed like everything else. She laid the pieces on the blood-smeared desk.

  But why was the skull on this side of the room? she wondered suddenly. The vandal had deliberately carried it over before smashing it. Why?

  Then the thought flew out of her mind as she saw the blood dripping from the top drawer of the desk.

  Oh, God, more?

  She didnt want to open the drawer. She wouldnt open it.

  She did.

  She screamed and jumped back.

  A river of blood inside and, in the middle of the sticky pool, a dead rat.

  She slammed the drawer shut.

  Ive got the box and sheet. Her mother had reappeared. Do you want me to do it?

  Eve shook her head. Sandra looked as squeamish as Eve felt. Ill do it. Is Joe coming?

  Right away.

  Eve took the sheet, braced herself, and then moved toward the cat.

  Its all right, Tom-Tom. Were taking you home.

  Joe met her on the doorstep of the lab two hours later. He took one look and handed her his handkerchief. Theres a smudge on your cheek.

  We just buried Tom-Tom. She wiped her tear-stained cheeks. Moms still with Mrs. Dobbins. She loved that cat. It was her child.

  Id want to kill someone if they did anything to my retriever. He shook his head. We dusted but didnt come up with any prints. He probably wore gloves. We did find partial footprints in the blood. Big, probably belongs to a man, and only one set, so Id bet it was a single perpetrator. Is there anything missing?

  Not that I can tell. Justhellip; destroyed.

  I dont like it. Joe glanced back over his shoulder at the wreckage. Someone took a long time to do that thorough a job. It was pretty vicious and it doesnt look random to me.

  I didnt think so either. Someone wanted to hurt me.

  Any kids in the neighborhood?

  None Id suspect. This was too cold.

  Have you called the insurance company?

  Not yet.

  Better do it.

  She nodded. Only the day before shed told Logan she wasnt worried about leaving the lab unlocked. She hadnt imagined anything like this could happen. I feel sick, Joe.

  I know. He took her hand and squeezed it com-fortingly. Ill have a black and white keep an eye on the house. Or how about you and your mom coming to my place for a few days?

  She shook her head.

  Okay. He hesitated. I should get back to the precinct. I want to check records, see if theres been any similar crimes in the area lately. You going to be all right?

  Ill be fine. Thanks for coming, Joe.

  I wish I could do more. Well question your neighbors and see if we come up with anything.

  She nodded. Except for Mrs. Dobbins. Dont send anyone to her house.

  Right. If you need me, just call.

  She watched him walk away and then turned back to the lab. She didnt want to go inside. She didnt want to see that violence and ugliness again.

  She had to do it. She had to make sure nothing was missing and then call the insurance company. She braced herself and then walked in. Again, the blood struck her like a blow. God, she had been so frightened when she had thought that blood might be her mothers.

  Dead cats and butchered rats and blood. So much blood.

  No.

  She ran out the door and sank down on the doorstep. Cold. She was so cold. She clasped her arms around her body in a futile attempt to banish the chill.

  Theres a police car parked outside. Are you all right?

  She looked up to see Logan standing a few feet away. She couldnt deal with him now. Go away.

  Whats wrong?

  Go away.

  He looked behind her at the doorway. Some-thing happened?

  Yes.

  Ill be right back. He went past her into the lab. He was back beside her in a few minutes. Very nasty.

  They killed my neighbors cat. They smashed Mandy.

  I saw the shattered bones on the desk. He paused. Was that where you found them?

  She shook her head. On the floor beside it.

  But you and your mother werent hurt?

  Lord, she wished she could stop shivering. Go away, I dont want to talk to you.

  Wheres your mother?

  At Mrs. Dobbinss. Her cat Go away.

  Not until someones here to take care of you. He pulled her to her feet. Come on, were going to the house.

  I dont need anyone to take care He was half tugging her down the path. Let me go. Dont touch me.

  As soon as I get you to the house and get some-thing hot inside you.

  She pulled her arm away from him. I dont have time to sit around having coffee. I have to call the in-surance company.

  Ill do it. He nudged her gently up the steps and into the kitchen. Ill handle everything.

  I dont want you to handle everything. I want you to go away.

  Then be quiet and let me get you something to drink. He pushed her down into a chair at the table. Its the quickest way to get rid of me.

  I dont want to sit She gave up. She was in no shape to do battle just then. Hurry up.

  Yes, maam. He turned toward the cabinet. Wheres the coffee?

  In the blue canister on the counter.

  He ran water into the carafe. When did it happen?

  Last night. Sometime after midnight.

  You locked the lab?

  Of course I did.

  Easy. He measured coffee into the coffeemaker. You didnt hear anything?

  No.

  Im surprised, with all that damage.

  Joe said he knew exactly what he was doing.

  He turned on the coffeepot. Any idea who did it?

  She shook her head. No fingerprints. Gloves maybe.

  He took a cardigan from a hook on the laundry room door. Gloves. Then it wasnt done by amateurs.

  I told you that.

  He draped the sweater over her shoulders. So you did.

  And this is my mothers sweater.

  You need it. I dont think shed mind.

  She did need it. She couldnt stop shivering.

  He picked up the phone.

  What are you doing?

  Im calling my personal assistant, Margaret Wilson. Whats the name of your insurance company?

  Security America, but you dont

  Hello, Margaret. John, he said into the phone. I need you to Yes, I know its a Saturday. He listened patiently. Yes, Margaret. Its a terrible imposi-tion. Im duly grateful for your forbearance. Now, will you shut up and let me tell you what I need?

  Eve stared at him in surprise. Whatever she had expected, it was not Logan browbeaten by one of his employees.

  He grimaced at Eve, still listening. Now? he repeated into the phone.

  Evidently this time the answer was an affirma-tive, because he said, Make a report to Security America for Eve Duncan. He spelled the last name. Break-in, vandalism, and possible theft. If you need details or verification, call Joe Quinn, Atlanta P.D. I want a claims investigator out here right away, and arrange for a cleaning crew. I want that lab spick-and-span by midnight. He sighed. No, I dont want you to fly out here and do it yourself, Margaret. Sarcasm isnt necessary. Just take care of it. I dont want Eve Duncan bothered with anything more than signing her name to a claim report. I also want a security force out here protecting the property and Eve and Sandra Duncan. Call me if you run into any trouble. No, Im not doubting your efficiency, I j
ust He lis-tened a moment more and then said gently but firmly, Good-bye, Margaret. He hung up, then reached into the cabinet for a cup. Margaret will take care of it.

  She doesnt want to.

  She just wants to make sure I never take her for granted. If Id done it myself, she would have accused me of not trusting her to take care of it. He poured hot coffee into the cup. Cream or sugar?

  Black. Has she been with you a long time?

  Nine years. He set the coffee down in front of her. We need to go back out there and collect any-thing that you dont want the insurance investigator going through.

  I dont think I need to hurry. She took a sip of coffee. Ive never seen an insurance company work that fast.

  Trust Margaret. Someone will be here soon. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down op-posite her. Shell regard it as a challenge.

  I dont know Margaret, so I cant trust her. Just as I cant trust you. She met his gaze. And I dont need any private security force out here. Joes going to have a police car keep an eye on us.

  Good. But a few extra precautions never hurt anybody. They wont get in your way. He studied her as he took a swallow of his coffee. Your color is better. I thought you were going to flip out.

  She did feel better. The shaking had eased a little. Dont be stupid. I wasnt going to faint. I deal with horror stories every day. I was just upset.

  You had a right to be, and this particular horror story hit very close to home. That makes a difference.

  Yes, her private life had been serene and free from violence since that night at the prison. She hadnt been ready to have this ugliness erupt. Its more than that. It makes me feel like a victim. I swore Id never beI hate it.

  I can see that you do.

  She finished her coffee and stood up. If you really think someone from the insurance company will be coming out right away, Id better go back and finish checking out the lab.

  Take a little more time. Like you said, theres no hurry.

  I want to get it over with. She moved toward the door. My mother will be coming home soon and I dont want her to feel that she has to do it with me.

  Youre very protective of your mother. He fol-lowed her down the steps. Youre close?

  Yes. We didnt used to be, but now were good friends.

  Friends?

  Well, shes only sixteen years older than I am. We sort of grew up together. She glanced over her shoulder. You dont have to go with me, you know.

  I know. He opened the lab door for her. But Margaret would be very upset with me if I made her work and didnt do a thing myself.

  FOUR

  "Lots of blood, Logan said matter-of-factly. But the cleaning crew will take care of it. He nodded at the pile of articles on the floor by the smashed bookcase. Why dont you check for anything there that can be salvaged? I see a couple of photographs.

  She nodded and knelt by the bookcase. Being here was easier with Logan, she realized in surprise. His matter-of-factness lightened the darkness. There was blood; it must be cleaned. There was destruction; probe to see what could be saved.

  And the pictures of Bonnie and her mother could be saved, she saw with relief. Only one corner was ripped on each. Its okay.

  Good. Then whoever did this isnt as clever as I thought. He didnt realize how tearing up the picture might hurt you. He was at the desk. Ill check the drawers and see if theres

  Wait! Theres a It was too late. Logan had already opened the drawer containing the dead rat.

  The rat was gone. The police must have taken it, but the drawer was still brimming with blood.

  He grimaced. Im glad I opened this before the cleaning crew did. We might have had some trouble keeping them here. He pulled out the drawer and carried it over to the door. Ill get rid of it for you.

  He hadnt even displayed a flicker of surprise. You seem to be taking all this in stride.

  Remind me to tell you what happened to my of-fice after my first major takeover. At least no one defecated in here. Keep on looking. Ill be right back.

  There wasnt much else to look through. The books were ripped, the hourglass her mother had bought for her at Six Flags was broken, the base of the pedestal was chopped into two pieces and

  The pedestal. Mandy.

  Why had Mandy been carried to the other side of the room before being shattered? The strangeness of it had occurred to her before, but she had been too dazed to have it sink home. Everything else about the destruction seemed coldly calculated. What had been the purpose of the skullhellip;

  She got to her feet and moved quickly to the other side of the desk. The only object that had been smashed in that particular spot was the computer. And the skull had been brought from the pedestal to be destroyed with it.

  She stared down at the computer and suddenly made the connection. My God.

  I thought youd get the message once you thought about it. Logan was standing in the doorway, watching her.

  You knew it.

  He nodded. Once you told me where the skull had been found. He tried to make it clear, didnt he? The Logan computer. The skull. A warning.

  Who?

  I dont know. Evidently someone doesnt want me to use your services.

  Her gaze traveled around the room. And thats what this is all about?

  Yes.

  She looked back at him. And you werent going to tell me?

  Not if you didnt figure it out yourself, he said bluntly. I was afraid it would tip the scales against me. This was meant to frighten you, and it did.

  Yes, she had been frightened. She had been scared and sick and saddened. Besides the destruction of property, Tom-Toms life had been taken and Mandys identity had been forever stolen.

  And all of it had been done to manipulate her away from a certain path. Fury burned through her as she remembered Mrs. Dobbinss face that morning.

  Damn him. Her voice was shaking with anger. Damn him to hell.

  Ill vote for that. Logans gaze was narrowed on her face. I hope theres some significance to the fact that youre damning him and not me.