You didnt tell me theyd try to murder us.
No, I guess I didnt.
You know damn well you didnt. Her voice rose with anger. The whole thing was a disaster. You risked your life on a wild-goose chase and dragged me along with you. You almost got me killed, you son of a bitch.
Yes.
And there was no reason for it. I didnt have to be there.
Yes, you did.
What was I supposed to do? Work on the skull in the damn cornfield?
No.
Then, why did
Dr. Bradens leaving. Margaret was at the entryway. I believe things will go smoother if you clap him on the shoulder and see him on his way, John.
Right. Logan stood up. Will you come with me, Eve? Were not finished.
You bet were not. She followed him into the foyer and watched him with the doctor. Smooth as honey. Persuasive as Lucifer. It took only a few min-utes for him to send the man happily on his way.
She stood in the doorway as he escorted the doctor to his car.
Hes good, huh? Margaret murmured.
Too good. Suddenly the rage was gone, re-placed by weariness. What the hell difference did it make? Let him weave all his little webs and plots. None of it concerned her any longer.
Logan waved at the doctor, and then turned back to face her. His gaze narrowed warily. Youre not angry anymore. That could be bad or good.
Or neither. Why should I get upset? Its all water under the bridge. Im going upstairs to pack. Its over and Im out of here.
Its not over.
She stiffened. The hell its not.
Margaret hurriedly said, I think Ill go check on Gil, and left them.
Logans gaze never left Eves face. He repeated, Its not over, Eve.
I agreed to one job and one job only. Even if I werent ready to cut your throat for putting me in the spot you did tonight, that job ended when I tossed that skull out of the limo. If you think Im going to hang around here while you try to retrieve it, youre crazy.
I dont have to try to retrieve it.
Her eyes widened. What the hell do you mean?
Come with me.
What?
You heard me.
He turned and walked away from her.
NINE
The cemetery.
He was already past the wrought iron gate when she caught up with him. He moved purposefully down the row of graves.
She didnt follow. What are you doing?
Retrieving the skull. He stopped before Ran-dolph Barretts grave, lifted the pallet of carnations, and moved it aside. He picked up the shovel that had been hidden beneath it and began to dig. The earth was soft, recently turned, and the task went quickly. Since you called my hand, I have to supply you with a skull.
She stared at him in disbelief. Are you com-pletely crazy? Digging up any old corpse to She inhaled sharply as a sudden thought occurred to her. Good God.
He glanced up at her and answered her unspoken question. Yes, I retrieved the skull from that corn-field two months ago.
And you buried it again here. Thats why you covered all these graves with flowers. You wanted to erase any sign the grave had been disturbed.
He nodded as he kept on digging. Theres an old saying that the best place to hide anything is in plain sight, but I admit Im too anal to just leave it at that. I had Mark install an alarm that would go off if the box is touched, and I had him turn it off when I was in the house just now.
And you must have substituted another skull in that coffin in the cornfield. She glanced at the name on the tombstone. Was it Randolph Barretts?
No, Barretts only temporarily sharing his quar-ters. He died when he was sixty-four. I wanted a younger skull, so I bought one from a medical school in Germany.
Her head was whirling. Wait a minute. Why? Why have you gone to all this trouble?
