Fill in.
Sun lines around the eye cavities. Lines around the mouth.
She was working feverishly now. Her hands flew over Jimmys face.
Almost finished.
Who are you, Jimmy? Help me. Were almost done. Well take a photo and circulate it and someone will take you home.
Smooth.
Mold.
Stop. Dont gild the lily.
She stepped back and drew a deep breath. Shed done all she could do.
Except the eyes.
What color? Logan would probably prefer she use blue. Kennedys blue eyes were as famous as his smile. Screw Logan. This couldnt be Kennedy and why should she indulge Logan. She took another step back and allowed herself to look at the full face for the first time. She would use the brown she usually
Oh, my God.
She stood frozen, staring at the face shed created. She felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach.
No.
It was a lie.
She moved slowly, heavily, over to the table, where the small eye case lay open. The eyeballs glit-tered up at herblue, brown, gray, hazel, green.
She took the case and carried it to the pedestal.
She was exhausted; her mind could be playing tricks on her. The eyes would make a difference. Brown. Put in brown eyes.
Her hand was shaking as she took out the first brown eyeball and inserted it in the left cavity. Then she took the second eyeball and fitted it to the right.
Youve put in the wrong eyes, Logan said from the corner. You know it, Eve.
She stared straight into the brown eyes before her, her back rigid. I dont know it.
Put in the right eyes.
Its a mistake. I made a mistake somewhere along the way.
You dont allow yourself to make mistakes. Put in the eyes that you know belong with the face.
She took out the brown eyes and put them back in the case. She stood staring blindly down at the eyes in the case.
You know which ones to use, Eve.
All right. She reached down, picked up the eye-balls, and jammed them in the sockets.
Now step back and look at him.
She moved back from the pedestal. Incredible. God in heaven, it couldnt be true.
But there couldnt be any doubt.
You bastard. Her voice was shaking as she stared into the gray eyes. She was shaking. She felt as if the entire globe was trembling on its axis. Its Ben Chadbourne. Its the President.
CHEVY CHASE
Well? Doprel asked sourly. Is it your terrorist?
Timwick gazed at the skull. Youre sure this is a correct representation?
Im sure. May I go home now?
Yes, thank you for your hard work. Ill have you driven back to New York immediately. Naturally, youll keep this quiet. We wouldnt want a security leak.
Ive no desire to talk about this job. It hasnt been a highlight of my career. Ill go pack. Doprel strode out of the room.
Shall I take him back? Fiske asked from where he stood behind Timwick.
No. Timwick turned away from the bust. The skulls a ringer. Doprels not important anymore. Ill send him home with someone else. I have other work for you and well have to move fast. He moved toward the phone. Leave me alone. I have some phone calls to make.
He waited until Fiske was out the door before he punched in the secure line at the White House.
Its not him. Same age. Same general facial struc-ture. But its not him.
BARRETT HOUSE
You lied to me, Eve whispered. She whirled on Logan. You lied.
