She had known that, but shed hoped for good news, not reality. Did you call Margaret?
He nodded. Shes on her way.
Where will she take my mother?
Shes consulting with the security service whos guarding your mother now. Wherever they decide to stash her, I told Margaret I wanted them to take at least one guard. Did you tell Sandra to ex-pect her?
Yes, and I told Joe to meet us tomorrow in At-lanta. She saw an expression flit across Logans face and demanded, What?
Nothing. It just might not have been wise to in-volve him. The fewer people who
Crap. She ignored the fact that that had been her own initial thought. I trust him more than I trust you or Gil.
I can see why. Gil rose to his feet. Im eager to meet the interesting Mr. Quinn. I think Ill go for a walk. Care to join me, John?
Logan nodded. I can use some air. He moved toward the door. Well be back soon. Keep an eye on the news, will you, Eve?
They wanted to talk over the situation alone. Theyd weigh the recent developments and try to plan an offensive. Well, let them. Theyd learn soon enough that she wouldnt be shut out of decisions any longer.
On the other hand, she just might want to shut them out. Tomorrow shed be with Joe again. Logan had used her and she had no confidence he wouldnt do it again, but she could trust Joe. Theyd been a team for a long time, and together they could work their way through anything, including Timwick and Lisa Chadbourne.
Lisa Chadbourne. Did the fact that her name had come so easily to Eve mean shed accepted Lisa Chad-bourne as the prime conspirator? The signals she had used with Detwil indicated complicity but didnt nec-essarily mark her as the kingpin.
But the woman shed studied in the videotapes was not the type to accept second place. She exuded confidence and charisma.
And Gils description of Timwick had not been of a man who would be able to pull off a deception of this magnitude. It would take nerves of steel and the ability to think on your feet. According to Gil, Timwick was a man who might crumble under pres-sure.
If Lisa Chadbourne was the prime player, then Eve had better study her very carefully.
She went to her handbag and pulled out the tapes she had stuffed in it before leaving Barrett House. She popped one in the VCR and settled on the sofa in front of the television.
Lisa Chadbournes smiling face appeared on the screen. Beautiful, intelligent, and, yes, fascinating. Eve felt tension ripple through her, and she leaned forward, her gaze never leaving Lisa Chadbourne.
What are you doing? Logan asked when he walked in on her two hours later. Lisa Chadbourne?
Eve flipped off the VCR. Nothing. I was just studying her.
Her signals to Detwil?
Some. Mainly body language. Expressions. They tell a hell of a lot.
Do they? Logans gaze narrowed on her face. I wouldnt think theyd tell you anything. Im sure shes very good at disguising her emotions.
She shrugged. Im an artist and Ive made it my business to learn a lot about facial expressions. When I first became a forensic sculptor, I even took a course in expressions and body language and how they re-late to psychology. Expressions can make all the dif-ference in identification. A face without expression is like an empty slate.
And what did you learn about Lisa Chadbourne?
Shes a little arrogant, bold, but wary too. Per-haps a little vain. She frowned. No, not vain. Shes too confident to be vain. She just knows who she is and she likes herself.
Smug?
Eve shook her head. No. She hesitated. Sheshellip; intensely focusedhellip; and maybe a little lonely.
Quite a crystal ball you have, Gil said.
Some of its guesswork. Maybe a lot of it. People can usually control most of the muscles of the face. Except the ones around the eyes. Theyre very diffi-cult to manage. But even a lack of expression can sometimes tell a story. She returned to Lisa Chadbourne. Id bet she has a very small circle of friends and shed keep everyone but those few at a distance.
Logan raised his brows. That wasnt my impres-sion when I met her. I assure you no one could be warmer or more gregarious, and she handles people better than anyone I know.
And shes good enough to fool you. She turned on the charm and focused the full force on you. Men still rule the world, and shes made it her business to get along with them. Its probably second nature to her now.
But shes not good enough to fool you?
Maybe, if you hadnt provided me with the tapes that spotlight her every move and expression. Shes quite wonderful and almost never steps out of character. When it happens its for only a split second and then shes back in character again. She shrugged. Thank God for freeze-frame. It can be very illuminating.
So youve decided shes just a lonely, misunderstood woman who became innocently involved? he asked mockingly.
No, I think she could kill a man. She projects de-termination and intensity as strong as an atomic blast. I think she could do anything she needed to do and theres no way shed be a pawn. It would be her way all the way. She
