We dont have time. It shouldnt be that diffi-cult. Hed have to have qualifications and experience working in DNA.
There are more people with the DNA qualifica-tion than youd think. Its the wave of the future.
Weve got to cut the list down. Send it to me and Ill do it. She checked her wristwatch. I have to go. Im scheduled for a meeting. Ill get back to you.
She hung up and started to close Eve Duncans file. Then she hesitated, gazing at Eves image.
Eve was moving swiftly to prevent any more damage. Lisa had had a hunch that Eve would try to save the mother even though Sandra seemed to have done precious little for her. Shed let her daughter grow up on the streets and had done nothing to keep her from becoming pregnant and having that illegiti-mate child.
Yet Eve had obviously forgiven her mother and was loyal to her. Loyalty was a rare and valuable quality. The more Lisa studied the womans file, the more she was coming to admire herhellip; and know her. She kept seeing similarities between them. Lisas own parents had been loving and supportive but she, too, had worked her way out of the tenements and fought the system against all odds.
What was she thinking? she wondered impa-tiently. She mustnt be swayed just because she was be-ginning to feel a certain empathy with Eve Duncan. She had set her feet on a particular path, and she must follow it to the end.
No matter who got in the way.
FOURTEEN
'Well, you made it, Joe said sourly as he walked over to the car. Im surprised. This baby looks like its seen some miles.
It attracts less attention. Logan climbed out of the drivers seat and faced him. Would you have pre-ferred I drove Eve around in a red Lamborghini?
Id prefer you didnt drive her around at all. He stared at Logan. Id prefer that youd never set eyes on her, you son of a bitch.
Christ, he was uptight, Eve thought. Joe looked more menacing than shed ever seen him, and Logan was bristling like a guard dog. She hurriedly got out of the car. Get in the backseat with me, Joe. Logan, you drive us to Emory.
Neither man moved.
Dammit, youre drawing too much attention. Get in, Joe.
He finally climbed into the car.
She drew a breath of relief, said, Drive, Logan, and climbed in.
Logan returned to the drivers seat and started the car.
Did you get the picture of Margaret to my mother? she asked Joe.
Last night. His gaze was fixed on the back of Logans head. I scouted the area myself and ran across his security team. I almost threw them in the lockup before I got them to identify themselves.
Anyone else? Logan asked.
Not that I could tell. No obvious stakeout.
They wouldnt be obvious and theyd be good. Very good. With the most sophisticated surveillance equipment in the business.
Why? Joe turned to Eve. What the hells going on? Talk to me.
Did you bring me the pictures of Timwick and Fiske?
He reached into his jacket pocket and brought out an envelope. And thats another thing. I checked into Mr. Fiske and hes real nasty. You shouldnt even be within shouting distance of the bastard.
Ill try not to be. He didnt look nasty, she thought absently, more like a stereotypical butler. Hazel eyes gazed mildly out of the picture. His nose was long and aristocratic, and his gray-flecked, care-fully trimmed mustache was the epitome of neatness. Though he appeared to be only in his late thirties, his barbered brown hair was slightly gray at the temples and receded sharply from a broad forehead.
There was nothing aristocratic about James Timwick. His face was broad, almost Slavic, and his eyes were a pale blue. He was younger than shed thought hed be, perhaps in his early forties, and his hair was jet black.
Now tell me why you had me bring those to you, Joe said.
Because I needed to see the face of the enemy, the men who might try to kill me. Not an explanation she could give Joe, who was already near meltdown. I thought it might help. She tucked the pictures in her handbag. Thank you, Joe.
Dont thank me. Tell me what I need to know.
She had to make one last try. You dont need to know. Id rather you opted out of this.
Tell me.
He wasnt going to be dissuaded, she realized re-signedly. Okay, but let me tell it my way. Dont try interrogating me, Joe.
They had arrived at Emory and were parked in the lot for a good ten minutes before Eve stopped speaking.
He was silent a moment, gazing down at the leather case at her feet. Is that him?
Yes.
