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.
Vicious bastard. She strode out of the lab. She couldnt ever remember being so enraged except the day Fraser had been caught. She wanted to kill someone. He didnt care. People should care. How could he She knew how he could do it. He was probably a crazy freak like Fraser. Cruel and cold and without mercy. I want him to pay for it.
Then Ill find out who it is for you, Logan said.
She whirled on him. How can you do that? Did you lie when you said you didnt know who he is?
I dont know him but I know who probably hired him.
Who?
He shook his head. I cant tell you, but Ill find out who did this. He paused. If youll come with me.
Tell me who hired him.
Youll find out yourself if you come and do the job. Why not? It will take time to set up a new lab. Youll just be spinning your wheels now. Ill up the money for the Adam Fund another two hundred thousand and throw in the son of a bitch who did this to you.
A sudden thought occurred to her. Maybe you had this done to push me into going with you.
It would have been too chancy. You could just as well have jumped the other way. Besides, I dont kill helpless animals.
But youre willing to take advantage of whats happened.
You bet I am. Is it a deal?
She looked around the bloodstained room, and once again rage rushed through her. Ill think about it.
What if I raise the
Stop pushing me. I said Id think about it. She picked up a box from the floor that had once con-tained printer paper and began to put Mandys skull fragments inside. Her hands were still shaking with anger, she noticed. She had to be calm. Go away. Ill call you when Ive made up my mind.
I need to move fast on
Ill call you.
She could feel his gaze on her and expected him to continue to try to persuade her.
Im at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead. He paused. I shouldnt tell you this. It compromises my bar-gaining position. But Im a desperate man, Eve. I have to have your help. There isnt anything I wouldnt do to get it. Call me and give me your price. Ill pay it.
When she looked up, he was gone.
What would make a man like Logan that des-perate? If there was any desperation in him before, hed kept it well hidden. Maybe the confession of vulnerability had been a ploy.
Well, she would consider that later. She needed to get back to the house so her mother wouldnt come looking for her here. She picked up the pictures and Mandys box and started for the door. She could try to put the skull back together. Even if she couldnt get a completely accurate structure, it might be enough for computer imaging
Another wave of helpless fury washed over her as she realized that couldnt happen. Joe had told her they had no idea who Mandy could be, so how would they find a photograph? Her only hope had been of building the face and using that face to lead to someone, anyone, who could identify her. That hope had been crushed by the bastard who had deliber-ately smashed the skull to warn her off.
Eve? It was her mother walking toward her down the path. That was the insurance company on the phone. Theyre sending a claims adjuster out right away.
Are they? Evidently Logans Margaret had pre-vailed. Hows Mrs. Dobbins?
Better. Do you think we should get her a little kitten?
Not for a few months. Let her get over the first hurt.
Sandras gaze went to the lab. Im sorry, Eve. All your files and equipment.
Theyll be replaced.
