A gridlocks like a logjam. Sometimes you have to toss in something explosive to break it up.

Those fund-raisers youve been giving arent ex-actly explosive.

It depends on your viewpoint. I do what I can. Ive always believed a person has to take a stand. If you want to change things, you have to work with the system.

I dont have to work with it. I dont have to have anything to do with it except on election day.

No, you bury yourself in your lab with your bones.

Why not? She gave him a sly glance. Theyre better company than most politicians.

To her surprise, he didnt take the bait. My God, maybe you do have a sense of humor. He chuckled. Suppose we agree to disagree. My dad always told me never to argue religion or politics with a woman.

How sexist of him.

He was a great guy, but he lived in a different world. He wouldnt have known how to deal with women like you or Margaret.

Is he still alive?

No, he died when I was in college.

Am I going to meet Margaret?

He nodded. I called her this afternoon and told her to be at the house.

Wasnt that a little inconsiderate? She had to fly in from California, didnt she?

I needed her.

The bald statement said it all, she thought. He might pretend to be browbeaten by this Margaret, but he expected her to jump when he called.

I asked her nicely. Nary a whip in sight.

Sometimes they dont have to be in view to get the effect.

Well, I promise I wont use coercion on you, visible or otherwise.

She met his gaze with a cool one of her own. No, you wont. Dont even try, Logan.

Theyre boarding now, Fiske said. What do you want me to do? Find out his flight plan and follow him?

No, his secretary told her father she was going to the Virginia house. Hes got that place loaded with more security than Fort Knox. Weve got a surveil-lance team outside the gates, but we wont be able to touch him once hes inside.

Then I should move before he gets there.

I told you, hes too visible. We dont want to do anything to him unless its absolutely necessary.

Then Ill go back to the house. The mother is still

No, shes not going anywhere. You can pick up that string later if we decide we need a distraction. We have something more urgent for you to do. Come back here.

FIVE

The jet landed at a small private field near Arlington, Virginia. Their luggage was immediately transferred into a stretch limousine parked by the hangar.

All the ease that money could buy, Eve thought wryly. No doubt the chauffeur would display the ob-sequious formality of a Wodehouse character.

The red-haired driver got out. Hi, John. Good trip? He was freckled, good-looking, not over thirty, and dressed in jeans and a checked shirt that reflected the blue of his eyes.

Good enough. Gil Price, Eve Duncan.

Gil shook her hand. The bone lady. I saw your picture on 60 Minutes. Youre prettier in person. They should have concentrated on you instead of on that skull.

Thank you, but I had no desire to appear on national television. Ive had enough of cameras in my life.

John doesnt like cameras either. I had to break one last year in Paris. He grimaced. And then John had to settle out of court with the bastard who claimed Id broken his head instead of his camera. I hate paparazzi.

Well, the paparazzi dont usually trail me around, so you wont have that problem.

I will if you hang around with John. He opened the back door. Hop in and Ill get you to Bar-rett House PDQ.

Barrett House? It sounds very Dickens.

Nope, it used to be an inn during the Civil War. John bought it last year and had it completely remodeled.

Has Margaret arrived? Logan asked as he fol-lowed Eve into the car.

Two hours ago and crabby as hell. Im charging you hazard pay for that pickup. Gil jumped into the drivers seat. I cant understand it. How can she not love me? Everyone loves me.

It must be a flaw in her character, Logan said. It certainly couldnt be because theres anything wrong with you.

My thought exactly. Gil started the car and flicked on the CD player. The limo was immediately filled with the doleful strains of Feed Jake.

The window, Gil, Logan said.

Oh, right. He grinned over his shoulder at Eve. John used to have a Jeep, but he cant stand country music so he got this hearse so he could have a privacy window.

I like country, Logan said. I just cant stand those songs of woe you hug to your bosom. Blood-stained wedding gowns, dogs at grave siteshellip;

Thats because youre full of mush and you dont like to show it. Do you think I havent seen your eyes water? Now, take Feed Jake. Its a

You take it. The window.