If you had a tape that incriminating, you wouldnt need any more proof. You could take it to the authorities or the media and let them

He was shaking his head. It wasnt incrimi-nating enough. No detail. No Hey, Im James Timwick and Im burning up the President of the United States. It was just general conversation while they were in the crematorium. Timwick ordered one of his men to help him with the body. Once, he asked Donnelli for a chair so he could sit down. Evidently the poor man had a taxing evening and he was tired. Comments like that.

Then how do you know it was Timwick?

Id met him before. Hes director of the Secret Service and attended a good many of Chadbournes functions and he

Secret Service. You said he was high up in the Treasury Department. Her lips tightened. Oh, yes, the Secret Service is part of the Treasury Depart-ment. Just another little evasion.

Sorry. He continued. Timwick had a very dis-tinguished career and was a key player in getting Chadbourne elected. His voice is very distinctive. Hes from Massachusetts and the accent is pretty un-mistakable. I had a hunch it was him, and when Don-nelli Junior sent me the cassette, I ran some of the videotapes I made of Chadbourne on the campaign trail and did a comparison. It wasnt difficult. Timwick isnt a man who likes to stay in the background. I think he was disappointed Chadbourne didnt give him a cabinet post.

I cant believe they let Donnelli live to black-mail them. Why didnt they just force him to give up the tape and the skull?

He told them he put a copy of the tape and an explanation in the hands of a lawyer, who would send it immediately to the media if he disappeared or died of unnatural causes.

Then he died of a heart attack, and his son did disappear.

But they werent responsible, so they had to assume Donnelli Junior had made a better deal. I imagine the hunt for him was pretty intense. I was careful, but there might have been something that led them to believe Donnelli might have made con-tact with me. He shrugged. Maybe not. It could be they were looking for anything or anyone suspi-cious and I set off the alarm bell.

Its incredible. Why would they do away with Chadbourne?

I have no idea. I can only guess. He shrugged. Lisa Chadbournes a unique woman. Some people say that she would have made a better president than her husband. But the consensus is that the country isnt ready to accept a woman president yet, so she has to work behind the scenes. It must have grated on her to always stay in the background. And Ben Chad-bourne was a strong man himself. Maybe she wanted more control over him. More control of the country.

Thats a lot of maybes.

Theyre all I have to give you. All I can tell you is that I believe it happened. Will you do me a favor? Go to the library and pop in the videotapes in the top desk drawer. There are three of them with recent Chadbourne speeches and press conferences. Ive edited them for comparison. Id appreciate it if youd try to watch with an open mind.

And what do you expect me to see?

Just watch them.

Its crazy. Like some kind of

What can it hurt?

She was silent and then jerkily nodded her head. Okay. She headed for the door. Ill watch them.

As soon as she left, Logan crossed to the desk and dialed Gil at the carriage house. Shes finished. The skull is Chadbourne.

Gil cursed softly. I dont know why it comes as a shock. We knew it probably would be.

Hell, I watched her doing it and I felt the same way when I saw it.

How is she taking it?

Multiply your reaction by about a million and youd come close. Shes not sure she believes me. Cant blame her. I wouldnt after all the deceptions Ive laid on her. At least she agreed to look at the tapes. After she finishes, Ill have another go at her.

Do we have time?

God knows. But the ID on the skull is just the first crack in the door. We still need her and we need her to believe hes Chadbourne. After that, every-thing will fall in line. Are you ready to go?

Yep.

Tell Mark and Margaret to pack up everything. Get them out of here as soon as possible.

Done.

Logan replaced the receiver and moved to stand before Chadbournes skull. Poor bastard. He didnt deserve this fate. Logan had never agreed with his politics, but he had liked the man. No one could help but like Ben Chadbourne. He had dreamed dreams and tried to turn them into reality. He lacked practi-cality and probably would have increased the na-tional debt astronomically, but there werent many men who dreamed at all these days.

And those who did usually ended like this man staring back at him with bright glass eyes.

ELEVEN

It couldnt be true.

Chadbournehellip;

Eves gaze was fastened on the TV screen. The last tape was almost over. The face was the same, the mannerisms the same, even the voice and intonations seemed identical.

Lisa Chadbourne was present at almost every public function starting after November two years before, and Eve had begun to focus on her during the last tape.

Always charming, never losing her loving smile, her gaze always fastened on Chadbourne. Chad-bourne glancing frequently at her with affection and respect even in the midst

Eve suddenly sat upright in her chair.

She watched the tape for a few more minutes, jumped to her feet, and hurried across the room to rerun the tape from the beginning.

Shes signaling him, Eve said flatly when she walked back into the lab ten minutes later. A whole set of signals. When she smooths the front of her skirt, he cracks a joke. When she folds her hands on her lap, he gives a negative response. When she straightens the collar of her suit, its a yes. I dont know what the rest means, but those are pretty obvious. Whenever hes uncertain, she gives him the answer.

Yes.

You knew it. Why didnt you tell me to watch out for it?

I hoped youd find out for yourself.

Shes controlling him like a puppet, she said slowly.

Logans gaze narrowed on her face. And do you really believe the Ben Chadbourne who was elected to the presidency would let anyone else pull the strings?

She was silent a moment. No.

Then is it reasonable that man is not Ben Chadbourne?

Its not reasonable, its crazy. She paused. But it could be the truth.

Thank God. His sigh of relief came from deep in his chest. He moved toward the door. Pack up the skull. Theres a leather carrying case in the closet. Weve got to get out of here.

Not until we talk. You havent told me every-thing, have you?

No, well talk later. I dont know how much time we have right now. The only reason I risked staying this long is that I had to have your cooperation.

We do have time. For Gods sake, do you expect someone to break through those electric gates?

Maybe. His lips tightened grimly. It could happen. Anything could happen. Think about the power of the presidency. There isnt much that couldnt be covered up if you have enough clout. As long as they think they have Chadbournes skull, theyll go slowly, eliminate us one by one at their leisure. But as soon as they find out they have the wrong skull, theyre going to assume we have the right one. The gloves will come off. And theyll do anything to get the skull back and erase every witness.

A bolt of panic jolted through Eve. If she be-lieved that skull on the pedestal was Ben Chadbourne, then she had to believe the threat was as deadly as Logan said.

After all the lies he had told her, there was no way she could trust him, but she had created Chadbournes face with her own hands and mind. If she trusted her own skill and integrity, then she had to believe the skull was Ben Chadbourne.

She strode quickly across the room toward the pedestal. Get moving. Ill pack up the skull.

CHEVY CHASE

Kenner and six of his men will be here in ten min-utes in a chopper, Timwick told Fiske as he strode out of the lab. Youre going to Barrett House.