Until she broke it herself.

Shes going to be angry.

What?

Lisa Chadbourne. I think she probably regards Maren as her property. Shes going to be angry that were trying to take him away from her.

Its hardly reasonable shed feel possessive of a man she intends to dispose of.

Whos to say shes always reasonable? She has emotions like everyone else. Shes going to be on edge and maybe a little panicky when she finds out were close to Maren. It will be a surprise. She wont have realized wed made that connection.

Gil could be right. Maren might not tell her.

You dont believe that.

He shook his head.

Then what are we going to do?

Youre going to wait here with Kessler. Im going to fly up to Washington and go with Gil to that meeting.

You could be recognized.

Screw it.

Or caught in the same trap.

Ditto. He got out of the car and went around to the drivers side. Ill need the car. Ill drive to Sa-vannah and hop a plane from there. You drive back to the motel with Gary.

She slowly got out, then reached into the back-seat and retrieved Bens case. What about the test results?

You get them. You said it might be days. He slipped behind the wheel. Im no help here anyway.

And Ivanhoe had action to be taken and a castle to be won.

She wanted to hit him.

Phone and let me know what happens. She opened the passenger door of Garys Volvo. Pro-viding youre alive to do it.

Ill be alive. He started the car. Ill be back to-morrow. You should be safe. He frowned. Should isnt good enough. I cant take the chance. Ill call Kessler from the airport and get him to pay one of Tellers security guards to go to the motel and keep watch until I get back.

And what excuse is he going to give Teller?

Kesslers been pretty innovative so far. Let him worry about it.

Timwicks probably still camped out at Duke, and itll take time for anyone to track us here. This is definitely off the beaten path as far as forensic labs are concerned.

But she was no longer certain that the Duke di-version had worked. Lisa Chadbourne wouldnt focus totally on Logan; she had too much respect for women.

A security guard parked out front at the motel wont hurt. Be sure and lock your door, Logan said. And call me if you notice anything suspicious. Anything.

Ill be careful.

He hesitated. I have to go, Eve. Gil is my friend and I brought him into this.

She got into the Volvo and put Bens case on the floor. So go. She gave him a cool glance. I dont need you, Logan. Ive never needed you. Ill handle this myself.

Keep Bens skull with you.

Have you ever seen me leave him anywhere? She smiled bitterly. I know whos important in the scheme of things.

Thats not true. Its just that

Go on. She waved her hand dismissingly. Go help Gil. Go do what you have to do.

Why the hell are you I thought you liked Gil.

I do and I want him safe. But she didnt want Logan dead, and the more she thought about Lisa Chadbourne, the more frightened she became. Im not arguing. I know it wouldnt do any good. Good-bye, Logan.

He still hesitated.

Good-bye, Logan.

He muttered an oath beneath his breath and backed out of the parking space. In another minute he was gone.

Alone.

Its not good for you to be alone, Mama.

She was accustomed to being alone. When the door was shut and the world closed out, wasnt every-body alone?

Yet it was strange that she was feeling more alone now than ever before.

Wheres Logan?

She turned and saw Gary had walked up to the car. Winging his way north. Gil Price needed him, Eve said. What did you find out?

Well, theres some bad news and some good news. The good news is that Chris has converted their method over to chemiluminescence. They could work up a DNA profile for me today.

And the bad news?

He said he wont do it. Hes too busy. He held up his hand. I know. I know. You dont have to say it. Hell do it. I just have to be a little more persistent. It wont be today, but I may be able to get the initial profile tomorrow. I just thought Id come out and give you a report. He tossed her his keys and started back toward the lab. Go back to the motel. Ill probably be here until after midnight. Ill take a taxi.

She didnt want to go back to the motel. She wanted to go into the lab and help. She wanted to do something.

Yes, sure, and blow everything Gary was trying to do.

Forget it. Her irrational impulse was only due to the fact that she had nothing to do, sitting there waiting was getting on her nerves. She could al-most sympathize with Gary and Logan, who had seized the opportunity to take action, any action, even if it held an element of recklessness.

What was she thinking? Recklessness had nothing to do with her life. She needed steadiness and serenity. Taking chances was not for her.

She mustnt begin to think about Lisa Chadbourne as if she were some kind of superwoman. Logan was probably right about Gary and her being safe for the time being. Accept it. Relax. After the tension and pace of the last days, she should be glad for a boring few days in Bainbridge.

Ive narrowed the possibility of the safe house at Lanier down to four, Timwick said as soon as Fiske picked up the phone. They were all booked day be-fore yesterday.

By Wilson?

How the hell would I know? Timwick asked sourly. Do you think shed use her real name?

Shed have to make a deposit. That means a credit card.

And whos to say that she doesnt have a phony? Do you think Logan wouldnt have made provisions for that? Got a pen? He rattled off the four ad-dresses. Get on it right away.

As soon as I can.

What the hell do you mean?

You told me to check out Kessler. Im at Emory now and he left on an unexpected trip yesterday morning.

Where?

Ive no idea. Im on my way to talk to his assis-tant and see if I can find out.

The mother is more important. Kessler is just a long shot. Logan will be going to Duke if he wants an expert.

Now that Im here, I might as well check it out.

I told you to drop it. Go to Lanier.

What do you want me to do if I find her?

Just stake her out. Ill let you know.

I told you I dont like stakeouts. Ill find her, but you assign someone else for the donkey work, Timwick.

The silence at the other end of the phone was frigid. The chicken bastard didnt like being told what to do. Well, hed better get used to it. Timwick didnt know it, but the game had changed and the queen was controlling the board.

You realize that you can be replaced, Fiske.

But it would be difficult at this stage of the game. Why not let me do what I do best?

Another silence, colder than the last. Very well, report to me as soon as youve located the women.

Right. Fiske hung up the phone and moved quickly toward the dorm where Kesslers assistant, Bob Spencer, lived. Hed tell Spencer he was an old friend of Kesslers, maybe take him out to dinner and pump him. Even if he didnt know Kesslers location, Fiske might be able to find out the lab where Kessler generally did his tests. Find out where the tests are being done, Lisa Chadbourne had said.

No problem.

He knew ? Lisa murmured. My God, he knew, Scott?

Not for sure. My take is that Logan made an educated guess.

And then sent Price to lay the cards on the table. Why?

Scott didnt answer for a moment. A deal. He wants you more than he wants me, Lisa.

What kind of deal?

Im out of the country, out of the picture, some-where with a new identity, if I furnish evidence against you.

Panic rushed through her and she fought to quell it. She had known Logan was smart and that he might suspect her, but shed hoped he wouldnt make the connection with Scott. Hes lying. Theyd never let you off.