“Clever. But I had you for a minute, didn’t I?” He pressed the speaker button on the phone. “Go ahead, Blick. Success?”
“He’s dead. I killed him in his garden. It was a great shot. I was able to break into the house next door and zero in on him from one of the upper-floor windows. Kevin would have been proud of me.”
“I’m sure he would have been. Any interference?”
“A guard inside the house. I was able to get away while he was checking out the old man.” He paused. “You know, I think the old man knew I was there. He lifted his head as if he was listening or something. Then he just sat there as if he was waiting. Weird.”
“But he’s dead, that’s all that counts.”
“Yeah, where do you want me to go from here?”
“I’ll let you know.” He looked at Eve. “Maybe back to the lake cottage.”
“Whatever you say, but the woods were crawling with cops. It may be chancy.”
“I’ll let you know,” Doane repeated. He hung up.
“Who … is the old man?”
“I think you can guess. You’re so clever. General John Tarther. He’s lucky he lived to be this old. He’s been on borrowed time for the last five years.” He looked back at the reconstruction. “But we got him, didn’t we, Kevin? I couldn’t make it last as long as I wanted. I sent him to you to do whatever you want with the bastard.”
She shuddered as she saw Doane’s vicious intensity. “Why now?”
“I’m sure you realized that my call to Zander last night was the signal for the game to start. I was willing to let Blick take care of Tarther, so that I could concentrate on Zander.”
And while Eve had slept, an old man who had only sought final justice for the death of his child had breathed his last.
Rest in peace.
Help him, Bonnie.
“So you can see that I’m in charge. I make the rules. One phone call, and I can—”
“I understand you.” She didn’t want to hear any more. She was sad and sick at the thought of that needless death. She had to stop that obscene bragging. “I’m duly intimidated.”
“No, you’re not. But you will be. Put in Kevin’s eyes.”
“Do it yourself.”
He was taken aback. “What?”
“If you won’t let me finish the rest the way it should be done, then do it yourself.” She poured the hot coffee into her mug. “Placing the eyes is the simplest part of the process, and who should know better how they should look.” She took a sip of coffee. “I’ll open the display case for you, if you like.”
“I don’t know if…” But he was beginning to like the idea. His expression was intrigued. “You’re right; I know exactly how he should look.”
“And your Kevin would love having someone simpatico add the final touches. I don’t think he likes me much, does he?”
“No, he liked you better before he realized how strong you made the little girl,” he said absently. He was suddenly eager, excited. “Yes, Kevin would like me to do him that service. It would be the way we helped each other when we were together.”
Helped each other victimizing those children, she thought, sick. “I’ll get the case.” She crossed the room to the worktable. “I might have to build up the under-eye area to support the eye.” She set her coffee down on the worktable and reached underneath and pulled out the case. “I usually use brown eyes, but I notice you made sure I had blue.”
“Of course.” He watched as she opened the case. “It’s not as if I didn’t know exactly what he looked like.”
“Why didn’t you say anything about me looking at photos then?”
“You didn’t do it with other reconstructions. I wanted you to get the feel of him.” His eyes were fixed in fascination on the glass eyes she’d revealed. “And you did.”
There was no doubt about that, Eve thought. Even at this moment, she felt entirely too close to that skull.
“Now it’s your turn to get the feel of him.” She lifted her coffee to her lips. “Pick up one of the eyeballs. Careful.”
“They’re not as beautiful as Kevin’s.” He carefully picked up the glass eye. “But they’ll have to do.” His head lifted to look at the empty orbital cavities. “We’re so close, Kevin. Just this one more—”
Eve threw the scalding coffee into Doane’s eyes!
He screamed. He dropped the glass eye and frantically reached for his own eyes.
Eve’s hand darted out in a karate chop to his neck. He dropped to his knees. His hand reached blindly for the weapons in his pocket. “Bitch.”
Hurry.
No time to try another karate blow. Even though he couldn’t see right now, she knew he had a gun as well as the emblem with the gas release in that pocket.
Keep to the plan.
She dashed the short distance to the bedroom, grabbed the duffel she had set by the door.
Then she was running back toward Doane and the reconstruction.
Doane was still flailing, but he had his gun half-out of his pocket. “You think I can’t see you? You’re hazy, but that’s all I need to shoot you. Stop where you are. I have a use for you. I’m not ready to kill you yet, bitch.”
“Really? I’m ready to kill you,” Eve lifted her foot in a karate kick that struck his hand and sent the gun flying. She dove for the gun, but he was suddenly there on top of her.
He was heavy. So heavy. The best she could do was push the gun spinning across the floor to the opposite side of the room.
No chance to get across the room to retrieve it, she realized in despair.
“Kill me?” he taunted, his hands closing on her throat. “We’re too strong for you. Can’t you feel our power? I’ll squeeze the life out of you. No, not quite. Not yet.”
She was getting dizzy as her air was shut off. Move now or not at all.
She lunged upward and butted her head against his forehead with all her strength.
He grunted with pain, and his grip loosened.
She tore free and rolled to the left, punching him in the stomach.
But he was recovering quickly, reaching for her.
Get out. Get out. Get out.
But keep to the plan.
Do the one thing she dreaded the most.
She jumped to her feet and whirled toward the dais, where the reconstruction stared at her with those blind eyes.
Don’t look at him. He’s nothing. He’s only bone and clay.
She took a deep breath.
The next instant she reached out, snatched the skull from the dais, and threw it in her open duffel.
“What are you doing?” Doane screamed. He was right behind her, his hand grabbing her shoulder. “What are you doing to my Kevin?”
She tore away from his grip and ran toward the door.
“You’re insane. I told you what would happen if you opened that front door.” He was reaching for the control emblem in his pocket. “But I’m not going to wait. I’ll bring you down now and have you groveling.”
She was almost at the door.
Carnations.
Don’t breathe.
She held her breath.
Carnation scent surrounding her.
She unlocked the front door and heard the gas release from the vent above the door.
More carnations.
Dizzy.
Oh, God, she should have taken longer to accustom herself to the gas.
Too late.
Hold your breath and pray that you can endure it.
She was outside!
Don’t breathe yet. There might be lingering scent on the air issuing from the open doorway or clinging to her clothing.
She ran.
Rocks under her feet. Trees. Head for the trees. Sharp, cold air hitting her cheeks.
Lungs bursting.
The feel of the duffel striking her thigh as she ran. Was she feeling Kevin’s reconstruction through the heavy canvas?
She could hear Doane shouting behind her. No shots. He must not have retrieved the gun before he came after her or he’d be firing bullets instead of ugly words. He’d probably been too stunned that she’d been able to withstand the gas.
She took a cautious breath. It seemed safe. The faintest hint of carnation probably emanating from her shirt.