The Face of Deception by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online

battle just then. “Hurry up.”
    “Yes, ma'am.” He turned toward the cabinet. “Where's the coffee?”
    “In the blue canister on the counter.”
    He ran water into the carafe. “When did it happen?”
    “Last night. Sometime after midnight.”
    “You locked the lab?”
    “Of course I did.”
    “Easy.” He measured coffee into the coffeemaker. “You didn't hear anything?”
    “No.”
    “I'm surprised, with all that damage.”
    “Joe said he knew exactly what he was doing.”
    He turned on the coffeepot. “Any idea who did it?”
    She shook her head. “No fingerprints. Gloves maybe.”
    He took a cardigan from a hook on the laundry room door. “Gloves. Then it wasn't done by amateurs.”
    “I told you that.”
    He draped the sweater over her shoulders. “So you did.”
    “And this is my mother's sweater.”
    “You need it. I don't think she'd mind.”
    She did need it. She couldn't stop shivering.
    He picked up the phone.
    “What are you doing?”
    “I'm calling my personal assistant, Margaret Wilson. What's the name of your insurance company?”
    “Security America, but you don't—”
    “Hello, Margaret. John,” he said into the phone. “I need you to— Yes, I know it's a Saturday.” He listened patiently. “Yes, Margaret. It's a terrible imposition. I'm duly grateful for your forbearance. Now, will you shut up and let me tell you what I need?”
    Eve stared at him in surprise. Whatever she had expected, it was not Logan browbeaten by one of his employees.
    He grimaced at Eve, still listening. “Now?” he repeated into the phone.
    Evidently this time the answer was an affirmative, because he said, “Make a report to Security America for Eve Duncan.” He spelled the last name. “Break-in, vandalism, and possible theft. If you need details or verification, call Joe Quinn, Atlanta P.D. I want a claims investigator out here right away, and arrange for a cleaning crew. I want that lab spic-and-span by midnight.” He sighed. “No, I don't want you to fly out here and do it yourself, Margaret. Sarcasm isn't necessary. Just take care of it. I don't want Eve Duncan bothered with anything more than signing her name to a claim report. I also want a security force out here protecting the property and Eve and Sandra Duncan. Call me if you run into any trouble. No, I'm not doubting your efficiency, I just—” He listened a moment more and then said gently but firmly, “Good-bye, Margaret.” He hung up, then reached into the cabinet for a cup. “Margaret will take care of it.”
    “She doesn't want to.”
    “She just wants to make sure I never take her for granted. If I'd done it myself, she would have accused me of not trusting her to take care of it.” He poured hot coffee into the cup. “Cream or sugar?”
    “Black. Has she been with you a long time?”
    “Nine years.” He set the coffee down in front of her. “We need to go back out there and collect anything that you don't want the insurance investigator going through.”
    “I don't think I need to hurry.” She took a sip of coffee. “I've never seen an insurance company work that fast.”
    “Trust Margaret. Someone will be here soon.” He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down opposite her. “She'll regard it as a challenge.”
    “I don't know Margaret, so I can't trust her. Just as I can't trust you.” She met his gaze. “And I don't need any private security force out here. Joe's going to have a police car keep an eye on us.”
    “Good. But a few extra precautions never hurt anybody. They won't 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. “Don't be stupid. I wasn't 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