The Face of Deception Read Free

the fabric of her life and she could no longer tell which thread was Bonnie and which were the other lost ones. That probably made her a hell of a lot more unstable than her mother, she thought ruefully.

She walked across the room and stood before the shelf bearing the new skull.

What happened to you? she murmured as she removed the skulls ID tag and tossed it on the work-bench. An accident? Murder? She hoped it wasnt murder, but it usually was in these cases. It hurt her to think of the terror the child had suffered before death.

The death of a child.

Someone had held this girl as a baby, had watched her take her first steps. Eve prayed that someone had loved her and given her joy before she had ended up lost in that hole in the forest.

She gently touched the girls cheekbone. I dont know who you are. Do you mind if I call you Mandy? Ive always liked that name. Jesus, she talked to skeletons and she was worried about her mother going off the deep end? It might be weird, but shed always felt it was disrespectful to treat the skulls as if they had no identity. This girl had lived, laughed, and loved. She deserved more than to be treated impersonally.

Eve whispered, Just be patient, Mandy. To-morrow Ill measure and soon Ill start sculpting. Ill find you. Ill bring you home.

MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA

Youre sure shes the best choice? John Logans gaze was fastened on the television screen, where a video of the scene outside the prison facility was playing. She doesnt appear all that stable. Ive got enough problems without having to deal with a woman who doesnt have all her marbles.

My God, what a kind, caring human being you are, Ken Novak murmured. I think the woman might have cause to appear a little distracted. That was the night the murderer of her little girl was executed.

Then she should have been dancing with joy and offering to pull the switch. I would have been. In-stead, she pleaded with the governor for a stay.

Fraser was convicted for the killing of Teddy Simes. He was almost caught in the act and wasnt able to dispose of the boys body. But he confessed to murdering eleven other children including Bonnie Duncan. He gave details that left no doubt he was guilty, but he wouldnt tell where hed disposed of the bodies.

Why not?

I dont know. He was a crazy son of a bitch. A last act of malice? The bastard even refused to appeal the death sentence. It drove Eve Duncan frantic. She didnt want him executed until he told them where her daughter was. She was afraid shed never find her.

And has she?

No. Novak picked up the remote and froze a frame. Thats Joe Quinn. Rich parents, attended Har-vard. Everyone expected him to go into law, but he joined the FBI instead. He worked the Bonnie Duncan case with the Atlanta P.D., but hes now a de-tective with them. He and Eve Duncan have become friends.

Quinn appeared to be about twenty-six at the time. Square face, broad mouth, and intelligent, wide-set brown eyes. Only friends?

He nodded. If shes gone to bed with him, we havent found out about it. She was a witness at his wedding three years ago. Shes had one or two rela-tionships in the past eight years, but nothing serious. Shes a workaholic and that doesnt lend itself to en-riching personal relationships. He looked pointedly at Logan. Now, does it?

Ignoring the comment, Logan glanced down at the report on the desk. The mothers an addict?

Not any longer. She got off the stuff years ago.

What about Eve Duncan?

She was never on dope. Which was a wonder. Practically everyone else in her neighborhood was sniffing or shooting, including Mama. Her mother was illegitimate and had Eve when she was fifteen. They lived on welfare in one of the worst areas of the city. Eve had Bonnie when she was sixteen.

Who was the father?

She didnt list him on the birth certificate. Evi-dently he didnt claim the child. He pressed the button to start the tape again. Theres a picture coming up on the screen of the kid. CNN really wrung the story