Iris Johansen - Blind Alley

“It's not much.” Eve replaced the receiver. “They don't even know his nationality.”

“It's more than we knew before.”

“We know he's brilliant and shady and was trained to kill. That's not very encouraging.”

The bell on the machine signaled the incoming fax.

“Are we going to let Jane read about our Mr. Trevor's past?” Joe asked.

“Hell, yes. We tell her anything we can that will cause her to stop identifying with him. A mercenary isn't a role model.” She went over to the fax machine and took out the two pages. “Besides, she'd resent it if we tried to keep anything from her. I don't blame her. So would I.”

Joe nodded. “You're a lot alike.” He smiled. “But I'm not sure that she's going to instantly condemn him for that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I didn't.” He opened the screen door. “And she's a lot like me, too.”

The lights in the cottage went out.

Soon she'd be sleeping, Aldo thought. She'd be lying defenseless in her bed not realizing how close he was to her. He might be able to climb in her window and—

No, he might be able to kill her but he'd never be able to do it as it should be done. No quick, merciful death for her. He'd disposed of even her counterfeits with the usual ceremony and he wasn't about to cheat himself of the pleasure with the true Cira.

So, watch and wait?

No, he couldn't stand to do that. Not this time. Not with her.

Then find a way to bring her to him and put an end to waiting. Make her kneel as he had those other women. Submission was hateful to her and the perfect revenge.

Yes, that was what he had to do. Make her come to him.

Y ou have to come this way. Don't be foolish.” His voice echoed behind her as she ran down the tunnel.

Whose voice? she wondered hazily. That's right, the man who had come out of the smoke and was standing at the fork of the tunnel. But she didn't know him. . . .

No, that wasn't true. Jane didn't know him but she did. Antonio. His name exploded out of nowhere and with it came all the memories, bitterness, and anger again. “I'd be foolish to believe you. I won't make that mistake again. I know what you want.”

“Yes, I want it. But I also want you alive. This isn't the time for battles.”

At least he was being honest.

Or clever. Antonio was always clever. It was the quality that had first drawn her to him. Clever and self-serving and ruthless. But she had those same qualities and had no argument with them.

Until he had turned them against her.

“Why do you think I followed you?” There was anger in his voice. “I know the way. I could have left you to die.”

“Or you could get me lost in this cave and then tell me you won't show me the way out until I give you what you want. Do you think I don't know that you always take advantage of every opportunity, Antonio?”

“Of course you do. Because we're alike. That's why you took me for your lover. You didn't trust me, but you knew me. You looked at me and it was like looking in a mirror. You could see every scar and feel the hate and the hunger that drives you.”

“I wouldn't have betrayed you.”

“I made a mistake. I'd been poor too long. I didn't realize that you were more important than—”

“Liar.” Hot. It was getting hotter and her lungs felt tight and sore.

“Yes, I'm a liar and a cheat and I've been a thief. But I'm not lying now. Let me help you.”

“Go away. I'll help myself. Just like I've always done.”

“Then die, damn you.” His tone was harsh. “But you'll die alone. I'm going to live and become rich as an emperor and make the earth shake at the wave of my hand. What do I care if you burn, Cira?”

“I didn't ask you to care if—”

He was no longer there. His shadow had disappeared from the tunnel opening.

Alone.

Shake off this despair. She'd always been alone. This was no different. She'd been right to depend only on herself. He had betrayed her once and it was clear he was as ambitious as ever. Even if he knew the way out, he might have turned her over to Julius at the end of the tunnel.

But he wanted to live and he hadn't followed her down this tunnel. He had taken the path on the left. If he did know the way out, then she would be stupid to be stubborn and continue on this course. She had no idea how to get out of here. She would follow him down the other path. He would not have to know she was behind him. Use him as he had used her.

She turned and started back toward the branch of the tunnel. The earth was becoming hot beneath her sandals and the rocks on her right were beginning to glow dimly in the darkness. Her pace quickened as she felt a surge of panic.

There wasn't much time. . . .

Jane was panting as she opened her eyes.

Hot. She couldn't breathe.

No, that was Cira.

Jane wasn't in the tunnel. She was lying in bed, in the cottage. She lay still and drew several long, deep breaths. In a few minutes her heartbeat steadied and she sat up. She should be used to this aftereffect but it was always new and terrifying. But this time it hadn't been as horrible as usual. The panic had been present but there had also been hope. Cira had thought she had found a way to bend fortune to suit herself as she usually did. She was always happier when she could take action.

And how was Jane so certain of that? Who the devil knew? Maybe she was echoing Antonio's words and Cira was Jane's mirror image. It felt strange to know Cira's name without understanding how she knew it. Or maybe Cira was some kind of manifestation of a split personality.

No, she wouldn't accept that explanation. She wasn't nuts and she didn't have any alter egos running around in her head. So she had weird dreams. They didn't do her any real harm and she found Cira fascinating. Every dream was like turning the pages of a novel and discovering something new with every sentence. If that story became a little too exciting at times and she woke scared to death, that went with the territory.

At least she evidently hadn't been screaming or whimpering this time or she would have had Eve or Joe running in here. She swung her feet out of bed and padded to the bathroom to get a glass of water. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was almost three in the morning and in a few hours Eve would be getting up and starting to work. She didn't need to get up early and come in here to comfort Jane, she thought as she padded to the bathroom. She would get a glass of water and then go out in the living room and cuddle Toby on the couch until she was drowsy enough to go back to sleep.

She suddenly stiffened.

There was something wrong.

She turned to look at the Orvis dog bed on the floor beside her bed.

“Toby?”

SIX

Toby's red collar was lying on the top porch step.

Jane slowly knelt to pick it up and saw a piece of paper fastened to it.

She heard the howl as she straightened.

Panic soared through her. “Toby! Toby, come.”

Another howl. Far away. Across the lake.

She started down the porch steps and then stopped.

Bait for a trap. It couldn't be clearer. She should call Joe and Eve.

She slowly unfolded the note on the collar.

Come alone and the dog will live.

The implication was clear. If she didn't come alone, Toby would die. If she called the policemen in the squad car or Joe and Eve and set them to searching the woods, her Toby would not live through the night. Agony twisted through her at the thought.