Iris Johansen - Blind Alley

“I'll get him. I'll call you when I find out more after I get to Richmond.”

She drew a deep breath as she hung up the phone. Charlotte and now Richmond. Each city was a giant step away from Atlanta, away from Jane. She moved out onto the porch and sat down on the porch swing beside Jane. “Nice night.”

“You're in a good mood.”

“I shouldn't be. There was another killing in Richmond. Same MO. Joe's on his way there now. He thinks Aldo may be getting careless.”

“I hope he's right.” Jane looked out at the lake. “He's crazy, you know. I could see it that night. I know most serial killers have a screw loose, but they have a sense of self-preservation. I don't believe Aldo does.”

“Then he should be easier to catch.”

“I said crazy, not stupid.” She patted Eve's hand. “But Joe will get him either way. He's not about to let that twerp get the—”

The phone rang.

“Dammit, I was just getting comfortable.” Eve groaned. “What do you bet it's our lady looking for Susie?”

“No bet.” Jane chuckled. “How many times has she called?”

“Four times this afternoon.” She sighed. “I shouldn't be so impatient. I'm sure it's not her fault and she's always very nice.”

“Sit still. I'll get it.” Jane jumped up and headed for the door. “Be right back.”

Eve leaned back. It was good to sit here with the cool wind brushing her face and the harvest moon shedding a glow over the lake. It brought back memories of other nights when she and Joe and Jane had sat here and talked and laughed before they went to bed. She had never taken that precious intimacy for granted, but perhaps she'd not valued it as much as she should have. Dear God, she wanted those times back. She closed her eyes and listened to the night sounds.

She heard Jane come back a few minutes later and opened her eyes to see her sit down in the porch swing beside her. “Susie's mama?”

Jane nodded, her gaze fixed on the lake. “Who else?”

EIGHT

Be casual. Stroll at a leisurely pace, Jane told herself.

Eve was working on a new reconstruction this morning, but that didn't mean she might not be watching Jane out the window. The early stages of reconstruction weren't nearly as demanding as the final ones and Eve was feeling as fiercely protective of Jane as a lioness with her cub. Jane moved at a lazy pace to the thick thatch of trees a few hundred yards beyond the log where she usually sat, sank down, and leaned her head back against an oak tree. She knew she was in full view of Mac and Brian in the squad car and Eve in the cottage as she lifted her face to the sun. Leisurely. Do everything with deliberation and leisure.

She felt about as leisurely as if she were sitting on a live grenade.

“Talk fast.” She tried to keep her lips from moving. “I'll give you five minutes before I start screaming.”

“You're bluffing.” Trevor chuckled from the depths of the shelter of shrubbery behind her. “You wouldn't have told me about the drainage pipe if you'd wanted me caught. You just want to get the upper hand. I understand. I knew you'd be a superb poker player.”

“I don't play poker.”

“It doesn't matter. The concept is the same. But you really should learn it. I'll teach you.”

“I don't want you to teach me anything. And you don't know zilch about me.”

“Yes, I do. Even if I hadn't had the opportunity of studying you long range, I'd know you. Some people you just have instincts about.”

She couldn't deny that truth since she'd had that same feeling when she'd first met Trevor. “Why did you call me?”

“The same reason you didn't tell Eve that I was the one on the phone. I thought it was time we got together. It was too dangerous to wait any longer. He's going to pounce anytime.”

“He killed a woman in Charlotte and another in Richmond. Eve thinks he may have crossed me off his list.”

“No, she doesn't. She's too wary. Wishful thinking. He's not giving up on you. He used the killings to draw Quinn away and convince the ATLPD that maximum surveillance for you isn't necessary.”

“Joe didn't leave me without protection.”

“I got to you.”

“Because I chose to let you. How much did you pay that woman to make those phone calls for you?”

“Not much. She only had to keep calling until you answered instead of Eve. I told her it was a Romeo-Juliet thing and she had a romantic heart. It's always safer to rely on emotion rather than bribery.”

“And what do you want from me?”

“I want you to go to Quinn and tell him I want to make a deal. If he'll let me work with him on catching Aldo, I'll turn myself in afterward.”

“Why go through me? A con man like you should be able to handle his own deals.”

“I agree. In fact, it goes against the grain for me to rely on anyone else. But time is of the essence and Quinn's instinct is to resist anything I say. You're smart and you can do the groundwork for me. I'll take over from there.”

“Joe doesn't make deals.”

“Try him. This isn't his usual case. He has a vested interest in keeping you alive. I'd bet he'd be willing to overlook a small fish like me to get Aldo.”

“He's not sure you are a small fish. You may be a barracuda.”

“If I am, I don't go around killing helpless women or torturing dogs. But just in case I'm wrong, do you have a cell phone?”

“Yes. Eve gave me one for my birthday.”

“You've got my cell phone number. Program it in your phone so that you can reach me by speed dial. I'll never be very far from you.”

“You're offering to protect me? I don't want your protection. I want information. That's all I ever wanted from you.”

“And if I tell you what you want to know, you'll walk away and close me out. That's not going to happen.”

“Then if you don't give me what I want, why shouldn't I yell and have them throw you in jail?”

“I didn't say I wouldn't give you information. I'll tell you enough to help you without making my presence superfluous.” He was silent a moment. “But as a gesture of good faith, I'll let you ask me two questions right now.”

“You want a question? Tell me why Aldo is killing all these women who look like me.”

He hesitated. “To go into that right now wouldn't be to my advantage. Ask something else.”

“Well, you struck out on that one. Okay, if you want to catch Aldo, why didn't you cooperate with Joe instead of trying to con him?”

“Quinn wants to nab Aldo and then put him behind bars.”

“And you?”

“I want thirty minutes alone with him.”

“And then you'll turn him over to Joe?”

He was silent. “Quinn will get him . . . eventually.”

“Dead.” His intent couldn't be more clear but it didn't shock her. “You want to kill him.”

“He'll have to die. I can't risk him getting free. Neither can Quinn. He'll come after you again. He'll never stop.”

“And you're so concerned about me.” Her tone was skeptical. “Bull.”

“I've no desire to have you murdered.”

“But I'd be a fool not to realize you're willing to use me to get Aldo. You consider me expendable, don't you?”

He didn't answer directly. “I've had you watched for weeks. I've had reports on every move you've made. I know how special you are, Jane.”

His voice was soft, persuasive, almost seductive, and it was having an odd mesmerizing effect on her. Even though she couldn't see him, it was as if he were standing before her. She could sense the intensity, the charisma, the intelligence that was more attractive to her than those wonderful good looks. “Stop conning me. How much could you know from a report?”

“Enough. I would have come and done the surveillance myself but I didn't dare. I had to maintain perspective. I knew I wouldn't have a chance.”