Iris Johansen - Blind Alley

“I see. Well, I'll be glad of your company while you're waiting.” His gaze went to her hand and his smile faded. “Trevor is right, you really shouldn't be wearing that.”

“Trevor didn't try to stop me.”

“I know. He said it was up to you. It didn't surprise me. Though I was disappointed.”

“Why?”

“I like him. But I'd like him more if he'd admit that he isn't as hard as he pretends.”

“I don't believe there's much pretense about it.”

“That's because he's extremely good at it.”

“Like the time he was pretending to be from Scotland Yard investigating your wife's death? Evidently he didn't fool you.”

He smiled. “Almost. But I knew he wasn't a policeman when I followed him to Claridge's. Policemen don't usually have the funds for elite accommodations.”

“But smugglers and con men do?”

“Exactly. And after I became acquainted with Trevor I realized my best chance of getting Ellen's killer was with him. He had dedication.” He added gravely, “Dedication is important.”

“So is honesty. How many times has he lied to you?”

“Only the one time. He is honest in his own way.”

She shook her head. “I don't understand that kind of honesty. It's either one way or the other.”

“Black or white? I'm afraid Trevor is definitely in the gray areas. But that's better than being black, isn't it? A man of his capabilities could be a superb villain. It must be a great temptation to him.”

“He told me how much he liked money.”

He nodded. “So he says.”

“You don't believe him?”

“Oh, I believe he likes it. He grew up poor and had to fight his way. But there are easier ways to acquire money when you're as brilliant as Trevor. He doesn't have to walk a tightrope. I think he got a taste of it when he was a kid and over the years it's become an addiction.”

“Is that why he's after Aldo? Not the gold, just the thrill of the chase?”

“No, I think it's a little more personal than that. Did he tell you Pietro Tatligno was a mercenary with him in Colombia?”

Her eyes widened. “No, he just said he was an antiquities scholar.”

“And a very brilliant one, but he sowed a few wild oats before he gave up the military life and went back to school. Evidently he and Trevor became very good friends and it was Trevor who brought him to Guido Manza.”

“You're saying he's after Aldo because of guilt?”

“Trevor would deny it. He says guilt is nonproductive.” He smiled. “He might even tell you he was after Aldo because Aldo double-crossed him.”

“He did say Pietro didn't deserve to die.”

“Ah, maybe he's getting close to admitting the truth.” He shook his head as he looked down at her ring. “It's very pretty, isn't it? It's a terrible thing to use beauty to bring fear.”

“It only brings fear if you let it. It's only a ring.”

“And she's not about to let it,” Trevor said from behind her. “I take it Quinn wasn't able to persuade you to shed it.”

“No.” She turned to watch him come toward her. He looked wired, restless, and she was again aware of that barely contained energy he exuded with every movement. “It's my ring. My choice.”

“True.” He stopped before her. “But since I'm not as ethical as Quinn I might try to manipulate circumstances to make your choice be my choice.”

“Joe's honest but he's not above doing that, too. So maybe you're more alike than you think.”

He grimaced. “Don't tell him that. He wouldn't be flattered. He's a straight arrow and I'm nowhere near straight. I prefer the path untraveled and most of those are as twisted as a snake's back.”

She nodded. “Twisted. That's why I came out to talk to you.”

“I told her that she could call you and you'd come,” Bartlett said.

“Anytime.” He stared her directly in the eye. “Anywhere.”

She felt . . . strange. Breathless. She glanced hurriedly away. “Easy to say. You couldn't have been more than a mile down the road.”

He smiled. “But you still didn't phone me. Because you preferred to quiz my friend, Bartlett, about me?”

“I'm touched.” Bartlett beamed. “Do you know that's the first time you admitted I was your friend? How encouraging.”

Trevor shook his head resignedly. “Do you know he really means it? You can't fight it.” He took her arm. “Come on, I have to get out from under his shadow. All that sweetness and light makes me look bad in comparison.”

“It shouldn't,” Bartlett called after them. “I did my best to make you appear to advantage. It was quite difficult.”

“I don't doubt it.” Trevor glanced down at her as they moved down the path. “Did you laugh in his face?”

“No, I wouldn't hurt his feelings.”

“Perish the thought. Are you going to be in line to be wife number four?”

“I didn't come down here to talk about Bartlett.” She stopped and turned to face him. “And you know it. So why are you trying to keep me from saying what I mean to say?”

“Maybe I'm enjoying myself. From the moment I met you it's all been tension, defensiveness, and suspicion. I like to see you like this.”

“Like what?”

“Sort of soft. I don't give myself credit for any change of demeanor but I've always been one to take advantage of any break I'm given.”

“I'm not soft. I don't pretend to be.”

“Most people have a soft side. You show yours to Eve and Quinn and Toby.” He wrinkled his nose. “And now to Bartlett.”

“That's different.”

“And that's what I'm saying. Refreshing.” He held up his hand as she started to speak. “Okay, I can see you're growing impatient. Fire when ready.”

“You said that Aldo was a computer genius. When you were hobnobbing together in Herculaneum how much did you find out about his surfing habits?”

“Internet surfing?”

“What else?”

“First, we weren't hobnobbing. Second, why the hell do you want to know?”

“I'm not sure. Something keeps nagging at me but it's not clear yet. I'm sure you weren't bosom buddies but you were both computer geeks. You had that in common and you were isolated together in the tunnel. You must have communicated on some level.”

“What are you digging for?”

She shrugged. “Everyone has favorite Internet sites they go to almost every day. I know I do.”

“So do I.” He was frowning. “You want to know what sites are Aldo's favorites?”

“Do you know?”

“Probably. As you said, we had that in common and I admired his expertise. We didn't share information but I did watch him occasionally.”

“Can you remember?”

“It's been a long time.”

“Can you remember?”

He nodded slowly. “That entire period is pretty well carved into my memory. What do you want from me?”

“I want you to make a list of all his preferred sites.”

“I may not remember all of them, Jane.”

“Well, whatever you do remember. Anything.”

“Why?”

“It's a starting place. I don't know where else we can go. I was lying in bed last night and trying to think of any way to get to Aldo before he got to me. But I don't know anything about him. Not really.” She made a helpless gesture with her hand. “There's so little . . . He's nuts. He thinks I'm Cira's reincarnation, and he uses computers. I picked the most concrete thing to work on.”

“And how do you intend to use it once I rack my memory and furnish you with the info you need?”

“I told you. I'm not sure yet.”

He studied her expression. “You may not be sure but you have an idea where you're going with this. I could hold out and force you to share.”

“And I'd resent the force and you'd have the devil of a time getting me to cooperate with you for the foreseeable future.”