Iris Johansen - Blind Alley

Eve shuddered. “It's difficult to believe he could—” She shook her head. “What a beast.”

“But we have to make sure it's a temptation he can't resist.” Jane paused again. “We've got to make it a doubleheader.”

Eve stiffened. “Go on.”

“I have to be there. Cira and I have to be together.”

“No!” Joe said.

Eve was studying her expression. “Why?”

“Because I'm not certain the draw of Cira present isn't stronger than Cira past. But if we're together, then he'll feel he can gather us both in one swoop. He can destroy Cira's remains once and for all and kill me.”

“And he'll consider it a threat that Jane is going to the place where Cira's bones were found,” Trevor said. “After the reconstruction it would magnify the story and get more publicity, more faces in the media.”

“Reconstruction,” Eve repeated slowly.

“I didn't mention it to him,” Jane said quickly. “He just followed my line of thought.”

“And now I'm following it,” Eve said. “Elaborate.”

“You're the key. You'd be the final threat to turn Cira into a world-famous image if you did a reconstruction on the skeleton.”

“Go on.”

“How many times have you been invited to do a forensic reconstruction by foreign governments and museums? It wouldn't be too far out to have them come knocking on your door to verify that the skeleton is Cira's.”

Trevor nodded. “And that you'd go, considering the fact that Aldo will know I told you that Cira was his motivation.”

“And we all know what your motivation is, Trevor,” Joe said dryly.

“And you should be glad it's so strong,” Trevor said. “You'll be going into my territory and you'll need all the help you can get.”

“Your territory?”

“The art of the con.” Trevor smiled. “A very big, complicated, twisted con.”

“And you're looking forward to it.”

“You bet your life.” He said to Eve, “But Jane's right, it will all revolve around you. There has to be a thread of truth in any lie to make it believable and you're our thread.”

“Should I be flattered?”

“Do you think I'm stupid? I know better than to try to butter you up. I'm just stating the way I see it.”

Eve was silent a moment. “You think it will work?”

“I think it has a chance. Jane's hit on a way to use Aldo's obsession. Providing it's presented to him in the right way.”

“And that's your job?”

“I can't think of anyone more qualified.”

“Neither can I,” Jane said. “That's why you're here.”

“It sounds damn chancy to me,” Joe said.

“I don't care what it sounds like,” Jane said. “As long as it gives us a chance to draw Aldo out of the shadows.”

“And exactly what are we going to do once we get the bastard's attention?”

Jane shook her head. “We'll have to play it by ear and work it out. But no matter how difficult it is to find a way to trap him, we're still a step ahead. We'll have the advantage as long as he thinks we have something he wants. He wants Cira and he wants me. He'll be playing on our ball field and there's a chance we can catch him in a mistake if we can make him frantic enough.” She couldn't read Joe's expression, dammit. She added persuasively, “It's what you were trying to do when you were following him to Charlotte and Richmond, wasn't it? Only this will knock him off-balance. It will give us a chance and, in the end, it will be safest for me.”

“Bullshit.”

“Okay, then it will put an end to this nightmare. This standoff with Aldo could last for years if we don't do something.” She turned to Eve. “Help me.”

Eve stared at her and then slowly shook her head. “Don't push me. This whole idea scares the hell out of me. I need time.” She rose to her feet. “Come on, Joe. Let's take a walk by the lake and talk.”

“Eve . . .”

“I said you'll have to wait.” Eve shook her head ruefully. “In some ways you're so grown up, but you still have the impatience of youth. Nothing you say is going to change my mind. Joe and I will set the pace and do what we think is right.” She headed for the door Joe was holding open for her. “We'll let you know.”

Jane's hands clenched into fists as she watched them go down the steps. “Why can't they see it's the right thing to do?” she muttered. “It's so clear to me.”

Trevor smiled. “God, they're right. You are still a kid. I'm profoundly glad for this moment of revelation. I needed it.”

“What?”

“Never mind. It's clear to me, too. It's a good plan and we can keep you safe if we work at it. So they should come around to our way of thinking.” He opened the door. “Let's go out on the porch and wait for them.”

Okay, it's a go,” Joe said when he and Eve came up the steps an hour later. “But you don't do anything, go anywhere, without consulting with us first. It's a team effort or we pull the plug.”

Relief surged through her. “I've no intention of going off on a tangent by myself,” she said. “The whole basis of the plan is that it will take cooperation from all of us.”

“And that's why we're agreeing to do it,” Eve said. “It's the only way we can be sure that you won't strike out on your own.”

“Very perceptive,” Trevor murmured.

“You know I wouldn't want to do that,” Jane said.

“But you're not saying it's not a possibility.” Eve shook her head. “I know you. Do you think I couldn't see it coming?”

“I wouldn't do it willingly.” Jane shrugged. “Anyway, it's a moot point now.” She turned to Trevor. “How do we start?”

“Slowly.” He smiled as Jane gave him a frustrated glance. “Patience is golden.”

“Patience sucks.” She scowled. “And I'm getting sick and tired of everyone thinking that dragging your heels is a sign of maturity.”

He chuckled. “I was waiting for that.” He turned to Joe and Eve. “I'll need some information from both of you. I've put on a pot of coffee. Let's have a powwow.” He opened the door and gestured. “I've had a few thoughts while we've been standing around here waiting for you. I want to get started.” He glanced at Jane. “And maybe I'm a little impatient myself.”

Jane could see that in his expression. Impatient and eager and excited. She could almost forgive him for being patronizing.

Almost.

“How very immature of you.” She sailed ahead of him into the house.

Eve didn't wait for Jane to finish pouring the coffee before she was questioning Trevor. “Let's have it. What do you need to know?”

“Do you have any contacts with any of the forensic departments in Italy?”

“No. I've done some work with the forensic team in Dublin but not anywhere else in Europe.”

“Any work on ancient skulls?”

“I was sent an Egyptian skull that was believed to be Nefertiti's.”

“Was it?”

“Forensics said that she was probably related but the reconstruction didn't look like the statue.”

“But the job still furnishes you with the necessary qualifications. Nefertiti . . . That's very good.” Trevor took the cup Jane handed him. “Who requested your help? The museum? The government?”

She shook her head. “The archaeologist in charge of the dig. He was an American and I'd done some work on a skull he'd found in a Navajo site in Arizona.”

“What's his name?”

“Ted Carpenter.”

“Where is he now?”

“I have no idea. But I doubt if he's in Herculaneum.”

“So do I. That would be too lucky. But archaeologists are a rare breed and they're pretty close-knit. It's possible you could persuade him to contact one of the archaeologists who are doing work at Herculaneum.”