Iris Johansen - Blind Alley

“I also helped put all of you at risk.” His gaze searched her expression. “No, that's not the reason.”

“No, it's not.” She took another step closer. “I came because it's not finished. I was lying in that hospital bed telling myself that I was going to forget those dreams of Cira and put you completely out of my mind. I was going to put a period to the whole episode.”

“Very smart.”

“Only it's not finished and I'm not going to look back and have it gnaw at me for the rest of my life. That's not my nature. There's no one more of a realist than I am and I hate the idea that I can't figure out this connection with Cira. So shall I tell you what I'm going to do?”

“I can hardly wait.”

“Don't be sarcastic. You do want to know.”

“Sarcasm can be the first line of defense. Hell, yes, I want to know everything about you. I always have.” I always will. Don't say those words. Keep your distance. It will only be for a little while longer.

“Good. Then you'll be glad to know I'm going back to school and then on to Harvard. After that I'm going to find out what happened to Cira. I may wait until I graduate from college or I may not. I'll decide later.”

“You're coming back here?”

“Wherever I have to go to find the answers. I don't give a damn about your gold, but I have to read those scrolls. I told you, it's not finished. I have to find out if Cira died in that eruption. If she didn't, I have to know what happened to her. And I have to know how I knew about her, why I had those dreams. It's important to me.”

“You saw that excavation. It could take years to find an answer.”

“I've got years. I'm only seventeen.” She looked him directly in the eye. “No matter what you think, that's a plus. I'm going to go home and live every minute of every day. I'm going to grow and learn and experience. I'm going to see if I can find a man who makes you look boring in comparison. It shouldn't be so difficult. And, God knows, I don't want to have to deal with you and your antiquated sense of what's proper and not proper. I can't understand how a man who admits to being a criminal and a scoundrel could be so idiotic. Someday you're going to regret turning away from me.”

“I already do.”

“Well, it's too late. You had your chance.” She turned and started away. Then she whirled back to face him. “But you may get another one if I decide you're worth it and I don't find anyone better. So you'd better work on clearing Cira out of your head. I don't like the competition. She's dead and I'm alive, and by the time I'm through with making myself into the person I want to be there won't be any comparison.”

She didn't wait for an answer. Trevor watched her stride across the lobby. Her head was high, her shoulders straight, her carriage indomitable.

“I thought she might come to say good-bye.” Bartlett was standing beside him, his gaze on Jane. “Or perhaps au revoir . Which was it?”

Au revoir . Until we meet again.

“I'm not sure.” She'd almost disappeared from view but he could still see the strength and determination that radiated from her every movement. He suddenly felt a surge of exhilaration. “I think it was au revoir .” He started to laugh. “And, if it was, God help me.”

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed reading about Jane MacGuire in Blind Alley. I certainly enjoyed letting her share center stage with Eve and Joe for the first time. In fact, after finishing the book I found I couldn't let her go. So I began writing another story, called Countdown, which sees Jane's adventures continue—but this time I'm afraid she's really going to be tested to the limit! Watch for it in hardcover in April 2005.

BOOKS BY IRIS JOHANSEN

BLIND ALLEY

FIRESTORM

FATAL TIDE

DEAD AIM

NO ONE TO TRUST

BODY OF LIES

FINAL TARGET

THE SEARCH

THE KILLING GAME

THE FACE OF DECEPTION

AND THEN YOU DIE

LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT

THE UGLY DUCKLING

LION'S BRIDE

DARK RIDER

MIDNIGHT WARRIOR

THE BELOVED SCOUNDREL

THE MAGNIFICENT ROGUE

THE TIGER PRINCE

LAST BRIDGE HOME

THE GOLDEN BARBARIAN

REAP THE WIND

STORM WINDS

THE WIND DANCER

BLIND ALLEY

A Bantam Book / September 2004

Published by Bantam Dell

A Division of Random House, Inc.

New York, New York

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2004 by Johansen Publishing LLLP

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.

Bantam Books is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc., and the colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc.

Visit our website at www.bantamdell.com

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Johansen, Iris.

Blind alley / Iris Johansen.

p. cm.

1. Duncan, Eve (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Facial reconstruction (Anthropology)—Fiction. 3. Women sculptors—Fiction. I. Title.

PS3560.O275 B56 2004

813'.54—dc22

2004054410

eISBN: 978-0-553-90065-1

v3.0

Table of Contents

Title Page

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Authornote

Other books by Iris Johansen

Copyright Page