Iris Johansen - Blind Alley

He chuckled. “I should have known you'd be like this. You're a delight.”

“And you're bullshitting me.”

“I'm not, you know.” His smile faded. “You want the truth? You're a target and I've known for some time that there was the possibility that you might be under the gun. I watched and waited. And Ms. Duncan and Quinn quite rightly are outraged that I didn't immediately surround you with all the protection you deserve.”

“Yes, we are,” Eve said. “Because I can think of only one reason why you'd wait. If you had her watched, then you may have wanted to set her up as bait.”

“The possibility occurred to me.” He looked back at Jane. “But I would never have let anything happen to you. No one's going to hurt you. I promise.”

“Which means zilch,” Jane said. “I'm responsible for what happens to me. Not you or Eve or Joe. I take care of myself. I don't care if you played some kind of game to trap that creep. As long as you didn't hurt anyone I care about.” She took a step back. “But I think you'd better leave now. You've upset Eve.”

His brows lifted. “And that's a sin, I take it.”

“Yes, it is.” She gestured to the door. “Good-bye, Mr. Trevor. If you can catch that creep, good luck to you. But don't come back unless you have a darned good reason.”

“And don't upset Eve.”

“You've got it.” She turned to Joe. “It's suppertime. Do you want me to warm up those leftovers from the steaks you grilled last night?”

“I appear to be dismissed.” Trevor smiled and headed for the door. “I'll be in touch, Quinn.”

Joe nodded curtly. “Like she said, you better have a good reason.”

“The very best. I won't darken your door until I do,” Trevor said. “May I commandeer one of your policemen to take me to town?”

Joe nodded again. “He'll drop you at a hotel.” He paused. “Or the airport.”

Trevor gave a mock shiver. “The welcome mat has definitely been yanked. I can only hope that I can reinstate myself in your good graces.”

“You were never in them,” Eve said. “We don't know you and now we don't trust you.”

He paused at the door. “You can trust me,” he said quietly. “If you searched the world over, you wouldn't find anyone who wants to keep Jane safe more than I do.” He reached in his pocket, pulled out a card, and placed it on the table by the door. “That's for you, Jane. My cell number. If you need anything, call me. I'll be there for you.” The door closed behind him.

“Whew.” Jane went to the window and watched him as he moved toward the police car. “He's definitely not stuffy or slow moving, is he?”

“No.” Eve's gaze narrowed on her face. “What do you think of him?”

She glanced at Eve. “Why?”

“When you first met him, you couldn't take your eyes off him. He's very good-looking, isn't he?”

“Is he?” She frowned. “I suppose he is. I didn't really notice.”

“That's hard to believe. It was pretty clear you were fascinated.”

“He reminded me of someone.”

“Who?”

“I don't remember. Someone . . .” She saw Eve's expression and she smiled. “You're worried. You think I developed a crush on him in the few minutes he was here? I don't have crushes, Eve. You know that.”

Relief surged through her. She smiled. “There's always a first time. I'd be glad to see you have a crush or two. I keep hoping and waiting for a breakthrough.” She shook her head. “But pick a rock star or a football player. Not him, Jane.”

“Definitely not him.” Joe headed for the door. “I think I'll escort him into town myself. Don't bother to heat up the steaks. I'll pick up Chinese on the way back.”

Jane giggled as the door closed behind him. “He reminds me of the sheriff in a spaghetti western. Only he'd be running the outlaw out of town, not escorting him to the hotel.” She moved over to the door and picked up Trevor's business card on the table. “He really upset both of you. You'd think he was attacking me instead of only doing his job.”

“He should have notified us of any threat. That's what any policeman I know would have done.”

“Maybe Scotland Yard is different.”

“Are you defending him?”

“I suppose I am.” She stuffed the card in the pocket of her jeans. “Do you remember when I was little and stole food to feed Mike when he was hiding out in that alley? I didn't want to do it. I knew it was wrong, but Mike was six years old and would have gone hungry if I hadn't found a way to feed him. Sometimes you have to do bad things to keep worse things from happening.”

“It's not the same. You were only ten.”

“If I couldn't find any other way, I'd do it today. Maybe that's why I understand Trevor.”

“You can't understand him,” Eve said curtly. “You don't know him.”

“I just don't see what all the fuss is about. You told me that Joe thought he was obsessed with this case. I can see why anyone who felt that deeply would be willing to snoop around a bit and see if he could spot anyone suspicious before he let me be surrounded by cops that might scare him off.”

“That's more than I can see.” Eve's lips tightened grimly. “And why are you keeping his telephone number?”

“Because I believed him when he said he wanted to keep me alive.” She met Eve's eyes. “Didn't you?”

Eve wanted to deny it, but it wouldn't have been honest and Jane would have known it. “Yes. But that doesn't mean I'd trust his ways and means.”

Jane nodded. “I see what you mean. But sometimes you take what you can get. Trevor may be unconventional but I'd bet he's very good at what he does.” She moved toward the bedroom. “Now I'm going to do my homework so that I can enjoy that Chinese food Joe is bringing home.”

Eve watched the door shut behind her. Jesus, she wished Jane wasn't so damn smart. From the time she was a child she'd always known her own mind and trusted her judgments.

And her judgments were usually good, better than most adults'. That didn't mean that she was infallible. Trevor was smart and charismatic and both qualities would appeal to a teenager like Jane.

But there weren't any teenagers like Jane. She was an original and her reactions were distinctly her own.

She'd kept his telephone number, dammit.

She sighed. Who knew which way Jane would jump? She might be worrying for nothing.

After all, she'd kicked him out of the house just because he'd upset Eve.

This is the Peachtree Plaza.” Joe pulled up before the front entrance. “I made reservations for you for two days. I didn't think you'd be here any longer.”

“And now you hope I won't be.” Trevor got out of the car as the doorman opened the door. “My assistance is no longer required.”

“I imagine I'll be able to find out all I need from those files you brought. We don't need you.”

Trevor smiled. “But you've got me. And how do you know I put everything I know into those files?”

Joe's gaze narrowed on his face. “For instance.”

“The volcano that produced those ashes. You'll notice the geologists couldn't come to any conclusion.”

“But you know where they originated?”

“I have theories.”

“Theories aren't proof.”

“But they're a starting point.”

“And do you have a theory about why he scatters those ashes?”

“Maybe.” Trevor tipped the doorman as he grabbed his duffel. “What's certain is that we could be valuable to each other, Quinn. And you're coming in late on a case that I've lived and breathed for years.”

“Do you think I don't know you're trying to play me?” Joe said coolly. “You're dangling little morsels of information in hopes that I'll forgive all and let you edge back into the investigation. But you haven't given me anything. Zilch.”