Blind Alley

THIRTEEN

You've been watching me all evening. I feel like a bug under a microscope.” Eve turned away from the reconstruction on the pedestal before her to look at Jane. “Is something wrong? Are you still upset about that call from Aldo?”

“A little.” She made a face. “You can understand it would stick in my mind.”

“That goes without saying. It's been worrying me since you told me about it.”

“But you'll be able to forget it once you get deep enough into your work. That's a blessing, isn't it?”

“Work is always a great healer.” She frowned. “Have you been concerned that you're interfering with my work on this reconstruction?”

Jane shook her head. “I was just wondering if you were almost finished.”

“Tomorrow. I might have finished tonight if you hadn't decided on dragging me out this afternoon.”

“You didn't object.”

“And I wouldn't again. Keeping you alive is more important than identifying this poor dead girl.”

“What are you calling her?”

“Lucy.” Her hands moved over the skull, carefully measuring the space between the eyes. “The Chicago police think she may be a child that's been missing for over fifteen years. Her parents must be going through hell.”

“Like you.”

Eve didn't deny it. “At least I can give other parents back their children. I suppose that's a form of closure.”

“Bull. Very noble but it doesn't keep you from hurting.”

“No.” Eve smiled faintly. “May I ask why you're so interested in my work tonight?”

“I'm always interested. It's kind of creepy but it's part of you.”

“The creepy part.”

“You said it.” Jane grinned. “I wouldn't dare. So Lucy is winging her way back to Chicago tomorrow?”

“Probably.” Eve lifted her brows. “Is it important that she be finished quickly?”

“Maybe. I've been sitting here and thinking. . . .” Her gaze focused musingly on the skull. “How does she . . . feel?”

“Touching her face?” She was silent, thinking about it. “Not creepy. I've done it so long that it's difficult to describe.”

“Pity?”

“Yes, and anger and sadness.” She gently touched Lucy's cheek. “And a deep, deep urgency to bring her home. Home has always been so important to me. There are so many lost ones out there.”

“I've heard you say that before. Do you really think that her soul is somewhere wandering around and that she cares about being brought home?”

“I don't know. Maybe. But I do know I care.” Eve smoothed the clay at Lucy's forehead. “Now go to bed and let me work or I'll never get her finished.”

“Okay.” Jane stood up. “I was just curious.”

“Jane.”

Jane glanced back over her shoulder.

“Why now?” Eve asked. “You've never been this curious about my work before.”

Jane turned back to face her. “I've never been brought this close to the possibility of my own death before. It's bound to make you wonder what's out there for us.”

“Right now, the only thing out there for you is a long and happy life.”

“Don't worry. I'm not being gloomy and pessimistic. I don't know why all this came tumbling out of left field. I was sitting here watching you and thinking about something completely different when it occurred to me . . .” She paused. “Cira is one of those lost ones. Nobody seems to know what happened to her. She probably died in that eruption.”

“Two thousand years ago, Jane.”

“Does time make a difference? Lost is lost.”

“No, I guess not. It's just that it takes away the personal, familiar factor.”

“No, I don't agree.” She reached up and touched her own cheekbone and traced the line to her temple. “I'm taking this very personally. She had my face.”

“And it bothers you that she's one of the lost ones?”

“I don't know. Maybe she wasn't lost at all. Maybe she wasn't killed. Maybe she lived to be a hundred with her great-great-grandchildren all around her.”

“It's possible.”

“Yeah, but I've been asking myself, what if you're right and lost souls have a passion to come home? What if these dreams I've been having have been her way of telling me that she needs to be found and brought to a final resting place?”

“Is that what you think? I have to point out that it's a totally unrealistic conclusion.”

“Because it's your duty.” She was silent a moment. “I'm not sure what's real anymore and I don't believe you are either. It makes as much sense as thinking I'm picking up psychic vibrations.” She grimaced. “But it would help if I had a little guidance. Perhaps you should ask Bonnie what's happening to me.”

“Is that a joke?”

“Not an unkind one. She rules your world and that's fine with me. Just thought we'd put her to work.” She moved down the hall. “Forget it. We'll work everything out for ourselves. But try to finish Lucy tonight.”

She booted up her laptop as soon as she reached her bedroom, and went immediately to the Archaeology Journal site. Very dry stuff. It was hard to believe a sicko like Aldo would be interested in it. No articles in the current issue about Herculaneum.

She tensed, drew a deep breath, and accessed the porn site. She'd glanced through it earlier but she had to be sure. . . . After five minutes she had to get out of it. Horrible. It seemed impossible that anyone could relish this kind of obscenity. Forget it. Go on to the next site. They were all forming a picture of Aldo that was growing clearer by the minute.

She finished the last site on Trevor's list at 3:42 A.M. and leaned back and tried to suppress her growing excitement. Would it work?

Chancy at best. Success would depend on many factors, including the elusive power of luck.

Well, they were due for some good luck, dammit.

She reached for her telephone and began to dial.

The sun was shining through the windows and bathing Eve and Joe in clear light as they sat at the breakfast table. Warm. Loving. Serene. So different from Aldo's dark world that Jane had been delving into last night.

Jane stood looking at them for an instant, hesitating. Stop it. You've made up your mind. Now go for it.

“Good morning.” She strode toward them. “I didn't hear you come in last night, Joe.” She went to the refrigerator and took out the orange juice. “Were you late?”

“Yes.” He took a sip of his coffee. “But you should have heard me. I saw the light under your door.”

“I was busy.” She poured her juice. “How's Lucy coming, Eve?”

“Finished.” Eve smiled faintly. “As you ordered, little madam.”

“You know I wouldn't—” She broke off as she met Eve's knowing gaze. “Busted?”

“Busted. What are you up to?”

“I had to make sure your decks were cleared.” She lifted her glass to her lips. “I'm going to need you.” She turned to Joe. “And you, too.”

“I'm honored not to be left out,” he said dryly. “Are you going to let us into your confidence or are we supposed to guess?”

“I would have talked to you before but I had to be sure. . . .” She moistened her lips. “I was confused. There were too many lost pieces and I had to fill in the blanks. Otherwise you'd blow me out of the water. I couldn't let that happen.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“We can't sit here and wait for Aldo to come after me. I thought maybe I could find a way to draw him out in the open. But after talking to him, I realize it's going to take something pretty strong to make him lose his cool. He'll just sit and wait and I can't take that. We have to go after him.”

“We are going after him,” Joe said sharply. “Why do you think I've been spending eighteen hours a day at the precinct? We're gathering information, we're sifting evidence, we're collating. We'll get there.”

“And it's driving you crazy. That's not the way you like to operate,” Jane said. “You want to go after him, too.”

“It's safer this way.”

“He's not in any hurry. He thinks he's found Cira and he's willing to wait for his opportunity. It could take years of cat-and-mouse. I'm not giving him my years. I want to live them to the hilt.” She turned to Eve. “I think I know a way to bring him out in the open, if you'll help me.”

“How?”

At least they were listening. “Wait just a moment.” She headed for the front door. “I called Trevor last night and told him to come here.” She gestured to Trevor, who was standing outside talking to Bartlett. “We'll need him.”

“You told Trevor about this before you talked to us?” Joe asked.

She shook her head. “That wouldn't have been fair. He just knows that I'm ready.”

“Ready for what?” Joe asked.

“Easy,” Eve said quietly. “Listen, Joe. She's trying to tell us.”

“It could work,” Jane said. “I know it could work.” She turned to Trevor, who had just come into the room. “Tell Joe that we haven't been conspiring behind his back.”

Trevor shrugged. “I came because I got the royal summons. I gave her the list she wanted and she sent me on my way.”

“What list?”

Trevor nodded at Jane. “Over to you.”

“Aldo is a computer geek. It's the one interest Trevor found he had a passion for other than his acting. Trevor gave me a list of the sites he noticed Aldo frequenting most often.”

“Give it to me.”

“I will. After I finish.” She turned back to Eve. “But Aldo's overwhelming passion is his desire to revenge himself on Cira.”

“You mean on all her look-alikes.”

“It's still Cira in his mind.”

“So?”

“What if he had a chance to revenge himself on the real Cira?”

Eve frowned. “What?”

“As well as skeletons there were bodies found almost perfectly preserved at Pompeii and Herculaneum. What if he found out that they'd unearthed an anteroom off the theater at Herculaneum and discovered the skeleton of a woman who'd been killed the day of the eruption?”

“Cira?”

Trevor gave a low whistle. “Holy shit.”

“Trevor, you said there were several statues of Cira commissioned by Julius. Considering how famous she was, it wouldn't be too unlikely that there would be one of her found in the anteroom of the theater where she died. Wouldn't mention of a statue immediately pique Aldo's interest?”

“Absolutely.”

“Of course, we couldn't announce the discovery right away. We'd have to leak the information to make sure it was believable.”

“How?” Eve asked.

“Use the Web sites I furnished her,” Trevor said. “Three were newspapers. One was an archaeology magazine. I believe she's hinting that I do a little manipulation of the content.”

“And you're so good at that,” Joe said sarcastically.

“He might need your help,” Jane said. “We wouldn't want him to be caught and have them issue a retraction. But if you could have the local police quiet any protests from the publisher we'd be safe.”

“And why would he go after the bones of a dead woman when he could go after you?” Eve asked.

“He smashed a statue of her in effigy even before he started killing those women. He told me he thought he'd destroyed her when he blew that tunnel. But he's lived with her image too long, she's still alive for him.” She paused. “And when I was talking to him I realized why. It's her face. Whenever he sees a face that resembles hers, it triggers memories and then it triggers the killings. He can't stand even the chance of seeing her face, having it exist somewhere in the world. What if we rubbed his ugly mug in that phobia? What if we made Cira a household name? What if he couldn't pick up a newspaper or switch on a TV without seeing Cira? What if she became as famous as Nefertiti?”

“Jackpot,” Trevor murmured.

“I hope.” She grimaced. “And one of his favorite Internet sites is a porn site dealing with necrophilia. It's not unreasonable to assume he'd jump at the chance to humiliate her in that way.”

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.”

“And?”

“A little truth for the big lie?” Jane sat down on the arm of the couch.

Trevor nodded. “Aldo is bound to check up on any story that has to do with Cira. If we announce that an archaeologist has made the find and is inviting Eve to do the reconstruction, we have to be able to make sure he'll substantiate the story.”

“And how are we going to make this announcement?” Joe asked.

“Carefully. Over a period of weeks.”

“How many weeks?” Jane asked.

“Whatever it takes.”

“Estimate.”

“Three . . . maybe. If everything falls into place.” He turned to Joe. “I'll have to take off for Herculaneum today to pave the way. There are all kinds of problems lurking in Jane's neat little scenario. For one thing, excavation around the theater is controlled by the Italian government. Can I count on you to keep me out of jail if the Italians get too interested in my poking around?”

“I'll work on it,” Joe said. “Though a few days in jail might do you good.”

“But it won't do Jane good. She wants things to happen in a hurry.”

“What else?” Joe asked.

“I'm going to start dropping one-liners in the newspapers on Aldo's favorite sites.”

“You're actually going to change the text?” Jane asked. “How can you do that?”

“It's not easy. I'll not only have to break into the site but I may have to reformat the pages.”

“Without the newspaper knowing?”

“The papers are proofread before they're put on the Web and then scanned after they're on. If I wait five or six hours after they're posted, it's doubtful that anyone will notice the changes. After all, I'm not changing a story, I'm adding. They'll catch on eventually but we may have days before that happens.”

“And when they do?” Joe asked.

“Then it's up to you.” Trevor smiled. “Use influence, muscle, or appeal to their greed. Hell, promise them an exclusive.”

“To all three newspapers?”

“I would. It would be a difficult balancing act but that's what makes life interesting.”

“And criminal,” Joe said dryly. “This will take constant monitoring and we're not sure he even still reads those newspapers.”

“It only takes one. If he sees anything about Cira in one newspaper, the chances are he'll go back to the others for verification.” He frowned thoughtfully. “But Archaeology Journal is a different kettle of fish. I'm not going to be able to pull the wool over their eyes for long. It's an esoteric professional magazine and they're going to care about their reputation.”

“So what are you going to do? Skip them?”

He shook his head. “We need them. It would be a tip-off if the magazine ignored a find like this.” He shrugged. “I'll figure it out.” He put his cup down. “And I'd better get started on the newspapers right away.”

“How?” Jane asked.

“I'll start with the two Italian newspapers. That would be the most logical progression. Just a small paragraph in the back of the Science section. The first will be an announcement about the new find but no details. Very cut-and-dried. The next will mention the theater and that the skeleton is that of a woman. We'll skip a few days and then give a few more details including the discovery of a statue in the anteroom.”

“A tease?” Eve asked.

He nodded. “If I work it right, he'll be either tearing his hair or salivating by the end of the week.”

“Wouldn't a find like this attract a lot more attention?”

“Not until the excavation site was secured. The last thing they want are thieves nosing around and reporters getting in their way. Aldo will know that from his experience with his father.”

“But there must be excavations going on right now near there. The discovery of an anteroom to the theater would be a big deal. I can't believe that we could pull it off.”

“I wouldn't be able to do it if the theater excavation wasn't what it is. There are tunnels all over the area down there. They were the primary form of access to reach the heart of the stage and seats of the theater. Some were dug by archaeologists over the centuries and are charted. Others were dug by thieves, the robbers' tunnels that were used to steal artifacts from the theater. It wouldn't be too unusual that an anteroom might be discovered in one of the robbers' tunnels that had been ignored. But we need to contact someone who can both authenticate the find and cover for us.”

“Then you want me to contact Ted right away?”

“It can't be too soon. Be persuasive.”

Eve made a face. “That's not my style.”

“Then do whatever you have to do. We need that contact in place as soon as possible.”

“And what story am I supposed to tell him?”

“If he's a friend, tell him the truth, but he'll have to give another version to the archaeologist we get to authenticate. The entire truth would be too dangerous for us.”

“So what should Ted tell him?”

He thought about it. “Tell him that Carpenter himself found the skeleton and statue in a tunnel north of the city but made the mistake of not getting permission from the government to dig. In order to keep in good with the Italians he's willing to share the publicity for a share of the profits. Aldo will assume it's Precebio's tunnel if there's a leak. That should make sense to him.” He started for the door. “I'll be leaving for Italy tonight. I'll keep you informed when I do an insert, Quinn.”

“How kind,” Joe said. “I do hate to work in the dark. Though I can see how you might benefit from it.”

“Another jab.” Trevor smiled at him over his shoulder. “It might bother me if I didn't know you're looking forward to making this move as much as I am. Neither of us is good at spinning our wheels.” He turned to Jane. “And we'll all be going full speed ahead to get you to Herculaneum. So chill. Okay?”

“No. It's not okay. What am I supposed to do?”

“You've done it. It's your plan. We're just implementing.”

She shook her head.

“Okay, if you want something to do, go to the mall and taunt Aldo again. That should keep you at the front of his mind until I get some action on the Web sites going.”

“No,” Eve said firmly.

“Just a little. I'd bet once he's read the first articles in the newspapers, he won't be making any new moves on her. He'll be confused and uncertain about his next course of action.”

“Maybe,” Eve said. “It's bad enough that we're taking her to Herculaneum and staking her out for him.”

“We're not staking her out. We'll figure some way to keep her safe there. That's my job. That's one of the things I'm going to set up as soon as I get to Italy. Your job is to keep her secure here until you get the magic invitation to come do your voodoo.” He started down the steps. “The quicker you get your archaeologist to make his call, the quicker we can begin moving forward.”

“No one asked me if I wanted to go to the damn mall,” Jane said. “I'm not a kid to be kept busy on trivialities because I'm not allowed to do anything important.” She took a step forward and confronted him. “I've no intention of taunting Aldo, Trevor. It would be overkill. Subtle is better. We want him to concentrate on Cira, not me. So I'll stay here and be bored out of my mind. But it better not be for more than three weeks.”

He lifted his hand to his brow in a salute. “Aye, aye. I hear you loud and clear.”

“And you call me and tell me what's happening.”

“My pleasure.” He smiled. “Every night. I promise.”

“You'd better keep it.”

“I will.” He was walking quickly down the path. “I'd miss the sound of your voice berating me. . . .”

Am I going with you?” Bartlett asked as he watched Trevor throw his suitcase in the rental car. “I don't speak Italian but I've found that doesn't make much difference if you want to communicate. I've always been able to make myself understood.”

“I'm sure you have.” Trevor got into the driver's seat. “No, you're not going. If I find I can't do without you, I'll give you a call. But I need you here to keep an eye on Jane.”

“Quinn will do that.”

“But he won't call me and report anything that looks suspicious. He'll try to take care of it himself.”

Bartlett thought about it. “That's true. Maybe you do need me here.” He sighed. “But it would be much more exciting to go with you. I have to admit life is much more interesting with you around.”

“And how many times have you told me how happy you'll be to get rid of me and have your uneventful, comfortable life back?”

“Perhaps I've been corrupted. Oh, dear, I hope not.” Bartlett took a step back as Trevor started the car. “I'll take this period to contemplate and evaluate your effect on me. In the meantime you can be sure that Jane will be as safe as I can make her. Take care.”

“You take care.” Trevor paused. “Don't do anything foolish. If you see anything suspicious, call Quinn.”

“Certainly. See and report. I'm far too valuable to be sacrificed.” He turned back to the cottage. “And so are you. It would behoove you to be cautious.”

“Behoove? Good Lord, what a dated word.”

“I'm dated. It's part of my charm. And I'll thank you not to make fun of me.”

“I wouldn't think of it.” He pressed on the accelerator and moved down the road. “Your army of female fans would come after me with machetes.”