“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.”
“That's true.” He smiled. “I just thought I'd bluff a bit. I don't like being left in the dark but I'll be patient. I know I'll be the first you'll tell when it all comes together.”
“Why?”
“Because you realize I'll help you. I won't argue. I won't try to keep you from sticking your neck out. If you have a chance of getting him, I'll let you run the risks.” He paused. “Even if it means taking you away from Eve and Quinn and that blanket of protection they've wrapped around you.”
She was disappointed, she realized in surprise. Why? It was what she'd expected, what she needed from him. “Good. When can you have the list for me?”
“Tonight. Is that soon enough?”
“It will have to be.” She turned away. “And I'm going to be busy this afternoon anyway.”
He stiffened. “Doing what?”
“I'm going to the mall and then to have a pizza at CiCi's.”
“What the hell? And you think Quinn will allow that?”
“Not without a fight. But he'll let me go in the end. He won't want to miss the opportunity of drawing Aldo. I'll ask Eve to go with me and Joe will have Singer assign someone to follow us.”
“I suppose I don't have to guess why you've decided that you have to go shopping and are ignoring the fact that Domino's delivers?”
“He'll consider a crowded mall safe and a restaurant will give me a chance to display his little gift.” She lifted her hand so that the sunlight caused the stone to blaze with color. “He has to see me. I have to push him. I have to make him angry and uncertain. He's killed twelve women that we know about, and never been caught. That must make him feel confident, even godlike. He probably thinks all he has to do is wait for an opportunity and he'll chalk up number thirteen.” She smiled without mirth. “But we have to make sure thirteen is his unlucky number. Catch him off balance and keep pulling the rug from beneath him until he topples.”
“And you think flashing that ring is going to help?”
“It's a start. If it doesn't shake him, I'll make sure it irritates him.”
“I'm sure you will.” He was silent a moment. “I'd enjoy seeing you in action. I may have to go along and watch.”
She shook her head. “You have work to do. And I don't want him to see me under any obvious surveillance. It's much more effective to seem to have only Eve with me to show him how little he matters.”
“He wouldn't see me.”
“I thought you were going to let me take my own risks.”
He shrugged. “It's not as easy as I thought. I'm working on it.”
“Work harder.” She started toward the cottage. “You stay here.”
She was flushed, radiant, beautiful.
And triumphant.
Aldo tried to suppress the anger that burned through him while he watched her laughing with Eve Duncan as they crossed the parking lot toward the restaurant. Now the bitch was gesturing, every motion causing the ring on her hand to glitter.
It had been the same in the mall. She had been glowing, every feature of her face animated and so alive it had been like a slap in the face to him.
She was taunting him not only with his gift but with her living presence.
She wasn't afraid. The ring had meant nothing to her; the implied threat had brought only laughter.
He could feel the rage break free and tear through him. How dare she? Couldn't she see that her time had come and he was the sword that was going to stab her to her black heart?
Keep calm. She would learn. Every slight would be revenged in time. He'd carve that smile from her face.
Bitch!
But he couldn't tolerate the knowledge that she had been so scornful of him, that she'd dared to treat him as if he were of no importance. He couldn't sit here and let her do that. He had to show her. He had to make her realize with whom she was dealing.
Satisfied?” Eve asked Jane quietly as she drove up the road toward the lake cottage. “You look like a truck ran over you.”
“I feel like it.” Jane leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. “I never imagined being this cheerful would be such a strain. I'm exhausted.”
“So am I,” Eve said dryly. “But I'm tired from glancing discreetly over my shoulder.”
“Very discreetly.” Jane opened her eyes and smiled. “Thank you for that. It wouldn't have done me any good to show how uncaring of Aldo I was if you were looking worried.”
“I know that.” She parked the car in front of the cottage. “And I wasn't about to go through all this stress for nothing.” She turned and looked at Jane. “Was it for nothing? Do you think he was watching?”
Lord, I hope he'd been there, Jane thought wearily. “I don't know. A few times I felt as if . . . Maybe. It was worth a try.”
“Once,” Eve said. “Joe and I went along with you but you'll have a battle if you decide to make this a daily outing.”
Jane nodded as she got out of the car. “Definitely not daily.”
“That's a little noncommittal,” Eve said. “I meant a permanent end to—” She stopped. “Okay, let's be reasonable about this. If you continue, you'll form a pattern of behavior and the last thing you want is to be predictable. That can be fatal.”
Jane smiled. “I agree. We won't be predictable.”
