He was letting her slide away from the subject, she realized with relief.
“Yes, I applied for early acceptance.” She took the letter without opening it. “Maybe I've been accepted.” She tossed it down on the porch swing. “That would be nice.”
“Your enthusiasm is astonishing.”
“I'm not sure I want to go to an Ivy League school. But Joe went there and he liked it. Where's my list?”
He reached in his pocket and handed her a slip of paper. “This is all I can remember and he may not go to these sites anymore.”
“And he may.” She glanced over the list. “Two of these are Italian Web sites. One English newspaper . . .”
“He went to Oxford for two years. He liked to keep in touch.”
“And this one in Florence,
He nodded. “He grew up there. Most people keep an eye on their hometowns. He also went to another newspaper site in Rome,
She pointed to another site. “And this one?”
“
“But he was an actor. It was his father who was the archaeologist. He probably skips this one now.”
“No, there are often articles about Pompeii and Herculaneum. He has a vested interest.”
She'd gone on to another site. “This one's in Rome, too. Another newspaper?”
He smiled. “No, one of Italy's premier porn sites. Very explicit, very kinky. You can bet he's still interested in visiting that one occasionally.”
“What kind of kinky?”
“I was curious, too, when I watched him bring up the site so I checked it out. They specialize in sadomasochism and necrophilia.”
“Raping dead people?” She shivered. “Creepy.”
“And it confirmed my belief that Aldo was not a nice fellow.”
“You said he didn't rape any of the victims after those first women he killed in Rome.”
“That doesn't mean he's not interested in sex. Maybe he didn't consider any of the others worthy. Or these days he may get off on the kill itself.”
She moistened her lips. “Those women he raped. Was it before or after he killed them?”
“After.”
“Sick.”
“No question. Do you need to know anything else?”
“I'll let you know.” Her tone was abstracted as she went over the list. “I may be able to figure out the rest. I can go to a gateway site and get a rough translation.”
“Then I'm dismissed?”
“For now.”
“And am I going to be allowed to know what the hell you're planning on doing with it?”
She glanced up. “Oh, yes. I'm going to need you.”
“I'll take comfort in that.” He turned to leave. “I don't imagine you admit you need many people.”
“No.”
“Can you give me a time estimate?”
She shook her head. “I have to think about it and do some research.”
“And you have to recover a little from Aldo's verbal assault.”
“I'm already recovering.” It was the truth, thank heavens. The distraction had diluted the emotional impact of Aldo's venom. “It was stupid to become upset. After all, his call was actually a victory. And it clarified his attitude and intentions.”
“And I'd judge it also clarified your attitude and reinforced your determination to move at light-speed.”
“It didn't take much reinforcement.”
“No, you're at full throttle.” He lifted his brows. “I can't wait to see where you're going with it.”
“Neither can I,” she said dryly. “I just hope it's not a blind alley.”
“Then there's usually a way to backtrack and find your way out.”
“I don't want to backtrack.” Her lips tightened. “I need to go straight ahead and run over that bastard if he gets in my way.”
He gave a low whistle. “I'll vote for that.” He started down the steps. “And I'll furnish the bulldozer to do it. Just say the word.”
She didn't answer, her gaze once more on the list.
Trevor shook his head ruefully as he moved down the path toward Bartlett. She was so intent, she'd closed out the call from Aldo and she'd probably already forgotten Trevor. Not good for a man's ego.
What the hell. He couldn't apply any of the usual man-woman rules to his relationship with Jane.
He'd better not.
“She's excited.” Bartlett's gaze was fixed on Jane. “She looks like you gave her a present.”
“In a manner of speaking. Not a box of chocolates or a bouquet. A list of Aldo's Web sites.”
“I see.” Bartlett nodded gravely. “Much more valuable than a box of chocolates and she's not one to appreciate sweetness.”
“Maybe she's not had the opportunity to really sample it.”
Her head was bent over the list and he could see the tenseness, the taut, slim elegance of her body as she reached for her computer. She did everything with a natural grace that was as unconscious as it was a delight to watch. There was youth without the awkwardness of youth. Grace and fire. She burned like a candle in the—
“No, Trevor.”
He glanced at Bartlett. “What?”
Bartlett was shaking his head, his expression troubled. “She's too young.”
“Do you think I don't know that?” He tried to pull his gaze away from her. God, it was hard. “It doesn't hurt to look.”
“It might. She's not a statue and she's not Cira.”
“No?” His lips twisted. “Tell that to Aldo.”
“I'm telling you.” Barlett frowned. “And I shouldn't have to tell you. You could hurt her.”
He smiled recklessly. “She'd deny it. She'd say she was far more likely to hurt me.”
“But you know that's not true. Experience counts, and she's seventeen.”
He turned away. “Why are we even talking about it? I told you I wasn't going to do anything but look.”
“I hope not.”
“Count on it.” He went down the path. “I'll come back and relieve you in an hour. She spent all afternoon taunting Aldo and he's mad as hell. I want to be around if he decides to pounce.”
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?”
