Blind Alley

The red velvet cloth lay on the rocky floor waiting in the darkness.

Waiting for her.

The beam of Aldo's flashlight played over the gleaming marble bases, the photography lights and battery, and then beyond them to the tunnels leading off the vomitorium. He was tempted to go and explore but there was no telling what traps the bitch had laid for him. It was bad enough she'd managed to find this tunnel of which he had no prior knowledge. It had come as a complete surprise to him when he'd seen them carry the coffin down an unexpected turn. He'd followed them to the ladder leading to the Via Spagnola before he'd doubled back. It was only after he'd phoned Jane MacGuire later that day that he'd come back down and started to reconnoiter in depth.

And then he'd found this cloth, red as blood, living blood.

Waiting for the coffin. Waiting for her.

I've got you, bitch.

Did you think that you could find a place in this city where you'd be safe from me? There were ways to find out what he needed without risking being caught in her trap.

He bent down and touched the velvet with his fingertips and a thrill went through him.

Soft. Smooth. Cold.

Like the flesh of a dead woman.

You're almost finished.”

Eve glanced at the doorway of the study where Joe stood watching her. She nodded. “Close. I started the final molding.”

“And you're eager as hell. You've been working full steam ahead.” He walked over to the pedestal to stand beside her. “Why? We're setting the pace. Aldo's not going to be moving until we do.”

“I want to be done with it. It feels strange making this skull with Jane's features. It's almost like a betrayal.” She smoothed the clay at the temple. “I'm glad I'll be able to make it up to Giulia later.”

“Maybe if she knew she'd be glad that she was helping to save Jane.” Joe smiled. “I should have known you'd become involved with her.”

“She's interesting. The museum said she was working-class, possibly a laborer. I wonder what her life was like.” She tilted her head. “And I wonder what she really looks like. . . .”

“You'll know soon.”

She nodded. “You bet I will. As soon as this is over. This is so weird. . . .” She brushed the hair back from her forehead. “First, that reconstruction of Caroline Halliburton and now this one. Both Jane. Do you know, Jane was talking about how things seem to go in circles.”

“You've got clay on your face.” He took his handkerchief and carefully wiped her forehead. “How many times have I done this over the years?”

“I'm sure enough to qualify for the Guinness Book of Records. Since my profession isn't the most popular one in the world.” She smiled. “And you're very good at it.”

“My pleasure.” His finger gently touched her upper lip. “Always. Taking care of you fills me with— It warms me.”

“I know.” Her smile faded. “And that's why you're trying to keep me away from that tunnel.”

“I am keeping you away.” His lips brushed her nose. “You've done your part. Now let me do mine.”

“I didn't argue when you were all talking details because I knew it wouldn't do any good.” She slid her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. “But if you think I'm going to let you go down there without me, you're crazy.”

“Then I'm crazy.”

She looked up at him. “No,” she said firmly. “I'll do anything you say to keep safe, but I'm going to be there. Get me a gun. You know I can use it. You're the one who taught me.”

He shook his head.

“You're going to be down in that hellhole. So is Jane. Do you think you can keep me away? Either take me yourself or watch me go down alone.”

He sighed. “I'll take you.” His lips tightened. “You'll go into the passage with me. You stay quiet. You don't move a muscle no matter what you see happening. You let me take care of it. Understand?”

She didn't answer.

“If you don't, the first thing I'll do is knock you out to make sure you don't get yourself killed.”

“I wouldn't forgive you for that.”

“I'd take my chances. It's better than the alternative.” He smiled recklessly. “You forgave me for doing something a hell of a lot worse. Well, maybe not entirely, but you let me stay with you. And after all I've done to mend my fences, I'm not losing you to that son of a bitch.”

“It's Jane you have to worry about.”

“No, it's you. First, and always. Then it's Jane and the rest of the world.” He kissed her, hard. “I can't be any other way. You should know that by now.”

Yes, she knew, and that knowledge had been her shelter and her armor all these years. Dear God, she loved him. Her arms tightened around him. “Me, too. You first, Joe.”

He shook his head. “Not yet. Someday, maybe. I'll take my turn.” He rubbed slowly, sensuously, against her. “But in the meantime . . . I've never made love to you in Herculaneum or any other ancient city. Don't you think we should rectify that?” He glanced at the skull on the pedestal. “Since this lady's first reconstruction's not going to furnish any surprises, I definitely think Giulia would approve.”

“So do I.” She started unbuttoning his shirt. “And, anyway, I need to show you. You first, Joe . . .”

EIGHTEEN

October 20

10:40 A.M.

He found the vomitorium.” Trevor strode across the parlor and popped the tape into the player. “At four-seventeen this morning. I do love cameras with all the bells and whistles.”

“You're sure?” Jane asked.

“Oh, yes.” He pressed the button. “It's dark as hell but the camera's built for low light. You can make him out.”

Yes, she could make him out, Jane thought numbly as she watched Aldo bend and touch the red velvet throw. Dear God, his expression . . .

“Evil,” she whispered. “How could anyone be that evil?”

The picture disappeared from the TV screen. “That's enough,” Trevor said curtly. “I just wanted you to know that we weren't doing all this planning for nothing. He found the bait and now we have to get him to go after it.”

“No, I have to get him to go after it.” She swallowed to ease the tightness of her throat. “It shouldn't be that difficult. He wants Cira and me so bad he can taste it. He's . . . hungry. When he reached down to touch that cloth he looked like a cannibal.”

“Then it's our job to give him a bellyache.” He headed for the door. “I'll show this to Joe and Eve. They'll be glad to know we're on target.”

“Is that the only time you caught Aldo on tape?”

“Yes, no more sightings at the vomitorium, but you can bet he was exploring those tunnels after he found it.”

She sat there for a moment after he'd left, staring blindly at the blank TV screen. She shouldn't be this shocked by that brief glimpse of Aldo. She knew exactly what he was. She didn't need this reminder.

But, God in heaven, his expression . . .

Jane was sitting in the parlor when her phone rang at two-thirty the next afternoon.