“Where is he?”
“He said he was returning that skeleton to the museum in Naples. Then he's taking the six o'clock flight from Naples to Rome. After that, I've no idea.”
“Why are you telling me that, if you believe it's wiser for him not to see me?”
He shrugged. “It's been brought to my attention lately that life is very short and wisdom may not be all that it's cracked up to be. When I was digging through that rubble with Trevor and the rescue crew, trying to get all of you out of that tunnel, I was thinking how sweet life could be and what a shame it was to miss a minute of it.” He turned away and headed for the door. “And that's why I'm probably going with Trevor and not back to my accounting job. I'll stay in touch, Jane.”
She lay there after he left, staring at the soothing seascape on the wall across the room. Everything in this room was bright and soothing, meant to help heal and make everything right. So different from the oppressive darkness of that tunnel. That nightmare time seemed remote and far away.
Would that dream of Cira fade away too?
It would no doubt be better if it did. She had spent far too much time researching and racking her brains to find some logical reason for a totally illogical experience. She should chalk those dreams of Cira up to one of life's mysteries and move on with reality. Yes, that was sensible.
And Mark Trevor should be dismissed with the same logic and practicality. He had been an interesting experience and she had learned something about herself from meeting him. Yet in six months the chances were that she would be on her way to completely forgetting him. She'd be starting her life and not looking back.
It was finished.
Naples was bathed in twilight, bustling, busy, old, yet trying to come to terms with its age and concentrate on the future.
Different from Herculaneum, Trevor thought as he looked out the plate-glass window at the airport. Herculaneum lived in the past and was content to stay that way. Why not? Cira's city possessed a glorious past that fit her—
“You're very rude.”
He stiffened and slowly turned to see Jane standing behind him. “This is a surprise.” She was dressed in khakis and a loose white shirt. Her cheek was bruised, she was pale, and her expression was grim.
And, God, she looked beautiful.
“It's a surprise to me, too.” She took a step toward him. “Because I'm angry that you could be so rude and stupid. You could have come to the hospital to say good-bye. I shouldn't waste my time on you.”
“I agree. You shouldn't be here. How's the wound in your leg?”
“Sore. I'll survive. Bartlett must have told you that I'm going to be fine. Where is he? Did he decide to go with you?”
He nodded. “He's in the coffee shop.”
“And where are you going?”
“Switzerland, first.”
“But you won't stay there. You'll be going after Precebio's gold.”
He smiled. “It's Cira's gold. Perhaps eventually. It's a little too hot around here for me right now.”
“I don't believe Joe's going to turn the law loose on you.”
“I imagine Scotland Yard will have its own agenda. They don't like tampering with their Web site or interfering with their caseload.” He shrugged. “At any rate, I'm always one to avoid trouble.”
“Liar.”
He chuckled. “Well, unless there's a fifty-fifty chance I can talk or buy my way out of it.”
She nodded. “Bartlett said that you're addicted to walking a tightrope. That's stupid, too. You should grow up.”
“I'll work on it.”
“No, you'll just continue taking the same chances year after year until you get yourself killed. That's why I'm surprised I even took the time to come here.”
“Why did you?”
“You saved my life. You saved Eve and Joe.”
“I also helped put all of you at risk.” His gaze searched her expression. “No, that's not the reason.”
“No, it's not.” She took another step closer. “I came because it's not finished. I was lying in that hospital bed telling myself that I was going to forget those dreams of Cira and put you completely out of my mind. I was going to put a period to the whole episode.”
“Very smart.”
“Only it's not finished and I'm not going to look back and have it gnaw at me for the rest of my life. That's not my nature. There's no one more of a realist than I am and I hate the idea that I can't figure out this connection with Cira. So shall I tell you what I'm going to do?”
“I can hardly wait.”
“Don't be sarcastic. You do want to know.”
“Sarcasm can be the first line of defense. Hell, yes, I want to know everything about you. I always have.” I always will. Don't say those words. Keep your distance. It will only be for a little while longer.
“Good. Then you'll be glad to know I'm going back to school and then on to Harvard. After that I'm going to find out what happened to Cira. I may wait until I graduate from college or I may not. I'll decide later.”
“You're coming back here?”
“Wherever I have to go to find the answers. I don't give a damn about your gold, but I have to read those scrolls. I told you, it's not finished. I have to find out if Cira died in that eruption. If she didn't, I have to know what happened to her. And I have to know how I knew about her, why I had those dreams. It's important to me.”
“You saw that excavation. It could take years to find an answer.”
“I've got years. I'm only seventeen.” She looked him directly in the eye. “No matter what you think, that's a plus. I'm going to go home and live every minute of every day. I'm going to grow and learn and experience. I'm going to see if I can find a man who makes you look boring in comparison. It shouldn't be so difficult. And, God knows, I don't want to have to deal with you and your antiquated sense of what's proper and not proper. I can't understand how a man who admits to being a criminal and a scoundrel could be so idiotic. Someday you're going to regret turning away from me.”
“I already do.”
“Well, it's too late. You had your chance.” She turned and started away. Then she whirled back to face him. “But you may get another one if I decide you're worth it and I don't find anyone better. So you'd better work on clearing Cira out of your head. I don't like the competition. She's dead and I'm alive, and by the time I'm through with making myself into the person I want to be there won't be any comparison.”
She didn't wait for an answer. Trevor watched her stride across the lobby. Her head was high, her shoulders straight, her carriage indomitable.
“I thought she might come to say good-bye.” Bartlett was standing beside him, his gaze on Jane. “Or perhaps
“I'm not sure.” She'd almost disappeared from view but he could still see the strength and determination that radiated from her every movement. He suddenly felt a surge of exhilaration. “I think it was
