Blind Alley (21 page)

"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."