Blind Alley (32 page)
Authors: Iris Johansen
Tags: #Duncan; Eve (Fictitious Character), #Facial reconstruction (Anthropology), #Large type books, #Louisiana, #Women sculptors
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 au revoir. Which was it?"
Au revoir. Until we meet again.
"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 au revoir." He started to laugh. "And, if it was, God help me."
