Blind Alley - Iris Johansen [109]
“I didn't know,” Trevor said. “As God is my witness, I thought Eve was staying here in the villa.”
“I know you did,” she said shakily. “It almost makes you believe in fate, doesn't it?” She shook her head to clear it. “But not Aldo's version of destiny. We can't let that happen.”
“She'll be with Quinn and me. I'll keep my promise.”
“You'd better.” She wanted to start down that ladder, run after Eve and Joe through the darkness. She couldn't do it, she realized frantically. She had to wait until they got into position on that ledge.
Fifteen minutes.
October 21
8:02 P.M.
“I leave you here,” Trevor said in a low voice as he fell to his knees at the entrance of the passage leading to Joe's ledge. “I'm going to work my way around to where Joe and Eve are waiting. The vomitorium is right ahead.” He handed her a flashlight. “Remember, a thirty-two Smith and Wesson is under the velvet throw and another gun is in the coffin. Joe said you knew how to use it, but don't do it unless you have to. If Aldo sees you with it, he may decide that a long-range killing isn't that bad. When you get up ahead, the torches are lit. But it's best if you try to stay in the shadows.”
She moistened her lips. “Then how will he see me?”
“He'll be able to see you. Just don't make it too easy for him.”
She laughed shakily. “Don't worry. I've no intention of doing that. But hiding in the shadows isn't going to do much good. You said he wouldn't shoot me and the whole point is to draw him toward me so that Joe can get his shot.”
Trevor muttered a curse and shone the beam of the flashlight on her face. “You're scared. We can call this off. It's not too late.”
“No, we can't.” She shielded her face from the light. “And of course I'm scared. I'm not an idiot. Get going. I want you there to protect Joe and Eve.”
He hesitated a moment and then began to crawl through the opening.
He was gone.
Silence.
Darkness.
Alone.
Or was she alone? Was Aldo somewhere behind her in the darkness?
No, Trevor had positioned Bartlett outside the tunnel to keep an eye out. If Aldo was in this tunnel, he was ahead at the vomitorium. Waiting for her.
Her heart was pounding so hard she felt as if it were reverberating like thunder through the tunnel.
It was going to be all right. Joe would warn her if Aldo were waiting for her at the vomitorium. He'd either shoot Aldo or he'd fire off a warning shot if that weren't possible.
She drew a deep breath and started forward. Right ahead, Trevor had said. Look straight in front of her, move fast, and it would soon be over.
Christ, how she hated this darkness.
Is that how you felt, Cira?
Shit. Shit. Shit.” Trevor ground out the curse like a mantra as he ran through the tunnel, playing the powerful beam of the flashlight on either side of him. She'd been afraid. Of course she'd been afraid. She was only a kid.
Aldo didn't think of her as a kid. He thought of her as a demon. He thought of her as dead meat. Damn him. Damn him.
Why was he damning Aldo? Trevor was the one who'd let her walk down that tunnel alone.
It should be safe. He'd taken every precaution he could.
No, he could have taken another precaution. He could have found some way other than using Jane as bait. He could have forgotten Pietro and remembered that she deserved to live a—
Red.
He skidded to a stop.
The beam of his flashlight had picked up something red on the ground near a boulder up ahead. It was just a trace, a glimpse, and he'd almost missed it.
Blood?
He lifted the light and warily scanned the darkness ahead.
Nothing.
He moved slowly toward the boulder. As he reached it he saw the red substance was trickling from behind the rock. He bent and touched his fingers to it.
Yes, blood.
He drew his gun from his jacket and inched closer. He was almost on top of the boulder before he saw the huddled body of the man behind it.
Blood everywhere. Blood on his face. Blood on his shirt. His throat was cut from ear to ear.
Quinn?
Dear God, it looked like a scene from a horror movie, Jane thought.
She stared in morbid fascination