Blind Alley - Iris Johansen [19]
“Jane's safe, Eve.”
“Is she? God, I hope so.” She drew a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “Of course, she's safe. And we'll keep her that way.” She put the glass on the sink and came around the bar. “And now I'm going to see if Jane's still awake so I can talk to her about that sketch. Why don't you check and see if Christy has heard anything more?”
Aldo smiled as he studied the photo in the newspaper. It was an amazingly close likeness. The artist who had rendered the reconstruction was obviously very talented. Almost as talented as he'd been when he'd carefully removed those features with his surgical knife. He'd thought it would take much longer to put a face to the woman they were calling Ruth.
Her name wasn't Ruth. It was Caroline and someone would probably identify her soon. She wasn't a prostitute or vagrant this time. He'd seen her coming out of a downtown office building and he'd done his duty and removed the Cira possibility.
Jesus, he was getting weary of that duty. There was always an explosion of pleasure when he performed the act but he was tired of the searching. There was no doubt that her likeness must be banished from the face of the earth but he had to find the true Cira. Every night before he closed his eyes he murmured a prayer that he be given that one gift.
And he had the feeling that his prayer was to be answered soon. The excitement was too intense, the anticipation escalating with each passing day.
He pushed the newspaper away and scooted his desk chair back to the computer. He couldn't count on finding Cira by random chance. He'd decided long ago he wouldn't deserve that final pleasure if he just cruised the streets looking for her.
So type in the stolen password.
The monitor screen lit up.
He was in!
Now avoid all the security walls they had put up to protect Cira.
He settled down and began to flip through the pages. There were thousands but he was very patient. Even though his eyes grew blurry and his back ached from hours of leaning over the computer, he wouldn't give up.
It was the road that led to Cira.
Here it is.” Jane dropped the sketch on the table in front of Joe the next morning at breakfast. “It's as good a likeness as I can do.” She went to the refrigerator and got out the orange juice. “What are you going to do with it?”
“Send it to Scotland Yard and they'll probably send it to Interpol.” He studied the sketch. “This is very good. You've caught him perfectly.”
“He's easy. Very strong features.” She poured orange juice into her glass. “Besides, as I told Eve, he reminded me of someone. He felt . . . I don't know . . . familiar.” She sat down at the table. “Where's Eve?”
“Outside taking coffee to Mac and Brian, who are on the stakeout.” He looked up from the sketch. “Eve thought that you might object to doing this for us.”
“Why? I don't even know this Trevor. And my loyalty is to you and Eve.” She smiled. “Always, Joe.”
“That's good to know.”
“That being said, I don't think Trevor wants to hurt me. And I can't see him skinning any woman's face off.”
“Just because he has such a pretty face himself?”
“No, I told you I hardly noticed that he was good-looking. He's got a lot more going for him than what's on the surface.”
“How can you judge? As you said, you don't even know him.”
“You have to trust your instincts.” She sipped her orange juice. “You've always told me that, Joe. I'm just following your lead.”
“Now you blame it on me?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Because your character was already formed by the time you came into our lives. If anything, you're the one who nudges us along.”
“Not true. I wouldn't presume. So when do you think you'll hear about Trevor?”
“Soon, I hope.”
“Good. I'm curious about him.” She finished her orange juice. “He's interesting. I'd have offered to do the sketch even if Eve hadn't asked me.”
“Now, that surprises me.”
“Why? He pushed into our lives and he deserves to have us push back a little.”
“Maybe a lot,” Joe said grimly.
“We'll see.” She scooted back her chair. “Now I'm going to find Eve and