Blind Alley - Iris Johansen [38]
“Of course I'm nervous. That doesn't mean you have to come running back here. I can take care of Jane.” She added fiercely, “You get that bastard.”
“I'll get him. I'll call you when I find out more after I get to Richmond.”
She drew a deep breath as she hung up the phone. Charlotte and now Richmond. Each city was a giant step away from Atlanta, away from Jane. She moved out onto the porch and sat down on the porch swing beside Jane. “Nice night.”
“You're in a good mood.”
“I shouldn't be. There was another killing in Richmond. Same MO. Joe's on his way there now. He thinks Aldo may be getting careless.”
“I hope he's right.” Jane looked out at the lake. “He's crazy, you know. I could see it that night. I know most serial killers have a screw loose, but they have a sense of self-preservation. I don't believe Aldo does.”
“Then he should be easier to catch.”
“I said crazy, not stupid.” She patted Eve's hand. “But Joe will get him either way. He's not about to let that twerp get the—”
The phone rang.
“Dammit, I was just getting comfortable.” Eve groaned. “What do you bet it's our lady looking for Susie?”
“No bet.” Jane chuckled. “How many times has she called?”
“Four times this afternoon.” She sighed. “I shouldn't be so impatient. I'm sure it's not her fault and she's always very nice.”
“Sit still. I'll get it.” Jane jumped up and headed for the door. “Be right back.”
Eve leaned back. It was good to sit here with the cool wind brushing her face and the harvest moon shedding a glow over the lake. It brought back memories of other nights when she and Joe and Jane had sat here and talked and laughed before they went to bed. She had never taken that precious intimacy for granted, but perhaps she'd not valued it as much as she should have. Dear God, she wanted those times back. She closed her eyes and listened to the night sounds.
She heard Jane come back a few minutes later and opened her eyes to see her sit down in the porch swing beside her. “Susie's mama?”
Jane nodded, her gaze fixed on the lake. “Who else?”
EIGHT
Be casual. Stroll at a leisurely pace, Jane told herself.
Eve was working on a new reconstruction this morning, but that didn't mean she might not be watching Jane out the window. The early stages of reconstruction weren't nearly as demanding as the final ones and Eve was feeling as fiercely protective of Jane as a lioness with her cub. Jane moved at a lazy pace to the thick thatch of trees a few hundred yards beyond the log where she usually sat, sank down, and leaned her head back against an oak tree. She knew she was in full view of Mac and Brian in the squad car and Eve in the cottage as she lifted her face to the sun. Leisurely. Do everything with deliberation and leisure.
She felt about as leisurely as if she were sitting on a live grenade.
“Talk fast.” She tried to keep her lips from moving. “I'll give you five minutes before I start screaming.”
“You're bluffing.” Trevor chuckled from the depths of the shelter of shrubbery behind her. “You wouldn't have told me about the drainage pipe if you'd wanted me caught. You just want to get the upper hand. I understand. I knew you'd be a superb poker player.”
“I don't play poker.”
“It doesn't matter. The concept is the same. But you really should learn it. I'll teach you.”
“I don't want you to teach me anything. And you don't know zilch about me.”
“Yes, I do. Even if I hadn't had the opportunity of studying you long range, I'd know you. Some people you just have instincts about.”
She couldn't deny that truth since she'd had that same feeling when she'd first met Trevor. “Why did you call me?”
“The same reason you didn't tell Eve that I was the one on the phone. I thought it was time we got together. It was too dangerous to wait any longer. He's going to pounce anytime.”
“He killed a woman in Charlotte