Blind Alley - Iris Johansen [39]
“No, she doesn't. She's too wary. Wishful thinking. He's not giving up on you. He used the killings to draw Quinn away and convince the ATLPD that maximum surveillance for you isn't necessary.”
“Joe didn't leave me without protection.”
“I got to you.”
“Because I chose to let you. How much did you pay that woman to make those phone calls for you?”
“Not much. She only had to keep calling until you answered instead of Eve. I told her it was a Romeo-Juliet thing and she had a romantic heart. It's always safer to rely on emotion rather than bribery.”
“And what do you want from me?”
“I want you to go to Quinn and tell him I want to make a deal. If he'll let me work with him on catching Aldo, I'll turn myself in afterward.”
“Why go through me? A con man like you should be able to handle his own deals.”
“I agree. In fact, it goes against the grain for me to rely on anyone else. But time is of the essence and Quinn's instinct is to resist anything I say. You're smart and you can do the groundwork for me. I'll take over from there.”
“Joe doesn't make deals.”
“Try him. This isn't his usual case. He has a vested interest in keeping you alive. I'd bet he'd be willing to overlook a small fish like me to get Aldo.”
“He's not sure you are a small fish. You may be a barracuda.”
“If I am, I don't go around killing helpless women or torturing dogs. But just in case I'm wrong, do you have a cell phone?”
“Yes. Eve gave me one for my birthday.”
“You've got my cell phone number. Program it in your phone so that you can reach me by speed dial. I'll never be very far from you.”
“You're offering to protect me? I don't want your protection. I want information. That's all I ever wanted from you.”
“And if I tell you what you want to know, you'll walk away and close me out. That's not going to happen.”
“Then if you don't give me what I want, why shouldn't I yell and have them throw you in jail?”
“I didn't say I wouldn't give you information. I'll tell you enough to help you without making my presence superfluous.” He was silent a moment. “But as a gesture of good faith, I'll let you ask me two questions right now.”
“You want a question? Tell me why Aldo is killing all these women who look like me.”
He hesitated. “To go into that right now wouldn't be to my advantage. Ask something else.”
“Well, you struck out on that one. Okay, if you want to catch Aldo, why didn't you cooperate with Joe instead of trying to con him?”
“Quinn wants to nab Aldo and then put him behind bars.”
“And you?”
“I want thirty minutes alone with him.”
“And then you'll turn him over to Joe?”
He was silent. “Quinn will get him . . . eventually.”
“Dead.” His intent couldn't be more clear but it didn't shock her. “You want to kill him.”
“He'll have to die. I can't risk him getting free. Neither can Quinn. He'll come after you again. He'll never stop.”
“And you're so concerned about me.” Her tone was skeptical. “Bull.”
“I've no desire to have you murdered.”
“But I'd be a fool not to realize you're willing to use me to get Aldo. You consider me expendable, don't you?”
He didn't answer directly. “I've had you watched for weeks. I've had reports on every move you've made. I know how special you are, Jane.”
His voice was soft, persuasive, almost seductive, and it was having an odd mesmerizing effect on her. Even though she couldn't see him, it was as if he were standing before her. She could sense the intensity, the charisma, the intelligence that was more attractive to her than those wonderful good looks. “Stop conning me. How much could you know from a report?”
“Enough. I would have come and done the surveillance myself but I didn't dare. I had to maintain perspective. I knew I wouldn't have a chance.”
She felt heat touch her cheeks that had nothing to do with the sunlight. Jesus, he was good. He was playing on her emotions like a master musician, moving her, stirring her, making her believe every word. Put a stop to it. “You didn't answer me. You consider me expendable.”
He didn't