Blind Alley - Iris Johansen [41]
“What are you going to do, Joe?” Eve asked quietly.
“I'll let you know when I do.” He hung up.
Jane made a face as she replaced the receiver. “What do you think the chances are that he'll deal with Trevor?”
Eve hung up. “How do I know? It's his decision, but you did everything you could to influence it.”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean? You heard me. I left it entirely up to him.”
“Supposedly. But you put the threat of danger to you very cleverly into the mix. You pushed all the right buttons.” She met her gaze. “You handled him with the skill of Henry Kissinger. I was surprised.”
“I'd never ‘handle' Joe.” Jane was genuinely upset. “I'd think you'd know that, Eve.”
“Maybe not intentionally. But when I was studying your face while you were talking to him, it was almost like watching a stranger.” She shrugged wearily. “Or maybe it's my imagination. You said all the right things. Perhaps I'm seeing things that aren't there.” She got to her feet. “I'm going to bed. If Joe calls back, I'll let you know what he decides.”
“Thanks.” Jane was still gazing at her with a troubled expression. “I'd never do that to Joe. I hate being finessed myself. I was just being honest.”
“Then forget I said anything. I'm so tired and stressed right now I'm probably seeing little green monkeys.” Eve started toward her bedroom. “Good night, Jane.”
It was like watching someone else.”
Jane shivered as she went out on the porch after Eve disappeared into her room. Her conversation with Joe, the words she'd chosen had been spoken totally without conscious thought. It was as if she'd been on automatic.
Yet she'd known at the time that they were exactly the right words to lead him down the path she wanted him to follow. It was as if she'd been doing it all her life. It had seemed perfectly natural and she hadn't even realized she was doing it until Eve had confronted her with it. Her first instinct had been rejection and denial, but now she wasn't so sure she hadn't tried to manipulate Joe. And what kind of person did that make her?
Toby whined and pawed at her leg.
She bent down and patted his head. “It's okay, boy.”
He sensed she was disturbed and was trying to comfort her. She needed comforting. She hated lies and deceptions and she'd been dealing in both of them lately.
Jesus, and they'd come so easily. . . .
Then accept that she was imperfect and capable of manipulation and be on the alert. She was the one in control of her actions and she must be careful never to hurt Joe or Eve. It was scary to know that she'd not even realized what she was doing.
Forget it. It wouldn't happen again.
But damn Aldo for placing her in this position where she'd had to admit to herself that she was capable of trying to twist even these people she loved into the way she wanted them to go.
Annapolis, Maryland
The bar was crowded but that was good for him. It lessened the chances of anyone remembering one man sitting by himself at the bar. He'd made sure his facial disguise and clothes were nondescript but the key was always to blend into the crowd.
Though it was difficult to blend into a crowd consisting mainly of Annapolis cadets, Aldo thought. He'd have to make sure no one saw him watching the girl playing darts across the room. Although it was difficult not to watch her when she was doing her best to attract attention. In her cadet uniform and short haircut, Carrie Brockman appeared both mannish and loud. Laughing, whistling, kidding the other players. A noisy, boisterous extrovert.
Not like Cira, who need only walk silently into a room to rivet everyone's eyes on her.
It seemed almost sacrilegious that this woman possessed a few of Cira's features and yet none of her charisma.
Not like Jane MacGuire.
Don't think about Jane MacGuire. He mustn't compare her to this woman or he wouldn't be able to do what was necessary. The act with the woman in Richmond had made him feel like a cheat and that mustn't happen here.
“Another drink?”
It was the bartender.
“Yes, please.” He