Blind Alley - Iris Johansen [51]
“Not so weird for someone who's not got all his marbles. Split personality, paranoia . . . He could be anyone he liked the minute he got on the stage.”
“You said he was brilliant. In what way?”
“Computers. He did all of his father's research. That's one of the reasons Guido wanted him at the site. He had him exploring every map on the Internet to see if any tunnel excavated in Herculaneum was possibly connected to Julius's.”
“Were there any?”
He shook his head. “Guido was disgusted. He'd hoped that he might be able to make the excavation easier. No luck. And he made his disappointment in him very obvious to Aldo. He treated him like an idiot, made him check and recheck to make sure he wasn't making a mistake. It was pretty clear that was how he'd treated him all his life. If Aldo hadn't been such a bastard, I would have felt sorry him.”
“I wouldn't.” Her mind was puzzling over something else. “I don't understand how Aldo could have been able to flit from country to country without being caught. Did he have money?”
“Not when he left Herculaneum. But he did have one of the statues of Cira he took from the library. He sold it to a private collector in London. That's how I traced him to the U.K. I heard about it from one of my informants. The statue was priceless and even on the black market he would have enough money to buy as many false documents as he needed and have enough to support himself for a good many years.”
“So he used Cira to kill all those women.”
“In a manner of speaking. Do you need to know anything else?”
“I have one more question to ask.” Her lips twisted. “Were you more angry with Aldo because he killed all those people or because he tried to cheat you of the gold?”
He was silent. “Interesting question.” But he wasn't answering it.
“I have to warn you I'm telling Eve and Joe everything you've told me. And that means that there will probably be investigators all over that site at Herculaneum. Someone else will find that pot of gold in those tunnels.”
“They won't find it. Those tunnels are very well hidden. They went undiscovered for all those years and that blast sealed the entrances to the tunnel and I did the rest. I covered any trace of excavation. When this is over I'll still have my chance . . . if I want it.”
“Oh, I think you'll want it.”
“My, how cynical. You think my mercenary streak dominates my life? Maybe you're right. And maybe you're wrong. Did it occur to you that I knew you'd tell Quinn and was willing to take my chances? So it could be that I'm more bloodthirsty than greedy. I'll call you tomorrow and you can tell me if Quinn has any more questions. Sleep well, Jane.”
He hung up before she could answer.
Sleep well? Fat chance, she thought as she hung up the phone. Her head was spinning with the overload he'd given her to digest that filled her with fear, panic, and defiance. Then don't try to absorb it. Let it sink in and don't force it. One step at a time.
Antonio had said that, she remembered. He'd held out his hand and told Cira to trust him. But Cira hadn't taken his hand. She hadn't had time before the earth had opened and she'd seen the molten—
Forget the dream. Remember reality. If it was reality that Trevor had told her and not lies. He wanted the gold.
No, Antonio had wanted the gold. Once more, dream and reality had blended, becoming one for the moment. It mustn't happen again.
Toby sighed and rubbed his head on her lap.
“Okay, we're going inside.” Jane got to her feet. “What a nag you are.” She paused, gazing out at the forest. Was Trevor out there watching her? It was an odd coincidence that he'd called her as soon as she'd come out on the porch. He'd asked her if she was alone, but he might not want her to know how closely he was watching her. She was feeling a little claustrophobic from all the restrictions and scrutiny, and he was very perceptive.
He was there.
She lifted her hand in a mocking salute and went into the house.
TEN
Trevor smiled ruefully