Blind Alley - Iris Johansen [64]
“Trevor would deny it. He says guilt is nonproductive.” He smiled. “He might even tell you he was after Aldo because Aldo double-crossed him.”
“He did say Pietro didn't deserve to die.”
“Ah, maybe he's getting close to admitting the truth.” He shook his head as he looked down at her ring. “It's very pretty, isn't it? It's a terrible thing to use beauty to bring fear.”
“It only brings fear if you let it. It's only a ring.”
“And she's not about to let it,” Trevor said from behind her. “I take it Quinn wasn't able to persuade you to shed it.”
“No.” She turned to watch him come toward her. He looked wired, restless, and she was again aware of that barely contained energy he exuded with every movement. “It's my ring. My choice.”
“True.” He stopped before her. “But since I'm not as ethical as Quinn I might try to manipulate circumstances to make your choice be my choice.”
“Joe's honest but he's not above doing that, too. So maybe you're more alike than you think.”
He grimaced. “Don't tell him that. He wouldn't be flattered. He's a straight arrow and I'm nowhere near straight. I prefer the path untraveled and most of those are as twisted as a snake's back.”
She nodded. “Twisted. That's why I came out to talk to you.”
“I told her that she could call you and you'd come,” Bartlett said.
“Anytime.” He stared her directly in the eye. “Anywhere.”
She felt . . . strange. Breathless. She glanced hurriedly away. “Easy to say. You couldn't have been more than a mile down the road.”
He smiled. “But you still didn't phone me. Because you preferred to quiz my friend, Bartlett, about me?”
“I'm touched.” Bartlett beamed. “Do you know that's the first time you admitted I was your friend? How encouraging.”
Trevor shook his head resignedly. “Do you know he really means it? You can't fight it.” He took her arm. “Come on, I have to get out from under his shadow. All that sweetness and light makes me look bad in comparison.”
“It shouldn't,” Bartlett called after them. “I did my best to make you appear to advantage. It was quite difficult.”
“I don't doubt it.” Trevor glanced down at her as they moved down the path. “Did you laugh in his face?”
“No, I wouldn't hurt his feelings.”
“Perish the thought. Are you going to be in line to be wife number four?”
“I didn't come down here to talk about Bartlett.” She stopped and turned to face him. “And you know it. So why are you trying to keep me from saying what I mean to say?”
“Maybe I'm enjoying myself. From the moment I met you it's all been tension, defensiveness, and suspicion. I like to see you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Sort of soft. I don't give myself credit for any change of demeanor but I've always been one to take advantage of any break I'm given.”
“I'm not soft. I don't pretend to be.”
“Most people have a soft side. You show yours to Eve and Quinn and Toby.” He wrinkled his nose. “And now to Bartlett.”
“That's different.”
“And that's what I'm saying. Refreshing.” He held up his hand as she started to speak. “Okay, I can see you're growing impatient. Fire when ready.”
“You said that Aldo was a computer genius. When you were hobnobbing together in Herculaneum how much did you find out about his surfing habits?”
“Internet surfing?”
“What else?”
“First, we weren't hobnobbing. Second, why the hell do you want to know?”
“I'm not sure. Something keeps nagging at me but it's not clear yet. I'm sure you weren't bosom buddies but you were both computer geeks. You had that in common and you were isolated together in the tunnel. You must have communicated on some level.”
“What are you digging for?”
She shrugged. “Everyone has favorite Internet sites they go to almost every day. I know I do.”
“So do I.” He was frowning. “You want to know what sites are Aldo's favorites?”
“Do you know?”
“Probably. As you said, we had that in common and I admired his expertise. We didn't share information but I did watch him occasionally.”
“Can you remember?”
“It's been a long time.”
“Can you remember?”
He nodded slowly. “That entire period is pretty well carved into my memory.