Blind Alley - Iris Johansen [65]
“I want you to make a list of all his preferred sites.”
“I may not remember all of them, Jane.”
“Well, whatever you do remember. Anything.”
“Why?”
“It's a starting place. I don't know where else we can go. I was lying in bed last night and trying to think of any way to get to Aldo before he got to me. But I don't know anything about him. Not really.” She made a helpless gesture with her hand. “There's so little . . . He's nuts. He thinks I'm Cira's reincarnation, and he uses computers. I picked the most concrete thing to work on.”
“And how do you intend to use it once I rack my memory and furnish you with the info you need?”
“I told you. I'm not sure yet.”
He studied her expression. “You may not be sure but you have an idea where you're going with this. I could hold out and force you to share.”
“And I'd resent the force and you'd have the devil of a time getting me to cooperate with you for the foreseeable future.”
“That's true.” He smiled. “I just thought I'd bluff a bit. I don't like being left in the dark but I'll be patient. I know I'll be the first you'll tell when it all comes together.”
“Why?”
“Because you realize I'll help you. I won't argue. I won't try to keep you from sticking your neck out. If you have a chance of getting him, I'll let you run the risks.” He paused. “Even if it means taking you away from Eve and Quinn and that blanket of protection they've wrapped around you.”
She was disappointed, she realized in surprise. Why? It was what she'd expected, what she needed from him. “Good. When can you have the list for me?”
“Tonight. Is that soon enough?”
“It will have to be.” She turned away. “And I'm going to be busy this afternoon anyway.”
He stiffened. “Doing what?”
“I'm going to the mall and then to have a pizza at CiCi's.”
“What the hell? And you think Quinn will allow that?”
“Not without a fight. But he'll let me go in the end. He won't want to miss the opportunity of drawing Aldo. I'll ask Eve to go with me and Joe will have Singer assign someone to follow us.”
“I suppose I don't have to guess why you've decided that you have to go shopping and are ignoring the fact that Domino's delivers?”
“He'll consider a crowded mall safe and a restaurant will give me a chance to display his little gift.” She lifted her hand so that the sunlight caused the stone to blaze with color. “He has to see me. I have to push him. I have to make him angry and uncertain. He's killed twelve women that we know about, and never been caught. That must make him feel confident, even godlike. He probably thinks all he has to do is wait for an opportunity and he'll chalk up number thirteen.” She smiled without mirth. “But we have to make sure thirteen is his unlucky number. Catch him off balance and keep pulling the rug from beneath him until he topples.”
“And you think flashing that ring is going to help?”
“It's a start. If it doesn't shake him, I'll make sure it irritates him.”
“I'm sure you will.” He was silent a moment. “I'd enjoy seeing you in action. I may have to go along and watch.”
She shook her head. “You have work to do. And I don't want him to see me under any obvious surveillance. It's much more effective to seem to have only Eve with me to show him how little he matters.”
“He wouldn't see me.”
“I thought you were going to let me take my own risks.”
He shrugged. “It's not as easy as I thought. I'm working on it.”
“Work harder.” She started toward the cottage. “You stay here.”
She was flushed, radiant, beautiful.
And triumphant.
Aldo tried to suppress the anger that burned through him while he watched her laughing with Eve Duncan as they crossed the parking lot toward the restaurant. Now the bitch was gesturing, every motion causing the ring on her hand to glitter.
It had been the same in the mall. She had been glowing, every feature of her face animated and so alive it had been like a slap in the face to him.
She was taunting him not only with his gift but with her living presence.
She wasn't afraid. The ring had meant nothing to her; the implied threat had