Blind Alley - Iris Johansen [74]
“Do you have any contacts with any of the forensic departments in Italy?”
“No. I've done some work with the forensic team in Dublin but not anywhere else in Europe.”
“Any work on ancient skulls?”
“I was sent an Egyptian skull that was believed to be Nefertiti's.”
“Was it?”
“Forensics said that she was probably related but the reconstruction didn't look like the statue.”
“But the job still furnishes you with the necessary qualifications. Nefertiti . . . That's very good.” Trevor took the cup Jane handed him. “Who requested your help? The museum? The government?”
She shook her head. “The archaeologist in charge of the dig. He was an American and I'd done some work on a skull he'd found in a Navajo site in Arizona.”
“What's his name?”
“Ted Carpenter.”
“Where is he now?”
“I have no idea. But I doubt if he's in Herculaneum.”
“So do I. That would be too lucky. But archaeologists are a rare breed and they're pretty close-knit. It's possible you could persuade him to contact one of the archaeologists who are doing work at Herculaneum.”
“And?”
“A little truth for the big lie?” Jane sat down on the arm of the couch.
Trevor nodded. “Aldo is bound to check up on any story that has to do with Cira. If we announce that an archaeologist has made the find and is inviting Eve to do the reconstruction, we have to be able to make sure he'll substantiate the story.”
“And how are we going to make this announcement?” Joe asked.
“Carefully. Over a period of weeks.”
“How many weeks?” Jane asked.
“Whatever it takes.”
“Estimate.”
“Three . . . maybe. If everything falls into place.” He turned to Joe. “I'll have to take off for Herculaneum today to pave the way. There are all kinds of problems lurking in Jane's neat little scenario. For one thing, excavation around the theater is controlled by the Italian government. Can I count on you to keep me out of jail if the Italians get too interested in my poking around?”
“I'll work on it,” Joe said. “Though a few days in jail might do you good.”
“But it won't do Jane good. She wants things to happen in a hurry.”
“What else?” Joe asked.
“I'm going to start dropping one-liners in the newspapers on Aldo's favorite sites.”
“You're actually going to change the text?” Jane asked. “How can you do that?”
“It's not easy. I'll not only have to break into the site but I may have to reformat the pages.”
“Without the newspaper knowing?”
“The papers are proofread before they're put on the Web and then scanned after they're on. If I wait five or six hours after they're posted, it's doubtful that anyone will notice the changes. After all, I'm not changing a story, I'm adding. They'll catch on eventually but we may have days before that happens.”
“And when they do?” Joe asked.
“Then it's up to you.” Trevor smiled. “Use influence, muscle, or appeal to their greed. Hell, promise them an exclusive.”
“To all three newspapers?”
“I would. It would be a difficult balancing act but that's what makes life interesting.”
“And criminal,” Joe said dryly. “This will take constant monitoring and we're not sure he even still reads those newspapers.”
“It only takes one. If he sees anything about Cira in one newspaper, the chances are he'll go back to the others for verification.” He frowned thoughtfully. “But Archaeology Journal is a different kettle of fish. I'm not going to be able to pull the wool over their eyes for long. It's an esoteric professional magazine and they're going to care about their reputation.”
“So what are you going to do? Skip them?”
He shook his head. “We need them. It would be a tip-off if the magazine ignored a find like this.” He shrugged. “I'll figure it out.” He put his cup down. “And I'd better get started on the newspapers right away.”
“How?” Jane asked.
“I'll start with the two Italian newspapers. That would be the most logical progression. Just a small paragraph in the back of the Science section. The first will be an announcement about the new find but no details.