detective for the ATLPD. He owns a lake cottage and extensive acreage near Atlanta. That's where Quinn and Duncan live.” He glanced up at Trevor. “He's tough and smart and tenacious as a bulldog.”
“Weakness?”
“Eve Duncan. No doubt about it. He's been with her from the time of her daughter's death and he may have stayed in Atlanta instead of continuing with the FBI to be near her.”
“A button to push.”
“Not unless you want to set off a chain explosion.”
“Sometimes explosions are necessary.” Trevor smiled recklessly. “I'll risk it.”
“You always do.” Bartlett's smile faded. “They're tough. Both of them. Be careful that explosion doesn't take you out.”
Trevor snapped his suitcase shut. “Why, Bartlett, I believe you're worried about me.”
“Nonsense. I'm just too lazy to look for a new contact. Are you taking this file with you?”
“Not if you've covered the high points.” He set the suitcase on a chair. “I'll just glance at the MacGuire file while you go downstairs and hail me a taxi.”
“Again? You should have it memorized by now. There's not much there. Jane MacGuire's only seventeen, grew up in foster homes, and she's been with Duncan and Quinn since she was ten. She's an honor student and never been in trouble. But she's too young to have much experience or history.”
“I disagree. Look at her face. She's young, but there's a world of experience in that face. And he'll see it. It will draw him like a magnet.” He gazed down at the face of the girl staring boldly out of the photo. “The taxi, Bartlett.”
“Right away.”
Trevor barely heard the door close behind him. Excitement was soaring through him and he had to suppress it. He had to think coolly and clearly if he was to win this battle. And he would win it, dammit.
His finger delicately touched the cheek of the girl in the photo. She was close. Remarkably, marvelously, close.
“Close enough, Aldo?” he murmured. “Cira?”
THREE
Ruth really looked like me?” Jane gazed in disappointment at the empty pedestal. “I wish I could have seen the reconstruction before Joe whisked it away. May I go down to the precinct and take a—”
“No, you may not,” Eve said firmly. “You can see the photograph. You're sticking close to home for a while.”
“Because of that creep?” She shook her head. “I'll stick around here today but I've got a trigonometry test scheduled for Monday and I'm not going to let him stop me from taking it.” She went to the doorway and gazed at the patrol car parked down the road. “He'd be crazy to make a move when he can see Joe has me under surveillance.”
“He is crazy,” Eve said. “Nothing could be clearer. No one goes around killing women just because they remind him of someone else unless they're nuts. So your argument doesn't hold water. And that test isn't worth any risk.”
Jane turned to look at her. “You're really scared.”
“You're damn right I am. I'm not having anything happen to you even if I have to tie you to your bed.”
Jane studied her expression. “You're remembering Bonnie. I'm not Bonnie, Eve. I'm not an innocent little girl who can be lured to her death. I intend to have a long, good life and I'll go for the jugular of anyone who tries to take that away from me.”
“You may not get the chance. This man has killed at least six women that we know about. All of them older and more experienced than you.”
“And they probably weren't suspecting anything. I'll be suspicious of everyone.” She smiled. “You know I'm not the most trusting person in the world.”
“Thank God.” Eve drew a deep breath. “I'm scared, Jane. Don't make me more scared by defying this monster. Please.”
Jane frowned. “I hate letting him keep me from doing what I need to do. Bastards like him shouldn't be able to control us.”
“Please,” Eve repeated.
Jane sighed. “Okay. If you're really going to worry.”
“I am going to worry. Count on it. Thank you.”
Jane's eyes twinkled. “Come on, I didn't have much choice. You threatened to tie me down.”
Eve smiled. “Only as a last resort.”
“How long do you think it's going to take to catch him?”
Eve's smile faded. “I don't know. Soon, I hope.”
“I'm not going to hide forever, Eve.” She glanced back at the patrol car. “Do you believe in fate?”
“Sometimes. Most of the time I think we're in control of our own destiny.”
“So do I. But this is a funny coincidence, isn't it? First Bonnie and then me. What do