“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. Very cut-and-dried. The next will mention the theater and that the skeleton is that of a woman. We'll skip a few days and then give a few more details including the discovery of a statue in the anteroom.”
“A tease?” Eve asked.
He nodded. “If I work it right, he'll be either tearing his hair or salivating by the end of the week.”
“Wouldn't a find like this attract a lot more attention?”
“Not until the excavation site was secured. The last thing they want are thieves nosing around and reporters getting in their way. Aldo will know that from his experience with his father.”
“But there must be excavations going on right now near there. The discovery of an anteroom to the theater would be a big deal. I can't believe that we could pull it off.”
“I wouldn't be able to do it if the theater excavation wasn't what it is. There are tunnels all over the area down there. They were the primary form of access to reach the heart of the stage and seats of the theater. Some were dug by archaeologists over the centuries and are charted. Others were dug by thieves, the robbers' tunnels that were used to steal artifacts from the theater. It wouldn't be too unusual that an anteroom might be discovered in one of the robbers' tunnels that had been ignored. But we need to contact someone who can both authenticate the find and cover for us.”
“Then you want me to contact Ted right away?”
“It can't be too soon. Be persuasive.”
Eve made a face. “That's not my style.”
“Then do whatever you have to do. We need that contact in place as soon as possible.”
“And what story am I supposed to tell him?”
“If he's a friend, tell him the truth, but he'll have to give another version to the archaeologist we get to authenticate. The entire truth would be too dangerous for us.”
“So what should Ted tell him?”
He thought about it. “Tell him that Carpenter himself found the skeleton and statue in a tunnel north of the city but made the mistake of not getting permission from the government to dig. In order to keep in good with the Italians he's willing to share the publicity for a share of the profits. Aldo will assume it's Precebio's tunnel if there's a leak. That should make sense to him.” He started for the door. “I'll be leaving for Italy tonight. I'll keep you informed when I do an insert, Quinn.”
“How kind,” Joe said. “I do hate to work in the dark. Though I can see how you might benefit from it.”
“Another jab.” Trevor smiled at him over his shoulder. “It might bother me if I didn't know you're looking forward to making this move as much as I am. Neither of us is good at spinning our wheels.” He turned to Jane. “And we'll all be going full speed ahead to get you to Herculaneum. So chill. Okay?”
“No. It's not okay. What am I supposed to do?”
“You've done it. It's your plan. We're just implementing.”
She shook her head.
“Okay, if you want something to do, go to the mall and taunt Aldo again. That should keep you at the front of his mind until I get some action on the Web sites going.”
“No,” Eve said firmly.
“Just a little. I'd bet once he's read the first articles in the newspapers, he won't be making any new moves on her. He'll be confused and uncertain about his next course of action.”
“Maybe,” Eve said. “It's bad enough that we're taking her to Herculaneum and staking her out for him.”
“We're not staking her out. We'll figure some way to keep her safe there. That's my job. That's one of the things I'm going to set up as soon as I get to Italy. Your job is to keep her secure here until you get the magic invitation to come do your voodoo.” He started down the steps. “The quicker you get your archaeologist to make his call, the quicker we can begin moving forward.”
“No one asked me if I wanted to go to the damn mall,” Jane said. “I'm not a kid to be kept busy on trivialities because I'm not allowed to do anything important.” She took a step forward and confronted him. “I've no intention of taunting Aldo, Trevor. It would be overkill. Subtle is better. We want him to concentrate on Cira, not me. So I'll stay here and be bored out of my mind. But it better not be for more than three weeks.”
He lifted his hand to his brow in a salute. “Aye, aye. I hear you loud and clear.”
“And you call me and tell me what's happening.”
“My pleasure.” He smiled. “Every night. I promise.”
“You'd better keep it.”
“I will.” He was walking quickly down the path. “I'd miss the sound of your voice berating me. . . .”
Am I going with you?” Bartlett asked as he watched Trevor throw his suitcase in the rental car. “I don't speak Italian but I've found that doesn't make much difference if you want to communicate. I've always been able to make myself understood.”
“I'm sure you have.” Trevor got into the driver's seat. “No, you're not going. If I find I can't do without you, I'll give you a call. But I need you here to keep an eye on Jane.”
“Quinn will do that.”
“But he won't call me and report anything that looks suspicious. He'll try to take care of it himself.”
Bartlett thought about it. “That's true. Maybe you do need me here.” He sighed. “But it would be much more exciting to go with you. I have to admit life is much more interesting with you around.”
“And how many times have you told me how happy you'll be to get rid of me and have your uneventful, comfortable life back?”
“Perhaps I've been corrupted. Oh, dear, I hope not.” Bartlett took a step back as Trevor started the car. “I'll take this period to contemplate and evaluate your effect on me. In the meantime you can be sure that Jane will be as safe as I can make her. Take care.”
“You take care.” Trevor paused. “Don't do anything foolish. If you see anything suspicious, call Quinn.”
“Certainly. See and report. I'm far too valuable to be sacrificed.” He turned back to the cottage. “And so are you. It would behoove you to be cautious.”
“Behoove? Good Lord, what a dated word.”
“I'm dated. It's part of my charm. And I'll thank you not to make fun of me.”
“I wouldn't think of it.” He pressed on the accelerator and moved down the road. “Your army of female fans would come after me with machetes.”
FOURTEEN
It's not here,” Jane muttered, her gaze glued to La Nazione on the computer screen. “Not a word.”
“It's only been two days,” Eve said. “I'm not sure what breaking into a secure Web site entails but I'd think it would take longer than that.”
“Then why hasn't he called and told us he was having trouble? He said the prep work would only take three weeks.”
“Tentatively. I believe you're the one who carved it in stone.”
She made a face. “I did, didn't I? I just wanted to push him a little.”
“I'd judge he didn't need any nudging. He was running on all cylinders when he left here.”
“Just so he didn't slow down without a—here it is!” She leaned forward, her body tense with excitement. “Just a tiny article at the bottom of page five.”
“Where?” Eve came across the room and looked over her shoulder. “It's only four lines.”
“It's just right. Enough to attract Aldo's attention and curiosity and not enough to be blatant.” Jane exited the Florence site and went to the Rome newspaper. “If he'd put anything else in, it would have been suspicious.”