lhamilton.thekillingdance-第32部分

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　twice　and　died。
　Edward　was　at　the　door；　gun　out；　pointed。　He　stared　from　me　to　the　fresh　corpse。　He　took　in　the　knife　still　protruding　from　her　chest；　the　gun　with　silencer　in　my　hand。　He　relaxed；　pointing　the　gun　at　the　floor。　〃Some　bodyguard　I　turned　out　to　be；　letting　you　get　dusted　in　the　ladies'　room。〃
　I　stared　up　at　him。　I　felt　numb；　distant　with　shock。　〃She　almost　got　me；〃　I　said。
　〃But　she　didn't；〃　he　said。
　I　heard　men's　voices　shouting；　〃Police！　Everybody　stay　where　they　are。　We'll　check　it　out。〃
　〃Shit；〃　I　said　softly　and　with　feeling。　I　laid　Anabelle's　gun　by　her　body　and　sat　back　on　the　carpet。　I　wasn't　sure　I　could　stand　right　then。
　Edward　holstered　his　gun　and　moved　back　from　the　door　to　join　the　crowd　that　was　pushing　forward　to　see　the　show。　Just　another　part　of　the　anonymous　throng。　Yeah；　right。
　I　sat　there　beside　the　corpse　and　tried　to　think　of　something　to　tell　the　cops。　I　wasn't　sure　the　truth　was　an　option　I　could　afford　right　now。　I　began　to　wonder　if　I　was　going　to　see　the　inside　of　a　jail　tonight。　Watching　the　blood　soak　the　front　of　Anabelle's　vest；　it　seemed　likely。
　
　
　17
　
　I　was　sitting　in　a　straight…backed　chair　in　Jean…Claude's　office　at　Danse　Macabre。　My　hands　were　cuffed　behind　me。　They　hadn't　let　me　wash　the　blood　off　my　right　hand；　and　it　had　dried　to　a　nice　tacky　substance。　I　was　used　to　having　dried　blood　on　me；　but　it　was　still　unfortable。　The　uniformed　officers　had　taken　the　other　knife　and　found　the　Seecamp　in　my　purse。　They　had　not　found　the　big　knife　in　the　spine　sheath。　It　had　been　a　sloppy　search　to　have　missed　a　knife　longer　than　my　forearm；　but　the　uniform　that　did　it　had　at　first　assumed　that　I　was　another　victim。　It　had　shaken　him　to　find　out　that　the　pretty　little　woman　was　a　murderer。　Oh；　excuse　me；　alleged　murderer。
　The　office　had　white　walls；　black　carpet；　a　desk　that　looked　like　carved　ebony。　There　was　a　red　lacquer　screen　with　a　black　castle　done　high　on　top　of　a　black　mountain。　There　was　a　framed　kimono　on　the　far　wall；　scarlet　with　black　and　royal　blue　designs。　Two　smaller　frames　held　fans：　one　white　and　black　with　what　looked　like　a　tea　ceremony　painted　on　it；　the　other　blue　and　white　with　a　flock　of　cranes。　I　liked　the　cranes　best；　and　I'd　had　plenty　of　time　to　make　a　choice。
　One　of　the　uniforms　had　remained　in　the　room　with　me　the　entire　time。　They'd　drunk　coffee　and　not　offered　me　any。　The　younger　uniform　would　have　uncuffed　me；　but　his　partner　had　pretty　much　threatened　to　beat　the　shit　out　of　him　if　he　did　it。　The　partner　was　grey…haired　with　eyes　as　cold　and　empty　as　Edward's。　His　name　was　Rizzo。　Looking　at　him；　I　was　glad　I'd　put　the　gun　on　the　floor　before　he　came　into　the　room。
　Why；　you　may　ask；　wasn't　I　at　the　police　station　being　questioned？　Answer：　The　media　had　bayed　us。　Four　uniforms　had　been　enough　to　control　traffic　and　keep　the　media　from　mobbing　anyone…until　they　smelled　a　breaking　story。　Suddenly；　there　were　cameras　and　microphones　everywhere；　like　mushrooms　after　a　rain。　The　uniforms　had　called　for　backup　and　barricaded　the　murder　scene　and　the　office。　Everything　else　had　fallen　to　the　cameras　and　microphones。
　There　was　a　homicide　detective　standing　over　me…looming；　actually。　Detective　Greeley　was　just　under　six　feet　tall；　so　broad…shouldered　he　looked　like　a　big　square。　Most　black　people　aren't　truly　black；　but　Greeley　was　close。　His　face　was　so　dark　it　had　purple　highlights。　His　close…cropped　greying　hair　looked　like　wool。　But　black；　white；　or　brown；　his　dark　eyes　were　neutral；　secret；　cop　eyes。　His　gaze　said　he'd　seen　it　all　and　hadn't　been　impressed　by　any　of　it。　He　certainly　wasn't　impressed　by　me。　If　anything；　he　looked　bored；　but　I　knew　better。　I'd　seen　Dolph　get　the　same　look　right　before　he　pounced　on　someone　and　tore　their　alibi　apart。
　Since　I　didn't　have　an　alibi；　I　wasn't　worried　about　that。　I'd　told　my　story　before　they　read　me　my　rights。　After　Greeley　mirandized　me；　all　I'd　said　was　that　I　wanted　a　lawyer。　I　was　beginning　to　sound　like　a　broken　record；　even　to　me。
　The　detective　pulled　a　chair　around　so　he　was　sitting　facing　me。　He　even　hunkered　down　trying　not　to　be　so　intimidating。　〃Once　we　get　a　lawyer　in　here；〃　Greeley　said；　〃we　can't　help　you　anymore；　Anita。〃
　He　didn't　know　me　well　enough　to　call　me　by　my　first　name；　but　I　let　it　go。　He　was　pretending　to　be　my　friend。　I　knew　better。　Cops　are　never　your　friends　if　they　suspect　you　of　murder。　Conflict　of　interest。
　〃It　sounds　like　a　clear…cut　case　of　self…defense。　Tell　me　what　happened；　and　I'll　bet　we　can　do　a　deal。〃
　〃I　want　my　lawyer；〃　I　said。
　〃Once　we　involve　a　lawyer；　the　deal　goes　out　the　window；〃　he　said。
　〃You　don't　have　the　authority　to　make　a　deal；〃　I　said。　〃I　want　my　lawyer。〃
　The　skin　around　his　eyes　tightened；　otherwise　he　looked　the　same；　unmoved。　But　I　was　pissing　him　off。　Couldn't　blame　him。
　The　door　to　the　office　opened。　Greeley　looked　up；　ready　to　be　angry　at　the　interruption。　Dolph　walked　inside；　flashing　his　badge。　His　eyes　gave　the　briefest　of　flicks　to　me；　then　settled　solidly　on　Greeley。
　Greeley　stood　up。　〃Excuse　me；　Anita。　I'll　be　right　back。〃　He　even　managed　a　friendly　smile。　He　was　putting　so　much　effort　into　the　act；　it　was　almost　a　shame　I　wasn't　buying　it。　Besides；　if　he　was　really　being　friendly；　he'd　have　taken　the　cuffs　off。
　Greeley　tried　to　get　Dolph　to　step　outside；　but　Dolph　shook　his　head。　〃The　office　is　secure。　The　rest　of　the　club　isn't。〃
　〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃　Greeley　said。
　〃It　means　your　murder　scene；　plete　with　victim；　is　being　flashed　on　national　television。　You　ordered　that　no　one　was　to　talk　to　the　press；　so　they've　been　speculating。　Vampires　run　amok　is　the　choice　rumor。〃
　〃You　want　me　to　tell　the　media　that　a　woman　attached　to　a　police　squad　is　being　charged　with　murder？〃
　〃You　have　three　witnesses　that　all　say　Ms。　Smith　pulled　her　gun　first。　That　it　was　selfdefense。〃
　〃That's　something　for　the　assistant　district　attorney　to　decide；〃　Greeley　said。
　Funny　how　when　he　was　talking　to　me　he　could　make　a　deal。　Now　that　he　was　talking　to　another　cop；　suddenly　the　ADA　was　the　only　one　who　could　make　a　deal。
　〃Call　them；〃　Dolph　said。
　〃Just　like　that；〃　Greeley　said。　〃You　want　to　cut　her　loose？〃
　〃She'll　make　a　statement　after　we　get　her　and　her　lawyer　down　to　the　station。〃
　Greeley　made　a　rude　sound　in　his　throat。　〃Yeah；　she's　real　hot　for　her　lawyer。〃
　〃Go　talk　to　the　press；　Greeley。〃
　〃And　tell　them　what？〃
　〃That　vampires　aren't　involved。　That　it　was　just　bad　timing　that　the　murder　happened　at　Danse　Macabre。〃
　Greeley　glanced　back　at　me。　〃I　want　her　here　when　I　get　back；　Storr。　No　disappearing　act。〃
　〃We'll　both　be　here。〃
　Greeley　glared　at　me；　all　his　anger　and　frustration　filling　his　eyes　for　a　second。　The　friendly　mask　was　gone。　〃Make　sure　you　are。　The　brass　may　want　you　in　on　this；　but　this　is　a　homicide　case；　my　case。〃　He　shoved　a　finger　at　Dolph；　not　quite　touching　him。　〃Don't　fuck　with　it。〃
　Greeley　pushed　past　him　and　shut　the　door　firmly。　Silence　thick　enough　to　walk　on　filled　the　room。
　Dolph　pulled　a　chair　up　in　front　of　the　desk；　next　to　me；　and　sat　facing　me。　He　clasped　his　big　hands　together　and　stared。　I　stared　back。
　〃The　three　women　say　Ms。　Smith　pulled　her　gun　first。　She　ripped　your　purse　off；　so　she　knew　where　your　gun　was；〃　he　said。
　〃I　flashed　it　a　little　too　much　tonight。　My　fault。〃
　〃I　heard　about　you　joining　the　show　out　there。　What　happened？〃
　〃I　had　to　police　the　show　a　little。　The　woman　didn't　want　to　play。　It's　illegal　to　use　preternatural　powers　to　coerce　anyone　into　doing　something　they　don't　want　to　do。〃
　〃You　aren't　a　policeman；　Anita。〃
　It　was　the　first　time　he'd　ever　reminded　me　of　that。　Usually；　Dolph　treated　me　like　one　of　his　people。　He'd　even　encouraged　me　to　simply　say　I　was　with　his　squad　so　people　would　assume　I　was　a　detective。
　〃You　kicking　me　off　the　squad；　Dolph？〃　My　stomach　was　tight　as　I　asked。　I　valued　working　with　the　police。　I　valued　Dolph　and　Zerbrowski　and　the　rest　of　the　guys。　It　would　hurt　more　than　I　wanted　to　admit　to　lose　all　that。
　〃Two　bodies　in　two　days；　Anita；　both　of　them　normal　humans。　That's　a　lot　of　explaining　at　headquarters。〃
　〃If　they'd　been　vamps　or　some　other　creepie…crawlie；　everyone　would　look　the　other　way；　is　that　it？〃
　〃Picking　a　fight　with　me　isn't　your　best　bet　right　now；　Anita。〃
　We　stared　at　each　other　for　a　second　or　two。　I　looked　away　first；　and　nodded。　〃Why　are　you　here；　Dolph？〃
　〃I　handle　the　media　a　lot。〃
　〃But　you're　letting　Greeley　talk　to　the　press。〃
　〃You've　got　to　tell　me　what's　going　on；　Anita。〃　His　voice　was　quiet；　but　I　knew　by　the　tightness　around　his　eyes；　the　way　he　held　his　shoulders；　that　he　was　angry。　I　guess　I　couldn't　blame　him。
　〃What　do　you　want　to　hear；　Dolph？〃　I　asked。
　〃The　truth　would　be　nice；〃　he　said。
　〃I　think　I　need　a　lawyer　first。〃　I　wasn't　going　to　spill　my　guts　just　because　Dolph　was　my　friend。　He　was　still　a　cop；　and　I　had　killed　someone。
　Dolph's　eyes　narrowed。　He　turned　to　the　uniform　still　leaning　against　the　wall。　〃Rizzo；　go　get　some　coffee；　black；　for　me。　What　do　you　want　in　yours？〃
　Coffee　was　ing。　Things　were　looking　up。　〃Two　sugars；　one　cream。〃
　〃Get　some　for　yourself；　Rizzo；　and　take　your　time。〃
　Officer　Rizzo　pushed　away　from　the　wall　where　he'd　been　leaning。　〃You　sure　about　this；　Sergeant　Storr？〃
　Dolph　looked　at　him；　just　looked　at　him。
　Rizzo　held　his　hands　out　in　a　sort　of　push　away　gesture。　〃I　don't　want　Greeley　riding　my　ass　about　leaving　you　two　alone。〃
　〃Get　the　coffee；　Officer　Rizzo。　I'll　take　any　heat　that　es　down。〃
　Rizzo　left；　shaking　his　head；　probably　at　the　stupidity　of　plainclothes　detectives。　When　we　were　alone；　Dolph　said；　〃Turn　around。〃
　I　stood　up　and　offered　him　my　hands。　He　uncuffed　me；　but　didn't　pat　me　down　again。　He　probably　assumed　Rizzo　had　done　it。　I　didn't　tell　him　about　the　knife　they　missed；　which　would　piss　him　off　if　he　found　it　later；　but　hey；　I　couldn't　let　the　cops　confiscate　all　my　weapons。　Besides；　I　didn't　want　to　be　unarmed　tonight。
　I　sat　back　down；　resisting　the　urge　to　rub　my　wrists。　I　was　heap…big…vampire…slayer。　Nothing　could　hurt　me。　Yeah；　right。
　〃Talk　to　me；　Anita。〃
　〃Off　the　record？〃　I　asked。
　He　stared　at　me；　eyes