Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [20]
“He seems pretty savvy. And he wants to find her, Melis.”
Then why wasn't it happening? They hadn't heard anything in the hours they'd spent here. “It seems impossible that there weren't any witnesses who saw Maria and Carolyn being taken from their office.”
“I'm sure they haven't interviewed everyone yet. It's still possible that— Shit.” His gaze was on Halley, who had just hung up the phone. “I don't like his body language.”
Melis stiffened. Halley was standing, moving toward the door leading to the waiting room. His shoulders were squared and his expression . . .
“Ms. Nemid. I'm sorry.” His voice was very gentle. “A body has washed ashore near the Castle Hotel. A woman in her fifties, tall, gray hair. We think it may be Carolyn Mulan.”
“Think? Why don't you know?”
“There was some . . . damage. They're bringing the body to the morgue for identification.”
“I want to see her. I can tell you if it's Carolyn.”
“You may not be able to do that. Her face is pretty . . . lacerated.”
Melis's nails dug into her palms as her hands clenched. “I've known her for years. She was closer than a sister to me. I can tell you if it's her.”
“You don't want to see this body, Ms. Nemid.”
“The hell I don't.” Her voice was shaking. “It may not be her. I don't want you to stop looking while you get DNA or dental records on this woman. I want to see for myself.”
Halley looked at Kelby. “If she believes she can give us a positive ID, I can't refuse. In a murder case, time is always important. But I sure as hell don't like it. Can you talk her out of it?”
Kelby shook his head. “I wish I could. No way.”
“It's probably not her.” Melis moistened her lips. “You don't know her. She's so strong, the strongest woman I've ever met. She wouldn't let anything happen to her. I'm sure it's someone else.”
“Then why go through this?” Kelby asked roughly. “A few hours, a day, can't make—”
“Shut up, Kelby. I've got—” She turned to Halley. “Will you take me to this . . . morgue?”
“I'll take you.” Kelby took her hand. “Let's get this over with, Halley.”
The room was cold.
The glare of the stainlesss-steel table where the body lay covered by a white sheet was colder.
The whole world was cold. That must be why she couldn't stop shaking.
“You can change your mind,” Kelby murmured. “You don't have to do this, Melis.”
“Yes, I do.” She stepped closer to the table. “I have to know—” She drew a deep breath and then told Halley, “Uncover her face.”
Halley hesitated and then slowly drew back the sheet.
“Oh, God.” She shrank back against Kelby. “Oh, Jesus, no.”
“Out.” Kelby's arm went around her. “Let's get her away from here, Halley.”
“No.” She swallowed and took a step nearer. “There's still . . . It might not . . . She has a birthmark beneath the hair on her left temple. She was always going to have it removed, but she never got around to it.” She gently brushed the hair back from the ruin of the woman's face.
Please. Jesus, let it not be there. Let this poor, savaged woman not be Carolyn.
“Melis?” Kelby said.
“I'm . . . sick.” She barely made it across the room to the stainless-steel sink before she threw up. She hung desperately to the curled metal edge to keep from falling.
Then Kelby was there beside her, holding her. She could hear the pounding of his heart beneath her ear. Life. Carolyn's heart would never beat like that again.
“It's your friend?” Kelby said gently.
“It's Carolyn.”
“You're sure?” Halley asked.
She had been sure the moment he drew down that sheet. But she had not wanted to admit it to herself. “Yes.”
“Then get the hell out of here.” Halley turned away and began to draw the sheet over Carolyn's face.
“No.” Melis broke free of Kelby's hold and moved back across the room. “Not yet. I have to—” She stood looking down at Carolyn's face. “I have to remember. . . .”
The pain was twisting hot and sharp through her, dissolving the ice and