Quinn - Iris Johansen [57]
Two Weeks Later
PAPERWORK, JOE THOUGHT SOURLY as he finished the third page of the report. It was the bane of every law-enforcement officer’s life, and that went double when you had to make reports to the local police department as well as the Bureau.
“You look pissed.” Slindak had stopped by his desk. “You shouldn’t mind doing a little bragging on paper. You’re a rising star. The Bureau is probably going to give you a promotion.”
“Knock it off.”
Slindak hesitated. “How is Eve Duncan?”
“Fine.”
“Did you see her today?”
“Last night.”
“Did she mention Fraser?”
He raised his head. “Every day. She wants to see him. I’ve been making excuses.”
“I think that she saw through them. I just got a call from the jail. She’s talking to Fraser now.”
“What?” He jerked upright in the chair. “How did she get in to see him?”
“She went to his lawyer, and he arranged it.”
Joe was cursing as he jumped to his feet. “Damn him. Do you know what that’s going to do to her?”
“I have an idea. I thought you’d want to know. She doesn’t need any more…”
The last words were lost as Joe ran out of the squad room.
Fifteen minutes later, he was taking the stairs two at a time to the second-floor room where they’d brought Eve for her visit with Fraser.
She was coming out of the room when he reached the top of the stairs.
She was stark white and was moving slowly, like an old woman.
“Eve, dammit.”
She looked at him as if she didn’t recognize him. “Joe?”
“Why did you have to do it?” He put his arm around her waist to support her and pulled her down the stairs. “I knew he’d do this to you.”
“Did you?” She almost fell as they started down the next flight. She was walking stiffly, as if her legs weren’t be able to function. “I guess I knew he would do it, too. But I had to ask him. It’s Bonnie. Do you know what he told me?”
“Shh. Not now. Let me get you home first.”
“If that’s what you want.”
“That’s what I want.” They were walking out of the station, and he put her into the passenger seat of the car he’d parked at the front entrance.
She stared straight ahead as he drove the twenty minutes to her home, but he doubted if she was seeing anything. Her breathing was shallow and quick.
He brought the car to a screeching halt in front of the house. The next moment, he was around the car and half lifting her out of the seat. “Come on. Only a little farther.”
She was looking at the empty place where the hanging basket had been. “He’s a beast,” she whispered. “Why did God let him come into the world?”
“Maybe he didn’t. I think he’s a creation of Satan.” He had the door open, and he pushed her over the threshold. “And Satan will take him back soon.”
“Not yet. Not until he tells me where to find my Bonnie.” She stood straight, frozen, looking straight ahead. “He did it, Joe. He really killed her. I was afraid it was true, but I didn’t really believe it. I didn’t see how anyone could kill my Bonnie. But he did it. He looked into my eyes, and he smiled. And then he started to tell me what he did to her.” Her voice was uneven. “I sat there and I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t do it. I wanted to cover my ears, but I was frozen in that chair. So I listened and listened and I—”
“Hush.” He couldn’t stand any more. It was tearing him apart. “Just give me a minute.” He lifted her in his arms and carried her across the room and up the stairs to her bedroom. He placed her on her bed, then followed her down, holding her in his arms. Her skin was cold where he touched her. “I didn’t want you to go to see him. God, I didn’t want you to go.”
“I know. You wouldn’t help me. I had to do it myself.”
“You should have told me. I would have tried to make it easier for you. I’d never want you to be alone.”
“I am alone. I’ll always be alone now. He killed her.”
He could feel the moisture sting his eyes. “He’d lie anyway, Eve. Are you sure?”
“He gave me details. Details down to the flavor of