GODDESS OF THE MOON (A Diana Racine Psychic Suspense) (16 page)

T
he next day, a
s Stallings predicted, the mention of Lucier’s name sparked Compton to ask about Diana. He followed up with an invitation to bring her along and to meet at his home rather than his office.

If Compton is behind any
nefarious
activities
, his predictability quotient will work against him.
Lucier stayed at Diana’s that night, something he was doing more
often
, and by ten the next morning they started out for the Compton home in the French Quarter.

“Compton has homes all over the place―New York, L.A., even Paris, but this is his in-town residence,” Lucier said. “I’ve heard it’s spectacular, so thanks for taking me along.”

She socked him gently in the arm.
“Wise guy.”

“If he wasn’t anxious to meet you, I’d have met him at his office. Now I’
ll
see a part of New Orleans only a chosen few have seen.”

“Why at his house and not his office?” Diana asked.

“To impress you
, my dear
.”

* * * * *

D
iana knew
residential
treasures
existed
in the French Quarter, but she’d never have noticed this gem solidly hidden behind
elaborate
iron gates, which parted like the Red Sea
to let them enter
.
The guard
on duty
nodded to Diana
and
asked for
Lucier
’s
identification
, which he handed over
.
No impostors welcome.
After checking
his clipboard
, the
guard indicated
where
Lucier
should park. A middle-aged man waited to open Diana’s door. The dark suit couldn’t hide
the bulge of a weapon or
his Mr. Olympia physique.

“Mr. Compton is expecting you in his study,” he said.
“This way.”

Diana leaned over and whispered in Lucier’s ear. “
You think?
Photograph
comparison
s, waiting butlers, or is this hulk a bodyguard? I’m almost flattered.”

“Maybe Compton’s panting to meet the hero cop,” Lucier teased.

She
laughed, but the tension inside didn’t ease
until she stepped out of the car and into
a lush tropical garden surrounding an elaborate fountain
.
Perfume filled the air, and the mist from the fountain felt almost therapeutic. Instead of the bronzes of gods and goddesses she expected, the sculptures were surprisingly
contemporary
.
She felt like she’d just entered Wonderland.

The
old brick
walkway led to the
entrance
where a
maid ushered them into a large mahogany paneled room. A fancy gilt-framed landscape adorned the wall opposite a massive fireplace bordered by hand-painted Portuguese tiles, chosen,
Diana
assumed, to match the painting. A quick glance
at Corot’s signature
confirmed her suspicion
of
an original old master. She saw Lucier scan the room, probably searching either for cameras or some connection to the occult. A few classical bronzes of gods and goddesses were evident in the artfully arranged bookcases but nothing she’d consider satanic.

Compton rose from an ornate desk and walked eagerly toward them with long strides. He stood as tall as Lucier, with a golf-course tan and piercing blue eyes that studied his visitors with intelligent curiosity. His features were classic and masculine: straight nose, square chin, and a broad forehead under a head of thick, graying hair, cut short. He wore knife-creased slacks and an open-collar, striped dress shirt with a monogram on one of the cuffs.

“Lieutenant Lucier, Miss Racine, this is indeed a pleasure.”

His
pleasure
clearly targeted her when he lowered his head to kiss her hand, European style. She flashed Lucier a cutesy shrug and smiled, but when she looked down
, she gasped at the sight.
H
er hand, still in Compton’s
,
had morphed into a skeleton, charred as black as coal. She blinked a few times, and her hand
appeared
normal again. Swallowing hard, she hoped the savage drumbeat thumping in her chest wasn’t visible through her blouse. Neither man seemed to notice anything odd about her hand or strange in her behavior. Still, she couldn’t erase the
memory of the
vision.

“Delighted to meet you, Mr. Compton,” Diana managed to respond with a smile. She noted Lucier returned Compton’s greeti
ng with an energetic handshake.

Surely the macabre sight was a hallucination, a mirage. She’d been under a lot of stress lately. Maybe Lucier was right. It was still too soon. She hadn’t fully recovered. The satanic symbols, the incident in the rocking chair, and all the talk about cults must have had more of an effect on her than she realized.
After
a moment
,
the throbbing in her head receded and allowed Compton’s words to filter through.

“I don’t entertain many guests, but I’m a big fan of yours, Ms. Racine. Unfortunately, I missed this year’s performance
.
I saw your show last year and was quite impressed.
A
ll
that hoopla recently with that serial killer
―
my goodness, amazing.
I admire that kind of fortitude, especially in a tiny package as
yourself
.”

Diana forced a smile and a thank you
even though
she found his remark condescending, as if
tiny packages
were too insignificant to pack a punch. Common sense prevailed over the urge to comment. No point incurring his wrath before getting what
she
came for.
S
o far the only read
ing she’d received had been her
own.

Compton directed his two visitors to a sofa in his office, and he took a nearby chair. “I think it’s a shame you’re giving up the entertainment business. Not many like you around.”

“We all have to retire sometime.”

“Not me. I’ll die behind my desk.
Can’t help it.
There’s too much going on, and
I’m having
way
too much fun.”

He crossed his leg and relaxed his shoulders, gestures of nonchalance
, but Diana detected the
movements were calculated. Silas Compton was about at ease as a c
oiled rattler, ready to strike.

“Now, what can I do for you?” he said. “You mentioned you
had some
more questions about my house in Audubon Park, Lieutenant. I don’t know what I can add to what I told Agent Stallings, but I’d be happy to go over it again.” Then a change in attitude
confirmed
that Compton was no fool. “
I’m curious
, Ms. Racine, did you accept my invitation
just
to see if you could get a reading on me? Maybe tell if I was lying or not
?
”

Diana raised an eyebrow. “I get sensations about people through psychic readings, Mr. Compton. I’m not a mind reader, and I certainly couldn’t tell if you’re lying. I’m sorry if you think I came here as a tool of the police department, but you extended the invitation to me. I was honored you asked me to accompany Lieutenant Lucier, pleased that you wanted to meet me.” Diana tilted up her chin. “Now I feel unwelcome.”

Compton’s face reddened, and he bowed his head to his visitors. “I sincerely apologize to both of you. I’m embarrassed. The world has turned me into a cynic.” He
focused on
Diana. “Let me be clear. I did want to meet you.
Very much.
Reading anything else into your acceptance is ungracious of me. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Of course
.
”
Di
ana decid
ed
to
return the compliment
. “Who wouldn’t crave the opportunity to meet one of the world’s most famous men? As I said, I’m honored.”

Compton smiled, but everyone in the room knew the
game being played.

“Now,” he said, “if apologies are accepted, down to business.
N
o one understands that better than I. Ask your questions, Lieutenant.
”

“Ridley Deems, Mr. Compton,” Lucier said.

Compton sat up straight, squared his shoulders
, but his
eyes rarely left Diana.
Hard and
intense
and penetrating.
His words said one thing, but she sensed his objective was something else.

“I didn’t know him, other than by
the
name
Ridley Deems
. I assumed
my
rental agency
did the necessary checks on the man. I didn’t know he had any connection to the Sunrise Mission.”

“How could someone like that afford to rent a house at, what was the rental fee?”

Compton, a smile twitching his lips, answered without hesitation.
“Three thousand dollars a month.”
He turned to Lucier. “I have no idea, but he paid the agency six months in advance, plus the same amount in a security deposit. I’m a businessman, Lieutenant. That was good enough for me. Wouldn’t it be for you?”

“Yes, sir, it would.”

“I recognized his name when I read the article in the paper. Other than losing a tenant, I had no feelings about it one way or the other. I was glad the
article
didn’t mention the alleged goings-on in the house. It’d make
rent
ing
it
again
hard
er
.” Compton shrugged. “Like I said, I’m a businessman. Even if I’d noticed him at the mission, I’d never have made the connection, because I never saw the man who rented the house.”

“I see,” Lucier said. “Who else had access to the house?”

“The agency, of course, Fernando Reyes, and myself.
We found the situation disconcerting.
Imagine,
satanic symbols in one of my properties. As soon as we get the all-clear from the authorities, the management company will have a cleaning service in there to scour the place down,
then
repaint. Good thing Mr. Deems paid in advance. His money will help defray the costs of repairs.”

Businessman, indeed.
Or was that part of the act
?

“Your prints and the prints of Mr. Reyes were all over th
e
house.”

“We checked out the house thoroughly before we purchased it. Even at foreclosure prices, a million is a lot of money. Fernando and I purchased it with his wife in mind. She’s an interior designer, and he thought an exclusive bed and breakfast would be an interesting project for her. The property is on a cul-de-sac, making it a perfect location. But shortly after we bought it, she contracted a huge project that would keep her busy for quite a while. So we rented it
out
. Besides, property is a good investment right now. We
considered the house was a bargain.”

“Would the agency have a photocopy of Mr. Deems’
s
canceled check so we could see what bank it was drawn on? If we could track the account, we might find out who financed the rental.”

“Good point. I’ll ask them to send it over to you. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He rose
. S
o did Lucier and Diana.

The two men shook hands. “I appreciate your time, sir,” Lucier said.

“No problem.” Compton turned to Diana with a fawning smile. “It’s been a pleasure, Ms. Racine.”

He took her hand again
. S
he held her breath, but her hand
di
dn’t transform into an atrophied claw, black with foreboding. “I’m sorry we met under these circumstances.”

“Maybe we’ll meet again,” he said.

“Thank you for inviting me,” she said as a reminder. “In spite of the situation, I enjoyed the opportunity to see your beautiful home. The Lieutenant said it was rumored to be one of New Orleans’
s
showplaces. From what I’ve seen that wasn’t an exaggeration. It’s magnificent
, an
d incredibly large. How many of your family live here?”

Compton, his smile in place, answered, “All of them.” His outstretched arm moved them toward the door. “I’d like to invite you back and show you around.
You too, Lieutenant.
Would you consider giving
me a private reading,
Ms. Racine,
if you still do that sort of
thing.
I’d be happy to pay double your professional rate.”