Imitation in Death (39 page)

She took a breath. "Are you going to be pissed off when I tell you I talked to Mira about this a few days ago?"

"No. Did it help?"

"Some. This helped more." She toyed with her food again. "Cleaned me out. Maybe my brain will start cooking again. I was so off when I got home. I couldn't fling a decent insult at Summerset. And I've been saving up."

"Hmm" was Roarke's only response.

"I had some good ones stockpiled. They'll come back to me. But my head's crowded with this business, and the case. Then there's Peabody driving me over the edge."

"It's tomorrow for-her, isn't itT'

"Thank God. I'll hit Foriney and Breen tomorrow while she's in exam. I can get Feeney to team with me. And then. oh, speaking of hitting, Fortney socked Pepper."

"Excuse me?"

"Blackened her eye. She came in, filed charges, so that smooths the way to holding him. I've shuffled things so he won't be able to whine for bail until tomorrow. I already had round one with Breen today. He started out smirky, but I wiped that off his face. I've got him shadowed until our scheduled interview tomorrow. Renquist is reportedly out of the city on business. I thought I might tug on one of my connections and see if that's the case or just a runaround."

"Would it be my ego talking again if I assume I'm that connection."

She gave him a quick, toothy grin. "You're pretty handy to have around, even after sex."

"Darling, that's so touching."

"I've got Smith locked down, too. I want to know where all of them are 24/7 until I can push for a warrant."

"And how do you know which of the four is your man?"

"I recognized him," she replied, then shook her head. "But that's gut, and you can't arrest on gut.-There's only one who fits the profile, right down the line. Only one who'd have needed to feed himself by writing the notes. I need to eliminate the other three, build the case on the one. Once I tie the travel to the other murders, I'll have enough for a search warrant. He's got stuff-the paper, the tools, the costumes. He's kept all that. Tomorrow, the next day, I'll get in. And I'll have him."

"Are you going to tell me who. it is?".

"I think we'll work on the elimination process, do the travel and murder dates. See if you start leaning in the direction I've taken. You've got a pretty good gut yourself. For a civilian."

"Such flattery. Then it appears we're going to work."

"Yeah, I- Shit." Her pocket 'link beeped. "I've got it," she said, leaping up to scramble to the platform where the bed stood and, grab her trousers from off of the floor.

She dragged it out of a pocket, flipped it on. "Dallas." "Lieutenant." Sela Cox's tear-streaked face filled the screen and had Eve's heart dropping to her knees. "Mrs. Cox."

"She's awake." The tears kept falling even as she smiled. Brilliantly. `The doctor's with her now, but I thought I should tell you as soon as I could." -

"I'm on my way." She started to click off, stopped herself. "Mrs. Cox. Thank you."

"I'll be waiting for you."

"I just got a miracle," Eve told Roarke and dragged on her trousers. Then she found she had to sit, just give into weak legs for one moment. "I saw her face. In my dream tonight. Hers, and the others, my own. I saw her face, and I thought she was dead. That I'd been too late for her, and she was dead. I was wrong."

She took a deep breath as Roarke came over to join her. "I saw him, too. My father, standing on the other side of the hospital bed. He said it never ended anyway. There's always another victim and I might as well give up before I was dead, too."

"And he- was wrong."

"You're damn right." She pushed to her feet. "I'm not tagging Peabody. I want her fresh for the exam. Want to stand in?"

"Lieutenant, I already am."

Chapter 21

She strode down the hospital corridor. She'd hooked her badge on her belt to stop any medicals from getting in her way. Roarke wanted to tell her the fire in her eyes would have done the job, but he was afraid it might dim that fierce light.

And he enjoyed seeing it too much to take the chance.

The guard she'd placed at the door to ICU was at attention when she turned the corner. In Roarke's opinion, the uniform had likely scented her energy and whipped himself on alert.

Even as she reached for the door, it swung open. The doctor, Roarke thought, was a more courageous soul. He barred her path, folding his arms across his chest and using a frown as a- shield.

"I was told you'd been notified and were en route. The patient is barely conscious and drifting in and out. Her condition is, still critical. I won't risk having her interrogated at this point."

`Twenty-four hours ago, you told me she'd never regain consciousness. She has."

"Frankly, I consider it a miracle she's come out.of a coma, even briefly."

Sela Cox had asked for another miracle, Eve thought. And by God, she'd gotten it. "I don't believe in wasting miracles.

Somebody put her in that room, and there's a chance she can tell me who before he puts someone else in the hospital. Or the goddamn morgue." Now her voice lashed like a whip that had the uniform wincing. "You don't want to get in my face on this."

"On the contrary." Laurence kept his melodious voice low. "I am in your face on this, and this is my turf. My patient's welfare is paramount."

"On that last point, we're in perfect agreement. I want her alive and well."

"For her testimony."

"Goddamn right. If you think that makes me the enemy, then you're just stupid. I put, her in the dead column, Laurence, just like you. But she showed us both what she's made of. Now, I want her to know 'the man who did this to her has been put away. I want her, to know I'm going to do that for her, and that she had a part in making it happen. Right now, she's just a victim. I'm going to help make her a hero. That's something to live for. You've got two choices, she said before he could speak again. "I have this officer restrain you, or you go in with me and supervise."

"I don't like your tactics, Lieutenant."

"File a complaint." She pushed open the door, glanced at Roarke over her shoulder. "I need you to wait."

When she stepped in her heart sank again. Marlene lay still and deathly pale in the bed. Her mother stood beside her, holding her hand.

"She's just resting," Sela said quickly. "When you said you'd come, I asked my husband to go down to the chapel. They'll only let two of us in- here at a time."

"Mrs. Cox, I must tell you again, Lieutenant Dallas's presence is against medical orders. Your daughter needs to remain calm and quiet."

"She's been quiet since this was done to her, and she won't be calm until he's caught and punished. I'm grateful to you, Doctor, more than I can begin to say. But Marley needs to do this. I know my child."

"Watch your step," Laurence warned Eve, "or you'll be the one restrained."

She kept her focus on Marlene as she moved to the side of the bed. "You should talk to her, Mrs. Cox. I don't want to scare her."

"I've told her you were coming." Sela leaned over the bed, touched her lips to her, daughter's forehead. "Marley? Marley baby, wake up now. Lieutenant Dallas is here to talk to you."

"So tired, Mom." The words were slurred ands soft.

"I know, baby. Just for a little while. The lieutenant needs your help."

"I know you've been through a lot." Eve ignored the doctor as he edged closer. "I know this is hard. I'm not going to let him get away with what he did to you. We're not going to let him get away with it, Marley. You and me. You got away from him. You stopped him once. You can help me stop him once and for all."

Her eyes fluttered open. It was painful to watch, the effort of lifting those lashes, the intense focus in those eyes. Eve recognized the look, the determination of fighting back pain.

"It's all blurred, all runs together. Can't bring it clear."

"That's all right. Tell me whatever you can. You were coming home from work. You took the subway."

"Always take the subway. Just a few blocks. Hot night. Feet hurt."

"There was a van."

"Little moving van." Marlene shifted restlessly, but before the doctor could move, Sela was stroking her daughter's hair.

"It's all right, baby. It's all over now. Nobody's going to hurt you again. You're safe. I'm right here."

"Man. Big cast on his arm. Never seen big cast like that. Couldn't, couldn't get the sofa in. Kept sliding back out, thumping against the street. Felt sorry for him. Mommy."

Deliberately Eve stepped closer, took Marlene's other hand. "He can't get to you now. He's never going to touch you again. He thinks he beat you, but he didn't. You've already won."

Her eyes fluttered again. "I can't remember much. I was going to help him, then something hit me. It hurt. I never hurt tike that. I don't know after that, I don't know." Tears began to leak. "I can't remember anything after that, except

Mom talking to me, or Dad or my brother. Uncle Pete? Was Uncle Pete here, and Aunt Dora?"

"Yes, honey. Everyone's been here."

"I was just floating somewhere while they talked to me, then I woke up here."

"Before he hurt you, you looked at, him." Eve felt Marley's fingers twitch in hers. "I bet you hesitated a little, got an impression of him. You figured he was okay, just some guy in trouble. You're too smart to go up to someone who looked dangerous."

"He had that big cast, and he looked so upset and frustrated. He was cute. Curly dark hair. Curly hair and a ball cap. I think. I can't... He looked over at me and smiled."

"Can, you see him now. In your head? Can you see him, Marley?"

"Yes... I think. It's not clear."

"I'm going to show you some pictures. I want you to look at them and tell me if one of them is the man with the cast. Just see his face in your head, and look at thee pictures."

"I'll try." She wet her lips. "I'm so thirsty."

"Here you are, sweetheart." All but crooning, Sela brought a cup' and straw to her daughter's lips. "Take your time. Remember you're safe now."

"Hard to stay awake. Hard to think."

"She's had enough, Lieutenant."

At Laurence's voice, Marley stirred, again, struggled to look toward him. "I heard you, when I was floating I heard you. You told me not to give up. That... you wouldn't give. up if I didn't."

"That's right." It was the compassion in his voice, on his face that had Eve stifling her impatience.

"And you didn't give up," Laurence said "You've made me look real good around here."

"Give me one more minute," Eve pleaded with him. "Just one more minute, Marley, and we'll be all done."

"You're the police?" Marlene turned her head on the pillow and looked impossibly young, impossibly frail. "I'm sorry. I'm getting mixed up."

"I'm the police." Eve drew out photos o.her suspects. "When you look at these pictures, remember he can't touch you now. You got away, you didn't give up, and he can't touch you."

She showed them to Marlene one at a time, watching her eyes for that shock of recognition. She saw it, and the fear that rode with it.

"Him. Oh God, him! Mom. Mommy." "Lieutenant Dallas, that's enough."

She elbowed the doctor back. "Marley. Are you sure?"

"Yes, yes, yes." She turned her face into her mother's breast. "That's his face. Those are his eyes. He smiled at me."

"It's all right. He's gone."

"I want you out. Now."

"I'm going."

"Wait" Marlene groped for Eve's hand again, and turned her bruised and exhausted face away from her mother. "He was going to kill me, wasn't he?"

"He didn't: You beat him. And you stopped him." She leaned over the bed, spoke very deliberately as Marlene's eyes fluttered closed again. "You're the one who stopped him, Marley. You remember that. Don't ever forget that."

She stepped back while the doctor checked the vitals, the monitors. Then she turned and left the room.

"Got that son of a bitch," she said to Roarke and kept walking toward the elevator. "I need to go to Central, put this together. I still want you to check the travel dates. I want this ice cold and locked. I'll have my warrant within two hours if I have to strangle a judge to get it."

"Lieutenant! Lieutenant, wait." Sela rushed down the corridor. "You're going after him now."

"Yes, ma'am, I am."

"Did you mean what you said, that she'd stopped him?" "I did.

She pressed her fingers to her lids. "That's going to get her through. I know my girl, and that'll get her through this. They didn't think she'd ever wake up. I knew she would."

"You sure as hell did."

Sela laughed, then clamped a hand over her lips to hold back a sob. "Dr. Laurence, I know he was rude to you, but he's been very kind to us, and worked very hard for Marley."

"I was rude right back. We're, all just looking out for her."

"I just wanted to say that I've thought of Dr. Laurence as her guardian angel, and you as her avenging one. I won't ever forget you." She rose on her toes, gave Eve a quick peck on the cheek, then hurried away.

"Avenging angel." Embarrassed, Eve hunched her shoulders as she stepped into the elevator. "Jesus." Then she straightened, grinned fiercely. "I can tell you this, when I'm finished, Niles Renquist will see meas a demon from hell."

It was a tricky' business, both politically and personally. Peabody was going to be pissed, and undoubtedly sulky, that she hadn't been called in. She'd just have to suck it-up, Eve thought, as she prepared to make her pitch, to Commander Whitney.

He was, she imagined, none too-pleased himself to have been called back into Central. When she stopped into his office and noted the tuxedo covering his, big frame, she fought back a wince.

"Sir, I'm sorry to have interrupted your evening."

"I assume your reasons for doing so will be strong enough to placate my wife." As Eve wasn't quite as successful in holding back the wince this time, Whitney nodded. "You don't know the half of it. You'd better have Niles 'Renquist cold, Lieutenant, because before I deal with -my wife, I've got the ambassador, the U.N., and the British government in line."