Vengeance in Death (In Death #6)(99)

“That is correct.”

“What were you doing in the Mermaid Club at six-thirty in the morning?”

“I received a transmission at about six-fifteen. The caller didn’t identify himself. He told me to go there, immediately and alone.”

“And you always go to sex clubs when some anonymous guy calls you up at dawn and tells you to?”

Summerset sent her a withering look, which cheered her a bit. He wasn’t down yet, she decided.

“I was told that a friend of mine was being held there, and that she would be harmed if I didn’t obey instructions.”

“What friend?”

He poured the water now, drank one small sip. “Audrey Morrell.”

“Yeah, she was your alibi for Brennen’s killing. That didn’t pan out too well for you. Sure you want to use her again?”

“There’s no need for sarcasm, Lieutenant. The transmission came in. It will be on the log.”

“And we’ll check that. So this anonymous caller tells you to get over to the Mermaid Club — you knew where it was?”

“No, I didn’t. I am not in the habit of patronizing such establishments,” he said so primly she had to stifle a snort. “He provided the address.”

“Damn considerate of him. He tells you to get there or your girlfriend’ll be in dire straights.”

“He said — he indicated that he would do to her what had been done to Marlena.”

A jolt of pity, of understanding, of great regret thudded through her. But she couldn’t offer it. “Okay, you’ve got a cop in the house, but you don’t bother to tell this cop of a possible abduction and/or assault.”

His eyes were dark and cold on hers, but she saw the fear riding just behind the pride. “I am not in the habit of depending on the police department.”

“If your story’s clean, you wouldn’t be sitting here if you had.” Their eyes held as she leaned forward. “You’re aware that there have been three murders and that you were under suspicion for those three murders. Though the evidence is circumstantial, and your testing results were negative, you weren’t sitting on a garden bench there.”

She wanted to shake him for being stupid, for disliking her so intensely he hadn’t asked for help even when she would have had no choice but to give it. “Now, you claim to have gotten an anonymous call and end up on the scene of an attempted murder.”

“It isn’t a claim, it’s a fact. I couldn’t risk someone else I cared for being hurt.” It was as much as he could bear to give, that one reminder of his daughter. “I wouldn’t risk it. When the transmission came through, I acted as I thought I had to act.”

It would have been easier if she hadn’t understood. She eased back again. ‘ “The scene and method of this attempted murder follows the same pattern as the three more successful murders.”

She reached down into the bag she’d brought in and took out a small glass jar. It wasn’t Patrick Murray’s eye that floated in it. The surgeons had hope they could reattach it. But the simulation carried the same impact.

She watched as Summerset stared at the small, floating organ, then turned her head away.

“Do you believe in an eye for an eye?”

“I thought I did.” His voice trembled, then he steadied it. “I don’t know what I believe.”

Saying nothing, she reached down again and picked out the statue of the Madonna. “The Virgin. Marlena was innocent. She was pure.”

“She was fourteen. Only fourteen.” Tears swam in his eyes, paining them both. “I have to believe she’s at peace. To survive I have to believe. Do you think I could do what’s been done here, in her name?” He closed his eyes, desperate for control. “She was gentle, and unspoiled. I won’t answer any more questions about her. Not to you.”

She nodded and rose. But before she turned he caught the pity dark and deep in her eyes. He’d opened his mouth without any idea what he would say, when she spoke again.

“Are you aware that electronics play a primary part in said crimes, and that your incoming log is worth squat?”

Again he opened his mouth, closed it again. What kind of woman was it, he wondered, who could go from melting compassion to whiplash in less than a blink. This time he took a deeper drink. “The transmission came in, just as I’ve said.”

Steady again, Eve came back, sat. The image of Marlena was ruthlessly blocked from her mind. “Did you attempt to contact Audrey Morrell and access her status?”

“No, I — “

“How did you travel to the Mermaid Club?”

“I took my personal vehicle and, following the instructions I was given, parked near the side entrance of the club on Fifteenth Street.”

“How did you get in?”

“The side door was unlocked.”

“What happened then?”

“I called out. No one answered, but the music was very loud. All the lights were on. I went into the lounge area. I saw him right away, in the tank. He — I think he was moving. I thought I saw his lips move. His eye — his eye was gone and his face was battered.”

He began to lose color as he spoke, as the image played back in his head. “Water was still going into the tank. I didn’t know how to shut it off. I started up the ladder, thinking I could pull him out. Then you came in.”