Visions in Death (In Death #19)(112)

"And you started to plan."

"I don't know. That's sterling. I didn't know what to do, what I would do. I almost went to the police. It was my first instinct, I swear it. But I... didn't, and I wondered who he was and how he could do the things he did."

"So you watched him," Roarke finished. "To find out."

"Yes. I was fascinated and repelled, but I was able to link to him, and I... studied him. And I wondered: Why doesn't he kill Annalisa? Everything would be the way it should be again, if he'd kill Annalisa. I wondered if I could pay him to do it, but that was too risky. And he's mad, so he might've hurt me. And I realized, maybe, there'd be a way for me to do it. Then he killed Elisa Maplewood. Right here in the city, and I knew how it could be done."

She let her head fall back. "I didn't just come to you for information," she said to Eve. "I needed to know how you would handle the investigation, how quickly you would find him, what you thought of me. And a part of me, I swear to you, a part of me hoped you'd find him quickly, before I... But you didn't. I gave you information hoping, in some part of myself, that you'd find him, stop him, before..."

"So you could put the blame on the investigation, on me, when you killed her."

"Maybe. I agreed to the hypnosis before Annalisa," she reminded Eve. "I volunteered for it. I asked Mira to start it right away, but she was so cautious."

"Her fault, too."

"It plays in, certainly. If any one factor had gone differently, it all would be different. I told myself if the information I gave you led you to him quickly, that was what was meant. If she, if Annalisa didn't walk into the park that night, I'd stop the whole thing. If she didn't take the shortcut, I'd walk away from her, that I was meant to. I'd tell you everything I saw. But she did. She did, so it seemed that was meant, and I let myself become him, in a way, so I didn't have to think about what I was doing. I let myself become him so I could stand apart and watch, with a kind of horror. Then it was too late to go back."

She shuddered, drank more brandy. "She saw me, just for an instant. And she was so confused. But it was too late to go back. I couldn't stop myself. Well." She breathed out. "When did you know?"

"When I learned her connection to Lucas Grande."

"Please." She waved that away. "You're a very clever woman, but you had no idea at that point. I read you in Mira's office, and after the attack on Peabody just to cover myself."

"You're not the only one who can block." Eve angled her head. "I told you Mira has a daughter who's Wiccan and a sensitive. She gave me a few pointers."

"You played me."

"That's right. But not well enough, not fast enough, or my partner wouldn't be in the hospital."

"I didn't know he'd go after her. By the time I did, it was too late. I tried to contact you. I like Peabody."

"Me, too. Guess you didn't have the same sensibilities about the other women he butchered."

She lifted her shoulders a little, let them fall. "I didn't know them."

"I do."

"I did it for love. Whatever I did, it was for love."

"Bullshit. You did it for yourself. For control, for power, for selfishness. People don't kill for love, Celina, they just like to pretty up the mess they've made by saying so."

Eve stood. "On your feet."

"I'll make a jury understand. It was a kind of madness, that's all. And that madness took me over—my gift makes me all the more susceptible—until what he was got inside of me and killed Annalisa."

"You go on believing that. Celina Sanchez, you're under arrest. Why don't I give you a rundown of the counts?" She nodded to Roarke who moved to the elevator. "First degree sexual assault, first degree murder, mutilation of Annalisa Sommers, a human being. Accessory to sexual assault, murder, and mutilation, before and after the fact. Fifteen counts."

"Fifteen... You can't blame me for what he did." She tried to swing around when Eve snapped on the restraints.

"Oh yeah, we can. We do. And I'll bet mine against yours we'll make a jury understand why." Eve looked over as McNab and Feeney got off the elevator. "Additional counts, accessory before and after the fact, attempted murder, assault and battery on a police officer. Take her in, Detective. Book her."

McNabtook Celina's arm. "My pleasure."

"List Detective Peabody as arresting officer, in absentia."

He opened his mouth, then cleared his throat. "Thank you, sir."

"Go home, kid," Feeney told her as he took Celina's other arm. "We've got it from here."

Eve listened to the elevator start down. "Should get a team in here tonight, see what we can dig up. Add a few bars to her cage." Then she rubbed her tired eyes. "Screw it, we'll lock it down. Tomorrow's soon enough."

"Music to my ears." He recalled the elevator. "That was well done, Lieutenant. Giving the collar to Peabody."

"She earned it. I'm still buzzed." She rolled her shoulders and stepped into the elevator. "My eyes want to close, but my body's still jumping."

"I believe we can fix that when we get home. You can close your eyes." He leaned down, kissed her, long and deep. "And I'll jump your body."