Echoes in Death (In Death #44)(114)

Eve thought of the next victim as she rang the buzzer on the door of Daphne’s suite.

Tish answered, eyed all three. “Daphne’s in her room. Has there been another? You said there hadn’t, but—”

“No, there’s not going to be another.”

“You caught him.” Tears sprang to Tish’s eyes. “Why didn’t you say so when you tagged us? God, God, what a relief. Our parents are out. We talked them into going out, taking a walk in the park, but—”

“I really need to speak to Daphne.”

“Sure, sorry. God, thank God. Are you Dr. Mira?” She asked as she gestured them into the parlor area. “Daphne described you.”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad you came. She feels—says she feels—calmer with you. You’re Roarke. I recognize you. I know you found her, helped get her to the hospital. I’m her sister. Please, everybody sit down. I’ll get her. This is going to help her so much.”

She started toward a bedroom, stopped. “Shit, sorry. I should offer you something. We’ve got a nice little kitchen area.”

“Why don’t I make some tea?” Mira took off her coat as she spoke. “Daphne may like some.”

“I’m for popping some champagne, but, yeah, tea. Thanks. We’ll be right back.”

Eve went to the window, looked out. “I love New York. Despite the fact that people like Knightly inhabit it, I love it. It’s helped make me what I am. It gave me my place.”

“You’re still sad.”

“In Dallas, those last days in that awful room, I could see out the window. But there was nothing real, nothing I knew or understood. My world was that room, and my world was a nightmare. Even after I got out, after I killed him and got out, it wasn’t my world. It was like something on screen. Sometimes he let me watch screen. It was like that, and sometimes there were monsters on screen, just like in my world. We’ve got monsters here, but I know them. I’m not afraid of them.”

She closed her eyes a moment. “When this is done, can we—I know it’s cold—but can we go home and take a walk? Just walk in the cold and snow for a little while?”

“I’d love to take a walk with you.”

“If it’s dark—”

“We’ll turn on all the lights.” He walked to her, laid his hands on her shoulders, kissed the top of her head. “It’ll be our world.”

She reached back, laid a hand over his. Let it drop when she heard the bedroom door open.

She turned her back on the city she loved.





Epilogue

Daphne’s lips trembled, tears gleamed in her eyes, but she moved straight to Eve, gripped her hands.

“Tish said you caught the devil—the man. You caught him. Did you?”

“Yes.”

“Oh God.” Now she threw her arms around Eve, clung tight. “Thank God. Thank you. He can’t come back? He can’t ever come back?”

“No, he won’t come back. Let’s sit down.”

Mira came out with a tray.

“Oh, Dr. Mira.” Daphne rushed over to take the tray. “I’m so glad you’re here. I feel…” Daphne carried the tray back, set it on the table in front of the sofa. “I don’t know, exactly. I feel like something’s ready to break inside me, and I don’t know what’ll be left when it does. Is it all right if I tell Dr. Nobel?”

“He said to call him Del,” Tish reminded her, and began pouring tea.

“It’s just he’s been so kind and concerned. My parents! Tish, we should tag them.”

“They’ll be back soon anyway. Have some tea, Daph. Take a breath.”

“Daphne.” Eve waited until Daphne took the cup, shifted toward her. “The man who attacked you is named Kyle Knightly. Do you know him?”

“I … No, I don’t think so. Do you think my husband knew him?”

“I doubt it. This person put cameras in your house, hid them. He watched you and your husband for several weeks.”

“He…” The cup rattled before she set it down. “He watched. He … recorded us?”

“Christ, sick bastard,” Tish exploded, passing Mira tea.

“Daphne, I’d already concluded that Anthony Strazza abused you, battered you, raped you.”

“He was my husband. He gave me everything. I owed him—”

“That’s bullshit, Daphne.” Tish snapped out the words. “You know it’s bullshit.”

Daphne shook her head. “Please, Tish. He’s dead. He was my husband. I can’t say bad things about him. You shouldn’t expect me to.”

“I can expect you to tell me the truth.” Eve said it sharply enough to have Daphne’s head snapping up, to put just a hint of fear in her eyes. “He abused you. He struck you, and then treated your wounds so no one would see. He threatened to do worse if you told anyone, if you tried to leave. He raped you if you objected. He threatened your family in order to make you sever ties with them.”

“It doesn’t matter now,” Daphne began.

“It does. Record on. I’m going to read you your rights.”

“What!” Tish leaped to her feet. “What the fuck?”