Blow Fly (Kay Scarpetta #12)(124)

"I know," Scarpetta says. "At least that question will be answered."

"Talley saw her, spoke to her, went to her house. She resisted him, which is something he won't tolerate. He murdered her, and because Charlotte had seen the two of them together, and because Talley was tired of Charlotte, bored with her, he saw to it that she died. Met her, brought her pills."

"The poor little boy."

"Don't worry," Benton says.

"Where are Lucy and Marino? Where are Rudy and Nic?" Now she remembers them.

"Picked up by a Coast Guard helicopter about half an hour ago. After raiding Bev Kiffin and Jay Talley's hideout."

"How do you know?"

He gets up from the table. "I have my sources."

Senator Lord enters Scarpetta's mind again. The Coast Guard is now Homeland Security. Yes, Senator Lord would know.

Benton moves closer to her, looking into her eyes. "If you hate me forever, I'll understand. If you don't want to be with me I don't blame... well, you shouldn't. Jean-Baptiste is still out there. He will come after me. Somehow."

She says nothing, waiting for the hallucination to pass.

"Can I touch you?" Benton asks.

"It doesn't matter who else is out there. I've been through too much."

"Can I touch you, Kay?"

She lifts his hands and presses them against her face.

The End