lhamilton.thekillingdance-第37节

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as　just　a　matter　of　how　wonderful　it　was。　I　took　a　hesitant　sip　of　the　steaming　liquid　and　made　appreciative　'mmm'　sounds。　It　was　real　coffee　and　real　cream。
　〃Glad　you　like　it；〃　Rizzo　said。
　I　looked　up　at　him。　〃Thank　you；　Officer。〃
　He　grunted　and　moved　away　from　us　to　lean　against　the　other　wall。
　〃I　talked　to　Ted　Forrester；　your　pet　bounty　hunter。　The　gun　in　your　purse　is　registered　to　him。〃　Dolph　sat　back　down；　blowing　on　his　coffee。
　Ted　Forrester　was　one　of　Edward's　aliases。　It　had　stood　up　to　police　scrutiny　once　before　when　we　ended　up　with　bodies　on　the　ground。　He　was；　as　far　as　the　police　knew；　a　bounty　hunter　specializing　in　preternatural　creatures。　Most　bounty　hunters　stayed　in　the　Western　states　where　there　were　still　substantial　bounties　on　shapeshifters。　Not　all　of　them　were　particularly　careful　that　the　shapeshifter　they　killed　was　really　a　danger　to　anyone。　The　only　criteria　some　states　had　was　that　after　death；　the　body　was　medically　certified　as　a　lycanthrope。　A　blood　test　was　sufficient　in　most　cases。　Wyoming　was　thinking　of　changing　its　laws　because　of　three　wrongful　death　suits　that　had　made　it　all　the　way　to　their　state　supreme　court。
　〃I　needed　a　gun　small　enough　to　fit　in　the　purse　but　with　stopping　power；〃　I　said。
　〃I　don't　like　bounty　hunters；　Anita。　They　abuse　the　law。〃
　I　sipped　coffee　and　stayed　quiet。　If　he　knew　just　how　much　Edward　abused　the　law；　he'd　have　locked　him　up　for　a　very　long　time。
　〃If　he's　a　good　enough　friend　to　bail　your　ass　out　of　this　kind　of　trouble；　why　haven't　you　mentioned　him　before？　I　didn't　know　he　existed　until　that　last　trouble　you　had　with　those　shapeshifter　poachers。〃
　〃Poachers；〃　I　said　and　shook　my　head。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　Dolph　asked。
　〃Shapeshifters　get　killed；　and　its　poaching。　Normal　people　get　killed；　and　it's　murder。〃
　〃You　sympathizing　with　the　monsters　now；　Anita？〃　he　asked。　His　voice　was　even　quieter；　so　still　you　might　have　mistaken　it　for　calm；　but　it　wasn't。　He　was　pissed。
　〃You're　mad　about　something　other　than　the　body　count；〃　I　said。
　〃You're　involved　with　the　Master　of　the　City。　Is　that　how　you　keep　getting　all　that　inside　info　on　the　monsters？〃
　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　let　it　out。　〃Sometimes。〃
　〃You　should　have　told　me；　Anita。〃
　〃Since　when　is　my　personal　life　police　business？〃
　He　just　looked　at　me。
　I　looked　down　into　my　coffee　mug；　staring　at　my　hands。　I　finally　looked　back　up。　It　was　hard　meeting　his　eyes；　harder　than　I　wanted　it　to　be。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　say；　Dolph？　That　I　find　it　embarrassing　that　one　of　the　monsters　is　my　boyfriend？　I　do。〃
　〃Then　drop　him。〃
　〃If　it　were　that　easy；　trust　me；　I'd　do　it。〃
　〃How　can　I　trust　you　to　do　your　job；　Anita？　You're　sleeping　with　the　enemy。〃
　〃Why　does　everyone　assume　I'm　sleeping　with　him？　Doesn't　anybody　but　me　date　people　and　not　have　sex？〃
　〃I　apologize　for　the　assumption；　but　you　got　to　admit　a　lot　of　people　are　going　to　assume　the　same　thing。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　The　door　opened；　and　Greeley　came　back　inside。　His　eyes　took　in　the　handcuffs　being　gone；　the　coffee。　〃You　have　a　nice　chat？〃
　〃How'd　your　statement　to　the　press　go？〃　Dolph　asked。
　He　shrugged。　〃I　told　them　Ms。　Blake　was　being　questioned　in　connection　with　a　death　on　the　premises。　Told　'em　that　no　vamps　were　involved。　Not　sure　they　believed　me。　They　kept　wanting　to　speak　to　the　Executioner。　Though　most　of　them　were　calling　her　the　Master's　girlfriend。〃
　That　made　me　flinch。　Even　with　a　career　of　my　own；　I　was　going　to　end　up　being　Mrs。　Jean…Claude　in　the　press。　He　was　more　photogenic　than　I　was。
　Dolph　stood。　〃I　want　to　take　Anita　out　of　here。〃
　Greeley　stared　at　him。　〃I　don't　think　so。〃
　Dolph　set　his　coffee　on　the　desk　and　went　to　stand　next　to　the　other　detective。　He　lowered　his　voice；　and　there　was　a　lot　of　harsh　whispering。　Greeley　shook　his　head。　〃No。〃
　More　whispering。　Greeley　glared　at　me。　〃All　right；　but　she　es　down　to　the　station　before　the　night　is　over　or　it's　your　ass；　Sergeant。〃
　〃She'll　be　there；〃　Dolph　said。
　Rizzo　was　staring　at　all　of　us。　〃You're　taking　her　out　of　here；　but　not　to　the　station　house？〃　It　sounded　accusatory　even　to　me。
　〃That's　my　decision；　Rizzo；〃　Greeley　said。　〃You　got　that？〃　His　voice　growled　the　words。　Somehow　Dolph　had　pulled　rank；　and　Greeley　didn't　like　it。　If　Rizzo　wanted　to　make　himself　a　convenient　target　for　that　anger；　fine。
　Rizzo　faded　back　against　the　wall；　but　he　wasn't　happy　about　it。　〃I　got　that。〃
　〃Get　her　out　of　here；〃　Greeley　said。　〃Try　the　back。　But　I　don't　know　how　you'll　get　past　the　cameras。〃
　〃We'll　walk　through；〃　Dolph　said。　〃Let's　go；　Anita。〃
　I　set　my　mug　on　the　desk。　〃What's　up；　Dolph？〃
　〃I　got　a　body　for　you　to　look　at。〃
　〃A　murder　suspect　helping　with　another　case。　Won't　the　brass　get　mad？〃
　〃I　cleared　it；〃　Dolph　said。
　I　looked　at　him；　eyes　wide。　〃How？〃　I　asked。
　〃You　don't　want　to　know；〃　he　said。
　I　looked　at　him。　He　stared　back。　I　finally　looked　away　first。　Most　of　the　time；　when　people　said　I　didn't　want　to　know；　it　meant　just　the　opposite。　It　meant　I　probably　needed　to　know。　But　from　a　handful　of　people；　I'd　take　their　word　for　it。　Dolph　was　one　of　those　people。　〃Okay；〃　I　said。　〃Let's　go。〃
　Dolph　let　me　wash　the　dried　blood　off　my　hands；　and　we　went。
　
　
　18
　
　I'm　not　a　big　one　for　idle　chatter；　but　Dolph　makes　me　seem　loquacious。　We　drove　down　270　in　silence；　the　hiss　of　the　wheels　on　the　road　and　the　thrum　of　the　engine　the　only　sounds。　Either　he'd　turned　off　his　radio　or　nobody　was　mitting　crimes　in　Saint　Louis　tonight。　I　was　betting　the　radio　was　off。　One　of　the　good　things　about　being　a　detective　on　a　task　force　is　you　don't　have　to　listen　to　the　radio　all　the　time；　because　most　of　the　calls　aren't　your　problem。　If　Dolph　was　needed　somewhere；　they　could　always　beep　him。
　I　tried　to　hold　out。　I　tried　to　make　Dolph　talk　first；　but　after　nearly　fifteen　minutes；　I　broke。　〃Where　are　we　going？〃
　〃Creve　Coeur。〃
　My　eyebrows　raised。　〃That's　a　little　upscale　for　a　monster　kill。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　he　said。
　I　waited　for　more；　there　wasn't　any　more。　〃Well；　thanks　for　enlightening　me；　Dolph。〃
　He　glanced　at　me；　then　back　to　the　road。　〃We'll　be　there　in　a　few　minutes；　Anita。〃
　〃Patience　has　never　been　my　strong　suit；　Dolph。〃
　His　lips　twitched；　then　he　smiled。　Finally；　he　laughed；　a　short；　abrupt　sound。　〃I　guess　not。〃
　〃Glad　I　could　lighten　the　mood；〃　I　said。
　〃You're　always　good　for　a　laugh　when　you're　not　killing　people；　Anita。〃
　I　didn't　know　what　to　say　to　that。　Too　close　to　the　truth；　maybe。　Silence　settled　over　the　car；　and　I　left　it　alone。　It　was　an　easy；　friendly　quiet　this　time；　tinged　with　laughter。　Dolph　wasn't　mad　at　me　anymore。　I　could　stand　a　little　silence。
　Creve　Coeur　was　an　older　neighborhood　；　but　it　didn't　look　it。　The　age　showed　in　the　large　houses　set　in　long；　sloping　yards。　Some　of　the　houses　had　circular　drives　and　servants'　quarters。　The　few　housing　developments　that　had　crept　in　here　and　there　didn't　always　have　big　yards；　but　the　houses　had　variety；　pools；　rock　gardens。　No　cookie　cutter　houses；　nothing　déclassé。
　Olive　is　one　of　my　favorite　streets。　I　like　the　mix　of　gas　stations；　Dunkin'　Donuts；　custom　order　jewelry　stores；　Mercedes…Benz　dealerships；　and　Blockbuster　Music　and　Video。　Creve　Coeur　isn't　like　most　ritzy　areas；　at　war　with　the　peons。　This　part　of　the　city　has　embraced　both　its　money　and　its　merce；　as　fortable　buying　fine　antiques　as　taking　the　kiddies　through　the　drive…up　line　at　Mickey…D's。
　Dolph　turned　on　a　road　sandwiched　between　two　gas　stations。　It　sloped　sharply；　making　me　want　to　use　the　brake。　Dolph　didn't　share　this　desire；　and　the　car　coasted　down　the　hill　at　a　nice　clip。　Well；　he　was　the　police。　No　speeding　ticket；　I　guess。　We　sped　past　housing　developments　that　branched　off　the　road　like　true　suburbia。　The　houses　were　still　more　distinct；　but　the　yards　had　shrunk；　and　you　knew　that　most　of　what　you　were　driving　past　had　never　had　servants'　quarters。　The　road　climbed　just　a　touch；　then　evened　out。　Dolph　hit　his　turn　signal　while　we　were　still　in　the　shallow　valley。　A　tasteful　sign　said　Countryside　Hills。
　Police　cars　clogged　the　narrow　streets　of　the　subdivision；　lights　strobing　the　darkness。　There　was　a　huddle　of　people　being　held　back　by　uniformed　police；　people　clutching　light　coats　over　their　jammies　or　standing　with　robes　tied　tight。　The　crowd　was　small。　As　we　got　out　of　the　car；　I　saw　a　drape　twitch　in　a　house　across　the　street。　Why　e　outside　when　you　can　peek　from　the　fort　of　your　own　home？
　Dolph　led　me　through　the　uniforms　and　the　twist　of　yellow　Do…Not…Cross　tape。　The　house　that　was　the　center　of　attention　was　one　story　with　a　brick　wall　as　tall　as　the　walls　of　the　house　forming　an　enclosed　courtyard。　There　was　even　a　wrought　iron　gate　to　the　curved　entrance；　very　Mediterranean。　Except　for　the　courtyard；　the　house　looked　like　a　typical　suburban　ranch。　There　was　a　stone　path　and　square；　rock…edged　beds　full　of　rosebushes。　Floodlights　filled　the　walled　garden；　lending　every　petal　and　leaf　its　own　shadow。　Someone　had　gone　way　overboard　on　the　inground　lighting。
　〃You　don't　even　need　a　flashlight　in　here；〃　I　said。
　Dolph　glanced　at　me。　〃You've　never　been　here　then？〃
　I　met　his　eyes　and　couldn't　read　th