Dear God, what kind of questions? What in the world was he doing here? Thea frowned. But I told you last nightI didnt see anything. I wasnt even home.
One dark brow lifted slightly. But your little girl was, right?
His words were like a dagger through Theas chest. Her heart seemed to stop for a long painful moment, and she could almost feel the color draining from her face. How did you
May I come in? This wont take long.
He didnt wait for her acquiescence this time, but strode by her into the apartment, turning to face her when she remained motionless at the open doorway. Left with no option, Thea closed the door and followed him.
Sorry to interrupt your coffee. He nodded toward the steaming mug on the cocktail table. Smells good.
Thea merely looked at him. She had no intention of offering him coffee or anything else. This wasnt a social call, and the sooner she got rid of him, the better.
How in Gods name had he known about Nikki? The Mancusos had far-reaching contacts, but still
Thea laced her fingers together, trying to stop the trembling. She couldnt let him see how nervous she was. Couldnt give herself away. For Nikkis sake, she had to perform as she had never performed before.
How did you know about my daughter? She got to finish the question this time, amazed that her tone came out just rightpart curiosity, part irritation at having her peaceful morning interrupted.
We obtained a list of all the tenants in the building with children. Little girls, to be exact.
But why? For the first time, Thea noticed the brown paper bag he carried in one hand. Fear crept up her backbone. She lifted her gaze to meet his. Detective Gallagher, whats this about?
In answer, he turned toward the television. I see youve been watching the news this morning. You probably already know that the woman who died here last night was Gail Waters. She was a reporter for a small newspaper called the Press.
A reporter? What had a reporter been doing in this building? Who had she come to see? Had she somehow found out about her and Nikki?
The paper is local, but some of her investigative pieces also ran on a cable news channel.
Gail Waters had been on television? Was that why shed looked familiar? Thea desperately wanted to believe that was the case. There was no reason to assume a reporters presence in this building had anything to do with her and Nikki. And yet
Detective Gallagher was here in her apartment, asking questions about her daughter. Obviously he thought there was a connection.
Thea lifted her chin. As I told you last night, I dont recall having seen her before. I dont understand why youre here, Detective Gallagher.
His gaze, intent and probing, fell on her once more. As you can imagine, therere still a lot of unanswered questions concerning her death.
But I thought her death was a suicide. The officer I spoke with last night said a note had been found on the body.
And as I said last night, suicides a possibility, but were not ruling out homicide. Not yet, at least.
Homicide? You think someone murdered her? Thea felt momentarily faint. Who would want to kill her? she asked weakly.
He gave her a curious look. Reporters are a lot like cops. People sometimes dont like the questions we ask.
Thea didnt say anything to that, but she remembered the list of people Rick had claimed wanted him dead. And yet the last person hed suspected was the one who finally did him in. Theas stomach churned in warning. Whether it was suicide or murder, I dont see what her death has to do with my daughter or me.
Im coming to that. He took something from the bag and held it up for her inspection. Do you recognize this?
Theas knees almost buckled when she saw the doll. The black curls, the brown eyes, the dimpled cheeks were very much like her daughters, which was exactly why shed bought the doll for Nikki. It had been an extravagance they could ill afford these days, but her daughter had been so enchanted with the resemblance when theyd seen her in a shop window. Thea hadnt been able to resist. Until then, Nikki had been largely unresponsive to just about everything. The doll, named Piper after a character in Nikkis favorite book, had struck a chord deep inside the child that no one, including Thea, had been able to touch since that terrible night four months ago.
Nikki loved that doll. She would never have willingly parted with it. So how had Detective Gallagher come to be in possession of it? And what did the doll have to do with Gail Waterss death?
Chilled, Thea stared at the doll in Gallaghers hand, forcing her expression to remain placid. It was imperative that he not connect the doll to Nikki. It was crucial that the two of them remain untouched by his investigation. You came here at this hour of the morning to ask me about a doll? She let a trace of irritation creep into her voice.
Do you recognize it?
Almost absently Thea rubbed her hands up and down her arms. Detective Gallagher watched her intently, studying her as if she were a bug under his microscope. But Thea had learned a lot about bluffing from her father and from the other investigators who had worked for him. That doll could belong to any little girl in this building. I cant imagine why you think its my daughters.
His eyes narrowed on her. He didnt appear fooled by her evasions. I found this doll on the roof last night after a woman had fallen to her death. Does it, or does it not, belong to your daughter?
On the roof! My God
A fresh wave of fear washed over Thea, but she shook her head, denying her thoughts. This was crazy. Nikki would never have gone up to the roof. She wasnt even allowed out of the apartment without Theas permission, and besides that, her daughter was terrified of the dark. There was no way on earth she would have gone up to that roof alone last night, and Thea couldnt imagine that Mrs. Lewellyn would have taken her.
So how had the doll gotten up there?
You look surprised, Mrs. Lockhart. Why is that, if the doll doesnt belong to your daughter?
Cornered, Thea chewed her lip. The doll is a common one. Ive seen it in several stores. Nikki does have one similar to it, but that doesnt mean this one is hers. It couldnt be, because there is no way she would have been on that roof. Shes only four years old.
The stairs go all the way to the roof, Detective Gallagher pointed out. Even a four-year-old can climb stairs, and you said yourself, you were out all evening. How can you be sure your daughter wasnt on that roof?
Because her baby-sitter would never have allowed it. But a vision of Mrs. Lewellyn snoring peacefully on the sofa flashed through Theas mind. Was it possible Nikki had left the apartment while the elderly woman slept? But why would Nikki do something like that? It was totally out of character for her. There was no good reason Thea could think of that would have compelled her daughter out of the apartment and up to the roof.
Either the doll wasnt hers or shed lost it somewhere, in the hallway perhaps between here and Mrs. Lewellyns apartment, and someone had picked it up. Someone else had taken it to the roof. That was the only possible explanation.
If only she hadnt had to work late last night. Then she would have been home with Nikki herself, and Detective Gallagher wouldnt be here asking all these questions, and she wouldnt be assailed by all these doubts. This awful premonition that somehow she and Nikki both were tied to the dead woman.
If only she hadnt had to work late last night. Then she would have been home with Nikki herself, and Detective Gallagher wouldnt be here asking all these questions, and she wouldnt be assailed by all these doubts. This awful premonition that somehow she and Nikki both were tied to the dead woman.
Im afraid I cant help you, she insisted.
Detective Gallagher stared at her for a moment longer, then shrugged. Sorry I wasted your time. He started for the door, but before Thea could breathe a sigh of relief, he turned back to face her. Maybe we should ask your daughter about last night. Just to be on the safe side.
Shes sleeping, and I really dont want to wake her. Shehasnt been feeling well lately.
I see. His eyes were dark and fathomless as his gaze rested on Thea. He looked as if he wanted to say something else, but a sound from behind her drew his attention, and Thea knew without turning that her daughter was standing in the doorway. She also knew that once Nikki saw the doll in Detective Gallaghers hand the pretense would be over.
But Piper had disappeared behind the detectives back, out of Nikkis sight. Thea thought for a moment he was actually going to leave without questioning her daughter, but then in the next instant, she told herself she should have known better. He was a cop, wasnt he? No one was sacred. Not even a wounded four-year-old girl.
You must be Nikki. His tone lowered, became almost gentle. He walked past Thea before she could protest and knelt in front of her daughter. Your mother and I were just talking about you. Im Detective Gallagher.
Nikki was still dressed in her pajamas, looking soft and sweetly rumpled, her cloud of dark hair hanging in tangles down her back. She stared at Detective Gallagher, her brown eyes wide with fright.
Thea moved quickly to Nikkis side and knelt beside her, smoothing back her hair. Its okay, sweetie. Hes not going to hurt you.
She gave Gallagher a warning glance, and he smiled reassuringly at Nikki. A rather devastating smile, Thea thought fleetingly.
Why dont you call me John? Thats what my friends call me. Some of them even call me Johnny.
How ludicrous. The man looked nothing like a Johnny.
Nikkis gaze silently probed his features, searching for signs of violence. Rick had taught their daughter well, too. Theas heart twisted, watching her.
Still kneeling in front of Nikki, John said, I wonder if you could help me out, Nikki. I found a pretty little doll on the roof last night. Come to think of it, she looks a lot like you. I rescued her before she got rained on, and now Im trying to find out who she belongs to. He brought the doll around and laid her across his knee.
Nikki made a guttural sound deep in her throat and snatched Piper from his knee, clutching her tightly to her chest as she backed into the tiny hallway.
I take it she belongs to you, John said softly. He glanced at Thea, his gaze cold and accusing. What was your doll doing on the roof, Nikki? Did you leave her there?
Nikki looked near tears. Her eyes were like two huge Os. She continued to back away from Detective Gallagher, until she was trapped against the wall. Then she slid down to sit on the floor, curling into a soft protective ball around Piper.
Im not going to hurt you, John said, making no move toward the little girl. I just need to ask you a few questions.
Shaken by her daughters reaction, Thea pushed past the detective and gathered Nikki into her arms. Nikki whimpered, burying her face in Theas shoulder as she clutched Piper tightly. She cant answer your questions, Detective, Thea said coldly. Why dont you just go away and leave us alone?
He rose slowly. I didnt come here to frighten your little girl. Im sorry shes scared. But this is a police investigation. A woman is dead, and its my job to find out what happened to her. If your daughter knows something
She doesnt know anything. Please, she cant help you. Theas arms tightened protectively around Nikki as she gazed up at Detective Gallagher, trying to appeal to the softness shed glimpsed in him earlier, fervently hoping the compassion had been genuine. I dont know how her doll got on that roof, but I do know Nikki wasnt up there last night. She couldnt have been. She didnt see anything.
Why wont you let her tell me that?
Thea drew a long trembling breath and said, almost in a whisper, Because she cant. She cant tell you anything. My daughter cant speak, Detective.
JOHN STOOD at the window in Thea Lockharts living room while he waited for her to come out of her daughters bedroom. Shed reluctantly told him to help himself to the coffee, and hed complied, the aroma too tempting to pass up this early in the morning. The rich steamy brew was a far cry from the lukewarm sludge at the station, and he savored the taste as he stared out the window.
The building across the street blocked the view of the lake, forcing his gaze downward. The yellow crime-scene tape had torn loose in the wind, and sometime during the night the rain had changed to snow; now a light layer of it hid the bloodstains. Passersby on the street barely gave the spot a second glance. They didnt know or didnt care that a woman had died there last night, had sucked in her last breath while plunging five stories to the ground. Had the name of her killer been on her lips when she died?
Scowling, John turned away from the window. He couldnt shake the nagging suspicion that Thea Lockhart and her daughter knew more about Gail Waterss death than they were telling. Why else was Mrs. Lockhart so nervous around him?
Mrs. Lockhart. John glanced around the apartment, taking in the shabby furniture, the basket of laundry shoved in one corner, the coloring book and crayons scattered over the dining-room table. Gold hoop earrings had been dropped into a glass bowl on the cocktail table, and a pair of white walking shoes rested near the front door.
There wasnt a trace of masculinity anywhere, including the laundry. A pink uniform lay folded on top of the basket, while the leg of a childs pajama bottom hung over one side and a lacy white bra spilled over the other.
He stared at the bra for a moment as something familiar, and unwanted, stirred in him. Meredith had been gone for some time. He was over her, and hed long since come to terms with his failed marriage. But a womans underthings were a reminder of the intimacy and closeness hed once had, and he couldnt deny a certain hollowness in his life now. A loneliness he didnt often admit to.
He glanced up and caught Thea Lockhart watching him from the hallway. She knew what hed been staring at, and a faint blush tinged her cheeks. She lifted her chin as she came into the room.
Shed changed from the chenille robe into a pair of worn jeans and navy blue sweater. Her short dark hair was combed behind her ears, but a riot of curls spilled across her forehead. She shoved it back impatiently.
Hows your daughter? John asked, his gaze inadvertently traveling over her. She was very thin, her skin smooth and soft-looking, but she had a toughness about her, a wariness in her dark eyes that made him think she was no innocent. Shed been around. Somehow he liked that about her.
Shes playing with her doll for now, but shell want breakfast in a few minutes.
John took the hint. Hed need to leave before then. Why did you lie to me about the doll, Mrs. Lockhart?