What about thethe other Ravens? Joe asked.
Weve spoken with them. They all claim to have alibis, but we have a lot of legwork to do, checking them all out.
Anything you can tell me about the family? Joe asked.
Raif looked at Tom.
Come on, you know Im licensed, and Ive been hired by an interested party, Joe said.
Yeah, okay. Weve got some files on the rest of the board. Ill fax em to you, Raif said. Id just as soon you not mention it around, though. Some guys on the force arent all that fond of outside interest, you know?
I do know. And thanks, Joe told him. He hesitated, then asked. What do you think about that woman on TV, the one who claimed to be psychic?
Raif and Tom exchanged glances again.
Joe groaned softly. Oh, Lord. You two believed her?
Tom laughed softly.
Raifs lips twitched.
What? Joe demanded.
Jerry Grant in vice has picked her up at least three times, he said.
For fraud? Joe suggested.
Hell, no, Raif said. Vice doesnt handle fraud.
He picked her up for prostitution, Tom said. I noticed that last night she was going by Lori Star. When the cops picked her up, she was going by Candy Cane.
She did say she was an actress, Joe said dryly.
Yeah. Shes put on a few innocent acts at the station, all right, Raif said. Still, were going to talk to her.
When?
Now, as soon as Tom Turkey here finishes his sandwich, Raif said.
Mind if I tag along? Joe asked.
What the hell, were on your dime today, Tom said.
Raif was staring at him. You dont think it would bother you? he asked. Your cousins fiancéethat Leslie MacIntyre. She was supposed to be the real deal.
I should definitely go. Ill know the real thing when I see it.
Sam Latham was an all-around good guy. Thirty-six years old, married and the father of two young children. He worked in the editorial department of one of the major publishers, and he simply loved books, especially mysteries, and joined scholars everywhere in considering Edgar Allan Poe to be the father of the detective novel. Genevieve had met him through her mother, and though she couldnt say she knew him well, she had always liked him, his wife and their kids, Vickie, eleven, and Geoffrey, fourteen.
When she arrived at the hospital, she expected something more than what she found: a quiet hallway; Dorothy, Sams wife, in the room with him; and a woman who introduced herself as his mother, Stella, returning with coffee from the hospital cafeteria.
No cops in the hallways, no one on guard.
Because apparently no one believed that Sam had been the intended victim of a killer. Despite the so-called psychic.
Genevieve! Sam said with pleasure, seeing her at the door. He had a cut below one eye, and the bruising that accompanied it, but other than that he appeared to be fine, though the sheets could have been covering other injuries.
Sam, DorothyMrs. Latham, she said after introductions were made.
His mother was probably around sixty-five. She had stunning silver hair styled to set off her tiny features. She immediately looked apologetic. Im so sorry. I didnt know Sam was expecting visitors. I could have gotten you a coffee.
Its all right, but thank you so much for the thought, Genevieve said. Shed stopped downstairs for a flower arrangement, which Dorothy came forward to accept.
How are you? Genevieve asked Sam, as Dorothy added the flowers to the others filling the room.
Fine, Sam said.
Hes such a liar, Dorothy said, distressed. He goes into surgery tomorrow. For his leg.
Oh, Sam, Im so sorry, Genevieve said.
His mother cleared her throat. Are you going to be here for a while, dear? I thought Dorothy and I might go grab something to eat.
They wont leave me alone, Sam said with a groan.
Genevieve glanced quickly at Dorothy, who tried to appear impassive. Apparently Dorothy was more worried than the police were. Maybe shed seen the psychic on TV.
Ill be happy to stay and chat with Sam until you return, Genevieve said.
His mother flashed her a grateful smile; Dorothy gave her a kiss on the cheek. Sam, Dorothy asked, will you be okay?
Honey, go eat. Genevieve will guard me. She has a black belt now.
Gen didnt have a black belt. But she didnt contradict him.
The other two women left, and Genevieve took the chair by the bed. She looked at the IV drip, and the various tubes to which he was attached.
Well, other than the hardware, you do look good, she told him.
He showed her a little clicker which had been hidden in his hand. Morphine, he said, with a dry grin.
Wow, Sam, Im so sorry. It must have been a horrible accident.
Yeah. A horrible accident, he repeated.
But it was an accident, she said. Right?
He looked at her, as if suddenly realizing she had come for more than a simple visit. I guess, he told her. Genevieve, I didnt see anything. I was driving along, thinking about a new manuscript wed just paid a small fortune for, and then
She could have chatted a while, talked more about his kids, pretended. But Sam wasnt about to pretend, so she wouldnt, either.
Thenbang.
Yep. Thenthat sound. That awful impact, he said, shaking his head.
She inhaled deeply. Wellyou look good, she said, trying to sound cheerful.
He shook his head. Genevieve, youre full of bull. I look like shit. And youre a nice person, and Im sure youd visit me no matter what, but youre worried because of Thorne Bigelow. You think someone wants to kill all the Ravens. Including your mother.
She didnt attempt to deny it. What do you think? she asked him.
I dont know what to think, he said. A couple of people reported a car driving erratically. The cops wanted to know if I had seen it, too.
And did you?
I didnt. I was driving, thenwham. I was out. The air bag saved my lifethats why the bruises. But I was knocked out. The next thing I knew, I was on a stretcher with a microphone in my face while I was being stuffed in an ambulance. And they were shooting stuff into me, and I was grateful, because I managed to break a leg, despite the air bag.
She nodded, reached for his free hand and squeezed it. Im so sorry, Sam.
Im having a tough time seeing how anyone could have planned to murder me on the highway like that. He couldnt have any idea who he might kill, and he obviously didnt succeed in killing me, if that was even his plan.
Thats true. She hesitated. But what if?
What ifwhat? Sam pursued.
What if he didnt care if he killed a dozen other people at the same time? she asked.
Lori Star. Candy Cane.
She lived in a rent-controlled building in Soho. When she opened the door to their knock, she kept the chain on as she looked out. Her eyes were wide, hopeful.
Are you with another news station? she asked.
Raif shook his head solemnly, showing his badge. Sorry.
Cops, she said with annoyance.
Are you with another news station? she asked.
Raif shook his head solemnly, showing his badge. Sorry.
Cops, she said with annoyance.
Yeah, cops, Tom supplied.
She stared at Joe. But youre not a cop, she said. Her voice had changed. It had turned low and sexy. Candy Cane, not Lori Star. How did she know? he wondered. Was she really psychic? Was it his manner? Or just a wild guess?
Mr. Connolly is a private investigator, and hes with us, Raif said.
Joe blessed the fact that hed managed to keep a great relationship with the NYPD.
The woman still had the chain on the door. I didnt do anything illegal, she said defensively.
We havent come to arrest you, Raif said.
Then you should go away, she suggested, and started to close the door.
Joe put out hand to stop it. Miss Star, we really need to talk to you. Just for a few minutes.
He was convinced that she didnt have any extraordinary talentsnot paranormal talents, anywaybut he still very much wanted to talk to her.
She stared at him with wide, powder-blue eyes. Then she sighed, closed the door most of the way and undid the security chain.
Come in, she told them resignedly.
She was a small woman, thin, but cosmetically enhanced in the breast department, and pretty in a hard-edged way. She wasnt exactly a high-class hooker, but it didnt look as if shed hit bottom yet, either. She had blond hairenhanced, too, but decently doneand small, sharp features. As she let them in, he saw that she was wearing a silk kimono, but beneath it she had on sweatpants and a Mötley Crue T-shirt.
Sit down, I guess, she said, indicating a sofa and two chairs in the living area, which was also the dining area and was connected straight to a typical studio kitchen.
He chose one of the chairs across from where she sat on the edge of the couch. Raif took the second chair, so Tom was left to sit next to her on the couch, perching uncomfortably a few feet away. She picked up a pack of cigarettes, shook one out and lit it.
Do you mind? she asked. Say nothis is my apartment, and I can smoke here if I want to.
Its your funeral, Raif said with a shrug.
I still like the smell of smoke, Joe told her, smiling.
She flashed him a smile in return.
How long have you been a psychic, Miss Star? he asked politely.
She hesitated, a strange look on her face. Im really an actress, she said.
Tom made a choking sound. She flashed him a cold glare. Ive been an extra in three movies now, she said.
Oh, yeah? Tom asked. Did you play a hooker?
Joe shook his head, tempted to put a bag over the mans head. Tom was too used to interrogating suspects with whom it was necessary to take a hard line.
In this case, though, a hard line wasnt what was called for.
Miss Star, please, we need your help, he said. He had been ready to dismiss the womans claims himself, but something about the way she had looked when hed asked her how long she had been a psychic had given him pause.
After all, who the hell was he to doubt anyone? Hed thought a corpse had spoken to him from a Gurney at the morgue.
She hesitated, looking at him. Honestly? she asked. And at that moment, there was something raw and young and vulnerable about her features that got to him.
She was scared.
Yes, honestly.
She looked around at the three of them. This is off the record, right? You guys have to keep what I say between us.
If you know anything about an attempted murder Raif began.
She shook her head. I dont know anything about an attempted murder. Except for what I saw. In my mind.
A shadow seemed to pass over Raifs eyes. From now on, he wasnt going to believe her. Tom seemed to have withdrawn, as well.
What did you see, in your minds eye, and how did it all happen? Joe said quickly, before either of the other men could say anything to shut her down.
I was here. At home. Getting ready for the night.
Tom made a choking sound again.
Joe flashed him a frown. Were you here alone? he asked.
She nodded. Then the words suddenly started spilling out. I sat down here. Right here. On the sofa, like I am now. I lit a cigarette, and I was going to watch some TV before I went to change clothes. But thenit was so weird. All of a sudden it was as if I was in a car. As if I were really there. I could see the traffic in front of me. I was someone else. And I was gunning for a car. A green Cadillac. I knew the car. I knew where it was, because Id been following it. It was as if I was me, but at the same time I wasnt me. It was as if I was a passenger in someone elses body. Oh, God, it was awful. As if I could feel all this hatredIthe me that wasnt meknew not to hit the car myself, but Imhesa good driver and could make people swerve and stuff. So IhesheI dont know whichdid, and thenwham. Crash. There was metal and glass, and a word in my head.
She stopped speaking. She was trembling, her face ashen. Either she really deserved her shot at Hollywood, or the fear she was feeling was real.
Miss Star?
She looked at him, as if she had forgotten that he was there.
And the word? What was the word? Joe persisted gently.
Nevermore, she said.
CHAPTER 5
Im going to the meeting tonight, Genevieve told Sam. No matter whats going on. I cant help itIm worried about my mother. About all of you.
Because of Thornes murder, Sam agreed.
I know he made plenty of enemies, and the Poe angle could just be the killers way to throw people off track, butwell, what did you think of his book?
I think it was a good book, Sam said. The man could write. He looked past her for a moment, then turned back to her and asked, I take it you saw that psychic on TV?
She nodded.
You believe in psychics?
I dont know what I believe.
She heard a sound then and turned around.
Joe was there, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest as he watched her. She swore silently.
Joe, hi. Come on in, Sam said.
She rose uneasily. You two know each other? she said.
We met years ago, Sam said. Joe and Matt Connolly were cousins. He stared at her. But I guess you knew that.
I never knew Matt, she said.
Oh, right, Sam said uncomfortably. Anyway, he said, Joe and I actually go way back.
A long way, Joe agreed pleasantly. So how are you doing?
Hanging in, Sam said. He must have noticed the way Joe looked at Genevieveas if she had committed a sinbecause he looked curiously from one to the other.
She hoped she wasnt looking guilty. She shouldnt feel guilty. She hadnt actually lied to Joe.
As if trying to diffuse the tension, Sam asked her, So Joe is working for you, right?
Yes, she said, meeting Joes eyes.
Shes an amazing woman. She hires me, but she still likes to do all the work herself, Joe said dryly.
She forced a tight smile. I thought Id drop by to see a friend, she told him. You did say youd been held up.