Before they could spill over, he continued. I didnt think that Oswald Martin had done her in, either. She didnt hate him. He didnt follow her every move. That was some writers imaginative speculation. But I did wonder if it was some kind of a publicity thing because she was about to become the face of one of the biggest new cosmetic firms to launch in the past twenty years. This is so, so...wrong! he finished on a breath.
Kieran wanted to hold her twin and comfort him. She was afraid that the door was going to open any minute. While she knew that Kevin loved his brothers and would happily share this with them, keeping this on a need-to-know basis was best right now.
Declan or Danny couldnt inadvertently spill information they didnt have.
Kevin, where did you two see each other? she asked.
My place, he said huskily. No one pays attention to my place. I saw her at her apartment only once. It was with a group of people. She invited me to a reading, a show that may or may not make it to Broadway.
But you stayed after.
He shrugged. It wasnt something anyone would have noticed. There were a number of actors there. She was friendly and nice to everyone. Her work reputation was amazing. She was never cross with a single makeup person, lighting person, cameraman...anyone.
Youre telling me that absolutely no one knows that you were seeing her, that this actually started six months ago, but no one knew?
Thats what Im telling you, he said.
Kieran pondered that. Kevin, trust me, someone knew, she said. Someone saw you together somewhere.
He shrugged. She was with actors all the time. Posing at parties, openings, fashion shows. I dont think anyone would have noticed me over anyone else. He shook his head. I dont know what to do.
Kevin, Im sorry, but I have to ask. How serious did you two get?
We both knew we loved our careers. Sometimes its bad when two people are actors, or models, or in that kind of world. Egos clash. But maybe we were different enough. I really love acting. I take the underwear commercials or whatever because I see them as a stepping-stones. Jeannette didnt love it so much. She loved art and images and what a good photographer could do with her. But we also wanted to make sure that our relationship worked. We werent making any real commitments until wed been together at least a year. She was famousIm not. She wanted to make sure that I could handle that. Maybe she wanted to make sure that I didnt want to use her, either. You know, fake a real love just to use her for more exposure and better parts. If we made it a yeartrusting one another, still wanting one another, ready to deal with the whirlwind as a couplethen wed put our relationship out there. He paused. She used to tease me. Said it would be the coolest thing in the world if we were secretly married here. At Finnegans.
Oh, Kevin, Im so sorry. I cant believe that you kept all this from me. And for so long! Im your twin.
Well, youve kept a fair amount from me, too, at times, he reminded her.
Sometimes I dont talk because Im professionally not able to do so, she replied.
What do I do? he asked her. Just step up now and tell the truth?
Thats probably the best. You can talk to Craig. Hell believe you. You know that.
Kieran started, hearing the doorknob twist. Then there was a bang on the door.
Hey, whats going on in there?
It was Danny, the baby of the family, younger than Kevin and Kieran by a little more than a year. He was the wild child of the family, now a respectable tour guide for the City of New York, though, of course, he could still get into a great deal of trouble. Always with the best of intentions, of course.
Kieran stood quickly and opened the door. Did I lock it? she murmured.
Danny burst into the room and flipped on the TV. This is so sad and so crazy! he said. Imagine, that poor girl found in Le Club Vampyre! And now... Wow! The bad boy of the silver screen stepping up and offering a huge sum of money for information on her murderer. Brent Westwood! Youve got to see this news conference. Its Brent Westwood saying that he was Jeannette Gilberts secret lover!
* * *
It was past nine. Craig was getting ready to head home from the office, and hed told Mike and McBride to do the same. But his office door opened.
You might want to hold on just a minute! Mike said, stepping back in.
What
Put the TV on. Any news channel, Mike said. Hed already gone for the remote that controlled the screen on the far wall of Craigs office.
Light and sound filled the room.
A man stood at the front of the New York field offices of the FBI, surrounded by a sea of reporters, all jockeying to get better positions with their microphones.
Craig recognized the guy; it took him a minute to know why.
Then he realized quickly that it was Brent Westwood, aging star of stage and screen. He was an exceptionally well-muscled man, an action hero. Craig remembered that hed halfway paid attention to a slice of life news piece recently that had talked about the beautiful people of yesteryear who were still working hard at their craft, even if they werent getting the leading roles theyd once enjoyed.
The actor listened to a question from a reporter and answered it gravely.
You had to know Jeannette to understand, he said, the right amount of pathos in his voice. She was, at heart, a shy girl. She wanted what we had to be special. Were both public figures, but we didnt want our relationship to be public. It was something so private, of the heart.
Werent you worried when she disappeared? someone shouted.
Ill be honest. I thought it was a publicity venture, directed by those controlling her career, he said, not mentioning any names.
But wouldnt she have told you? another reporter asked.
In this field, we have to be very careful. I knew that shed tell me what was going on as soon as she felt that she could. Was I worried? Yes! But I knew that the policeNew Yorks finestwere working on finding her. I feared their anger, really, when she surfaced. I never expected that they would find her...as they did.
He put a hand in front of his face, as if shielding himself from more questionsand as if hiding his tears, as well. Please, Im beside myself with grief, but Im here to see if there is anything at all that I can do to help in the investigation into her death. This is...
He broke down and turned away.
Mike groaned. Great. Hes coming here. And hes using this to garner publicity for himself. That girl had great taste in men. He snickered. Maybe she was looking for a father figure.
He was the biggest thing in action movies at one time, Craig said.
Guess they dont know our offices actually close at night, Mike muttered. He turned to the NYPD detective. You want to handle this?
He probably knows youre here, given whats going on, McBride said.
Im sure he knows what hes doing, Craig said. He pointed to the screen. There he is, going for the doorand theres security. In less than a minute, someone will be calling up here.
As he spoke, the intercom buzzed.
It was one of the young agents in reception.
As he spoke, the intercom buzzed.
It was one of the young agents in reception.
Do we go get him?
Craig didnt believe that the man pretending so much grief was Gilberts killer.
Such a recognizable man didnt sneak around easily. Nor did he appear to be the type who would have dressed a murdered girl so carefully. Or managed to get down to Virginia to have carried out a murder there and done the same. Craig had no proof. It was only a gut feeling, but his gut feelings had served him well.
He toyed with the idea of having security send him away and tell him to come back during office hours.
But, of course, that would make the Bureau look callow.
And he wouldnt do that.
Of course, anyone with information that could lead to the solving of this heinous murder is thanked for bringing us information at any time, he said.
And so Mike sat and McBride sighed, and they waited for the actor.
* * *
The three of themKevin, Kieran and Dannystared at the flat-screen television in the office, watching as Brent Westwood spoke to the press.
Kevins expression was blank, stunned.
I dont get it, Danny said. Not that Westwood wasntisnta cool guy and all, but, hey, Jeannette Gilbert was a kid in comparison. Not that Im judging. Weve seen a lot of older guys with younger women and younger guys with older women who seem to be happy as larks. Love is love, right? No matter what our age, sex, race or preference. Still...I wonder if it all seems so shocking to us because the churchthe clubis right behind us. Staring at the screen, he was unaware when Kevin looked at Kieran with a warning glance.
Let it lie. Dont let on about anything I was saying to you.
And the whole grave thing, Danny went on. I mean, do you know that half our city parks are built on old graveyards? He turned and looked at Kieran. John Shaw was in today, right?
Yes, he was pretty shaken, she murmured.
I wonder... Id love to get down into that basement sometime. Think hell take me down there?
I would think, Kieran said.
After all this, obviously. I mean, go figure. They make that kind of find, and then discover a missing starlet displayed down there. Wow. So sad. And still...
Kieran could feel Kevins tension. He wasnt angry with his younger brother. He was just ready to explode.
The door to the office opened and the last of their clan, Declan, stood there, looking in at the three of them. I know you guys have other jobs, and, hey, I should be all right and well-staffed here for a Friday night. But Cody is on her honeymoon and with everything going on, those who came to gawk around the block are here now, hungry and thirsty. Mary Kathleen is running around out there like a madwoman. Dont any of you actually help anymore when youre here? he asked.
Hell, yeah! Sorry! Danny said, leaping to his feet.
Kevin rose more slowly. Ill take the bar, he said.
No, no. Go home, Kevin, Kieran said. I dont have real work tomorrow. Its Saturday. That okay, Declan?
Sure. One good body actually involved in working would be great, Declan said.
Kevin still appeared a little shaky.
Im so tired, he murmured.
Then go home, Kieran said, jumping up. Ill be a bundle of energy, Declan. I promise.
Hey, well, you did work today, too, Declan reminded her.
She nodded. Yeah, kind of makes me need to work now, she said, and headed out of the office. Kevin, go home!
Im going, he assured them. Thanks, he said softly, and left.
Declan was right. Their Friday nights were often busy, even when Wall Street, the Financial District and the government offices closed and downtown became somewhat quiet. But Finnegans was known for bringing in great Irish bands and local talent, and people were often willing to hop on the subway or drive down for the established platform of good food, great taps and music. Also, when the club had opened around the block, many who had tired of the constant thrum of the dance music had found themselves wandering over for the more relaxed venue.
But tonight was exceptionalonce again, because of the club. Not because it was opened.
Because it was closed.
And the talk among everyone had to do with poor Jeannette Gilbert.
And most of the talk was the same.
The slimy manager-agent had done it.
The mystery lover had done it. No, the mystery lover wasnt a mystery anymore, and good God, everyone knew that Brent Westwood was no killer! He stood for truth, justice and the American way.
What about the step-uncle who had raised her? The jerk! Or her aunt, or her cousins?
What about the guy who had bought Saint Augustine and turned a venerable and historic old church into a club? Hey, that guy bore some watching, too. And then there were the freaks who wandered around the city. And that history group. Everyone knew that some of the citys cling-to-the-past historians were insane. That was it! One of them had murdered her to prove the point that you needed to let the dead rest in peace!
Everyone had a theory, and Kieran heard them all.
She spoke with their regulars and also noted all the new peoplethose who probably hadnt been downtown in years but had come down to witness the events at Le Club Vampyre, if only from the street. She noted businessmen and construction workers. Older women, younger women. All kinds of people.
One especially attractive young woman at the bar drew Kierans attention because she kept pulling out her phone and looking around the pub.
Can I help you in any way? Kieran asked her.
She smiled. Just biding time, the woman said. That old clock on the wall is right? My cell phone has died.
Yes, its the right time, Kieran told her.
Thanks! The woman smiled at her. You have to be Kevins sister, she said. One of the Finnegan family.
Yes, I am. You know Kevin?
I was in a print ad with him about a year ago. He told me about this place. First time Ive had a chance to get down here. Is he here somewhere?
No, he went home. Im so sorry. You could give him a call.
Ah, well, Im only here a few more minutes. Ill call him, though, and Ill come back. She smiled. Youre gorgeousbut then, so is Kevin!
Thank you. My twin has the camera charm, trust me! Kieran said. She would have talked longer, but another patron called her and she moved on.
It was around 11:00 p.m. when Craig reached her on her cell, checking to see if she was still there. He told her hed head into the pub, and they could go home together.
She felt her heart beating a little too quickly. She didnt have to worry that she wasnt saying anything to him about Kevins admission. Brent Westwood had gone to Craigs office, claiming to be the mystery lover. But still...
Lying to him was so uncomfortable.
Was she really lying?
Yes, she reasoned, omitting the truthan important truthwas a lie.
Luckily, when he arrived, he offered her a weary smile before heading to an empty bar stool. She watched him talk to Declan and order a soda. He looked tired. Despite knowing hed have to be up for work early the next morning, he was waiting for her.
The Friday night crowd was diminishing, so Declan thanked her and told her to go on home.