You didnt see anyone?
Catching his arm, Hannah brought him down to her level. See those hedges? A body could be murdered on the far side, and no one would ever know about it. If only shed screamed.
Guess she didnt think of it.
Fortunately, the man ran away, no real harm done. Cristian will be trimming those bushes down to waist height as soon as he gets his second wind. Id ask Eddie to do it, but its difficult to schedule outdoor chores between sporting events. She dismissed the matter and straightened. Now about that room. Seeing as its my last, and Eddie scored on one of his long-shot bets this past week, we might be able to negotiate the price down a tad. Say forty-five dollars a night from fifty?
Marlowe glanced at Darcys hedge. Does that include breakfast?
Lunch, as well, if you want it. She held out her hand. Do we have a deal?
Big mistake, Marlowes instincts warned. He felt the darkness rolling through him. But in the end, it was Darcy he saw, and Darcy he continued to see even as the carousel of his mind revolved.
And with the darkness still slithering through his head, he accepted her hand.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, thank you. On the threshold of Darcys office, Elaine hugged an eleven-page printout to her chest. You not only made deadline, but you also made the moon chocolate readable.
Well, hey, what are sleepless nights for if not to draft and redraft feature articles?
Yeah, whats up with that? Removing thick reading glasses, her editor, a tall, narrow-chested woman in her early fifties, came in to perch on the arm of the sofa. Some pervert jumps you outside your front door, and I hear about it from a cop? Really, kiddo, theres such a thing as a telephone.
Keys and sunglasses in hand, Darcy checked her e-mail. There was more to it than I could tell you.
Like a dead man in a sleazy motel room?
I cant give you details, Elaine. You know how the system works.
I also know how much attention you usually pay to that system. Elaine leaned forward. Was it anyone you knew?
No comment. Darcy reached for her shoulder bag, popped the glam sunglasses on top of her head and started for the door. At least not until Monday.
Elaine bared her teeth. This is so annoying. We both know how this stuff sells, and youre shutting me out.
All I want to shut right now is the door.
Reaching back inside, Darcy snagged Elaines wrist. Give me a break, okay? Its a thousand degrees today, my landladys given me five casseroles that no one with half a brain would eat, and if you think the cops are keeping me apprised of the investigation, youre wrong. At the elevator bank, she pressed Down. I answered questions, gave my statement, answered more questions, then went home and spent the rest of yesterday and most of last night refining an article you insisted had to be done by Monday. Be happy. Its only Saturday, and there it is, in your freshly manicured hands.
Elaine admired her fingernails as they boarded the elevator. I got the works for my date tonight.
Yeah? Are we talking hot stud at last?
So-so. Hes the CEO of a cable station that aspires to rival CNN.
Darcy let her eyes sparkle. Does personality enter the picture at all?
Elaines lips smiled, her eyes didnt. Im fifty-something, kiddo. Ive been married twice and lost money both times. I want Ebenezer Scrooge this time. Rich and stingyexcept when it comes to me. Barring that elusive miracle, Ill have to hope and pray our little newsmagazine can break a story that has our big Manhattan brothers scrambling to catch up.
So that would be a no to the personality question.
On the street with the burn of the early-evening sun on her shoulders, Darcy let Elaine pull her to a stop. Get me an exclusive, okay? The magazine needs it. Your coworkers need it. I need it.
Ill do my best. Darcy tweaked her editors collar. In the meantime, go home, cool down, get ready for tonight. Ill see you Monday.
I sincerely hope so.
It was the tone of her voice more than her words that echoed in Darcys head.
Too revved to return home, she detoured to the gym, the wonderfully cool gym with the fitness instructor whose hot body paled next to the memory of a certain P.I. she was determined to run, punch or meditate out of her system.
Of course it didnt work, but then she didnt expect it to. Any man whose face haunted her patchy sleep wasnt likely to be blown off that easily.
After showering, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a white tank top, packed her gear and headed for home.
Her arrival was greeted by a barking dog and the lingering traces of a barbecue. Mrs. Brewsters cat, Hodgepodge, lay on his back on the sidewalk with his paws in the air. Overhead, a faint breeze rustled the neighborhood trees.
Crouching as she passed, Darcy tickled Podges tummy and received a yawning meow in response.
She realized with a twinge that shed forgotten to set her house alarm when shed left today. Foolish? Yes. But on the plus side, the front hedge had been trimmed as promised, and there was still a glimmer of light in the sky.
Her cell phone rang while she was climbing the porch stairs.
She glanced at the screen. Oh, good. Perfect. She flipped it open. I thought youd be long gone by now, Marlowe.
Guess we both thought wrong.
So are we talking choice here or police order?
She imagined his faint smile. You found the body, Darcy.
After you got us into the motel room.
What can I say? Vals captains a fan.
Which means youre staying by choice, then.
A dead client in a bathtub isnt good enough reason to stay?
She dropped her keys in a bowl, her purse and gym bag on a high-backed chair. Arent you the one who said he didnt give a rats ass about anybodywhat was it your friend called you M?
Val cant get his tongue around my name after a few drinks. Calling me M is the simple solution.
Your friend had more than a few drinks last night if the coat I saw on his tongue today was any indication. Im going out on a limb here, Marlowe, but Id speculate that Detective Reade has some serious issues in his life.
And you know someone who doesnt?
Removing the bush hat shed bought in Sydney, she shook her hair. Tell me, have you always lived on the dark side?
You ask a lot of questions, Darcy.
To which you give very few answers.
Wedging the phone between her shoulder and ear, she reached into the cupboard. I saw your Land Rover at Hannah Brewsters this morning. Im sure she was delighted to talk and talk and talk to you, but I could have saved you the headache and told you she didnt see or hear a thing Thursday night. If she had, the guy who attacked me wouldnt have made it out of the yard.
Thanks for that.
No offense. She just goes into superhuman mode in times of trouble, which, frankly, Im surprised she missed that night.
She misses more than you think.
Darcy dropped three large ice cubes into a glass. Sorry, Ill need a hint for that one. Has something else happened? When he didnt answer, she frowned. Marlowe? Sighing, she opened the fridge. Come on, its too hot for games. What is it you know that I dont?
Look behind you, pretty lady. Youre not alone.
Darcys heart leaped into in her throat. Her fingers froze on the handle.
The voice hadnt come from her phone.