Youre not just, uh, patronizing me, are you? Petty asked.
I dont patronize anyone, Quinn told him. Did you hear voices? Did you hear anyone speaking? Could you see anything in the fog?
Petty shook his head. No...just black within shadows, if that makes any sense. Andand I couldnt stop myself. Ive never had a stroke...Im in great health. I dont know...I just dont know.
Quinn glanced over at Larue. He wondered what his friend was thinking and quickly found out when Larue said, I came in at the tail end when everything was pure chaos. But...
But? Quinn prodded.
But as I said, I saw it, too. Fog. Like the fog you get when the weathers about to change and you know there might be a storm on the horizon. At first, although I couldnt smell smoke, I thought thered been a fire. It was a mess. Hell, maybe my minds going...except that if it was some hallucination, we were all affected.
Was anything missing?
The first assessment we made was on confiscated weapons, Larue said. All accounted for. The crew in there now is still checking.
I think I should see the evidence room, Quinn said.
Larue nodded and then returned his attention to Officer Petty. Dan, you know youll need to spend an evening in the...the hospital for assessment yourself, right? Larue asked gently.
A night in the loony bin, Petty said. I dont care. Anywhere except the evidence lockup.
Larue gestured at the doorway. There was a man in some kind of medical uniform waiting. Petty rose and shook Quinns hand. Thank you. Thank you for listening. And you...you werent even here. You didnt see. Thank you for believing.
Quinn nodded gravely.
Petty left the room; one of Larues men was outside the office, too, ready to accompany the medical man and Officer Petty.
What do you think? Larue asked Quinn.
I think youre going to find something missing from your evidence room. We have to determine exactly what it is.
You mean someone was trying to break in?
Break inor break out. Im not sure which, Quinn replied. But he immediately thought of the Garcia murders and the evidence that might have been taken from the house....
Look for a little glass jar, he said. Like a vial.
Whats in it? Larue asked.
I dont know, since it was emptyexcept for a trace of...something. Anyway, Grace and I felt it needed to be tested. But, whatever it was, I think the killer brought it to the house with him. And Ill bet its gone.
* * *
Danni returned to the shop, but she didnt stay. She smiled cheerfully at Billie and Bo Ray and promised shed be backand they should plan for a nice dinner party. Billie just nodded. Bo Ray, relatively new to their team, still looked anxious.
She told them she was going to drop in on Father Ryan and invite him over for dinner. She could call him, of course, but this way, even if he couldnt come that evening, shed get a chance to see him.
Bo Ray, whod gained a life thanks to the priest, seemed to like the fact that Father Ryan might be coming to visit.
Theyd actually met Bo Ray because hed been a suspect when people started dying during the Pietro Miro case. Sadly, hed become caught up in it all, an alcoholic in the early stages of liver failure. Quinn had a good eye for people, just as Father Ryan did. Theyd both seen that Bo Ray could be saved. Hed become a great asset to the storeand to their lives, Danni thought.
With Wolf in the car this time, Danni started out.
Father Ryan ministered well to his flock, gave great sermons, tended to the poor and downtrodden and did everything that a priest should do. He even looked like the perfect priest. Middle-aged with snow-white hair, big and brawny but possessing a gentle manner, he seemed to inspire trust. He was also a no-nonsense man, unafraid to take a stand. Willing to confront the unknown...
Father John Ryan was standing at the front door of the rectory, almost as if he was waiting for someone, when Danni drove up and parked on the street. He didnt seem surprised when she and Wolf got out of her car and approached him.
You knew I was coming, she said.
I did.
Danni offered him a curious half grin. You speak with the Almighty?
I do.
Oh?
He smiled ruefully. I speak with Him the same as you and every other man and woman out there, Danni. Actually, I knew you were coming for a far more mundane reasonNatasha called me.
Ah! But I didnt tell her I was going to see you.
Thats where instinct kicks in, Father Ryan told her. But I had a feeling you or Quinn would be by soon enough. I heard about the massacre this morning.
I believe the police are looking into Garcias financials and other records, Danni said. Its the type of thing that could happen if a big drug deal went wrong.
Father Ryan shook his head fiercely. There was no drug deal gone wrong, Danni. Im sure of that.
How?
You and Wolf come on in. Ill tell you what I can.
You know something?
Lets have tea, shall we?
Father Ryan didnt want to be rushed. She and Wolf followed him into the rectory kitchen. First, Wolf got treats; Father Ryan kept them on hand just for him. Then, he put the kettle on and took his time setting out cups. Only when the tea was brewed and they sat down to drink it did he start talking. James and Andrea Garcia were my parishioners. Ive already been called in by social servicesIm helping place the children with relatives. This is a terrible blow. There are three children left behinda ten-year-old, an eight-year-old and a five-year-old. The two older kids were James and Andreas and the youngest was the aunts little girl. Luckily, Andrea has another sister and brother in the city and theyre doing their best to comfort and care for the children, but...well, the only good thing about the situation is that the children werent there.
Im so sorry. I had no idea you knew these people, Danni murmured.
Father Ryan nodded. There was no drug deal, he said again. And dont tell me we dont know what people are really like. James Garcia was a hardworking man. He was with the same company for years. He made deliveries for one of the most trusted services in our city and there was never a single complaint against him. His wife took care of her familyher parents lived with themand neither Andrea nor James ever minded any burden put upon them. That family did nothing wrong.
The police are investigating. It wont ease things for the children, but hopefully justice will be done.
And what are you doing about it? Ryan demanded, looking her hard in the eyes.
What can I do? Theres no indication that an object might be involved, not like the Pietro Miro case, Father. Before Father Ryan could protest, she continued. Quinn just got back last night. He was called to the scene this morning. But thats why Im here. Can you come to dinner at my place around seven tonight? Quinn wants all of us there to discuss what happened.
Yes, of course, he said. I promise you this isnt a random murder. Nor is James Garcia part of it. Something isnt right hereaside from the obvious, I mean. James Garcia was a good man who spent his life hauling packages and received commendations from his employer. His wife was a model of virtue. And the parents...hard workers, retired, enjoying their last years with the grandkids. The old man didnt have much time left as it wascancer. Theyd given him six months.
Im so sorry, Father Ryan, Danni said again.
He drummed his fingers absently on the table. What Im afraid of is that we all may wind up much sorrier. Danni, we have to find out what the hell is going on here.
* * *
Dr. Hubert is a descendant of the Hubert who painted the original of the giclée at your friends gallery, Quinn told Danni, setting plates on the table. The meal Billie had prepared, his version of the classic jambalaya, simmered on the stove.
She stopped patting dry the lettuce shed just washed and looked over at him. Theyd decided to get dinner ready and wait until Natasha and Father Ryan arrived to discuss the situation, so she was surprised that hed brought up the painting. Shed reported that Father Ryan had known the Garcia family well and that he strenuously denied they couldve been doing anything illegal. And Quinn had said only that the autopsy reports had yielded nothing they didnt already know.
A direct descendant, he added.
Really? How interesting.
He nodded pensively and didnt say any more.
You okay? she asked him.
He gazed at her for a long moment, then smiled, and walked over to her, slipping his arms around her. Im going to be more okay later on, he whispered huskily.
They were pressed tightly together. It suddenly felt like months rather than weeks since theyd stood this way. She was acutely aware of his body heat and the strength of his muscles. Memory reflexes were going to kick in hard any minute. The urge to do far more than stand together was almost overwhelming.
They looked into each others eyes and backed away at the same time. He smiled ruefully. Sorry. He might have intended to keep his thoughts to himself a while longer, but touching her had obviously changed that.
We should have scheduled this for...any time other than now! Danni said.
He grinned but then grew serious again. I dont think we could have.
Even as he spoke, Danni heard someone at the courtyards side entrance. Excusing herself, she went to open the back door. Father Ryan had arrived. She tried to push away her visions of Quinn, naked, as she greeted the priest, but she could feel a flush rise to her cheeks. She had to curb her thoughts about Quinn for the moment.
Hey, glad youre here, she said. Come on in, Father.
Wait up, wait up! Natasha called, hurrying through the courtyard. Father Ryan turned; the two embraced warmly. An odd couple to many, no doubtthe priest and the voodoo priestess.
Father Ryan had once told her that he was true to his faith, but that, at heart, he and Natasha were kindred souls, seeking the same truth. Which had little to do with the way you sought that truth or the path you took.
She liked his view of the world.
Were sitting around the little table in the kitchen, Danni said. The Cheshire Cat was similar to many places on Royal Street; it had been built as a house but now the shop took up the downstairs, with the small kitchen and one-time pantry on the first floor and her bedroom on the second. Billies apartmentand now Bo Rays, toowas located in what had been the attic. Luckily, it was big, and both men had their own rooms and ample space.
And downstairs, in the basement, really the ground level, was her fathers office or den and special collection of curios. Her studio, in the former pantry, was where she worked when she had time for her own art.
Billies made jambalaya and cheese grits, Danni announced as she led them in. And weve got salad.
Scottish jambalaya! Father Ryan said. I cant wait.
Billie was behind them. He threw Father Ryan an evil glare and muttered, Lucky I didnt get the urge for haggis, friend, thats all I have to say.
When Bo Ray entered a few minutes later, Billie asked them all to grab plates and line up at the stove to help themselves. Natasha designated herself the beverage server and poured tea, lemonade and water, as each person chose. They were still in the act of greeting one another with casual jokes and hugs and getting organized at the table when Danni heard the buzzer at the shops main door. She excused herself and hurried down the hall, then out to the showroom. Looking through the glass, she saw Jake Larue standing there. He appeared to be tense, worried about something.
When she opened the door, he said, Youre all here?
Danni nodded. Yeah. Hi, Jake. How are you?
May I? he asked.
Of course.
She let him in, wondering why he was here. Were just having dinner, she said. Hungry?
I dont mean to impose, he said.
We have tons of food, she assured him, leading the way through the darkened showroom to the kitchen.
As he walked in, everyone froze in position.
Hey, guys. Jakes here, Danni said. Billie made jambalaya.
Scottish jambalaya? Jakes confused words broke the freeze. The others laughed; Billie groaned, Not again, and shook his head.
Get a plate and join us, Quinn said. If he was surprised to see Jake, he didnt let on.
Jake started to dish up food, but halfway through he turned to Quinn. The log-in list disappeared from the evidence room computer. The sign-out sheets are missing, as well.
They all looked at Jake and then back at Quinn. Nothing there? he asked.
It was wiped clean. God knows, weve got our best techs and computer whiz kids on it. Theyve come up with nothing, Jake said, taking a seat.
Quinn seemed to understand him. The others didnt. But Quinn said, Jake, sit and well figure out what we can.
Squeezing him in meant they were tightly wedged around the table, but they made room. Once Jake was seated, Quinn said, Its on the news, so were all aware of what happened to the Garcia family. I went to see Hubert at autopsy, and he said the murders were all differentlike a game of Clue, in his words. Nothing at autopsy dispelled his original findings, but we still cant explain why we havent found a single weapon or worked out exactly what went on. Did James Garcia kill everyone and then slit his own throat? If so, where? Or was there someone else in the house, a person or maybe more than one person, who managed to perform acts of unspeakable horrorand walk away without being seen or leaving a blood trail? Then, before I could return from autopsy, Jake called me and I went down to the police station. There was fog in the evidence room.
Fog? Natasha asked hoarsely.
Larue gestured vaguely. Fog, smoke...something. Anyway, an officer on duty went insane, needing help. Help cameand so did I. And the fog or whatever it mightve been was still there. The officer said that a shadow went after him. It was all extremely strange. We have nothing on the computer anymoreand nothing on the cameras except for the fog or gray smoke that hides the entire area for maybe twenty minutes.
So they dont know what was taken, Quinn finished. But he was looking curiously at Larue.
Heres what we do know. A number of things that had been removed from the Garcia house were taken from the evidence room. The vial you mentioned earlier, and three wrapped packages. In other words, things that were spattered with blood or might have given us a clue as to what a murderer was looking for, Jake said.
That caused Father Ryan to thump a fist on the table, which in turn caused all the dishes and glasses and flatware to clatter.