She didnt answer. She was staring at Quinn, still holding his hand as if it were a lifeline.
Lacey, did you talk to him again after that? Quinn asked.
She nodded.
When was that? Quinn asked.
Last nightwell, early this morning. Somewhere around three. He was playing last night at the Old Jackson Ale House. I called him at three because thats about when he gets home.
And everything was fine?
Yes. We were both going to sleep. And I was supposed to go over to his house in the afternoon. Which I did. He didnt answer the door. And then I looked in the window and I couldnt really see...but it looked like...but I thought hed be okay, you know?
She began to sob softly.
She really had loved the man, Quinn thought.
Im so sorry, he said again. Lacey, can you think of anyonefrom his past or maybe your ownwho would have wanted to hurt him?
Tears squeezed between her lashes. She shook her head.
An ex-boyfriend? Larue asked.
She opened her eyes and glared at him.
Lacey, Quinn said, we have to ask.
No, she said. My ex married the girl he was cheating on me withthree years ago. Were actually all on fairly friendly terms. And hes in Detroit now, anyway, playing some backup gig there.
Thank you, Lacey. I hope you understand, we have to ask. What about the drugs? Quinn said.
Once again tears streamed from her eyes, silent tears that just ran down her cheeks.
We argued about the drugs, she said softly. I said the pot was fine, but the coke...we didnt need the coke. He didnt deal, if thats what youre getting at. He just shared with friends. He always shared everything with friends. He helped down-and-out musicians. You dont understand, everyone liked him!
What about his ex-girlfriends? Any crazy ones? Larue asked.
Crazy ex-girlfriends? Lacey repeated. Pretty much all of them, she said. But mostly crazy in a good way. And none living in New Orleans. Suzanne Delmer is working on a cruise ship, and shes crazy like a happy puppy. Before her it was Janis Bruge, and shes out in LA now. This cant have been anyone we knowit cant have been. Theres just no reason.
Okay, so let me ask you something else. When you reached the house, did you see anyone around? Anyone at all? Larue asked.
She shook her head, biting her lower lip. There were some kids playing with a football in the street. A UPS truck down a block or so. It was just kind of a lazy afternoon. Typical, she said.
More tears fell.
Lacey, can you give us a list of people hed played with recently and the places hed been playing? Quinn asked her.
Of course, she said. You want his hangouts, too?
Yes, any place he might have come into contact with the person who hurt him, Quinn said.
She frowned and gave him a hazy look. He realized shed been doing pretty well for someone who had just undergone surgery and was on heavy-duty meds.
You know what I think? she asked.
What?
I think theres a crazy person in New Orleans.
There were lots of crazy people in New Orleans, Quinn thought.
No one who knew Larry could have done this, she whispered. Theres a madman out there, a vicious madman breaking into houses and torturing and killing people.
Lacey, the killer didnt break in. Larry opened the door to him, Larue told her.
She began to sob in earnest. Cause he was so nice! He would have opened the door to anyone who needed help. I dont...I just dont believe he knew his murderer. You have to catch him. Hes a madman, and hell kill more people if you dont catch him right away!
* * *
Danni?
Danni was definitely relieved to hear Quinns voice.
In the shop! she called.
Whatever that is in the kitchen, it smells great. Cant wait to eat.
Quinn strode into the shop like a force of nature, though without any intent of seeming so. It was just that he was well over six feet, broad-shouldered and striking, and when he moved, Danni thought, smiling, he drew all eyes to him without even trying. Whenever she saw himand that was often, since they basically lived together nowshe felt a little flutter in her heart, especially if theyd been apart for more than a few hours. No matter how often they touched, he still electrified her. They slept together most nights, and when he was near her, he aroused her; no matter how often they made love, he still thrilled her.
Of course, she reminded herself, she was in love with him.
Even when she wanted to kill him.
He was bright, determined, compassionate and strong.
Also pigheaded and very annoying when she thought she was right and he disagreed. Hed worked with her father, something she hadnt known until after Angus Caffertys death. That had been hard to take at first, but then, shed never known that her father had been something of a secret sleuth, handling the same kinds of items she and Quinn handled now.
The Cheshire Cat had merely been the tip of the iceberg. Her father had dedicated his life to taking in or destroying itemsold and newwith a reputation for being haunted, even evil.
Oh, excuse me, sorry, Quinn said when he noticed Tyler Anderson. He smiled slowly, and Danni realized that she was actually a little irked. Quinns memory was better than hers. He not only knew he had met Tyler before, he also remembered where and when.
Wolf naturally went trotting over to Quinn for a pat on the head. Quinn obliged absently, his attention on their visitor.
Tyler Anderson. I know your music, man, Quinn said, walking forward. He shook Tylers hand. I watched you play years ago when you were at Paisley Park on Frenchman Street. I heard you were still playing around the city. Ive been meaning to look you up. Great to see you.
Thanks, Tyler said.
So where are you playing? Well come see you, Quinn said.
Tyler looked at Danni.
Quinn, Tylers here to ask us for help, she said.
Quinn looked at her, brows hiked high over his hazel eyes. I...see, he said slowly. So, Tyler, you hungry? Were having something wonderful. I have no idea what it is, but the whole place smells divine.
Ill go see how Billies doing, Danni said. He should be done with dinner by now.
The house that contained her shop was one of the oldest in the French Quarter, having survived two major fires that had ravaged New Orleans in the early years. The ground-floor entry led straight into the store, and a hallway led back to the kitchen, dining area and Dannis studio/office. There were bedrooms upstairs, and a large apartment in the attic, where Billie and Bo Ray Tompkins, who also helped out in the shop, each had their rooms.
She would have called Bo Ray down to help, but hed had his wisdom teeth extracted earlier that day. He was sleeping, and she didnt intend to wake him up.
The basement held Anguss old office, along with a number of items that never would be on sale.
Tyler, she said, come on with me and Ill introduce you to Billie. Quinn, can you watch the shop for me for a sec?
He nodded, and she smiled her thanks.
Billie? she called, heading through the shop and back to the kitchen.
Billie? she called, heading through the shop and back to the kitchen.
Wolf trotted after her.
Just finishing up, Billie said as they entered. Hello, he added, noticing Tylers presence. He stood, dusting his hands with his napkin and then offering one to Tyler. Nice to meet you. Im Billie. Billie MacDougall.
Tyler introduced himself in turn.
Well, then. Table is set, though youll need to grab another plate. The lasagna is wonderful. Italian food is delicious, though I assure you, youll find many an excellent restaurant in Scotland, Billie said, looking at Danni.
She laughed and turned to Tyler. I offended him somehow by liking Italian food, she explained.
Billie sniffed. Ill be watching the shop, he said, excusing himself. Wolf, come along with me. Therell be a treat for you when we close up, I promise, a few bits left over from a good Scottish leg o lamb, he said, looking sternly at Danni before he left the kitchen.
A moment later Quinn walked in and looked at her curiously. Whats up with Billie? He looked upset, like you offended him or something.
Didnt mean to, she said, reaching for another plate. Tyler, please, have a seat.
Quinn dug into the refrigerator. Tyler, what will you have to drink?
Water would be fine.
Quinn got another glass and poured them all ice water. Billie had already cut the lasagna into neat serving-size squares, which she dished out before sitting.
So, Quinn said, meeting Tylers eyes. Tell us whats up. Then he took a bite and started chewing enthusiastically.
Danni lowered her head for a moment. Quinn had probably skipped lunch; he seemed to be starving. Tyler hadnt even glanced at his plate, and she wasnt sure whether to be worried about him and his fears or not.
Tyler pushed the food around on his plate. I think my friend was murdered.
Ah, Quinn said, without seeming surprised. And your friends name was...?
ArnieArnold Watson, Danni put in.
Quinn sat back and took a drink of water. Danni saw his brow furrow as he considered her words.
I read the obituary, he said quietly. I thought it was a damned shame. He sounded like a wonderful person. A soldier who gave what he could to his country. Its hard, though, coming back, sometimes. Ive known guys who believed they were fine then woke up in the middle of the night shaking and screaming, sweat pouring off them. Even with everything we know about post-traumatic disorders, sometimes...the depth of a guys depression is invisible because he thinks hes all right.
Tyler Anderson put down his fork. He didnt kill himself. And he wasnt an addict.
Of course he wasnt, Danni said gently, resting a hand on Tylers where it lay on the table.
No, you dont understand. Im an addictin recovery, but an addict all my life. I would have known if Arnie was into drugs, too, and he wasnt, not in any way.
Danni nodded. But...Ive seen things happen to men who come home from war. And maybe that was the problem. He wasnt an addict, but maybe he was in pain. His death was accidental because he only tried it once or twice, and
He tried it once, Tyler said. Only once. If you dont believe me, ask the police. There were no other track marks on him, just the needle mark from the one injection. But it sure in hell wasnt something he did, and it wasnt an accidental overdose. Someone did it to him. Someone killed him!
I dont disbelieve you, Quinn said. But...how do you know? How can you be so sure? Things can happen overnight, things we dont expect. Ive seen cops who cant take a case for whatever reason, and suddenly, theyre ingesting every substance out there.
Hed asked the questions, Danni thought, but he already believed Tyler.
The sax told me, Tyler said.
For a moment, just for a moment, Danni thought she had misheard him. That he had said, The sex told me, as if he had been referring to a girl hed slept with or who had slept with Arnie.
But then she remembered what hed said when he came into the shop and realized he was talking about the saxophone.
The musical instrument that now lay in its case by his side on the floor.
The sax told you? Quinn repeated.
Tyler nodded gravely. I was playing...just the other night. It was his sax, you see. Its really old, some kind of an antique his grandmother bought for him. A silver-plated Pennsylvania Special. I dont know what its worth or the rest of its history. I just know its a damned good instrument and Arnie loved it. Said it was special. But the point is, I was playing his sax. And suddenly I was playing his song, and I could see his lifehis life before he came home. I saw the war. I could feel the damned sand, it was so real. And then I heard his killer.
His dealer? Quinn asked.
He was really pushing Tyler, Danni thought. Testing him.
Tyler thumped a hand on the table. His killer, he repeated. I heard him talking to Arnie just before he shot him up so full of poison that he died within minutes. I heard him, Im telling you. I heard him say, Youre dead, buddy. Youre dead.
Danni and Quinn turned to look at each other, silent for a moment.
Are you saying the sax...talked? Quinn asked.
Tyler closed his eyes, looking as if he was in pain. No. I was playing the sax, he said quietly. But while I was playing I saw what Arnie saw, felt what he felt, heard what he heard.
You didnt happen to see the killer, did you? Danni asked.
He stared at her. Are you mocking me?
I swear, Im not, she said softly. But if you really believe that he was murdered, why didnt you go to the police?
The police? Tyler asked drily. Yeah, right. I wish you could see the way youre looking at me, and youre open-minded enough to believe me. The police... I can just imagine the snickers. Im not sure theyd even try to keep straight faces. You both said you read the newspaper articles about his death, so you know what theyre saying. The same crap you hear everywhere. He just hadnt adjusted. He was like so many soldiers. Strong, stoic, not about to admit to having nightmares he couldnt handle, nightmares so bad that hed turn to drugs to wipe them out. Especially not a marine like Arnie. Admit it. Thats all stuff you believed about Arnie when you read he was dead. And like everyone else, I bet you thought, What a waste, what a tragedy. A man comes back from the war and takes his own life. Makes you stop and think. But no one stops to think, Hey, whoa, maybe he didnt kill himself.
Tyler was certainly passionate in defense of his position, Danni thought. Of course, hed been Arnies friend. His best friend, she imagined.
Tyler, how long have you had the sax? Quinn asked him. You said its special, but would anyone else know that?
Probably, Tyler said and then shrugged. I dont know. He told everyone in the band back in high school it was special, that his grandma told him so. Ive had it since about a week after he died. His mom said she had to give it to someone who would love it the way Arnie had loved it, would take care of it the way he did. She used to love to listen to him, and then shed laugh. She told us both that Arnie got to be as good as he was because of the sax. His grandmother told him it was special, kind of...magical. But according to his mom, the magic was because he believed it. Plus he loved playing, and he practiced all the damned time. And practicing made him the musician that he was.