Would you recognize any of them if you saw them again? Liam asked her.
I might, Katie said.
Can you come with me to the station? he asked her.
Katie looked at Hannah worriedly. Yes, I guess so. Karaoke doesnt start until eight.
Hannah, you can take me to meet your neighbor and see what he can tell us, Agent Samson said. If you dont mind?
She shook her head. As soon as Katie gave the staff some instructions, the two of them left with Liam and Dallas Samson.
Liam drove the few blocks south down Duval and then around the corner to drop off Hannah and Dallas.
Do you want me to call Bentley and see if hell come over here? Hannah asked.
No, lets just see if hes home. Id like to see his place.
Holloways property was separated from Hannahs by tall cherry hedges. Hannah looked at Dallas for a moment, shrugged and started up the old coral pathway to the house. They climbed the two steps to a small porch.
Do we let him know that youre a Federal agent? Hannah asked.
I think hes figured that out already, since you said he was in the alley this morning, Dallas said.
Probably. But the body is still officially unidentified, right?
Yes, until we say otherwise. You can handle that, cant you?
Oh, yes, I can handle that. She knew that her voice had attitude again. She couldnt seem to help herself, but then he couldnt seem to help being obnoxious.
Hannah knocked on the door. Dallas had a feeling that Bentley Holloway had been watching them from inside, because the door opened almost immediately.
The man was wearing khakis and a Doors T-shirt. His bald head gleamed in the sunlight, and his eyes were sharp as he studied them. He appeared to be about forty-five or fifty, bronzed deeply with features lined by years in the sun. He was leanly muscled, and his arms bore a number of tattoos. He looked like a seaman, as so many Key Westers did.
There didnt appear to be any defensive wounds on his arms, neither did he appear to be in any pain, as if hed been in a fight.
There really was no reason to suspect the man. Still, Dallas studied him carefully.
Hey, Hannah. And...? Holloway asked, looking at Dallas.
Dallas offered Bentley Holloway his hand. Dallas Samson.
Youre a cop, huh? Holloway asked.
AgentFederal, Dallas said.
Oh. I saw you out in the alley this morning. How come the Feds are on a local murder case?
Oh, there arent many of us in the office down here, Dallas said. We step in wherever we might be needed.
Liam is a good detective, Holloway said defensively.
The best. Hes a friend, Dallas said. Okay if we come in and ask you for some help?
Help? Hell, I wish I could, Holloway said. But sure, come on in.
The door opened right into the living room. Dallas quickly noted that it was filled with plain furniture that looked as if it had come from the mix and match department at the Salvation Army, but hed spruced it up nicely. The walls were decorated with watercolors of various scenes of Key life: sailboats in the harbor, kids playing on a beach and also an arresting picture of the local lighthouse. At first glance, it sure as hell didnt appear that he was living the high life.
Sit down, sit down, Holloway said. You want lemonade? Iced tea? Something stronger?
Sure, Id love iced tea or lemonadeanything you have handy, Dallas told him.
He sensed that Hannah was surprised that hed accepted the offer, but he wanted to see as much of the house as he could without a warrant. There was no reason in particular to be suspicious of Holloway. He was just suspicious of everyone, and he was pretty sure Rodriguez had cut through Holloways yard after he was attacked.
Which meant the killer had probably come through, too.
Make yourself at homehave a seat, Holloway said, heading toward the kitchen.
But Dallas didnt sit; he followed Holloway, with Hannah at his heels.
Great place, Dallas said.
The house wasnt as old as Hannahs. Originally built in the shotgun style, you could see straight through from front door to back door as one room opened straight into the next. It was obvious that over the yearsand with the advent of electricity and air-conditioningthe house had been enlarged. Now additional rooms branched off to either side.
They walked through the dining room to get to the kitchen, but Dallas noticed that there were doors leading off both sides of the dining room.
Yeah, thanks. I inherited it. Property values down here are killer now. Ive had a lot of friends sell out, move up to the center of the state then wish they were back here, only they cant afford it. Key West kind of gets in your blood. Ill never let this place go, Holloway said. It was originally built by my however-many-greats grandfather around 1875.
Nice, Dallas said. Really nice.
The dining room, furnished with a table that sat eight, a cupboard and a buffet, had seascapes on the walls.
The kitchen had been remodeled. There was a granite island in the center, with four stools around it, pots and pans hanging from the overhead rafters and brand-new appliances.
Holloway stopped when he got there and looked around as if surprised he had been followed. Dallas stopped so short that Hannah crashed into him.
She steadied herself with her hands on his back.
He was startled to discover that he liked her touch.
I love old houses, he told Holloway.
Yeah? Well, then Key West is the place to be. People tend to think of South Florida as a twentieth-century invention. Not down here. Weve got some of the richest history in the nationand one of the largest concentrations of old Victorians anywhere, Holloway said proudly.
Dallas nodded. I actually grew up here.
No kidding? Holloway asked.
No kidding. I left when I was sixteen. Ive gotten back every chance I could since, though.
You living here now? Holloway asked.
Im assigned here for now, yes. Dallas nodded.
Oh, right. Youre a Fed. You could wind up anywhere, Holloway said.
He took lemonade from the refrigerator and glasses from the cupboard. When the glasses were filled, he indicated that they might as well take a seat at the granite island.
So what can I do for you? he asked. He looked at Hannah with a frown, as if wondering what she was doing there.
I wanted to ask you what you saw this morning, Mr. Holloway, Dallas said.
Bentleyjust call me Bentley. Were still casual down here, Holloway said with a smile. What did I see? A bunch of crime scene tape.
You didnt see or hear anything before you came out and the police were already on the scene? Dallas asked.
Sorry. I was sleeping. I woke up when I heard the ruckus out back. Went on out to watch. I wish I could help. I really do, Holloway said.
Bentley, you can help, Hannah said, speaking up with a smile. Im pretty sure after the man was attacked he stumbled through your yard into mine. Theyve searched my property and the alley. Would you mind if they searched your yard, too?
Before the man could answer, Hannah touched his arm. I know its an intrusion. But Id be grateful. I found him, Bentley. I cant tell you how that felt...to bend down and see him there, dead. Please?
Holloway stared down into Hannahs beseeching turquoise eyes.
Dallas was sure he couldnt have refused her or remained unmoved.
Holloway shook his head ruefully and looked at Dallas. Since Hannah asked...go ahead. Look wherever you need to look.
Thank you, Dallas said. He wondered how shed known the scenario the cops had settled on. It was almost as if shed known what happened when Rodriguez was killed.
Thank you, Bentley, she said, smiling. Youll help put my mind to rest.
Dallas swallowed the last of his lemonade. Ill step outside, then, and let the techs know to get started.
Leaving the two of them in the kitchen, he went outside and walked half a block toward Duval, then turned around and retraced his steps. He tried to envision what had happenedand where.
He moved slowly, checking for signs of blood on both the sidewalk and the grass.
He knew he wasnt going to find anything like the kind of high velocity spatter a bullet created. According to Dirk, Rodriguezs jugular had been nicked, leading to a fatal loss of blood.
But Rodriguez had cut his attacker, as well.
He gave up searching for blood drops and walked through the yard. If Rodriguez had crashed through the hedge, he should be able to see where.
The door to the house opened, and Hannah came out. He paused. He should thank her. She had gotten him the clearance he needed to examine Holloways property without a warrant. If there was evidence he had to find it now, and getting a warrant would take time.
Heres my theory. I think he came from the street...that way, she said, and pointed to the right. She wasnt looking at him as she approached. He heard his attacker coming up behind him. He was with a group of new...friends, but they took off when he was attacked from behind. He got away and ended up here. Somewhere along the way he drew his knife and fought back, managing to slice his attacker, which gave him time to get away. He gripped his throat and staggered through the hedge and into my yard.
Hannah walked to what had to be the exact spot where the dying man had gone through the hedge. As he followed her, Dallas could see the trail.
Here, she said softly, coming to a stop by a lounge chair near the pool. Heres where he scared Shelly and Stuart half to death. But he must have heard the killer coming, so he staggered out to the alley. He needed to lure the killer away. But I think the killer saw where he went and never even came through my yard, so Shelly and Stuart never saw him.
Dallas stared at her. She didnt appear to be in a trance, hadnt claimed to be a psychic, but somehow she seemed to know exactly what had happened.
Of course, any good detective would have figured out the course of events; the evidence was clear.
She wasnt a detective, yet she had homed in so exactly on the truth....
She walked from the pool through the yard, her footsteps faltering. She wasnt staggering the way a dying man might have done, she was just following the path Dallas knew he had taken.
Dallas followed her out to the alley. She stopped just outside the crime scene tape.
She met his eyes at last.
Dallas was very still, watching her.
Anyone would think youd been with Agent Rodriguez.
Its just...apparent.
Apparent, yes. But...
But? she asked.
Its as if you know something, he said.
She flushed. Are you accusing me of?
Im not accusing you of anything, he said. Lets go inside.
The house? The killer was nowhere near the house.
I want to rent a room, he told her.
What?
You operate a bed-and-breakfast, right?
You have a home here. You work here, she said.
I want to rent a room.
It was obvious she didnt want him staying in her house.
My cousin is coming soon, maybe as early as tomorrow. Im not sure how many people are coming with her, but theyll probably need all my rooms.
Not a problem. I only need a room for tonight, he said.
Why? she asked him.
Do you have a guard dog? he asked.
A guard dog? No.
Do you have an alarm system?
Oh, please. Didnt you listen to me? Jose led the killer away. Theres no reason for him to come here looking for me or anyone else.
He turned and walked back through her yard, then waited at the rear door. She followed him, still confused and a little belligerent. I dont understand
You were thinking about calling people youd turned away to see if anyone still needed a room, so I know you have space. How do you work things? Do guests get two keys? One for the door to the house and another for the door to their rooms? he asked her.
Why the third degree? Are you still suspicious of me for some reason?
He let out an impatient groan. No, Im not suspicious. Im worried, and Im thinking like a cop. The killer was, to all intents and purposes, right here. He almost certainly saw you and knows that you found the body.
How? she demanded.
Dallas hesitated. It might be a cliché, but killers do sometimes return to the scene of the crime. Sometimes, theyre sick bastards who come back to enjoy the kill all over again. Sometimes they come back to watch the cops and see what theyve discovered. Theres every chance the killer was in that alley this morning. But say he wasnt. That newswoman shot a lot of footage, and youre bound to be in it. Just as a precaution, rent me a room.
She stared at him, but he couldnt tell what she was thinking. She was too damn good at keeping her face expressionless.
I have good locks.
You could have the best locks ever invented, he told her, and if someone wants to get in, theyll get in.
She moved ahead of him and unlocked the door. She went inside without looking back to see if he followed, but she didnt slam the door on him, either. He followed her to the reception desk, where she opened a drawer and produced a set of keys.
The whole house is empty, right? he asked her.
At this moment? Yes.
Then Id like the Melody Chandler room, please.
What? she asked.
He let out a sigh that he hoped didnt sound as impatient as he felt. His start with Hannah had not been a good one, and it didnt seem as if they were going to get along any better now.
I told you, he said quietly, Im from here. This was Melody Chandlers home. She lived here when the man she loved, Hagen Dundee, died trying to save passengers off the Wind and the Sea when she went down. When I was a kid, I took a ghost tour and the guide pointed out her window. Id like to stay in her room.
I sleep in Melody Chandlers room, she told him.
Ah, he murmured. Then give me her fathers room, the Ian Chandler room.
For a long moment she stared at him.
Please, he said. His tone was gruff, and he realized that even when he was trying to be polite, he sounded like an ass. And he didnt know why. What was it about her that brought out this side of him?
He couldnt help it. He pictured Jose Rodriguez. Dead.
And he pictured Adrian Hall where she, too, had lain dead in a pool of her own blood.
He pulled out his wallet to produce a credit card.