He waited for a moment, thinking he might feel a twinge of regret at her news, but no. Not even a flicker of relief. He just didnt care anymore. Is it serious?
Who knows? Angelette shook out a cigarette and lit up. The smoke mingled with the steam from his coffee, softening her features and making her face seem almost vulnerable, but Dave knew better than to believe in a mirage. Were taking things slow for now. Something you and I should have done, I guess. She propped an elbow on the table, letting the Camel smolder between her fingers. Never was anything slow about you, Dave.
Most men wouldnt take that as a compliment.
But youre not most men, now are you? She gave him a dark smile. We both liked it fast, didnt we? And often.
Her lowered voice conjured images best left in the past. Seedy motel rooms. The hood of his car. A deserted road with the smell of the river drifting in through the open windows.
We were good for a while, baby. You cant deny that. She reached for his hand, but Dave pulled his away.
Tell me about your new guy. Anyone I know?
Its Lee Elliot.
Dave was caught off guard by the name. The conservative Orleans Parish district attorney hardly seemed suited to Angelettes free spirit, but then Elliot came from old money and that would most definitely appeal to her.
Are you impressed?
Have to say that I am. Does he know about the payoffs?
Im clean these days, Dave. I swear. So Id appreciate it if youd just keep your mouth shut about the past. I kind of like the idea of a stable relationship for a change and I dont want you ruining this for me.
I wouldnt do that. Besides, I dont exactly operate in Elliots circle.
No, but Claires sister does.
I dont talk to Claires family. You know that.
I thought things might be different now.
You mean because Im not seeing you anymore?
Angelette took a quick drag on her cigarette. I did wonder.
Claire and I are over, Dave said slowly. Weve been over for a long time. You know shes remarried. And wasnt it pretty damn remarkable how he was able to say it without punching a wall or shattering a window?
But the outbursts of temper and the drunken brawls were behind him. Dave had accepted his life for the way it was, and hed finally figured out there was no profit in dwelling on what hed lost.
He could almost hear his AA sponsor coaxing him: Say it with me, Dave. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
A nice sentiment, but it didnt mean shit when you were lying facedown in a gutter.
You said there were two reasons why you wanted to see me. Whats the other?
Angelettes gaze flashed to the door again. Dave wondered if she was expecting someone. Her nerves were right beneath the surface and he couldnt help wondering why. This conversation is going to stay between us, right?
Sure.
She waited a moment longer, then slid the empty glass aside. Have you been following the Losier case?
The murdered Tulane student? Hard not to. Her pictures been plastered all over the news for weeks. Nina Losiers girl-next-door looks had captured the publics attention, but after nearly a month with no arrests and nothing new to report, media interest was starting to wane. A sure sign the investigation was going nowhere. Dave had learned that lesson the hard way.
Angelette blew a stream of smoke from the corner of her mouth. The father is looking to hire a P.I. I told him about you.
Since when does NOPD recommend a private dick for an active investigation?
Since its not my case. She grinned, but her eyes were sober as she gazed across the table at him. Lets just say the official investigation has run into some problems.
What kind of problems?
Theres a lot about this case that hasnt been released to the public. Nina Losier was from a wealthy family in Baton Rouge. Her father has a lot of political clout and NOPD has been pressured to keep certain aspects of the investigation out of the news.
Like what?
Like the fact that when Nina wasnt in class, she sometimes danced at a strip club on Bourbon Street. The Gold Medallion. Angelette paused. Thats where Renee Savaria worked, isnt it?
Dave suddenly realized how badly he wanted a drink. It hit him like that sometimes. Everything would be going along fine, and then bam. A face, a memoryeven a name could smash his control all to hell.
The Savaria homicide was the last case hed worked before his resignation. Hed been knee-deep in the investigation when his daughter went missing. Snatched in broad daylight as she rode her new bicycle up and down the sidewalk in front of their home.
Images were already flashing in Daves head. The kind of visions that had made him reach for a bottleor his gunon more sleepless nights than he cared to remember.
Ruby had been seven when she was taken. Just seven years old.
If Nina Losier comes from the kind of background you say she does, howd she end up stripping on Bourbon Street?
You make it sound like she was an anomaly, but rich girls slumming to embarrass their powerful daddies is nothing new in this town.
What about leads?
One dead end after another, just like the Savaria case. I remember how frustrated you were back then. You told me once it was like beating your head against a stone wall. Then all of a sudden you turned up a new lead. You thought you were getting close to a breakthrough when Ruby went missing. Maybe you were getting a little too close.
For a moment Dave felt as if the air had been squeezed from his lungs. Hed never told anyone about those phone calls, not even Angelette. She couldnt know about the missing page from the dead womans diary, either. No one knew about that except Dave and Renee Savarias murderer.
Hed destroyed evidence in a homicide investigation in order to save his daughters life, but Ruby hadnt been returned as promised. Instead, her trail had grown cold while Dave collaborated with a killer.
A muscle in his jaw began to throb. Seven years and the guilt was still as fresh and deep as the day hed answered Claires frantic phone call.
Angelettes eyes searched his face. I always wondered if there was a link between Renee Savarias murder and Rubys kidnapping. I think you did, too.
Dave looked down at his hands. They werent trembling, but his fingers had curled so tight, his knuckles whitened. It doesnt matter what I thought. Its all in the past.
A guy like you lives in the past.
Not anymore.
I call bullshit on that.
Dave shrugged.
After you left, the active investigations on your desk fell through the cracks. Nobody wanted to get tainted by your bad karma. So the Savaria case has been sitting in the cold case files all this time, and the way I see it, that old unfinished business has been eating away at you for too damn long. Maybe its time for a little closure.
Dave wanted to believe it was as simple as that, but Angelette never did anything without demanding something in return. What are you really after, Angie?
Nothing. I owe you one, thats all.
Now why dont I believe you?
She looked hurt. Hey, Ill be the first to admit I havent exactly conducted myself like a Girl Scout in the past, but Im still a cop and, believe it or not, Id like to see justice done. Renee Savaria and Nina Losier got in over their heads at that club. Drugs, prostitutionGod knows what else. But that doesnt mean they deserved what happened to them. And your little girl sure as hell didnt deserve what happened to her.
He didnt say anything. He couldnt.
Angelette leaned toward him. What if I tell you I can put a copy of the case file in your hands? Would you be willing to at least take a look?
You sure you want to risk your career over this one?
You let me worry about my career. I know what Im doing. You game or not?
Ill take a look at what youve got, but Im not promising anything.
Fair enough. You dont like what you see, you walk away and thats that. We dont mention it again. She gathered up her purse and stood. Give me a call when you decide something. Or better yet, drop by the Monteleone on Saturday night. Graydon Losier is making an appearance at Lees fund-raiser. Ill see that you get an introduction.
She started toward the door, then turned back. One other thing I forgot to mention. She leaned over the table to slowly grind out her cigarette. Ive been hearing some talk around town. Claire and Alex Girardtheyve split up. Not that you give a shit about your ex-wife, right, Dave?
Two
The Dollmaker had been working steadily ever since he returned home from New Orleans a few hours ago, but he wasnt happy with his progress. For one thing, the smile was all wrong. The shape of the jaw, the angle of the noseeverything about her eluded him tonight.
His hand tightened on the knife, but instead of slicing away the offending features as he usually did, he took a step back from his work and drew a calming breath. He was letting anger and fear interfere with his concentration, and for him that could be a very dangerous thing. He needed to get his emotions under control before he did something rash. Something he might live to regret.
He sucked in more air, but the breathing exercises werent working this time. The voice inside his head kept needling him.
Shes gone, you fool! And its all your fault. You lost her!
I didnt lose her, he muttered. She was taken.
Because you were so careless!
He couldnt deny that. Leaving her alone had been imprudent, to say the least, but hed been called away on an emergency and hadnt taken the time to lock her up before he rushed out. When he came home hours later, she was missing.
Snatched in broad daylight from her home.
A part of him wanted to appreciate the irony even as his conscience continued to berate him. Hed flown under the radar of the local authorities and even the FBI for so long, hed become too complacent, even a bit reckless at times. It had all been so easy until now, and he wondered if he should regard this as a test. How he conducted himself could be crucial.
Its all right, he whispered. I know where she is. Ill get her back.
By this time tomorrow she would be home where she belonged. In the meantime, he had plenty to do to keep busy.