Page 18 of The Death
Dominic almost said the words aloud as he stared at CelineKelly in the bright light that now fully illuminated her. That shining dark hair framing the fantastic features… those cheekbones… those almond-shaped violet eyes. All he could think of in that moment was the word with which he’d mocked Jacobs a short time ago.Masterpiece…
He jerked his gaze away from that face and concentrated on what she had been saying. “He was probably doing his best. But I’ll tell you the full truth so you won’t accuse me of the same thing. Now, where would you like me to start?”
“You must know,” she said bluntly. “Everyone at this precinct must know. I couldn’t have been more clear. Barnaby. Tell me about Barnaby.” She was obviously bracing herself. “What did you find out about Barnaby?”
“I’m sorry,” he said gently. “The results were indisputable. The victim the police are holding in the morgue is your friend, Gary Barnaby.”
She flinched as if he’d struck her. “Dear God in Heaven.” She closed her eyes. “You’re absolutely certain?”
“It’s him. After I heard the results, I went down to the lab and questioned the medical team myself when I got here. They did a thorough job, and I wish I didn’t have to tell you this.”
“I wish you didn’t, either.” She opened her eyes, and he saw them glittering with tears. “Does his wife, Judy, know? Does she realize he’s been identified?”
“I believe the lieutenant told her before I arrived at the precinct. Naturally, he didn’t choose to let her view the body. She didn’t request it. It will have to be a closed casket.”
“Because of what that monster Jossland did to him?” She began wiping her wet cheeks with the backs of her hands. “Hemanaged to cheat Judy and her two kids of a final goodbye?” Her eyes were suddenly blazing. “My God, I hate that bastard. Have you arrested him yet?”
“Not yet. There seems to be some difficulty finding him. I thought perhaps you might be able to help. Do you remember anything that might lead us to any of his associates?”
“How could I? He was a blank page as far as I was concerned. How many times do I have to tell you? One moment I’d never seen him before, and the next he was following me and putting his hands on me. Was I supposed to meekly bow my head and let him do it? People like that think they can get away with anything if you don’t fight back. My father taught me that, and he made sure that I was able to do it in the most efficient way possible. There was nothing wrong with him doing that.”
“Shh.” He reached out and touched her hand. “No offense. I just thought that there might be something that you’d forgotten to tell us. I’ve read your dossier, and your father seems to have been an exceptional man.”
“A dossier?” she said. “I don’t have a criminal record. Where did you get that?”
“I have connections.”
“Obviously, but you’re not a cop. The Breitling wristwatch you’re wearing tells me that. Who are you?”
“Someone who wants to help you. As for your father, he taught you well; you should be very proud.”
“You’re damn right.” She reached up and rubbed her temple before she added wearily, “But what he couldn’t teach me was that there would always be choices I’d have to make. I made one that night, and Barnaby is dead.”
“Choices?”
“During that last minute I was trying to decide whether to run toward the subway or back to the art studio. I chose to go back to the studio. If I hadn’t, Barnaby wouldn’t have been involved at all.” She shuddered. “And he wouldn’t be down in that morgue, he’d be home with Judy and his children. So it is partly my fault that all this happened.”
“Bullshit,” Dominic said. “You were making perfectly good sense until you came up with this nonsense. I’m going to assume it’s just shock and that you’ll be back to semi-normal behavior in no time. But don’t expect me to accept it. I came here to get information that will get me to Jossland, and neither of us have the time to waste on self-pity.”
Celine stared at him in shock. Then she blinked, and her lips curved in the faintest smile. “I’ll remember that. I’m glad you made your position clear. And I promise you, no more self-pity.”
“Perhaps I could tolerate a small amount of it,” he said. “As long as you don’t mind me warning you not to let it get in the way.”
Celine shrugged. “You’ll have to take what you can get. I may just tell you to go to hell. But you’re very… unusual.”
“So you may allow me to stay around for a while?”
“Until I decide if you’re trying to manipulate me. I don’t like people who do that.” She shook her head. “But right now I think I may need you. You said you went down to the morgue when you first got here. Can you take me down there right now?”
“I don’t see why not,” he said. “Tell me why?”
“I don’t want Barnaby to be alone down there tonight.” She shuddered. “I want to tell him that we’ll never stop untilwe find the person who did this to him. I want him to know that I was there for him, and I don’t care how he looks.”
“You realize that’s not at all reasonable, Miss Kelly.”
“It’s Celine. And I don’t care if anyone thinks I’m reasonable or not. What do we really know about life or death? What if he somehow did know? I’m not going to take the chance. Will you see that they let me in to see him? I’m studying to be a doctor. I promise I’m not going to scream or faint on you.”
“I didn’t think you would.” He was taking her jacket and wrapping it around her before fastening it. “They keep it pretty cool down there. I just want to make sure you’ll be warm enough.” He took her arm and led her toward the elevators. “Stay as long as you want. I’ll be there to make sure no one bothers you. I wouldn’t want you to have to get in a brawl with any of the staff. Okay?”
