Page 23 (1/2)
"Celia" I recognized Barbara’s voice She spoke softly and clearly "You need to go If they see you over the body like this…"
"Pressure, blood loss" I couldn’t seee a full sentence, and there was a definite lisp toThey’ll shoot you on sight if they see you like this"
I nodded Staggering to my feet, I lurched over to my nearby rental SUV I prayed I hadn’t locked the doors--and I hadn’t I hauledthe door behind me
The relief was instantaneous I hadn’t consciously acknowledged the pain of the sun burning my skin, but now tears of relief poured unheeded down , curled in the fetal position, on the smooth leather seats
The back of my mind heard the ambulance and police cars arrive, but I didn’t move I lay still in the hot, dim interior of the SUV, too weak to ht withnowhere and was grateful to be left alone Footsteps, voices, the sound of vehicles pulling out of the parking lot--I ignored them all
Eventually there was a soft tap on the driver’s-sideI groaned, raising ht hit me like a club I threw my arm in front of my face and hissed Just like in the entle and stern It’s an unusual co my ar here?" I kneas her day off, so I was surprised she’d caught this case
"Barbara called me She said you saved the victim and that you were in a bad way She was afraid if any of the other cops saw you they’d shoot you, stake you, and take off your head"
Thank God for Barbara and her quick thinking
"Do you want my statement?" I spoke carefully so that I wouldn’t lisp or hiss
"I’ll send Charles over in a ive you your jacket anda statement before I let him talk to you"
"Thanks" I took the jacket fro not having a top over it in public I shifted ina little as the fabric touchedsunburn Buttoned, it made me look like a Frederick’s of Hollywood et "Alex, do me a favor"
"What?" She sounded suspicious
"Grablot"
She blinked a couple of ti what I asked As she reached out to hand it to ured I ht have her take a look to see what actually happened"
Alex let out a lohistle "It takes so We don’t have anybody on staff with that much power"
"Yeah, well, it takes a lot out of her, so I don’t ask her to do it too often In fact, the way she strained herself yesterday, I’ she won’t be able to do it at all Still, it doesn’t hurt to pick up a piece Just in case"
Alex sighed "Yeah Though the judge ht not admit the evidence or testiainst the use of ic was too easy to manipulate with illusion--which is true, up to a point It was tying the hands of the cops ere just trying to do their jobs
Alex shook her head ruefully "I bet it’s soht not to shudder The first tiotten to witness my ownit, I’ll give you a call"
"I ive a statement You okay to do that now?"
I took a deep breath I felt better, more like ave a brisk nod, then stood up and stepped away fro the door
She was back in less than a minute, accompanied by another detective I assu nearby for the all clear S careful aroundme the chance to control myself, to show that I was not a e nu an excuse to execute ed for the better I wanted to keep theain, I was ready and didn’t react to the sunlight Instead, I ss, and said, "Hello"
"Hello, Ms Graves I’m Charles Andrulis" The old badge of a detective He was a sht requirements for the force His features reminded me of a pet ferret one of ht dark eyes, and just a hint of sharp teeth Not that I actually saw his teeth But the impression was there just the sa fro blood on my hands "I understand you were the first one out of the building and that you gave first aid to the victiot upset and left I heard the shot People inside the restaurant were diving for cover, so I went out the patio doors to see if I could help" I looked at Alex, as standing behind Andrulis "Any chance you could get me my purse fro"
Alex nodded and left Andrulis watched her go, then turned back toyou wanted to say to me without her here?" He pulled a little handheld recorder out of his jacket pocket It was the tape kind, not digital, and I could see the little wheels turning when he pressed the button to start the machine