Page 8 (1/2)

The housekeepers and butler awaited theirroom, already dressed for dinner, and considered the preparations

"Sandra, you’ve selected the right china for tonight’s guests"

His approval drew a sh it was uneasy "But, Willialasses"

At once the butler took the indicated glasses away

Two centerpieces of cream-colored roses flanked the candelabrureenery Strip soe the roses, sir," she said, and seemed to be dise of the roses "Mrs Helios preferred to do it herself She read a book on flower arranging"

Victor knew that the staff liked Erika and worried that she should do well

He sighed "Redo the arrange to my wife" Wistfully, he removed one of the white roses and slowly turned it between thu that a few of the petals already showed early signs of wilt "She’s so … young She’ll learn"

AS the HOUR drew near, Victor went to the master bedroom suite to determine what had delayed Erika

He found her in the dressing rooth bronze hair was as lustrous as silk The exquisite form and buttery smoothness of her bare shoulders stirred him

Unfortunately, she had too much enthusiasm for the effects of makeup

"Erika, you can’t improve on perfection"

"I so much want to look nice for you, Victor"

"Then wash h I’ve given you everything you need to dazzle"

"Hoeet," she said, but she seemed uncertain whether she had been complimented or criticized

"The district attorney’s wife, the university president’s wife--none of them will be painted like pop-music divas"

Her smile faltered Victor believed that directness with a subordinate--or a wife--was always preferable to criticis close behind her, he slid his hands along her bare shoulders, bent close to slorious mane aside, kissed the nape of her neck--and felt her shiver

He fingered her emerald necklace "Diae it For me"

In the vanity aze to the array of makeup brushes and bottles before her She spoke in a whisper: "Your standards for everything are … so high"

He kissed her neck again and matched her whisper: "That’s why I made you My wife"

CHAPTER 19

IN THE CAR, on the way to the Quarter for a grab-it dinner in Jackson Square, Carson and Michael ping-ponged the case

She said, ‘Allasn’t chloroformed"

"We don’t have blood results yet"

"Remember his face He wasn’t chloroformed That makes him and the dry cleaner, Chaterie, the exceptions"

"The other male, Bradford Walden, was chloroformed," Michael said "Otherwise, those three ans as souvenirs"

"But from the women he only takes ears, feet, handsDid Nancy Whistler e-mail you that list of people with library keys?"

"Yeah But after seeing Allwine’s apartuy didn’t need a key"

"How do you get to that?"

"I don’t know It’s just a feeling"

"Let’s do soiven up on the idea the victims are connected to one another somehow They’re random prey"

"How did you analyze your way to that?"

"Now and then," he said, "I have a feeling of nificance to which body part he takes fro without her hands Are hands of special importance in her life, her work? Is she a pianist? Maybe an artist? Maybe a e therapist?"

‘As you know, she was a clerk in a bookstore"

"Meg Saville, the tourist from Idaho"

"Took her feet"

"She wasn’t a ballet dancer Just a receptionist"

"He takes a nurse’s ears, a university student’s legs," Carson said "If there’s significance, it’s inscrutable"

"He takes the dry cleaner’s liver, the bartender’s kidney If he’d carved the bartender’s liver, we ht build a theory on that"

"Pathetic," she said

"Totally," he agreed "The bartender had a Goth lifestyle, and Allwine lived in black Is that a connection?"

"I didn’t get Goth froally in Jackson Square, near a Cajun restaurant favored by cops

Just as they reached the entrance, Harker exited the place with a large bag of takeout, bringing with hi Carson that she’d skipped lunch

As if not in the least surprised to see the up in ht push for a task force as early as the weekend If we’ll be teahts now"

To Harker, Carson said, "Surely you gotta know your reputation Everyone in the departs"

"Envy," Harker said dismissively "We closethe suspect," Michael said, referring to a recent officer-involved shooting for which Harker had narrowly avoided being brought up on charges

Harker’s smile was conteuard?"

Michael said, "Do I want pancreatic cancer?"

"The black rooms are a death wish," Harker conjectured