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“You maintained separate residences”

“Yes, she—we both preferred it that way Our tastes, aesthetically speaking, were very different, and the simple truth e both liked our independence and personal space We enjoyed each otherbreath “But it was no secret that we had a relationship, at least not a our families and friends” He let the breath out “Publicly, we both preferred to keep our private lives private I don’t expect that will be possible now”

“I doubt it”

He shook his head “It doesn’tout who did this to her I just can’t seee the fact that she’s gone Cicely was,” he said slowly, “the most admirable woman I’ve ever known”

Every instinct, hu, but she knew that even killers mourned their dead “I need you to tellthis”

“Yes, of course It was about ten o’clock We had dinner at Robert’s on East Twelfth We shared a cab after I dropped her off first About ten,” he repeated “I know I got in about quarter after because I had several ”

“Was that your usual routine?”

“What? Oh” He snapped himself back from some inner world “We really didn’t have one Often we’d coain, e felt adventurous, we’d take a suite at the Palace for a night” He broke off, and his eyes were suddenly blank and devastated as he shoved off the soft, silver sofa “Oh God My God”

“I’rief “I’m so sorry”

“I’ to believe it,” he said in a voice thick and low “It’s worse, I realize, when you begin to believe it She laughed when she got out of the cab, and she blew ertips She had such beautiful hands And I went ho I was in bed byWhile I was in bed, safe, she was lying dead in the rain I don’t know if I can bear that” He turned back, his already pale face bloodless now “I don’t know if I can bear it”

She couldn’t help hiible she could feel it herself, she couldn’t help hiive you time, but I just can’t As far as we know, you’re the last person who saw her alive”

“Except her killer” He drew himself up “Unless, of course, I killed her”

“It would be best for everyone if I ruled that out quickly”

“Yes, naturally, it would—Lieutenant”

She accepted the bitterness in his voice and did her job “If you could give me the name of the cab company so that I can verify your movements”