Bone Cold

Quentin grimaced. “With the way our meeting went, only if I get whacked right off the bat.”

The other man laughed. “No doubt about it, you’re a charmer.” He angled toward Quentin. “So, if she’s not going to make you her next hero, what’d she want?”

“She’s been getting some disturbing letters from a fan.”

“No joke? Threats?”

“Not to her, no. Supposedly this fan’s a kid. An eleven-year-old girl.”

“Supposedly?”

“I’ve got my doubts.” Quentin filled his partner in. “Ms. North believes the child’s in danger. I’ll fill in Lautrelle when he’s back to work. He can follow up if he thinks there’s anything there.”

Terry leaned his head against the rest and closed his eyes. “After getting a look at her, my mind’s made up. I’m putting in for transfer to the Eighth. Maybe they’ll give me Lautrelle’s caseload.”

“Give it up, Terror. No way you’d even get to first base. She’s way out of your league, partner.”

Terry smiled but didn’t open his eyes. “You so sure about that? I’ve nailed way classier broads than her before.”

“Nailed? Broad?” Quentin laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

Quentin crossed Poydras Street, heading uptown. “How’d it go with PID yesterday?” The Public Integrity Division was the NOPD’s version of Internal Affairs. Terry had been called in for questioning about the Kent murder the day after her murder, then again yesterday.

“They asked me a shitload of questions about Nancy’s murder, then let me go. Thanks in no small part to your statement. I appreciate it, man.”

“I only told it the way I saw it.” He glanced at his partner and grinned. “What’s the deal? You and the deceased on a first-name basis now?”

“After the past week? We’re practically family.”

They drove in silence until they reached the Seventh. Quentin parked the Bronco; they climbed out of the vehicle and headed into the building. After signing in, they parted company. On his way through the squad room, Johnson called him over.

“What’s up?”

He tossed a manila folder across the desk. “Take a look.”

“The Kent homicide?” He flipped open the folder. “What’ve we got?”

“Official cause of death was suffocation. Raped first.”

Quentin scanned the medical examiner’s report. Other than tearing and bruising to the labia, she was relatively unmarked. A few abrasions to the back of her head, legs and arms and that was it.

“Weird,” he murmured.

“What?”

“She didn’t put up much of a fight.”

“Think she knew the guy?”

“Yeah, maybe. They get much from under her nails?”

“Nada. Got the blood test back. Our guy’s O-positive. Like nearly half the population of New Orleans.”

“Not me,” Quentin murmured, flipping forward in the report. “I’m A-positive.” He stopped, frowning. “You and Walden didn’t interview any women from the bar that night?”

“The waitresses. We focused on the guys. Why?”

“Think about it, Johnson. You’ve got this gorgeous woman monopolizing every available guy in the bar with her exhibitionist antics. Basically, she’s cutting in on every other woman’s chance of making a connection. Right?”

“Right.” The other detective scratched his head. “So?”

“So, you have some pretty pissed-off chicks. And what happens when somebody pisses you off?”

“You punch ‘em in the face?”

“Not in this case.” He answered his own question. “In this case, you can’t take your eyes off them. The other ladies at that bar were watching every move Nancy Kent made. Keeping count of the men she danced with and for how long. They’re who we have to talk to.”

Johnson nodded. “You’ve got a point, Malone.”

Quentin stood. “I’ll pay a visit to Shannon this afternoon, get a list of names. Start making calls.”

“By George,” Johnson said in an attempt at a British accent but coming off as a mentally challenged Cajun, “I think he’s got a plan.”

12

Wednesday, January 17 3:00 p.m.

Ben stopped outside the florist shop’s door. The sign above it proclaimed this The Perfect Rose.

Anna North’s workplace.

She hadn’t been difficult to track down. She had dedicated her last book to the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America and her “Little Sister” Jaye. The local B.B.B.S.A. director was an acquaintance of his; he had contacted her and she had suggested he reach Anna through The Perfect Rose.

Ben cleared his throat. He probably should have called first. It would have been the proper thing to do. But refusing him over the phone would have been too easy. And he didn’t want to make refusing him easy. He wanted her to agree to let him interview her for his book.

Wanted it rather desperately.

He had thought a lot about Anna North since seeing the Unsolved Hollywood Mysteries segment on E! He had read her novels. Had read between the lines and learned a great deal from her stories. He had put that information together with what he knew about her past and present in an attempt to anticipate how she would react to his having found her. She would be angry with him. If he understood her as well as he thought he did, his showing up would frighten her. She fiercely protected her privacy out of fear. She would most probably react like a cornered animal.

He would win her over.

Ben took a deep breath and pushed through the door. She appeared at the workroom doorway; he recognized her by the glorious mane of red hair, so like her mother’s.

“Good morning,” he said, smiling and crossing to the service counter.

She returned his smile. “How can I help you?”

The moment of truth. “I’m Benjamin Walker.” He held out his hand. “Dr. Benjamin Walker.”