lh.narcissusinchains-第29章

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　〃Anita。〃　His　voice　was　breathy。　It　was　probably　the　second　time　in　all　the　years　we'd　known　each　other　that　he　had　used　my　first　name。　It　was　usually　Ms。　Blake。
　I　responded　in　kind；　smiling。　〃Clive；　it's　good　to　see　you。〃
　His　eyes　flicked　from　me　to　Nathaniel；　then　back　to　me。　〃You're　supposed　to　be　。。。　〃　He　straightened　on　the　stairs。　〃I　mean；　we　heard　。。。　〃　I　watched　him　visibly　try　to　rally。　By　the　time　we　reached　the　step　he　was　on；　he　looked　almost　normal。　But　his　next　question　wasn't　normal。　〃Did　you　die？〃
　I　smiled；　then　felt　the　smile　fade　as　I　stared　into　his　eyes。　He　was　serious。　I　guess　I　did　raise　the　dead　for　a　living；　so　the　question　wasn't　as　ridiculous　as　it　sounded；　but　I　was　realizing　that　some　of　his　shock　wasn't　just　from　seeing　me　walking　around。　It　was　from　his　fear　of　what　I　was　now。　He　thought　I　was　the　walking　dead。　In　some　ways　he　was　closer　to　the　mark　than　was　fortable；　in　others　he　was　so　far　off。
　〃No；　Clive；　I　didn't　die。〃
　He　nodded；　but　there　was　a　tightness　around　his　eyes　that　made　me　wonder；　if　I　tried　to　touch　his　arm；　would　he　flinch？　I　didn't　want　to　find　out；　so　Nathaniel　and　I　just　walked　past　him；　leaving　him　alone　on　the　stairs。
　I　pushed　into　the　squad　room　with　its　crowded　desks　and　the　busy　clatter　of　people。　RPIT　had　some　of　its　busiest　hours　after　three　A。M。　The　noise　died　gradually　like　fading　water　rings；　going　out　into　the　room；　until　I　moved　in　silence　between　the　desks　and　the　staring　faces。　Nathaniel　stayed　at　my　back；　moving　like　an　attractive　shadow。
　I　finally　said；　loud　enough　to　carry　through　the　room；　〃The　rumors　of　my　death　are　greatly　exaggerated。〃　And　the　room　exploded　into　noise。　I　was　suddenly　surrounded　by　men；　and　a　few　women；　hugging　me；　slapping　me　on　the　back；　pumping　my　hand。　Smiling　faces；　relieved　eyes。　No　one　else　showed　the　reservations　that　Clive　Perry　had　shown　on　the　stairs；　and　it　made　me　wonder　about　his　religious　background；　or　his　metaphysical　one。　He　wasn't　a　sensitive；　but　that　didn't　mean　he　hadn't　grown　up　around　people　who　were。
　It　was　Zerbrowski　who　picked　me　pletely　off　the　ground　in　a　huge　bear　hug。　He's　only　five　eight；　and　not　that　big；　but　he　spun　me　around　the　room；　finally　putting　me　down；　laughing　and　a　little　unsteady　on　my　feet。　〃Damn；　Anita；　damn；　I　thought　we　were　never　going　to　see　you　e　through　that　door　again。〃　He　pushed　a　tangle　of　dark　curls　that　were　beginning　to　streak　with　gray　from　his　forehead。　He　needed　a　haircut；　but　then　he　usually　did。　His　clothes　were　the　usual　mismatch；　as　if　he'd　chosen　his　tie　and　shirt　in　the　dark。　He　dressed　like　he　was　either　color…blind　or　didn't　give　a　shit。　I　was　betting　on　the　latter。
　〃It's　good　to　see　you；　too。　I　hear　you're　actually　holding　someone　on　suspicion　of　having　killed　me。〃
　His　smile　faded　around　the　edges。　〃Yeah；　Count　Dracula's　in　a　cell。〃
　〃Can　you　get　him　out；　because　as　you　see；　I　am　very　much　alive。〃
　Zerbrowski's　eyes　narrowed。　〃I　saw　the　pictures；　Anita。　You　were　covered　in　blood。〃
　I　shrugged。
　His　eyes　became　cool；　suspicious　cop　eyes。　〃It's　been　what；　four　nights？　You're　looking　positively　spry　for　suffering　that　much　blood　loss。〃
　I　could　feel　my　own　face　grow　neutral；　distant；　as　cool　and　unreadable　as　any　cop's。　〃Can　you　get　Jean…Claude　out　and　ready　to　go？　I'd　like　to　take　him　home　before　it　gets　light。〃
　〃Dolph's　going　to　want　to　talk　to　you　before　you　leave。〃
　〃I　thought　he　might。　Can　you　please　start　processing　Jean…Claude　while　I　talk　to　Dolph？〃
　〃You　going　to　take　him　to　your　house？〃
　〃I'm　going　to　drop　him　off　at　his　place；　not　that　it's　any　of　your　business。　You're　my　friend；　Zerbrowski；　not　my　dad。〃
　〃I've　never　wanted　to　be　your　dad；　Anita。　That's　Dolph's　delusion；　not　mine。〃
　I　sighed。　〃Yeah。〃　I　looked　up　at　Zerbrowski。　〃Will　you　please　get　Jean…Claude　ready　to　go？〃
　He　looked　at　me　for　a　second　or　two；　then　nodded。　〃Okay。〃　He　looked　past　me　to　Nathaniel；　who　had　moved　to　the　side　of　the　room　to　let　the　great　reunion　take　place。　〃Who's　that？〃
　〃Nathaniel；　a　friend。〃
　He　looked　back　at　me。　〃A　little　young；　isn't　he？〃
　〃He's　only　six　years　younger　than　I　am；　Zerbrowski；　but　he　drove　me　tonight；　so　I　wouldn't　have　to。〃
　His　eyes　looked　worried。　〃You　okay？〃
　〃A　little　shaky；　but　it'll　pass。〃
　He　touched　my　face；　staring　into　my　eyes；　trying　to　read　them；　I　think。　〃I'd　like　to　know　what　the　hell　is　going　on　with　you。〃
　I　met　his　gaze；　face；　eyes　blank。　〃So　would　I。〃
　That　seemed　to　surprise　him；　because　he　blinked　and　dropped　his　hand。　〃I'll　get　Count　Dracula　out　of　hock；　you　go　talk　to　Dolph。〃
　My　shoulders　hunched　a　little；　and　I　had　to　concentrate　to　square　them。　I　was　not　looking　forward　to　talking　with　Dolph。　Zerbrowski　went　to　get　Jean…Claude；　and　I　left　Nathaniel　talking　to　a　nice…enough　seeming　police　woman　and　went　to　Dolph's　office。
　He　was　standing　in　the　doorway　like　a　small　mountain。　He's　six　eight　and　built　like　a　pro　wrestler。　His　dark　hair　was　cut　very　short；　leaving　his　ears　stranded　and　bare。　His　suit　looked　pressed；　tie　neatly　knotted。　He'd　probably　already　been　on　the　job　for　nearly　an　eight…hour　shift；　but　he　still　looked　fresh　out　of　the　box。
　His　eyes　were　very　careful　when　they　looked　at　me。　〃I'm　glad　you're　alive。〃
　〃Thanks；　me；　too。〃
　He　waved　a　hand　and　walked　me　down　the　hallway　away　from　the　office；　away　from　the　desks；　towards　the　interrogation　rooms。　I　guess　he　wanted　privacy。　Privacy　that　even　the　glass　windows　of　his　office　wouldn't　give　him。　It　made　my　stomach　tight　and　a　little　trickle　of　fear　go　through　me。　I　wasn't　afraid　of　Dolph　the　way　I　was　afraid　of　a　rogue　shapeshifter　or　a　vamp　I　had　to　kill。　He　wouldn't　hurt　me　physically。　But　I　was　afraid　of　the　tight　set　of　his　shoulders；　the　cautious；　cold　look　of　his　eyes　when　he　glanced　back　to　make　sure　I　was　following。
　I　could　feel　how　angry　he　was；　almost　like　the　energy　off　a　shapeshifter。　What　had　I　done　to　deserve　such　rage？
　Dolph　held　the　door　for　me；　and　I　squeezed　past　his　bulk。　〃Have　a　seat；〃　he　said；　as　he　closed　the　door　behind　us。
　〃I'll　stand；　thanks。　I　want　to　get　Jean…Claude　out　of　here　before　dawn。〃
　〃I　heard　you　weren't　dating　him　anymore；〃　Dolph　said。
　〃He's　being　held　without　charge　on　suspicion　of　killing　me。　I'm　not　dead　so　I'd　like　to　get　him　out　of　here。〃
　Dolph　just　looked　at　me；　eyes　as　cold　and　unreadable　as　if　he　were　looking　at　a　witness　　no　a　suspect　　that　he　didn't　like　much。
　〃Jean…Claude　has　a　damn　fine　lawyer。　How'd　you　keep　him　for　over　seventy…two　hours　without　a　charge？〃　I　asked。
　〃You're　a　city　treasure。　I　told　everyone　he'd　killed　you；　and　they　helped　me　lose　him　for　a　while。〃
　〃Damn；　Dolph；　you're　lucky　some　overzealous　officer　didn't　put　him　in　a　cell　with　a　window。〃
　〃Yeah；　too　bad。〃
　I　just　stared　at　him　not　even　sure　what　to　say。　〃I'm　alive；　Dolph。　He　didn't　hurt　me。〃
　〃Who　did？〃
　It　was　my　turn　to　give　him　cool　cop　eyes。
　He　walked　up　to　me；　towering　over　me。　He　wasn't　trying　to　intimidate　me　with　his　height；　he　knew　that　didn't　work　anyway。　He　was　just　that　big。　He　touched　my　chin；　tried　to　turn　my　face　to　the　side。　I　jerked　away。
　〃You've　got　scars　on　your　neck　that　you　didn't　have　a　week　ago。　They're　all　shiny　and　nearly　healed。　How？〃
　〃Would　you　believe　I'm　not　sure？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Suit　yourself。〃
　〃Let　me　see　the　scars。〃
　I　swept　my　hair　to　one　side　and　let　him　trace　one　large　finger　down　the　healed　wounds。
　〃I　want　to　see　the　rest　of　the　wounds。〃
　〃Don't　we　need　a　female　officer　in　here　for　this？〃
　〃Do　you　really　want　anyone　else　to　see　them？〃
　He　had　a　point。　〃Why　do　you　want　to　see；　Dolph？〃
　〃I　can't　force　you　to　show　me；　but　I　need　to　see　them。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　showed　strain　for　the　first　time。
　I　shed　the　outer　shirt　and　laid　it　on　the　table。　I　held　my　left　arm　out　to　him；　pushing　the　sleeve　of　the　T…shirt　up。
　He　traced　his　finger　over　the　marks。　〃What　is　it　about　your　left　arm？　Its　always　where　you　get　hit　the　most。〃
　〃I　think　it's　because　I'm　right…handed。　I'll　let　them　chew　on　my　left　arm；　while　I　grab　a　weapon　with　my　right。〃
　〃Did　you　kill　what　did　this　to　you？〃
　〃No。〃
　He　looked　at　me；　and　the　anger　showed　for　a　second。　〃I　wish　I　believed　you。〃
　〃Me；　too；　especially　since　I'm　telling　the　truth。〃
　〃Who；　or　what；　did　this　to　you；　Anita？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃It's　been　taken　care　of。〃
　〃Damn　it；　Anita；　how　can　I　trust　you　when　you　won't　talk　to　me？〃
　I　shrugged。
　〃Is　the　arm　all　of　it？〃
　〃Almost。〃
　〃I　want　to　see　all　of　it。〃
　There　were　a　lot　of　men　in　my　life　that　I'd　have　accused　of　just　wanting　to　get　my　shirt　off；　but　Dolph　wasn't　one　of　them。　There'd　never　been　that　kind　of　tension　between　us。　I　stared　at　him；　hoping　he'd　back　down；　but　he　didn't。　I　should　have　known　he　wouldn't。
　I　worked　the　shirt　out　of　my　pants　and　exposed　my　bra。　I　had　to　raise　the　edge　of　the　underwire　to　show　the　round　hole　　now　scar　　over　my　heart。
　He　touched　it　like　he　had　all　the　others；　shaking　his　head。　〃It's　like　something　tried　to　scoop　your　heart　out。〃　He　raised　his　eyes　to　my　face。　〃How　the　hell　did　you　heal　it；　Anita？〃
　〃Can　I　get　dressed？〃
　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door；　and　Zerbrowski　entered　without　waiting　to　be　asked；　while　I　was　still　struggling　to　get　my　breasts　back　behind　the　underwire。　His　eyes　widened。　〃Am　I　interrupting？〃
　〃We're　finished；〃　I　said。
　〃Gee；　and　I　thought　Dolph　would　have　more　staying　power。〃
　We　both　glared　at　him。　He　grinned。　〃Count　Dracula　is　processed　and　ready　to　go。〃
　〃His　name　is　Jean…Claude。〃
　〃Whatever　you　say。〃
　I　had　to　bend　over　and　rearrange　my　breasts　so　the　bra　would　fit　right　again。　Those　underwires　hurt　if　they　ride　up。　They　both　watched　me　do　it；　and　I　stubbornly　wouldn't　turn　away。　Zerbrowski　watched　because　he　was　a　cheerful　leech；　Dolph；　because　he　was　angry。
　〃Would　you　take　a　blood　test？〃　he　asked。
　〃No。〃
　〃We　can　get　a　court　order。〃
　〃On　what　grounds？　I　haven't　done　anything　wrong；　Dolph；　except　show　up　here　not　dead。　If　I　didn't　know　better；　I'd　say　you　were　disappointed。〃
　〃I'm　glad　you're　alive；〃　he　said。
　〃But　sorry　you　can't　bust　Jean…Claude's　ass。　Is　that　it？〃
　He　looked　away。　I'd　finally　hit　on　it。　〃That's　it；　isn't　it？　You're　sorry　that　you　can't　arrest　Jean…Claude　　get　him　executed。　He　didn't　kill　me；　Dolph。　Why　do　you　want　him　dead？〃
　〃He's　already　dead；　Anita。　He　just　doesn't　know　enough　to　lie　down。〃
　〃Is　that　a　threat？〃
　Dolph　made　a　low　exasperated　sound。　〃He's　a　walking　corpse；　Anita。〃
　〃I　know　what　Jean…Claude　is；　Dolph；　probably　better　than　you　do。〃
　〃So　I　keep　hearing；〃　he　said。
　〃What；　you're　angry　because　I'm　dating　him？　You　are　not　my　father；　I　can　date　who　　or　what　　I　want　to　date。〃
　〃How　can　you　let　him　touch　you？〃　And　the　anger　was　there　again；　rage。
　〃You　want　him　dead　because　he's　been　my　lover？〃　I　couldn't　keep　the　surprise　out　of　my　voice。
　He　wouldn't　meet　my　eyes。
　〃You're　not　jealous　of　me；　Dolph；　I　know　that　for　a　fact。　It　just　bothers　you　that　he's　not　human；　is　that　it？〃
　〃He's　a　vampire；　Anita。〃　He　met　my　gaze　then。　〃How　can　you　fuck　a　corpse？〃
　The　level　of　animosity　was　too　personal；　too　intimate。　And　then　it　hit　me。　〃What　woman　in　your　life　is　fucking　the　undead；　Dolph？〃
　He　took　a　step　towards　me；　his　entire　body　tre