"Little of both. I don't like attaching civilians to an investigation, and don't bother reminding me how often Roarke ends up that way. It's bad enough he does, bad enough I'm getting used to it. And the psychic thing. How much good is that really going to do?" She turned back to Peabody. "What did she tell us? He's big and strong and out of his fucking mind. That's no bulletin." "Dallas, it's not like she's going to give us a name and address. This stuff doesn't work that way." "Why the hell not?" Irritated, she jammed her hands in her pockets. "If you can see stuff, why can't you see salient details? The killer is Murdering Bastard who resides at 13 Homicide Drive. That would be useful." "Frosty. Just think of how quick we'd close a case. Then the department would hire a whole team of psychics the, ah, the SAID Sensitive Detective Division and.
.. You know what, I don't like it after all. We'd be out of a job." Eve shot a dark glance toward the stairs. "And I don't like the idea that she could start poking around in my head." "She wouldn't do that, Dallas. Legitimate sensitives respect privacy. They don't intrude." Peabody's father had, Eve remembered. Inadvertently, but all the same. And there, she admitted, was the core of her bias.
"I like her," Peabody added.
"Yeah. She's okay. We'll take this little field trip, see what comes of it. Then you and me? We're going back to straight cop work."
Celina changed into a pair of black pants and a blue, scooped-necked blouse. She wore several crystal drops on a chain around her neck.
Tor protection, intuition, the opening of the third eye." She held them up as they stood at the edge of Central Park.
"Not everyone ascribes to their benefits, but under the present circumstances, I'm willing to try anything." She adjusted the enormous sunshades that hid half her face. "Pretty day," she said. "Warm and sunny. The sort of day that brings people outside. I love New York this time of year. And I'm stalling." "The applicable areas have been searched, swept, recorded," Eve began. "From what we've learned, the victim walked the dog in this direction, and entered the park approximately at this point." Eve started into the park.
"So many people have been through here, I don't know what I'm going to get. Truthfully, my gift is more direct, contact with someone or something. Usually."
About ten yards into the trees, Eve stopped. There was no one around, she noted after a sweep. People were at work, in school, at the shops, in restaurants.
It was too close to the street, this tony street, for chemi-head gatherings or illegals transactions.
"It was here, wasn't it?" Celina took off her shades, pocketed them, stared at the ground. "Where he grabbed her, dragged her deeper into the woods." Her breathing was slow and even as she walked. A very deliberate sound.
"Struck her, in the face, knocked her down, dazed her. I can see the ground's torn up, so this must be where he…" She took another breath, then squatted down and ran her hands over the grass and dirt. Yanked them back again. "God!" Eve could see her clench her jaw as she touched the ground again. "He raped her here. Control, humiliate, and punish.
There's a name in his mind not hers. I can't see it, can't quite… but it's not her name, it's not Elisa he's punishing." She drew her hands back again, tucked them under her arms as if to warm them. "It's difficult for me to get past her, and what was done to her. She's my connection, and she doesn't know him. She doesn't know why this is happening. He's just…" She lifted her head, looked at Eve. "I can see you." Eve felt a chill in her belly. "I'm not why you're here." "You're a very strong presence, Dallas. Strong mind, strong feelings. Strong instincts. You layer over it all." With a half laugh, Celina straightened, stepped carefully back and away from the scene. "I'm surprised you're so resistant and suspicious of sensitives when you have a gift yourself." "I don't." Staring, Celina huffed out an impatient breath. "Bull. Do you think what you see and feel and know is just instinct?
Only instinct?" Then she shrugged. "Whatever you call it, it's a gift." She rubbed her arms. "He carried her from here. It's dim because she was already gone. Some part of her is still with me, but it's thin." "She weighed about a hundred and thirty. Deadweight now." "He's very strong." "Have to be." "Prides himself," Celina murmured as she began to walk.
"Yes, there's pride. In his body, in his strength. She's so much weaker than he is now." "Not the victim." Eve fell into step with her. "But who the victim symbolizes." "Possibly. Probably." Celina brushed stray hair away from her face. A trio of interlinked gold circles swung at her ears.
"You probably see him more clearly than I do. You're not as afraid of him as I am." She paused to study the castle. "I wonder why he picked this spot. It's fanciful. A landmark. He could have left her anywhere. It would've been easier." Eve had her thoughts on that, but kept them to herself.
"How tall is he?" "Well over six feet. Well over. Closer to seven. Thick-bodied, but hard not fat. Not hard fat. Muscular. I could feel that, when he raped her." She sat on the grass. "Sorry. I'm getting the shakes. I'm not used to this kind of work. It's draining. How do you do it?" "It's what I do." "Yes. Both of you." She opened her purse, took out a pretty box. "Blocker," she said when she selected a pill from it.
"Vicious headache. I can't do anymore today. I'm sorry.
Tapped out."
To Eve's surprise, Celina stretched out full length on the grass. "Do you know what I'd normally be doing now?" "Can't say." Idly, Celina checked the time. "Oh, yes. Francine. Right about now I'd be settling down to a consult with Francine.
I give her a weekly, because I'm fond of her. She's a lovely, foolish, wealthy woman with a terminal case of husbanditis.
She just keeps marrying them. She's about to take on husband number five, though I've advised her against it. Just as I did with numbers three and four." Lazily, Celina drew the pair of stylish sunshades back out of her pocket. She slipped them on. "She'll get teary during our hour together, and protest that she must follow her heart." Her lips quirked as she patted a hand on her breast. "That this time it's going to be different. She'll marry the opportunistic son of a bitch who will then cheat on her he already has, but she'll refuse to believe it make her miserable, then walk off with her pride, her self-esteem, and a nice chunk of her portfolio." She shook her head, pushed herself up to sitting. "Poor gullible Francine. And that, Lieutenant Dallas, Detective Peabody, is about the most tragic case I allow myself to deal with." "How do you know when you talk to a client that you won't see something tragic?" Eve asked, and Celina smiled.
"It's my job to know. And if I miss something, then see it, I do what I can, then I step back. I don't believe in suffering, particularly when it's me doing the suffering. I don't understand why people insist on causing it or enduring it. I'm a shallow creature," she said, stretching like a cat in the sun.
"But until a couple of nights ago, a damn contented one." Peabody offered a hand to help her up. Celina studied it, grinned. "Can I take a peek? Just surface. Not deep probe, no secrets. You both interest me."
Peabody wiped her hand on her trousers, then offered it again. "I guess so." Celina clasped hands, continued to hold it after she'd gained her feet. "You're a dependable woman. Sturdy shoulders, and a loyal streak that encompasses every area of your life. You're proud of your badge, and the work you do.
Careful," she said with a laugh, and released Peabody's hand.
"You open like a door. I didn't intend to peek into your personal life. But he's a cutie." She winked. "She-Body." Peabody flushed. "We're, ah, moving into a new place together. Going to cohabitate." "Congratulations. Ain't love grand?" Smiling, she turned to Eve. Raised her eyebrows.