lhamilton.thekillingdance-第39章

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　〃What　are　you　thinking？〃　she　asked。
　〃Nothing　worth　sharing；〃　I　said。
　The　bathroom　door　opened。　Raina　walked　in　wearing　a　cream…colored　dress　as　short　as　my　own。　The　dark　hose　and　stiletto　high　heels　made　her　legs　go　on　forever。　She　wore　a　fur　jacket　in　a　dusty　red；　probably　fox。　She　was　the　only　shape…shifter　I'd　met　who　wore　real　fur　that　wasn't　her　own。
　She'd　pulled　her　auburn　hair　on　top　of　her　head　in　a　soft　bun　with　loose　strands　of　hair　curled　artfully　around　her　face　and　neck。
　Karen　chose　that　minute　to　regain　consciousness。　I　wasn't　sure　she　was　going　to　like　her　wake…up　call。　I　knew　I　didn't。
　I　stood。　Cassandra　moved　in　front　of　me　and　a　little　to　one　side；　not　blocking　me；　but　closer　to　the　danger　than　I　was。　I　wasn't　used　to　anyone　guarding　me。　It　felt　odd。　I　could　take　care　of　myself。　That　was　the　point；　wasn't　it？
　〃What's　happening？〃　Anabelle　asked。
　Karen　was　looking　around；　eyes　going　wide　again。　〃Where　am　I？〃
　〃Anabelle；　can　you　sit　with　Karen；　please？〃　I　smiled　when　I　asked；　but　I　didn't　take　my　eyes　from　Raina。　The　door　had　closed　behind　her；　and　there　wasn't　enough　room　to　maneuver；　not　really。　If　Cassandra　could　hold　her　for　a　even　a　few　seconds；　I　could　get　the　gun　out；　but　somehow　I　didn't　think　Raina　had　e　to　fight。　I　think　she'd　have　worn　different　shoes。
　Anabelle　sat　on　the　couch　and　literally　held　Karen's　hand。　But　she　was　watching　the　rest　of　us。　Hell；　it　might　be　a　better　show　than　what　was　outside。
　〃What　do　you　want；　Raina？〃　I　asked。
　She　gave　a　wide　smile　with　her　lipsticked　mouth；　baring　small；　even　white　teeth。　〃It's　the　ladies'　room；　isn't　it？　I　came　to　powder　my　nose。　And　to　see　how　our　frightened　guest　is　doing。〃　She　took　two　steps　into　the　room；　and　Cassandra　moved　in　front　of　her；　blocking　her　way。
　Raina　stared　down　at　her。　〃You　forget　yourself；　wolf。〃　Her　voice　held　a　low　edge　of　growl。
　〃I　forget　nothing；〃　Cassandra　said。
　〃Then　stand　aside；〃　she　said。
　〃What　did　you　mean　by　our　guest？〃　I　asked。
　She　smiled　at　me。　〃I　am　Jean…Claude's　partner　in　this　little　enterprise。　Didn't　he　tell　you？〃　From　the　look　on　her　face；　she　knew　the　answer　and　was　enjoying　it。
　〃I　guess　it　slipped　his　mind；〃　I　said。　〃Why　aren't　you　part　of　the　show　then？〃
　〃I'm　a　silent　partner；〃　she　said。　She　pushed　past　Cassandra；　body　brushing　the　smaller　woman。　She　knelt　by　the　couch。　〃How　are　you　feeling；　my　dear？〃
　Karen　stammered；　〃I　just　want　to　go　home。〃
　〃Of　course　you　do。〃　She　glanced　up　and　smiled。　〃If　one　of　you　would　help　me　get　her　to　her　feet；　there's　a　cab　waiting　to　take　her　anywhere　she　wants　to　go　at　the　club's　expense。　Or　did　you　want　to　ride　home　with　your　friends？〃
　Karen　shook　her　head。　〃They　aren't　my　friends。〃
　〃So　wise　of　you　to　realize　that；〃　Raina　said。　〃So　many　people　put　their　trust　in　the　wrong　people。〃　She　stared　at　me　while　she　said　the　last。　〃And　they　get　hurt；　or　worse。〃
　Anabelle　had　moved　away　from　Raina。　She　was　staring　at　all　of　us；　clutching　her　purse。　I　don't　think　she　understood　everything　we　were　saying；　but　she　obviously　was　not　having　a　good　time。　One　good　deed　and　she　was　already　being　punished。
　〃Can　you　stand？　Why　don't　you　help　me？〃　Raina　asked　Anabelle。
　〃No；　let　Cassandra　help　you；〃　I　said。
　〃Afraid　I　might　eat　your　newfound　friend？〃
　I　smiled。　〃You'll　eat　anything　that　can't　get　away。　We　all　know　that。〃
　Her　face　tightened；　anger　flashing　through　her　amber　brown　eyes。　〃In　the　end；　Anita；　we　will　see　who　eats　what。〃　She　helped　the　woman　to　stand。
　Cassandra　whispered；　〃Jean…Claude　told　me　to　guard　you。〃
　〃Make　sure　she　gets　into　a　cab　that　really　is　going　to　take　her　home。　Then　you　can　follow　me　around　for　the　rest　of　the　evening；　okay？〃
　Cassandra　nodded。　〃Jean…Claude　won't　like　it。〃
　〃I'm　not　too　happy　with　him　right　now；　either；〃　I　said。
　〃A　little　help　here；〃　Raina　said。
　Cassandra　sighed；　but　she　took　Karen's　other　arm；　and　they　helped　her　through　the　door。　When　the　door　closed　behind　them；　Anabelle　let　out　a　long　sigh。　〃What　is　going　on？〃
　I　turned　to　the　lighted　mirror；　leaning　my　hands　on　the　vanity　top。　I　shook　my　head。　〃It's　too　long　a　story；　and　the　less　you　know；　the　safer　you'll　be。〃
　〃I　have　to　confess　I　have　an　ulterior　motive。〃　I　watched　her　through　the　mirror；　and　she　looked　embarrassed。　〃I　didn't　just　help　out　of　the　goodness　of　my　heart。　I'm　a　reporter；　freelance。　A　quote　from　the　Executioner　would　really　put　me　on　the　map。　I　mean　I　could　name　my　price；　especially　if　you　explained　what　just　happened　here。〃
　I　bowed　my　head。　〃A　reporter。　Not　exactly　what　I　needed　tonight。〃
　Anabelle　came　up　behind　me。　〃It　was　real　on　the　dance　floor；　wasn't　it？　That　vampire…Damian；　right？　He　was　really　going　to　do　her；　right　there；　as　part　of　the　show。〃
　I　watched　her　face　in　the　mirror。　She　was　vibrating　with　eagerness。　She　wanted　to　touch　me。　You　could　see　her　hands　fluttering；　nervous。　It　was　a　big　story　if　I　corroborated　it。　It　would　serve　Jean…Claude　right　if　I　did。
　Something　went　through　Anabelle's　eyes。　Some　of　the　brightness　leaked　away。
　Several　things　happened　almost　simultaneously。　Anabelle　jerked　my　purse；　the　strap　broke；　she　took　a　step　back；　and　drew　a　gun　from　an　inner…pants　holster　under　her　vest。　The　door　opened；　and　three　laughing　women　entered。　The　women　screamed。
　Anabelle　looked　at　the　door　for　just　a　heartbeat。　I　drew　a　knife　and　turned。　I　didn't　try　and　walk　those　two　steps　to　her。　I　dropped　to　one　knee　and　lunged　my　body　like　a　line　with　the　knife　as　the　point。　The　knife　entered　her　upper　stomach。　The　gun　moved　towards　me。　I　used　my　left　hand　to　sweep　the　arm　away。　The　shot　went　wild；　cracking　the　mirror。　I　shoved　the　knife　upward；　under　her　sternum；　shoved　it　until　the　hilt　met　flesh　and　bone；　and　jerked　the　blade　up　and　sideways。
　Her　hand　convulsed　on　the　gun　and　another　shot　hit　the　carpeted　floor。　The　silencer　made　each　shot　seem　muffled；　almost　anticlimactic。
　She　sank　to　her　knees；　eyes　wide；　mouth　opening　and　closing。　I　ran　my　hand　down　her　arm　and　took　the　gun　from　her。　She　blinked　at　me；　eyes　unbelieving；　then　she　fell　abruptly　as　if　her　strings　had　been　cut。　She　twitched　twice　and　died。
　Edward　was　at　the　door；　gun　out；　pointed。　He　stared　from　me　to　the　fresh　corpse。　He　took　in　the　knife　still　protruding　from　her　chest；　the　gun　with　silencer　in　my　hand。　He　relaxed；　pointing　the　gun　at　the　floor。　〃Some　bodyguard　I　turned　out　to　be；　letting　you　get　dusted　in　the　ladies'　room。〃
　I　stared　up　at　him。　I　felt　numb；　distant　with　shock。　〃She　almost　got　me；〃　I　said。
　〃But　she　didn't；〃　he　said。
　I　heard　men's　voices　shouting；　〃Police！　Everybody　stay　where　they　are。　We'll　check　it　out。〃
　〃Shit；〃　I　said　softly　and　with　feeling。　I　laid　Anabelle's　gun　by　her　body　and　sat　back　on　the　carpet。　I　wasn't　sure　I　could　stand　right　then。
　Edward　holstered　his　gun　and　moved　back　from　the　door　to　join　the　crowd　that　was　pushing　forward　to　see　the　show。　Just　another　part　of　the　anonymous　throng。　Yeah；　right。
　I　sat　there　beside　the　corpse　and　tried　to　think　of　something　to　tell　the　cops。　I　wasn't　sure　the　truth　was　an　option　I　could　afford　right　now。　I　began　to　wonder　if　I　was　going　to　see　the　inside　of　a　jail　tonight。　Watching　the　blood　soak　the　front　of　Anabelle's　vest；　it　seemed　likely。
　
　
　17
　
　I　was　sitting　in　a　straight…backed　chair　in　Jean…Claude's　office　at　Danse　Macabre。　My　hands　were　cuffed　behind　me。　They　hadn't　let　me　wash　the　blood　off　my　right　hand；　and　it　had　dried　to　a　nice　tacky　substance。　I　was　used　to　having　dried　blood　on　me；　but　it　was　still　unfortable。　The　uniformed　officers　had　taken　the　other　knife　and　found　the　Seecamp　in　my　purse。　They　had　not　found　the　big　knife　in　the　spine　sheath。　It　had　been　a　sloppy　search　to　have　missed　a　knife　longer　than　my　forearm；　but　the　uniform　that　did　it　had　at　first　assumed　that　I　was　another　victim。　It　had　shaken　him　to　find　out　that　the　pretty　little　woman　was　a　murderer。　Oh；　excuse　me；　alleged　murderer。
　The　office　had　white　walls；　black　carpet；　a　desk　that　looked　like　carved　ebony。　There　was　a　red　lacquer　screen　with　a　black　castle　done　high　on　top　of　a　black　mountain。　There　was　a　framed　kimono　on　the　far　wall；　scarlet　with　black　and　royal　blue　designs。　Two　smaller　frames　held　fans：　one