Page 63 of Secrets & Desires
“No, no, no...” Livia fought with the lift doors and finally wrenched them open. Nox tried to stop her, his instinct telling him what she’d find, but his outstretched hand missed her. Instead, he kept close as she burst through the door to her friend’s apartment. They both saw her at the same time. Moriko, beautiful, sweet, Moriko, half sat, half lay against the wall of her apartment, ripped open by a knife that still protruded from her body. Her clothes were soaked in blood, her eyes were closed, her facedeathlypale.
‘Oh, my god. God, no please…’ Livia sank to her knees and crawled to her dead friend, willing life back into her, but they both knew she was gone. Butchered. Stabbed to death. Livia let out a howl of agony that Nox would never forget, and gathered Moriko’s body to her, willing her to breathe, to please, please come back to her. She clutched her to her, not caring that Moriko’s blood was soaking her, her sobs heart wrenching. Nox, his voice shaking, quietly called for back-up and the paramedics, but she could see from the amount of blood that there was nothing they could do. Moriko was dead.Murdered.
All Livia could seeor smell was blood, even after Nox had put her into the shower at the hotel. He had told her the mansion was too dangerous now and she had nodded numbly, not really taking anything in. She felt detached from everything and everyone, even Nox. Morikowasdead.
Now she lay in a strange bed, listening as Nox and the police spoke in the other room. She tried to shut out their voices but also wanted to know what the hell wasgoingon.
There was a knock at the door and Odelle came in, shutting the door behind her. She didn’t say anything but sat on the edge of the bed and heldLivia’shand.
For a long time neither of them said anything. Then Livia, her voice trembling, spoke. “Moriko’sdead.”
“I know. I’m so sorry,Livvy.”
“He killed her because Nox and I aretogether.”
Odelle shook her head. “Whoever it was killed her because they are psychopathic, Liv. This is not yourfault.”
Livia closed her eyes, letting out a sob. “Why is thishappening?”
“I wish I could tell you, lovely, I do.” Odelle stroked Livvy’s hair awkwardly. “They’re lookingforRoan.”
“Do you really think Roan isbehindthis?”
Odelle looked so sad that Livvy sat up and hugged her. “I used to thinkno way, but now… I just don’t know. I still think Amber knows more than she’s telling, but that just might be my bias. Have you seen herlately?”
“Not since beforeChristmas.”
Odelle sighed and let Liv go. “Well, I guess the police will questionhertoo.”
“Nox said she went outoftown.”
“I think she did. She’s been acting strangely ever since she broke things offwithRoan.”
Liv studied her friend. “Odie…would Roan have hurt Amber? Or viceversa?”
“I don’t know. I got the feeling their relationship was about sex and that was it. Roan doesn’tdodeep.”
“Unless he’swithyou.”
Odelle half-smiled. “I was going to argue that but I think you’re right, actually. He does confide in me. Share his dreams andhopes.”
“I really want to believe that this isn’t Roan’s doing, Odelle. For your sake as much as his,andours.”
Odelle nodded sadly. “Me too, Livvy,metoo.”
But a week later,as Livia was arranging Moriko’s funeral, the police came back to them with devastating news. Roan’s semen had been found on Moriko’s body and the slaughtered cow’s body. A countryside alert was sent outforhim.
Nox, Livia, Sandor, Odelle and Amber sat together in a low-key bar in the French Quarter. All of them looked shattered, but Livia couldn’t help studying Amber, who seemed to be on the edge of something else—hysteria? Grief? The other woman, her red hair dirty and unkempt., was biting her nails down to thequick.
“What is it, Amber?” Livia asked her gently but Amber ignored her. Nox fixed his friend with astare.
“God, are you high?Jesus, Amber, at a timelikethis?”
She shook her head, but now Nox had mentioned it, they could all see Amber was tweaking. Odelle rolled her eyes and instead spoke toLivia.
“How are you doing,Livvy?”
Livia shrugged. “I keep seeing her lyingthere,Odie.”
