Page 49 of Alex Cross Must Die

As her eyes adjusted, she saw Poe’s bare back facing her from the other side of the bed. She could make out the lines of his muscles as his torso rose and fell. She reached out and lightly traced her finger along the slope of his shoulder. As soon as she touched him, his body began to shake. She loosened the covers around her body and slid closer to his, pressing softly against him. She leaned over to peer at his face, pulling a lock of dark hair off his forehead.

Poe’s eyes were shut tight. His lips were working, as if trying to form words. Suddenly, tears spilled down his cheeks onto his pillow, and the words became clear.

“I’m sorry!” he moaned softly in his sleep. And then, “Don’t leave me!Please!”

CHAPTER 51

AT 7 A.M.,Marple sat at her desk, stroking a purring Annabel and watching as Helene Grey tiptoed down the steps from the apartment level and moved along the inside wall toward the door. She was holding her strappy heels in one hand, her purse in the other.

Marple had worried that the kidnapping case might have doused the spark she’d detected between Auguste and Helene. Apparently not.

“Good morning, Detective!” she called out brightly.

Grey froze. Caught.

Virginia stood up from another desk and smiled at her. “Well, I guess all the ladies are up early this morning!”

“I’m sorry,” said Grey, her voice low and hoarse. “I was just …” She started moving toward the entryway.

“No need to explain, Detective,” said Marple. “People come and go at all hours around here.”

“It’s true,” added Virginia. “I’ve noticed that too.”

Grey stopped again and exhaled in a breathy sigh. Clearly surrendering any pretense of a smooth escape, she walked over to Marple’s workspace in her bare feet and plunked down in an office chair.Her wrinkled dress sagged low on her chest. Virginia stepped over and handed her a PETA sweatshirt. “It’s chilly in here before the sun comes up. Coffee?”

Grey took the sweatshirt. “Yes, please.”

“One sugar, right?” said Virginia.

Grey nodded.

Virginia walked off toward the kitchen. Grey slipped the sweatshirt over her head and whispered to Marple. “Who’s that? Is she psychic?”

“You mean Virginia?” said Marple. “Sorry. I should have introduced you. A new office hire. She started a few days ago. One of Poe’s discoveries.”

Grey tugged the sweatshirt down to her waist. “Don’t tell me she lives here too.”

Marple shook her head. “She just comes inveryearly.”

Grey lowered her head and pressed her fingers against her temples.

“Are you okay, Detective?” asked Marple.

“Fine,” said Grey. “I’m fine.”

“Anything on the kidnapping?” asked Marple. She knew it was a touchy subject, but she had to ask.

Grey looked up, frowning. “You know I can’t talk to you about that.” She paused for a second. “But no. Nothing more from the kidnappers. No proof of life. And no leads. If it was an international job, they’re probably somewhere out of the country by now. The FBI has taps and surveillance on the apartment and Eton’s office phone.”

Marple caught Grey looking across her desk. She had her eyes on a map of Hart Island, the site of New York City’s potter’s field.

“What’s that about?” asked the detective.

Marple quickly slid the map into a file folder.Sloppy,she told herself. She shouldn’t have left it out. “Probably nothing,” she said.

“Nothing?” Grey asked.

“I spend most of my days on dead ends,” said Marple. “Nights too.Believe it or not, that’s how I tend to solve cases. It seems to work. Surprisingly well, actually.”

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