Part 25 (1/2)
”I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm looking for Asher. He's not... well, to be honest, I don't know where he's at in this house.”
The woman was older, her eyes defined by the deep crows feet around them. Her gray hair slicked back in a bun only gave her a slightly professional edge, though her face reminded Diana of a grandmother's. Sweet, docile, forgiving. Did she have any idea what Asher was doing?
No, probably not. He had hidden it well. Her discovery was a mistake she wasn't meant to find.
”Oh Ma'am, that's a complex question. Asher is a... complex man. He likes to be everywhere all the time. Would you like me to get him for you?”
Diana nodded. ”That would be lovely. Thank you.”
The chef walked a few steps to a grey metal box against the wall. Pushed a few b.u.t.tons and leaned into it.
”Mr. Bishop? You busy?”
For a few seconds, there was only silence. And then the machine crackled and Asher's voice filtered through the speaker. ”What do you want Grace? Mother and I are having an important conversation.”
Grace turned to look at Diana, her brows knitted together, a frown on her face. Diana looked back at Grace, confusion rising up inside of her.
Mother? Was he being facetious? Sarcastic? Why would he want his chef to think he was talking to his dead mother?
Grace sighed and spoke into the box again. ”Sir, your guest is requesting your presence. She's come down to the kitchen looking for you.”
”Dammit, Grace. Why didn't you just tell me this to begin with?” his voice was angry, but still controlled.
”I'm sorry, sir. What would you like me to tell her?”
The speaker crackled again. ”I'll be down in a minute.”
Grace turned around slowly, her mouth opened and closed, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't form the words.
”Does he do that often?” Diana asked her.
”Ma'am?”
”Say things about his mother. As if he's with her?”
Grace's gaze met Diana's. ”I don't think it's my place...”
”You're worried about him, aren't you?”
It was barely perceptible, but Diana noticed the way Grace teared up. ”Yes, Ma'am.”
”How long has it been since Miss Bishop pa.s.sed?”
”Seven years, Ma'am.”
Diana stepped forward. ”And he's been talking to her ever since?”
Grace nodded.
”You're a good woman, Grace,” Diana said. ”Let's pretend we didn't talk about this.”
”Thank you Ma'am,” Grace said in a whisper.
The door flung open and Asher stood there in a grey suit, his blond curls disheveled, his expression sour.
”Diana.”
”Asher-”
Asher grabbed her wrist. ”Come. Let's let Grace finish her kitchen duties. Thank you, Grace, for alerting me to Miss Carson's request.”
Grace nodded and met Diana's gaze before Asher pulled her through the door.
”I thought you were tired,” Asher asked as he guided her to the sitting room.
”I was. But I just got a call.”
”From whom?”
”My boss. There's been a murder and I need to get to the scene immediately,” Diana said, using all of her strength to remain calm and in control. She forced herself to look him in the eye.
”Are you sure that's such a good idea? What if he's waiting for you to arrive.”
Diana shrugged. ”Then I would like to meet him. Ask him a few questions.”
She expected Asher to be stunned but instead he chuckled. ”Only you would want to meet the madman going around killing people. You should be terrified of him. Whatever would you ask?”
She didn't want to give herself away quite yet. She wanted to be sure of how she felt when she revealed what she knew. Her life might depend on it.
”The usual things. Motivation. Remorse. Those types of things.”
”Is that all? You're not the least bit curious of anything else.”
Diana smiled, nervously. ”Of course I am. But this is all hypothetical. And I haven't got time for that. I need to go to a crime scene, remember?”
Asher nodded. ”Yes, how could I forget. I'll get my driver to take you.”
”How about you come with me? It's your money at work after all. Nothing like seeing how it's being used, firsthand.”
Asher shook his head. ”That's not necessary. I believe you're doing a fine job. Besides... I have work tomorrow.”
Diana walked toward the door. ”It wasn't a question, Asher. You're coming with me.”
Twenty.