Part 52 (1/2)

”Doctor?” I said.

”The video was on a tripod. We shot it.”

I shook my head. ”Sorry. Won't wash. There's four different angles on that tape, and I don't think any of you three got up to move the tripod.”

”Maybe we-”

”There's also a shadow,” Angie said. ”A man's shadow, Diane, against the east wall during foreplay.”

Diane Bourne closed her mouth, reached for her winegla.s.s.

”We can burn you down, Diane,” I said. ”And you know it. So don't f.u.c.k around with us anymore. Who shot the tape? The blond guy?”

Her eyes snapped up and then dropped just as quickly.

”Who is he?” I said. ”We know he maimed Lovell. We know he's six-two, weighs about one-ninety, dresses well, and whistles when he walks. We've placed him with both Karen Nichols and Lovell at the Holly Martens Inn. We go back and ask questions, I'm sure we'll get a description of you there as well. What we need is his name.”

She shook her head.

”You're not in a position to negotiate, Diane.”

Another shake of the head, another draining of her goblet. ”I won't under any circ.u.mstances discuss this man.”

”You don't have a choice.”

”Yes, I do, Patrick. Oh, yes, I do. It may not be an easy choice, but it's a choice. And I will not cross this man. Ever. And should the police question me, I will deny he even exists.” She emptied the wine bottle into her goblet with a shaky hand. ”You have no idea what this man is capable of.”

”Sure, we do,” I said. ”We found Lovell.”

”That was spur-of-the-moment,” she said with a bitter grin. ”You should see what he's capable of when he has time to plan.”

”Karen Nichols?” Angie said. ”Is that what he's capable of?”

Diane Bourne gave her bitter grin a derisive turn downward as she looked at Angie. ”Karen was weak. Next time, he's choosing someone strong. Add to the challenge.” She gave Angie a flat, contemptuous smile, and Angie d.a.m.n near knocked it off when she slapped her.

The wine goblet shattered against the serving dish and a red mark the shape of a salmon steak obscured Diane Bourne's left cheekbone and ear.

”d.a.m.n,” I said, ”no leftovers for this house.”

”Don't get the wrong impression of us, b.i.t.c.h,” Angie said. ”Just because you're a woman doesn't mean things can't get physical.”

”Very physical,” Bubba said.

Diane Bourne looked at the shards of her gla.s.s sticking out of the plate of carved white meat. She watched as her wine pooled in the divots of her hammered copper.

She jerked a thumb at Bubba. ”He'd torture me, maybe even rape me. But you don't have the stomach for it, Patrick.” torture me, maybe even rape me. But you don't have the stomach for it, Patrick.”

”Amazing how your stomach feels when you walk outside,” I said. ”Come back after it's all done.”

She sighed and settled back into her chair. ”Well, you're just going to have to do it. Because I won't betray this man.”