A Necessary Evil by Kava Alex

Author:Kava, Alex [Kava, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Mira
Published: 2007-03-02T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 43

Washington, D.C.

Gwen Patterson accepted the glass of water Detective Julia Racine offered. Gwen sat on Dena’s leather sofa, her legs still spread apart, her body bent forward and ready to resume the position of head between her legs even though the nausea had subsided. When Racine continued to stand over her, Gwen took a sip, thinking she needed to convince all of them that she would be okay, that there would be no more vomit to mess up the crime scene.

She wasn’t sure who ended up cleaning the kitchen sink. She just kept telling herself, better there than in the garbage can. Racine had handed her a damp paper towel and then the glass of water. Had Gwen remembered what Maggie had said about the detective, she would have realized that, of course, Racine wasn’t waiting to make sure she was okay. It wasn’t until she saw Racine’s foot tapping that it dawned on Gwen that the detective wanted to know what was going on.

“Tell me again why you came here.”

Without looking up, Gwen gave her the same answer, hoping that instead of sounding rehearsed it would only sound as if she was growing tired of repeating the same answers. “She didn’t show up for work. I left phone messages for her and she didn’t return my calls. It’s not like her to just not show up. I was worried.” It was all true. And yet, she had no idea how she would begin to tell the rest of the story. She had gone over it in her mind again and again, realizing how bizarre it sounded. What was worse, she had nothing—not even a match of fingerprints to back up her story.

“And you just happen to have a key?”

“Yes,” Gwen said. It was easier to just answer Racine’s questions. Especially right now while the dizziness and nausea took roller-coaster turns through her body.

“So you came in,” Racine said, hands on her hips, foot still tapping. Her voice kept calm even as it remained somewhat abrasive, but Gwen thought it was due to impatience rather than anger. “She wasn’t here, so you went on into the kitchen and checked the trash bin?”

Gwen looked up at her and dragged her fingers through her hair, starting to feel her own frustration. “I looked around. When we got to the kitchen, Harvey went to the cabinet door and started pawing at it.”

“And what about that? Do you always bring your dog with you?”

Gwen reached over and gave him a pat. He had stayed by her side the entire time, finally lying down when he realized they weren’t leaving.

“He’s not my dog. I’m watching him for a friend.” Suddenly it occurred to her that just because she knew Julia Racine, it didn’t mean Racine knew her. Gwen added, “He’s Maggie’s dog. Maggie O’Dell.”

“Agent Maggie O’Dell?”

“Yes, she had to leave for Nebraska this morning. Maggie often leaves Harvey with me when she’s out of town.”

Racine turned her attention to Harvey, and Gwen could see her softening a bit.

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