First to Die by James Patterson

Author:James Patterson [Patterson, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Mystery Fiction, Women Sleuths, Crime, Thrillers, Female Friendship, Serial murders, California, Women Detectives, San Francisco (Calif.), San Francisco, Women detectives - California - San Francisco
ISBN: 9780316666008
Publisher: Little brown
Published: 2001-03-04T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter61

HILLARY KNEW.

I was almost sure of it.

But why she would conceal such

a thing related to her sister’s death, I couldn’t imagine.

Old habits

are hard to crack, she had said.

I wanted another shot at her, and I reached her by phone at the family

house in Shaker Heights.

“I had a chance to speak to Merrill Shortley,” I told her.

“I just

need a few details cleared up.”

“You realize this is a very stressful time for my family, Inspector,”

Hillary replied.

“We told you what we knew.”

I didn’t want to come on too strong.

She had lost her sister in a

horrible way.

Her parents’ home was filled with mourners and grief.

And she was under no obligation to talk to me at all.

“Merrill told me a few things about Kathy.

Her lifestyle …”

“We told you all that,” she replied defensively.

“But we

also told you that after meeting James she had begun to settle

down.”

“That’s what I want to talk to you about.

Merrill recalled there was

someone she was seeing in San Francisco.”

“I thought we told you Kathy dated lots of men.”

“This one went on for a long time.

He was older.

Married.

Some kind

of big shot.

Possibly famous.”

“I wasn’t my sister’s keeper,” Hillary complained.

“I need a name, Ms.

Bloom.

This man could be her killer.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.

I already told you what I know.

My

sister didn’t exactly confide in me.

We lived very different lives.

I’m sure you’ve put two and two together already -there was a lot I

didn’t approve of.”

“You said something to me the first time we talked.

Old habits are

hard to crack.

What sort of habits were you referring to?”

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.

The Cleveland police are

handling this, Inspector.

Can’t we just let them do their job?”

“I’m trying to help you, Ms.

Bloom.

Why did Kathy move away from San

Francisco?

I think you know.

Was someone abusing her?

Was Kathy in

trouble?”

Hillary sounded frightened.

“I appreciate what you’re trying to do,

but I’m going to hang up now, Inspector.”

“It’s going to come out, Hillary.

It always does.

An address book.

Her phone bill.

It’s not just Kathy.

There are four others, back in

California.

They were just as hopeful about the rest of their lives as

your sister.

Just as deserving.”

There was a tiny sob in her voice.

“I have no idea what you’re talking

about.”

I felt I had one last chance.

“Here’s the really ugly truth about

murder.

If I’ve learned one thing as a homicide detective, it’s that

the lines don’t stay fixed.

Yesterday you were an innocent victim, but

now you’re in this, too.

This killer will strike again, and you will

regret whatever you didn’t tell me for the rest of your life.”

There was a heavy silence on the line.

I knew what it meant.

It was

the struggle inside Hillary Bloom’s conscience.

I heard a click.

She had hung up the phone.

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