Dark Eye

“Again, let me make it clear that everyone is doing their best-”

“But that’s not good enough, is it?” The mother stepped up on the raised platform. “I am publicly calling here and now for a clean sweep of the LVPD team and full federal assumption of this investigation.”

“That isn’t even constitutional and it wouldn’t-”

“Talk is meaningless. We’re looking for a deranged killer, a psychopath. We’re not going to catch him with these Deputy Fife officers.”

Susan’s cheeks burned. “I can assure you, ma’am-”

“In the meantime, I’m demanding the immediate removal of several LVPD perso

“That’s uncalled for. Chief O’Ba

“His conduct has been grossly negligent.”

“He knows more about police work than you could learn in-”

“He hired a drunk to work on my daughter’s case!”

The harsh words sliced through the press conference like a laser. Susan took a step back, almost staggered.

“I guess you didn’t cover that in your opening statement, did you, Ms. Pulaski? Perhaps you’d like to explain why you are no longer a member of the LVPD. Why your employment was terminated. Perhaps you’d like to explain where you were residing only ten days ago or why you have a bandage on your wrist.”

Susan’s teeth were tightly clenched. “This conference is over.”

“I’m calling a press conference of my own!” the mother all but shouted. “I want some action! And I’m willing to put up my own money to see that it happens.”

“I don’t need this,” Susan said, folding up her materials.

The mother grabbed her arm. “I want my daughter’s killer found!”

Susan pushed her away. “We all do, ma’am.” She left the stage, and the live feed gave way to background commentators rattling about the “surprising and dramatic turn of events” at the press conference. Although they didn’t come right out and say they agreed with the mother, they were quick to note that she was not the only one who had criticized the way this investigation was being handled. They couldn’t resist adding that there were many unanswered questions about Susan Pulaski’s involvement, suggesting that they had known all along about her alcohol addiction and time in detox which, of course, none of the lazy mouthpieces had.

He shut off the television in disgust. His anger at that hideous woman and the ignorant press was intense, but not so intense as the sorrow he felt for his poor damaged Susan. She must be devastated. She would try to act tough, as if it didn’t bother her. But it would. It would eat away at her like an earwig burrowing through her brain. And before the day was done, she would drink.

The department would be all over her, pressuring her, just as they would now be pressured to terminate her. His resolve was redoubled: he had to give her something. Something to make her indispensable to the investigation.

That contemptible Spencer woman-how he loathed her. She was projecting, of course. A

I don’t like that one with the frozen hair and the painted face and the big glasses and the guitar calluses on her left-hand fingers. I didn’t like it when that one was mean to Susan there was no reason she should not be mean and that’s what they taught me in Sunday school didn’t she ever go to Sunday school that one was mean I’m sorry she lost her little girl but maybe if she’d been watching she wouldn’t have lost her and it isn’t Susan’s fault. She was mean to Susan and said lots of loud things I didn’t understand and she smelled bad too like something out of one of those bottles at J. C. Pe

She shouldn’t have been mean to Susan. No one should ever be mean to Susan. I want her to be happy. I want to have her babies.

I turned on the water, stepped into the shower fully clothed, and screamed. Screamed like a banshee, an elemental force of nature. Everything that had been pent up inside me I tried to release in one piercing blast. All my anger at the lawyers, at the people who took Rachel from me. At Dr. Coutant. At O’Ba

And David. David, David, David. I shouted and shouted until my throat hurt.

It wasn’t enough. It was still with me. It would always be with me.

What had that hideous bitch thought she was doing? As if nothing mattered but her own self-centered quest for vengeance? Normally, I was scrupulously considerate of the feelings of the bereaved, however their actions might complicate my work. But this woman had crossed the boundaries. She was using her celebrity status to interfere with the detective work. Worse, she was threatening my job. I knew that O’Ba

I stumbled out of the shower, dripping water all over the floor. I didn’t know what I should do. I didn’t know what I could do. I dreaded going back to work tomorrow, knowing what everyone would be saying, or at least whispering. Knowing it was just a matter of time before the word was given. Before I was pink-slipped into oblivion.

I tore through the sacks in the kitchen, all the shopping I had done on my way home from the office. I thought about calling Patrick-after the conference, he had more than hinted that he would be available if I wanted to get together tonight. But I couldn’t, not now, not on these terms. Not when I was so goddamned vulnerable. There was only one thing I could do under these circumstances.

I had swallowed half the bottle before I came up for air. After that, I don’t remember much of anything.