Stella Cameron - Out of Body

He shrugged and found his tatty little notebook again.

“I’m going to tell you exactly what happened,” she said, breathless. “Please just let me say everything before you interrupt.”

What she was about to do was reckless. “The abduction happened—”

“Which abduction?” Fisher said.

“Liza Soaper. It happened early in the morning. Of course, I didn’t know who she was then. I happened to be about because I couldn’t sleep and I like to walk when I think.” Partly true. Mostly untrue. Marley’s mind scrambled. “Liza was, er, kidnapped. I think she was lured into a car. I jumped in a cab and had the driver follow.”

“What kind of car?” Archer said. “You got the license?”

She was sinking. “I’m not good at cars and I don’t see well when I’m upset. I think it was a black car, a big one. I didn’t think to look at the license plate.”

“Great,” Archer said.

“It was still dark and I was so busy trying to keep the other car in sight, I didn’t notice where we were.”

It’s so much easier to tell the truth, Marley. That way you never have anything to explain or get embarrassed about. Great, now Mama Leandra’s voice wanted to twist the knife. Her parents—on the rare occasions when she saw them—remained full of pat wisdom, and Papa Antoine usually let his adored wife do most of the talking.

“Are you reconstructing what happened?” Archer said.

Marley looked at the makeshift candy dish and swallowed rapidly. “Do you suppose I could have one of those?” She pointed. “I, er, haven’t eaten enough today.”

A little noise to her left annoyed Marley. “I’m glad you find me funny, Mr. Fisher.”

“Call me Gray. I was thinking you don’t look as if you ever eat anything much.”

“Thanks.”

“I didn’t say you don’t look great. Perfect, in fact.”

Fisher cleared his throat and Marley figured it was his turn to feel awkward. Not that she didn’t like the compliment.

Archer held the bowl under her nose and she managed, with great effort, to pick up only one candy.

“Have more,” Archer said. “Wish I had a sandwich or something.”

Looking at him, she smiled and took a handful of Tootsie Rolls.

Fisher sputtered and she looked at her hand. The bowl had been withdrawn and she was left with a fist crammed so full that some candies stuck out between her knuckles.

Marley laughed at herself. “Overkill,” she said. She got up and dropped the extra candies back into the bowl. “Thank you,” she said and stuffed several pieces into a pocket. This was not a time or a place for fainting. She unwrapped two candies and put them in her mouth, packing one in each cheek. Her energy was fading again.

“By the time the big car stopped, I was frantic.” She shifted to the front of her chair, chewing and gulping as fast as she could. “I threw money at the cab driver and raced after Liza and whoever was with her. I was so agitated and it was so dark, I rushed behind them—being careful to stay out of sight behind, er, bushes, and managed to sneak through the same door they used to go into the building.”

“What building?” Fisher said.

Damn him. “I don’t know. Not the faintest idea. That’s where the cops come in. They’re good at that stuff. Now let me finish. I’ve got to get Winnie out for a run.”

Neither man commented. Good, off-the-wall comments could be used to shut them up.

“As I was saying, I slipped in behind them when they weren’t looking.” And? “They got ahead of me and I thought I’d lost them. It was pretty scary in there. Just concrete walls and floor—dirty and damp. Then the locker—big locker—opened in the corner and a woman in red—I mean, black, with black fishnet hose and very high shoes—came out. She was frightened, I could see it.”

“This was another woman?” Archer squinched up his eyes. “I thought you meant—”

“Liza Soaper? I did. Only I didn’t know it was her then. I didn’t know until I saw the picture of her on the TV today. I saw the mole above her mouth, too.

“She looked terrified and when she saw me, she reached out. But that voice came. Just like black molasses dripping into a puddle on a shiny floor.”

“You have a way with words,” Fisher said.

“Please just let me get through this, Mr. Fisher.” She should only have put one Tootsie Roll into her mouth.

“Gray,” he said shortly and bowed his head. He bowed his head but looked behind him at the same time.

Marley heard a familiar slithering sound and soon Winnie came into view. Flattened (as flattened as a solid little Boston terrier could get) to the floor, she pulled herself forward, inch by inch to join the party.

“No,” Marley said, but wished she could gather up her faithful friend and hold her close. “Back you go, please, Winnie. I’m having an important conversation and you do have a tendency to distract me. Do go and sit where you were before and wait until I’m finished.”

Another strangled sound came from Mr. Fisher.

“What now?” she snapped.

“Nothing. I was surprised by his level of comprehension, is all.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Her. Just as I don’t believe in baby talk for children, I don’t like it for animals, either. Back, Winnie. Now, can we continue?”

Fisher wore jeans that rode below his waist, and a black T-shirt. The T-shirt shouldn’t have to be so tight. Surely he could find one big enough for all those muscles. Men could be like that. They liked showing off what studs they were.

“Liza had a mark on her neck,” Marley said and her eyes widened. She hadn’t remembered that until now. “A round, red mark right in the front. I thought it was blood, but I don’t know for sure.”

Fisher snickered. Complete with bone, Winnie had dragged herself beside him and rolled onto her back. She lay there with all four feet in the air, displaying her pink tummy.

Absently, Marley pulled another candy from her pocket. Her dog was a floozie, letting a strange man scratch her belly.

“Can we stay with the program?” Detective Archer said.

“Happily.” She was amused at how easy it was to ward off Fisher’s attempts to read her thoughts. “As soon as I got closer to Liza, the voice got more intense.”

“What was he saying to her?”

Marley concentrated on the detective. “Honestly, just like I said before, I couldn’t see him and I couldn’t make out everything he said, except he wanted her to come to him. That was obvious. I think he was hiding in the locker.”

“So, you just heard sounds really?”

“More than sounds.” She frowned at Fisher. He petted the dog, but his motions were jerky. Twice he stopped to rub his hands together. Marley looked at her own hands. They remained cold. The nail beds were blue.

“And?” Fisher said.

Archer shrugged and grinned at Marley. “I told you he keeps forgetting he’s not a cop anymore.”

“And?” Fisher repeated. He had an unforgettable voice himself. She didn’t doubt it could be mesmerizing in the right circumstances.

“You think this guy was mesmerizing Liza?” Fisher said.

Stunned, Marley barely stopped herself from shooting to her feet. He had heard her think about a voice being mesmerizing. At least, he’d picked up that idea and twisted it a little, even if he didn’t realize it. “He could have been,” she said tightly. She had never encountered anything like this before.

“I’ve never believed in that,” Archer said.

“Well, you ought to,” Marley said. “There’s a great deal more in this world than meets the eye.” She had to stop getting goaded into careless statements.

“Liza backed into the freezer or locker or whatever it was and the door shut.”