I get a tour of the place.”
“Yes, you have to see it. It’s so well-planned, so inclusive. It has such heart. Wilson, you remember that awful thing about all those girls, the remains they found when they started the work there.”
“I remember.”
“They’ve got a roof garden, so the students can plant and grow things, so they can have places to go sit outside. They’ve put a memorial to those poor girls up there. It’s sad, but it’s also uplifting. Their lives mattered, and they’re remembered. It’s beautiful, Wilson.”
“I told you before we went to Nadine’s how they’re about the best people I know. Don’t know how I’d’ve gotten through after that crazy bastard killed my sister, my baby.”
Now Rochelle brought that big hand to her cheek, cradled it. “That skinny white girl held on to me when I fell to pieces. She got justice for my baby. And the two of them, they planted that tree for her in the park. Kindest thing anybody ever did for me.”
He gave her hand a squeeze, picked up his beer to steady himself. “Now I know they’re smart enough to hire up the best. ’Cause that’s what you are. I love you, Ro.”
“Wilson.” He made everything inside her feel light and right. “I love you, too. It’s so strange, isn’t it? We met at such a sad moment, and here we are, making something so good together. I feel my life’s taking such a turn. Lyle finding himself again, you, now this. I can look back, remember, even feel how hard, scary, rocky things were. And now all this. I feel blessed, Wilson.”
“You earned every blessing.”
She smiled, leaned toward him. “How about we skip dessert?”
“You? My sweet-tooth lady?”
“Walt’s at the dorm for sure. Lyle’s staying at Martin’s. We have the apartment to ourselves. All night.”
“I’ll get the check.”
* * *
She giggled her way up the steps, grabbed him outside the apartment door for a steamy kiss. There was so much of him, all hard and cut and strong. He made her feel delicate when she was anything but.
She fumbled with her keys for the police-grade locks she’d paid to have installed. And reminded herself they’d be able to afford a better place, a better neighborhood, very soon.
Crack took the keys, unlocked the door. He swung her through with every intention of completing the circle until her back was against the closed door, and he could get good and started.
They both saw Lyle slumped in the chair in the tiny living space, vomit on his shirt, his eyes glazed and fixed, and the pressure syringe empty in his lap.
“No!” She started to leap forward, but Crack wrapped around her, held her firm against that closed door.
“You can’t touch him, Ro. You can’t touch anything.”
“You let me go! Lyle. Oh my God, Lyle. Let me go, goddamn it.”
She fought him, a strong, desperate woman. She cursed him, beat at him, but he held her back. Held her when she went limp. Held her as he lowered with her to the floor.
“No, no, no. Lyle. Please, please. Maybe he’s—”
“Baby, my baby, he’s gone. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Ro.”
“He wouldn’t. He wasn’t using, I swear it. He wouldn’t do this. He’d never do this.”
“I believe you. Look at me now. Just at me.” When she did, tears streaming, he kept rocking, but kept his eyes on hers. “We need the cops. I’m going to get somebody you can trust. I’m going to get Dallas.”
* * *
Eve nearly ignored the signal from her ’link. Dispatch would use the comm, and she really had nothing to say to anybody else. Especially since Roarke accepted her shooting-range challenge.
She was going to take him down.
But she glanced at the readout, saw Crack’s name. She figured in all the time she’d known him he’d tagged her maybe once, so something must be up.
She said, “Yo.”
And Roarke, just unbuttoning his shirt to change for the challenge, saw the cop take over in the next fingersnap.
“Don’t touch anything. Don’t approach the body. Go out, lock up. Wait for me outside the scene. I’m on my way.”
Roarke had already buttoned his shirt again, and now handed her the weapon harness she’d taken off. “Who’s dead?”
“Rochelle Pickering’s brother, in their apartment. Looks like an OD.”
“Ah, Christ.” He thought of the woman who’d glowed as they’d toured An Didean, and felt sick at heart for her. “I’ll drive. I have the address.”
“Did she talk about him today?” Eve asked as they jogged downstairs.
“She did, yes.”