Binns shook her head. “I need to get her statement. I’ll have an officer bring her home later.”
“Can I talk to her?”
“Sure.”
Binns followed Casey to the sofa, obviously wanting to hear the conversation.
“Krystal?” Casey sat next to her. Krystal didn’t move. “Krystal, I’m so sorry.”
Another tear trickled from Krystal’s eye, but still she didn’t blink.
“The detective wants to talk with you, and then she’ll bring you home, okay?” Casey set her hand on Krystal’s arm, and Krystal started.
She looked at Casey without recognition for a moment, before her eyes widened. “You! You were supposed to save her! All that talk about self defense and being alert and all that crap. Where were you when she was being attacked?”
“I’m sorry, I—”
Krystal slapped Casey’s face. Casey jerked backward, and Binns caught her as she fell off the couch. Officer Gomez placed himself between Krystal and Casey, just as Binns had protected the other officer from Casey.
“Whoa, Ms…” Binns looked at Casey, a question in her eyes.
Casey shook her head. She didn’t know Krystal’s last name.
“It’s her fault!” Krystal shrieked, pointing around Gomez at Casey. “She should’ve saved her! She should’ve been there! Should’ve taught her better…” She dissolved into sobs.
Binns patted Casey’s shoulder, then squeezed past Gomez to take Casey’s place next to Krystal, putting her arm around her shoulders and murmuring something Casey couldn’t hear.
Casey held a hand to her cheek. It stung, but there was no blood. It was a good thing her injuries from the week before had healed, so there was nothing to burst open.
“Are you all right?” Gomez was looking at her with concern, which was the last thing Casey needed.
“Gomez,” Binns said. “Get Ms. Gray out of here.”
Gomez snapped to attention. “Yes, ma’am. This way please, Ms. Gray.”
Casey wanted to say something to Krystal to calm her down, to apologize again, but she would probably only make things worse. She followed Gomez out the emergency room exit and slid into the back seat of the cruiser.
“The Flamingo?” Gomez looked at her in the rearview mirror.
Casey nodded, and let her head fall back against the seat.
“I wouldn’t rest my head there, if I were you.” Death now wore a police outfit, complete with gun and baton. This time the nametag said Officer Azrael. “You don’t know how many people—criminals—have laid their greasy heads there.”
Casey closed her eyes and rolled her head the opposite direction.
“Fine. But don’t blame me when you end up with lice. Or dandruff. Or dreadlocks.” Death sighed. “Look, sweetie, I know you’re tired, but you can’t let people like Krystal make you feel bad. She’s tired, too. And completely freaked out.”
“I know.”
“Pardon?” Gomez said.
“Nothing. Sorry.” She glared at Death.
“Not my fault.” Death gave her a look of innocence. “Anyhow, as I was saying, I know Binns isn’t putting you on the suspect list, but you have to realize that most people will, once they think about it. You’re brand new, you’re teaching self-defense, they don’t know you from Eve—who, by the way, looks an awful lot like Krystal. Except darker-skinned, with longer hair.”
Casey opened her eyes to watch the lights go by. Already the sky was brightening. Dawn was coming, and it would soon be time for the six-o’clock class. The Land of the Dead. Suddenly, that name wasn’t nearly so cute. There was no way they’d be exercising that day. The cops would have the area cordoned off, for sure. And Casey was in no shape to be leading it.
Gomez parked the car at the front of the Flamingo. He got out and came around to Casey’s door, opening it and offering her his hand.
She climbed out on her own, not wanting to touch him. “Thank you, Officer.”
“You’re not rid of me quite yet, Ms. Gray. I’m to wait and collect your clothes.”
Casey looked down at her blood-stained outfit. She’d just bought it the day before. She’d never wear it again. She never wanted to see it again.
“Sure,” she said. “Come on in.”
The guard was one Casey hadn’t seen before, a young, impossibly good-looking blond thing, probably a college student making money by moonlighting as a security guard. She showed him her ID and signed in. Officer Gomez had only to nod, and he was through.
Casey led Gomez across the empty lobby—not even Jack was there this time—to her apartment, and he waited in the living room while she changed. She brought everything out, including her underclothes and her shoes, and put it in a bag.