The Betrayed (Krewe of Hunters) (8 page)

“This crime is unusual,” Aidan Mahoney said. But he was staring at Mo. And she suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if he’d seen something in her. Something she kept hidden. Secret.

Did he somehow sense her ability to see the dead? How could he? How could he even suspect such a thing?

And if he
had
guessed, he didn’t like it. He seemed to wince and turned away from her.

Mo was surprised. She almost felt as if he’d slapped her. Up until now, he’d been courteous, and he and Rollo still seemed to be on extremely friendly terms.

His food arrived. Apparently, he’d ordered the chicken potpie and actually gotten it.

The noise level in the place had gone down—to a dull roar, as Tommy said when he came by their table. He shook Mahoney’s hand and thanked him for allowing the bar to open.

“I wish I could take credit,” the agent said. “That call was made by the local police.”

“I haven’t heard yet if they’re opening any of the attractions tomorrow,” Grace said.

“The sheriff’s office will be handling that decision,” Mahoney said. “This is like having a suspect list of thousands. And, of course, it’s a delicate balance. You have two people who’ve been decapitated. And you’re in an area where tourism thrives because of a great American author’s tale about a headless man. I’m glad I’m not making the decisions.”

“I thought the FBI always took over when they came in,” Tommy said.

“We come in to work together, to pool resources. When you have an area that seldom deals with murder, it’s good to bring in the teams that are most experienced.” Mahoney stood up, evidently preparing to leave.

“I’ll go settle up at the bar,” he said.

“The house will be happy to comp your meal,” Tommy told him.

“Thank you, but I can’t accept. Besides, it’s slowed down, so I can ask Abby a few questions.” Mahoney turned to Grace. “Ms. Van Mullen, a pleasure.” He turned to look at Mo again. She thought he was going to speak, but he just nodded. He still had that strange look about him. As if he was afraid to get too close.

“Good night,” Mo said.

Rollo woofed.

Mahoney paused to pet the dog. There was a different expression on his face; he obviously liked Rollo.

Then he was gone, a tall, solid figure heading toward the bar—and drawing every eye in the place, male and female.

“Whoa!” Grace let out a long breath. For a moment, the three of them watched as he spoke with Abby. Abby seemed enchanted as she stared at him, answering questions when he prompted her—and just staring when he didn’t.

Eventually, he left.

“Wish he would have stayed around awhile longer,” Tommy said. “A guy like that makes you feel safe.”

“You don’t feel safe?” Mo asked him.

“Mo, there was a
head.
In my parking lot. So, no, I don’t. And how can
you
not want to feel safe? You and Rollo found the head—and then the body. Bodies. And
another
head!”

She swallowed uncomfortably. “I have Rollo,” she said.

“Wish I did,” Grace murmured.

“Rollo and I will follow you home.”

“But then you have to go home alone,” Grace said. “Rollo isn’t a person.”

Mo smiled. “He’s better than a person. He has the best instincts and nose in the world. If anyone threatens me in any way—or if there’s something that even hints at danger—Rollo lets me know.”

“I wish he had a brother!” Grace said, and laughed. “That’s what I’d say if you had a hot guy. In fact, I wonder if your hot FBI guy has a brother.”

“He’s definitely not
my
FBI guy,” Mo said.

Grace seemed surprised by her response. “He spoke very highly of you when he came to the table. And Rollo knew him right away. I kind of had the impression you two had bonded.”

“I don’t think so,” Mo said. Both Tommy and Grace gaped at her. She made a point of yawning. “I’ve got to call it a night. Ready?” she asked Grace. “Tommy, may we have the check?”

“Uh, no. You rescued Abby at the bar. I should have been paying you. And, Grace, if you can hang around a little longer, I’ll follow you home, since your house is just down the street from mine,” Tommy said. “That way, Mo, you and Rollo can head straight home.”

“Okay.” She looked at Grace uncertainly. “Are you sure?”

“I’m not tired yet. I’m wired. Remember, I’ve been working nights,” Grace said.

Mo wished them both good-night and picked up Rollo’s leash. She wondered if Grace was staying behind in hopes that the FBI man would return.

But he’d already left the bar.

Mo went out to the parking lot and started across the pavement to the street. The Old Dutch Church sat high on its little hill in the moonlight and shadows seemed to dance around the gravestones.

Rollo suddenly stopped and sniffed the air. He turned, wagging his tail.

Mo felt unease creeping along her spine.

She didn’t know what she expected to see. Irving’s horseman, thundering silently toward her on a giant black steed?

No. Rollo would be barking, she was sure of that!

It wasn’t the horseman.

It was Aidan Mahoney. He was leaning against one of the pillars by the entry, watching her.

Waiting? Watching?

Rollo barked and, before she was prepared, hopped into a running start to reach the man. He nearly pulled her off her feet.

“Rollo!” she said in dismay.

But he’d already hurried over to his new friend. Mahoney hunched down to pat the dog as Rollo rushed toward him.

She followed. Rollo rarely disobeyed but she didn’t want to reprimand him. Not in front of Mahoney.

Mahoney stood up. “Pretty impressive dog,” he said.

“Yes, he is.”

“How long have you had him?”

“He’s six. I’ve had him since he was a puppy.”

He nodded, looking down at the dog then back at her. “And how long have you been out there searching for corpses?”

“I don’t usually search for corpses. I search for the living.”

“You’re not originally from here. Your friend said so.”

She shrugged. “I’m from the city. But I came here for years with my parents. Every year.”

“Why did you leave New York?” he asked. “What Grace told me—is that right?” These weren’t casual questions. It was as if he was daring her to say something.

Such as...admit she had special abilities? To connect with the living when they’d disappeared, gone missing—and to connect with the dead?

If that was what he wanted to know, she wasn’t going to oblige.

“I don’t have to live in the city. I’m a greeting card designer and writer. I happen to love the Hudson Valley.” She couldn’t help herself. “If Grace hadn’t said anything, I have a feeling you would’ve figured out I wasn’t from here, anyway.”

“The reason I suspected you weren’t really a local is because I am,” he said quietly. “And I would’ve remembered you.”

“But...”

“We wouldn’t have met, but I was thinking I would’ve noticed you somewhere along the line.” He looked her up and down, and she knew he was estimating her age. She didn’t think he was
that
much older—five to seven years, maybe. “I probably headed off to college when you were in high school. But from the way you’re so familiar with the valley and its history, I realized you must’ve been around here a fair bit.” He apparently felt he’d talked enough. “Where’s your car?”

“Down on the street.”

“I’ll walk you.”

“I have Rollo.”

“It’s all right.”

An argument would have somehow been more disquieting than just giving in. “Come on, boy,” she said to Rollo, tugging at the leash. Walking briskly, she started down the street again, aware that he was close behind her. She didn’t stop, and she didn’t turn around until she’d reached her car. When she opened the passenger door to let Rollo in, she finally looked back.

In the light thrown by nearby street lamps, she could see that he was staring up at the Old Dutch Church.

“From now on, let Rollo in by the driver’s side,” he said. “That gives him the ability to jump out and help you if someone comes from behind while you’re getting in the car.”

“Sure. Thanks.”

She shut the door and hurried around to slide into the driver’s seat. Starting the ignition, she saw that he was staring at the church again.

She didn’t wave; she turned the car around and drove home.

The roads were dark and quiet as she left the village of Sleepy Hollow. She came to the quiet road that led through foliage and trees to her cottage in the woods. Parking, she realized she’d done the same thing many times before, even at this hour, and never felt the slightest fear.

Until tonight. Now, the woods seemed to breathe. The night air seemed to dance. Malevolence might well have whispered in the breeze.

She quickly opened the door and let Rollo and herself into the house. The dog whined, and she thought he felt it, too, whatever was in the air. But he didn’t bark; there was no one out there.

Her ghosts were quiet when she entered. Rollo accompanied her as she went from window to window, making sure they were locked.

When she finally climbed up the stairs to bed, she paused, looking around. “I need a weapon, Rollo. Just so I’ll be able to get to sleep.”

She settled on the fireplace poker and went upstairs. When she lay down at last—Rollo taking up the foot of the bed—she was convinced she’d never sleep.

If she did, she feared, she’d have horrible nightmares.

But she did sleep. It was a matter of the human body giving out, needing rest.

And she didn’t have nightmares.

She dreamed of walking in the woods, clad in nothing but a white mist that swept around her like a beautiful satin gown. As she walked, she saw a tall, dark figure coming toward her. She wasn’t afraid. His face emerged from the shadows. It was Aidan Mahoney. He smiled, the way he smiled when he looked at others. She ran to him, the mist magical as it swept around her.

He was naked when she reached him.

She threw herself into his arms and he brought her down with him to the soft, verdant earth where they were embraced by a sweet-smelling bed of leaves....

Then she woke, bathed in sweat and embarrassed beyond all measure, despite the fact that she was entirely alone. Except for Rollo, of course.

And Rollo didn’t know that she’d been having an erotic dream about a man she barely knew. A man who didn’t seem to like her.

She groaned and glanced at the bedside clock. It was three in the morning. Punching her pillow, she lay back down.

The moon was full, and its light drifted into her room. Since that morning, when she’d left the house with Rollo to search for Richard Highsmith, it seemed that even the earth and sky had changed.

* * *

At 3:00 a.m. Aidan was still up.

He sat in a front row at Mystic Magic, the place advertised on the matchbook found in Richard’s pocket.

In front of him, a very busty blonde gyrated around a silver pole.

The club appeared to be straight up—there were warnings all over to look and not touch. The dancers were beautiful girls, mostly enhanced for their chosen profession, but it wasn’t a last stand for down-and-out prostitutes.

He’d spoken to a few of the women, and he’d shown them a picture and asked if they’d ever seen Richard Highsmith before. None had. He was a good judge of liars. He’d studied all the physical tics and nuances that were typically signs of lying. But lots of liars had studied the signs, too. Still, he was pretty certain that he was getting the truth. Richard had been given the matchbook or picked it up somewhere, and he’d used it for the note he seemed compelled to write. Twice, at least.

The blonde was the last of Mystic Magic’s lineup. Her name—or her stage name—was Starlight. Her G-string was crystal studded; the same crystals had adorned the cape, bra and skirt she’d started out with, along with her bountiful blond hair. She was extremely popular, with a magnanimous smile for each horny bastard who leaned forward to slip money into the studded belt.

She slithered around the pole, posed and gyrated. Her audience went wild. She simulated sex with a gusto he was sure most men had never seen in a bedroom.

Then she rose and bowed to thunderous applause, blew the audience a kiss and hurried offstage.

For the most part, the crowd began to leave. There were still some private lap dances to be had, but most of the men—and the few women—in the establishment were paying service tabs and heading out.

Aidan waited.

In a few minutes, the bubbly blonde came out from the rooms behind the stage and walked toward him, smiling.

“Hi!” she said. She didn’t posture. At that moment, she might have been the girl next door, scrubbed clean of makeup and wearing a T-shirt and jeans. “I understand you wanted to ask all of us some questions. You’re really an FBI agent?”

He smiled back. “Yes.” He pulled Richard’s picture from his pocket and held it out. “Do you know this man? Have you ever seen him here?”

She gazed up at him with huge blue eyes. “Of course I know him! He’s Richard Highsmith. He was a wonderful speaker. And the poor man died
here.
In our town. A really awful death. I’ve been watching the news all day.”

Aidan nodded. “Yes, he’s on the news. But was he ever in this club? Did you run into him anywhere? Did you ever meet him?”

“He shook my hand,” she said proudly.

“Where?”

“At the Coffee Spot, just off the highway. He was even better in real life—he had the best smile. He was so sincere.”

“Did you actually meet him?”

“We spoke and he asked me for my name. It’s Debbie. Debbie Howell,” she said.

“Thank you.” Aidan presented a second picture, the computer rendering of their Jane Doe.

“What about her?”

“What about her?” Debbie repeated.

“Have you ever seen her?”

“I’m not trying to be rude or anything, but how would I know? She just looks like...like tons of people,” Debbie said. “She could be anyone. I’m sorry, but...it’s not a very good picture.”

“No,” he admitted. “It’s not.”

He pocketed both pictures again.

“I’m so sorry. I wish I could have helped,” Debbie said. “But what made you think that Richard Highsmith would have, um, been in a place like this? I mean we’re perfectly legal—and we’re really dancers, not whores.”