No wonder the bride didn't wear a white, Gebriel frowned and said as I told him about my interview with Pascalin shortly.
Jude has set us up for dinner at Nonni's, and Italian place on the lake. As short wails from our hotel.
Gebriel interview with the grooms parents had yielded nothing eventful. Darlington Voskuhl had been an aspiring musician who had floated the edges of the music scene in Seattle, finally hooking his way into representing a couple of up coming bands. He had no known connection to San Francisco.
The killer knew Hannah,bI said. How else would he find her here? They had a relationship."
"Right up to the end?" He mused.
"To the very end," I answered." Meaning maybe here, in Cleveland. These weren't choirgirls. Pascal in's said this guy is older, married, kinky, predatory. It fits the pattern of the murders. Someone she knew in San Francisco must have been Red Beard. Somebody knows Pascalin claim that Hannah was protecting her lover, possibly because he was a celebrity."
"You think this Pascalin shortley has now to add?"
"Maybe. Or the family. I got the feeling they were holding something back."
He ordered a' 97 Chianti and when it can he tilted his glass. "Here to Lizzy and Nathaniel Harry, Elijah and Dorothy, Darlington and Hannah."
"Let's toast them when we catch this pathetic bastard I said.
It was the first time we had been alone in Cleveland, and suddenly I was nervous. We had an entire evening to fill, no matter how we kept steering back to the case or joking how this wasn't a date," there was his pull, this bass chord twanging inside me, telling me that this was no time to start anything with anyone, not even handsome and charming Gebriel.
Then why had I changed into a baby blue sweater and nice slacks instead of staying with the chambray shirt and khakis I'd worn all day?
We ordered. I had osso bucco, spinach, a salad; Gebriel, a veal papillary.
"Maybe it was someone on her job? Gebriel said. "Or connects with Her job?"
"I told Isaiah to check out her firm in Seattle. Her father said said she still came down to San Francisco on business. I want to see if that's the case."
"And it it isn't?"
"Then either she was hiding something or they are." He took a sip of wine. " why would she go through with a wedding if she was still involved with this guy's?"
I shrugged. " they said Hannah was finally setting down. I'd like to see what she was like back then, if this is what they meant by settling down."
I was thinking that I wanted another crack at the sister. Hilary. I remembered something she said. Old habits are hard to crack. I had thought she was talking about drugs, parties, did she mean red Beard?
Jude tell me tomorrow morning we should be able to review sim film at the museum."
"The guy was there, Gabriel," Insaid with certainty." He was there that night. Hannah knew her killer. We just have to find out who he is."
Gabriel poured a little more wine into my glass, we are partners now, aren't we, Moo?"
"Sure," I said, a little surprised by the question.
"Can't you tell I trust?"
"I mean, we have been through three double murders, we are committed to seeing it through, I backed you up with the mayor. I even helped cleaned up after dinner at your place."
"Yeah so?" I smiled. But his face had a cast of seriousness to it. I was trying to figure out where he was going.
What do you say, maybe it's about time you started seeing me as a friend.
After dinner, Gebriel and I walked down by the tree-lined lakefront toward our hotel. A cool, misty breeze lapped at my face.
We didn't say much. That same nervous apprehension was tingling on the surface of my skin.
Occasionally, our arms brushed. He had his jacket off, and there was solid outline to his shoulders and arms. Not that I was noticing superficial things like that.
It's still early," he said.
"Five-thirty, our time," I replied. "I could still catch Kalistus. Maybe I should bring him up to date.
Gebriel grinned. " you already called Isaiah. I bet he was probably in Kalistus's office before he hung up the phone."
As we walked. It was as if this unbearable force were pulling me close, then pushing me away. " Anyway, I said, " for once I don't feel like calling in."
"What do you feel like? Gebriel asked.
"Why don't we just talk."
"The Indians are playing. You want to sneak our way in? It must be the fifth inning."
"We are cops, Gebriel."
"Yeah, that would be bad. You want to dance then?"
"No I said, even former. I don't want to dance." Every word seemed charged with a hidden, electric, message. "What I'm starting to feel like"- I turned to him- "it that I'm having a hard time remembering to call you Gab."
He smiled, what am staring to feel like l; he answered, facing me, "is I'm having a hard time trying to pretend that nothing is going on."
"I know," I murmured breathlessly, but I just can't." It sounded really stupid, but as much as I wanted him, there was a greater hesitation inside holding me back.
I know. . . But I just can't. What does that mean?"
"It means I'm feeling things, too. And that part of me wants to go with those feelings. But right now, i just don't know if I can. It's complicated, Gabriel."
Every nerve in my body was on alert.
We found ourselves walking again, the breeze from the suddenly cooling the sweat that had broken out on my neck.
"You mean it's complicated because we are working together?"
"That," I lied. I have dated guys on the force once or twice.
That. . . And what else?" Gebriel said.
A thousand desires inside me were screaming to give in. What was going through my mind was crazy. I wanted him to touch me; I didn't. We were alone on the waterfront. At that moment, if he held, if he bent and kissed me, I didn't know what I would do.
"I do want to, I said, my fingers reaching for his hand, staring into his deep blue eyes.
"You are not telling me everything," he said.
It took me everything," he said.
It took me everything I had to hold off confessing. I don't know why I didn't. A deep part of me wanted him to want me, and to keep thinking I was strong. I could feel the heat from his body, and I though he could feel the wavering resolve in mine. "I just can't right now," I said softly.
"You know, I won't always be your partner, Moo."
"I know that. And maybe I won't always be able to say no."
I don't know if I was disappointed or relive to see our hotel up ahead. Part of me wanted to run to my room. Throw open the windows, and just breath in the night air.
I was sort of happy I wouldn't have to make that decision, when Gabriel too me by surprise.
He leaned over without warning and pressed his lips on mine. The kiss was soft, as if he were gently asking is this okay?
I let the kiss linger warmly. Soft hands. . . Soft lips.
It wasn't as if I hadn't imagined this happening. It was just as I had imagined. I wanted to be in control, but here It was, out of the blue, and I was giving in. But just as I was starting to give him myself, the fear caught up to me, the fear of the inescapable truth.
I dropped my head, slowly pulled away. "That was nice for me anyway," Gebriel said, resting his forehead against mine.
I nodded but said, "I can Gab."
"Why are you always holding back, Moo?" He asked.
I wanted to say, Because I am deceiving you. Tell him everything this was going on.
But I was content to deceive, though I did it with the greatest yearning I had felt in years. "I just want to nail Red Beard," I answered.