Evidence Of Marriage. Ann Voss Peterson
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don’t have to go in there. We can turn around, leave right now.”
“Not that. I mean coming here with you.”
Reed’s lips pressed into a bloodless line. He let his hand fall from her arm.
She knew she should explain the weakness she felt around him, the dependence, the need. But she also knew he wouldn’t understand. She’d meant it when she’d told him their involvement wasn’t personal. It couldn’t be. And it scared her that the urge to make it so seemed to be coming from her even more than from him.
She forced herself to turn away from Reed and focus on Dryden Kane. She couldn’t afford to sabotage herself. Not when she needed every bit of strength to take on the man who was her father. “I’ll be fine.” Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and strode into the interview room.
A smile curved Kane’s thin lips. “Diana. I’m glad you’re here. It’s been too long.”
She concentrated on stepping to the chair and lowering herself safely into it before she met his eyes. “I need some answers.” Her voice sounded remarkably steady, much steadier than she felt.
Kane’s smile remained intact. “Are these answers for you or for the police?”
“The police?”
“They are monitoring our conversation, aren’t they? Recording it as well?” He nodded toward the small camera positioned high in the corner of the boxlike room.
She couldn’t lie to him. He’d never believe her, and she would destroy her credibility with him if she were anything less than candid. If she wanted to get truthful answers, she’d have to give some. “Yes, the police are monitoring us.”
“So what answers are the boys and girls in blue after?”
“They want the identity of the Copycat Killer.”
“Of course. They’ve had a snitch in the cell next to me for nearly a year. Hoping I’ll talk in my sleep. Why they think I have anything to tell them, I’ll never understand.” He shook his head, the fluorescent lights overhead glinting off silver strands running through brown hair. “And what do you want, Diana? Why are you here?”
“I want to know why you sent that news clipping with Sylvie’s gift. Was it a threat?”
“Why would I threaten my own daughter?”
“Then why did you send it?”
“It convinced you to come visit me, didn’t it?”
So Reed was right. Kane had included the clipping to manipulate them. He’d controlled the whole situation. Not that it mattered. Even if she’d known his intentions for certain, she wouldn’t have changed her response. She’d be here just the same. And she wouldn’t believe for a second that Kane didn’t intend at least a hint of threat. “Now that you’ve gotten my attention, what do you want?”
“I want you to tell me about Sylvie’s wedding.”
She couldn’t have heard him right, could she? “Sylvie’s wedding?”
“Of course. A daughter’s wedding is special to a father. I should have been there. I should have walked her down the aisle.” He lifted his hands, jangling his shackles against the chair arms as if to illustrate why he’d failed to make it.
Her mind balked at the image of Kane as father of the bride. She couldn’t imagine it. She didn’t want to. “You can’t be serious.”
“Of course I’m serious. That’s the worst part about being in here. Missing the important moments in my daughters’ lives.” He heaved a sigh full of regret. “Though I can’t say I’m sorry you rethought your plans to marry that cop.”
She resisted the urge to shift in her chair and glance at the camera. Kane had made his displeasure about her intended marriage clear the last time she’d seen him—about a month before her wedding. The wedding that had never taken place.
“He wasn’t good enough for you. Cops think they’re so smart. They aren’t smart. They’re nothing.”
The deficiencies of cops. One of Kane’s favorite topics. And the perfect segue to a less personal thread of conversation. “The cops seem to think you’re controlling this Copycat Killer.”
His thin lips stretched into a smile, exposing his straight, white teeth. “So maybe they aren’t totally stupid.”
“Are you admitting you’re controlling the Copycat Killer?”
“You know I wouldn’t admit that, even if it was true. My lawyer wouldn’t be happy with me.”
His lawyer. The last lawyer who represented him was Bryce. That is, until Kane became unsatisfied with him. Days later, Bryce’s brother was murdered. “You have a new lawyer?”
“A man like me always needs a lawyer. And this one offers a few extras besides legal representation.”
“Extras?”
“Nothing you have to concern yourself with.”
Maybe not, but she was sure Reed would want to look into just what extras his new lawyer might be offering. “So what do you know about this copycat?”
“Why would I know anything?”
Now it was her turn to play him. She summoned what courage she could muster. “False modesty? I never would have pegged you for it.”
His smile widened.
“So what do you know?”
“I know he aspires to be me.”
“Why?”
“Why not?” He lowered one lid in a wink.
Even after learning Kane was her biological father, even after several visits with him, she still felt a powerful shiver of revulsion whenever he gave her that knowing wink. Coming from him it seemed profane.
She drew in a deep breath. She couldn’t let him know he had the power to throw her. Not unless she wanted to lose control of the exchange entirely. “Why is he patterning his kills after murders you committed years ago?”
“He wants the power.”
“What power?”
“The power of life and death. It transformed me. It is transforming him.” He spoke evenly, matter-of-factly, the way one of her former English literature professors would discuss the intricacies of Beowulf.
But despite his tone, his words clamped down her lungs, making it difficult to breathe. “Why copy anyone? Why not do his own thing?”
“Because he doesn’t want to be himself.”
“He wants to be you.” She suppressed a shudder.
He tipped his head in a single nod. “He wants to be transformed.”
“And you are helping transform him?”
He chuckled low in his throat. “I’ve never even talked to him. Never seen him face-to-face. But I must admit, I can’t help thinking of him as something of a son.” He smiled and glanced at the camera. “Is that enough to satisfy you, Detective?”
Diana could picture Reed’s scowl. Clearly there was no way to know if what Kane said had any significance, or if he was just toying with the police.
“Enough of that. I don’t want to waste any more of our time together with police business.” Kane looked around the stark room. “This place…it weighs on a man’s soul. I need to see my daughters. To know you’re all right. I want you to visit more. You and Sylvie.”
She folded her arms across her chest. Reed’s warning buzzed in the back of her mind. Don’t agree to anything. Don’t promise anything. “I’m afraid that’s impossible.”
“Impossible?