Page 70 of The Children of Eve (Charlie Parker #22)

CHAPTER LXX

That night, Zetta Nadeau returned to her studio after a bathroom break to find Louis circling her work in progress. To him it resembled a giant hand, its vertical fingers constructed from car fenders. The ends of the fenders had been sharpened to points by an angle grinder, transforming them into claws, and the palm was cupped. It was a throne fit for a demon ruler.

“How did you get in here?” Zetta asked.

“The gate was open.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“It was after I unlocked it.”

Zetta picked up a length of pipe. She wasn’t sure what to do with it, only that she felt safer with it in her hand.

“I recognize you,” she said. “You were at the Triton Gallery with Parker.”

“That’s right. Aren’t you going to ask how he is?”

Zetta might have preferred not to, but didn’t hold out for long.

“How is he?”

“Not good,” said Louis. “Your boyfriend attacked him at your parents’ house. He’s in the hospital up in Skowhegan—Parker, that is, not your boyfriend, though there are those of us who would prefer to see the positions reversed. For that reason, I’m here to ask you some questions.”

“And if I don’t want to answer them?”

“That isn’t an option.”

Zetta laughed.

“What are you going to do, beat me until I cooperate?”

Louis didn’t reply. Zetta stopped laughing.

“Big man, threatening a woman,” she said.

“Don’t mistake me for someone with scruples,” said Louis. “By the time I leave your body behind, I’ll already have forgotten your name.”

Zetta Nadeau had grown up the hard way and, as an adult, had shared her bed with lovers better avoided, but she’d never stared into eyes like this man’s.

“Nobody was even supposed to know Wyatt was up there,” she said, “except my folks.”

Louis indicated a pair of folding chairs by the studio wall. “Why don’t we take a seat. I have plenty of time. Not a great deal of patience, but plenty of time.”