Diana Racine 02 - Goddess of the Moon

but he never made an improper advance or gave me reason to think we enjoyed anything more than friendship. He might be gay, but he seemed rather, how shall I say, more asexual.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’m not an unattractive woman, Lieutenant. That may sound immodest, but one knows into which category one falls. You, I’m guessing, couldn’t help know ing you’re a good-looking, sensual man. You carry that appeal in the same way you carry your badge ―w ith confidence. I have no trouble attracting men. If I show interest, they usually respond. I found Edward captivating. A handsome man with no ego except in regard to his intelligence.”
    Focusing on a sheaf of papers on her desk, Highsmith pick ed at the corners, but Lucier could tell her thoughts were elsewhere. She smiled, as if remembering something pleasant.
    “We enjoyed long discussions about philosophy and religion, about mysticism and mythology. I have a doctorate in psychology, so that entered into our discussions as well. He’s very into that sort of thing. He’s an atheist, so we spent hours discussing our beliefs. But no matter how he tried, mine were too strong for me to be swayed.”
    “Did he try to sway you?”
    “Not overtly, but I always felt if I bent even a little, he would have considered it a conquest. The women who pass through the mission would do anything he asked. He was kind but not effusive. Believe me when I say I tried everything to tempt him into a more amorous relationship, but he never yielded. The more he resisted, the more I tried. It became something of an obsession for me. He never rejected me openly ― he was too much of a gentleman for that ― but he avoided my overtures as if I were infected with the HIV virus . You know the rest. Like I said, I’m not proud of what I did . He is the most intellectually stimulating man I’ve ever known and one of the most enigmatic.”
    S he was telling the truth , Lucier concluded . No woman lied about being rejected. “He mentioned he’d chosen the name Osiris because, like th e figure in mythology, he was cut into little pieces before ― how did he put it ― having the good fortune to be repaired. Do you know what he was referring to?”
    “ A traumatic experience darkened Edward’s past. Whatever happened , he chose not to share it with me; and even if he had, I wouldn’t betray his confidence.” Jeanine Highsmith pushed the papers on her desk to one side, leaned toward Lucier. “It seems, Lieutenant, that you’re far more interested in Edward than in finding this kidnapping suspect.”
    “Just coverin g all my bases, Dr. Highsmith.”
    When Lucier left the professor’s office, he wondered what it was about Edward Slater that gnawed at his gut. Highsmith saw it, even pointed it out. Was it Slater’s smooth above-it-all demeanor or the way he focused on Diana, drawing her in, inviting her to discuss subjects of mutual interest? Subjects out of Lucier’s realm of experience. Did he detect a chemistry between them? Is that why he was searching for clues to involve Slater, or Brother Osiris, or whatever the hell his name was? Clues that any good cop knew weren’t there.
    He answered his cell on the way back to his office .
    “ A patrol cop just picked up Deems near Audubon Park,” Beecher said. “ The cop followed for a while to make sure he had the right guy . Deems had shaved his beard and head but he wore the brown jacket. The cop didn’t want to make a mistake, but he didn’t want to let him get away either. Said he was willing to make a wrongful arrest.”
    “Good man. Where’s Deems now?” Lucier asked.
    “Interrogation. He’s not saying a word and hasn’t lawyered up. And Ernie, he’s very strange.”
    “I’m parking now.” Lucier hurried inside and went straight to the interrogation room. He was stoked. If they could get Deems to confess, they might break up this babynapping ring. He spied through the one-way glass. Deems, face and head hairless, sat with his eyes closed and arms folded across his chest. He didn’t move when Lucier entered. The odor, though faint, hit Lucier immediately.
    Almonds.
    Cyanide.
    “Son of a bitch.” He ran to the door. “I need an EMS team,” Lucier shouted. “STAT! Tell them we have a cyanide poisoning.” Touching Deems’ s neck, he detected a slight pulse. He moved the body to the floor and started CPR. Putting his handkerchief over Deems’ s mouth to protect him from the poison , he began