Diana Racine 02 - Goddess of the Moon

sat in this chair.”
    A lump rose in his throat. “I should never have involved you in this. It’s too soon. You’re not fully recovered.”
    She looked at him, her expression questioning. “This doesn’t happen, Ernie.”
    He slipped his hand around her arm and lifted. “Come, I’m taking you home.”
    “Those girls were here. Brigid and the other girl we saw going into the mission. They were here and breastfed the babies. They’re wet nurses.”
    This case was taking turns he didn’t understand, and because of its bizarre nature, he wasn’t sure he wanted to. “I know. The people next door saw them. Deems too. I’ll expla in everything on the way home.”
    She stood in front of him, arms still crossed over her chest. Lucier took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She slid her arms into the sleeves.
    “I need to get you o ut of here,” he said.
    “I couldn’t stop the flow. It kept coming, and I couldn’t stop it.” She wrapped the jacket around her more tightly. “Don’t tell anyone about this, please.”
    He took her in his arms. “I won’t, sweetheart. I promise.”

Chapter Thirteen
    A Truth Stranger than Fiction

    T his time Lucier didn’t announce his arrival at Sunset Mission. A woman asked him to wait, left , then returned to usher him to Slater’s office. The director sat behind his paper-strewn desk. He smiled when he saw Lucier.
    “Lieutenant , what a pleasant surprise . ” Slater rose to shake Lucier’s hand. “Have you come to donate time or money?”
    “Neither,” Lucier said. “I needed to ask you a few questions.”
    “Ask away.” Slater gestured Lucier to a seat, then leaned back in his chair with the same natural confidence he exhibited on their first meeting.
    “Do you know anything about a house at 107 Parkside Avenue. ” News about the house hadn’t been released, so he watched Slater’s reaction. There was none.
    “I don’t even know where Parkside Avenue is, let alone a particular number.”
    Undeterred, Lucier pressed on. “When Ms. Racine and I were leaving here the other day, a beautiful young blonde girl went into your Mission. She was identified, along with Brigid, as frequenting the Parkside address.”
    “Sounds like Nona, but why would her whereabouts interest you?”
    “Is she your employee?” Slater frowned , and Lucier thought he’d end the interview .
    “No, she stayed here for a while. Another story of incest, I’m afraid. She gave up the baby for adoption and left when she got a job ― don’t ask where because I don’t know. She helps out here when she has time.” Slater moved forward and folded his arms across the desk. “I raise donations here, Lieutenant. I see that the money is well spent. It would be inappropriate for me to get involved in the lives of women who’ve been abused. Many are suspicious of men and rightly so.”
    Liar . But Lucier couldn’t call him that to his face with nothing more than a cop’s gut instinct. “The house in questi on is home to a satanic cult.”
    Slater jerked in surprise. “That’s impossible. Voodoo I understand, but S atanists? ” But when Lucier didn’t argue, his brow furrowed. “Are you sure?”
    “Positive. S atanic symbols covered the walls, and Diana sensed the presence of the kidnapped baby or babies. Those two young women nursed them in that house.”
    “Let me get this straight. Are you accusing Brigid and Nona of collaborating with Deems in kidnapping a baby from the hospital, or are you accusing me of being involved? S ince all three connect to th is mission , i t sounds like the latter.”
    This was the first time Slater displayed anything other than an irritating calmness. Lucier hated himself for his perverse feeling of triumph.
    “I’m doing my job, Mr. Slater,” Lucier said. “That connection is the only lead I have.”
    “I assure you, Lieutenant, if you’re looking for a fall guy, you’re in the wrong place. I d o n’t know Nona very well, and Brigid may be young, but she’s too smart to be involved with a satanic cult.”
    “Nevertheless, I’d like to talk to her. Would you mind calling her into the office?”
    “This is impossible,” Slater said. “Those girls have gone through hell. They’d never hurt a child. Nona gave up her baby, and Brigid’s was stillborn. Neither breastfed, which leaves what you’re say ing an impossibility.”
    “Then Brigid doesn’t have anything to worry about if I ask her a few questions , does