Inherit the Dead

have yet to find sufficient evidence to charge him with prostitution.”
    “Got it. And he’s never been busted for sexual assault?”
    “Nope,” Gawain said. “I mean, Randy Hyde is a total loser, and Iwouldn’t want him near any daughter of mine, but he doesn’t strike me as the kind who goes for that sort of thing.”
    “What about his business? That in decent shape?”
    “It wasn’t—it isn’t his. A guy named Gil Stone owns it. I have to say I’ve heard old Hyde’s actually pretty good at keeping a car running, which can be lucrative around here. Not a lot of Jiffy Lubes out this way.”
    Perry had to wonder again if Hyde knew about the pot of money awaiting Angel. Or if he had ever encountered Julia Drusilla. She seemed like the kind of older woman who might be inclined to sample his goods. He stifled a shudder and said, “Anything else?”
    “I wish,” Gawain said. He stood, picked up his hat. “The truth is, we can’t do a lot until this Angel girl is declared missing.”
    “Right.” Perry stood. “Thanks for the soup.”
    “Chowder,” Gawain said. “Look, I’d like—we’d like to be helpful. Henry’s a good cop. And we can do without Mr. Hyde, even if the women can’t.”
    “Ah—reminds me,” Perry said. He snatched his notebook from a pocket, tore a page out, and handed it to Gawain. “Brunette followed me from Montauk. Didn’t get much of a look at her. But can you run the plate?”
    “Can do,” Gawain said. “We’ll get back to you.”

    The lonely water flew past Perry on both sides of the one-lane as he pushed toward the city. He told himself his trip to Long Island hadn’t been a waste of time. He added up what he thought he knew: Julia Drusilla wasn’t telling the whole truth. Someone in the Hamptons didn’t like Angel. Randy Hyde was and had a big dick. And Angelina Loki might never be found. Might be dead.
    He saw the hazard lights blinking from half a mile. A car sat on theright shoulder. He could make out a figure leaning against the passenger side. No way, Perry thought. He grinned and tapped the brakes.
    The brunette glanced at him as he pulled up behind her Mercedes. Then she turned away. She was smoking a cigarette, still behind the aviator shades. Steam swirled up from the hood behind her. Perry killed the ignition and pocketed the keys. No telling what might happen next.
    “Need a hand, ma’am?”
    She kept her stare fixed on the water, silent. Perry stopped walking eight feet away. “Or are you just waiting for me to pass so you can resume following me?”
    “Who the hell are you?” she asked, without looking at him.
    “Come on. You know who I am.”
    She turned toward him and, with her cigarette hand, lowered her shades briefly. Perry saw her brittle blue eyes. Then they were behind the shades again. She turned back to the water. “A tow truck’s on its way,” she said. “Move along. I’m fine.”
    “How are you, Lilith?”
    “Ms. Bates to you.”
    “Really? After all that . . . dancing?” Perry stepped closer. Her perfume floated off of her shoulder-length hair.
    She turned slowly. “How dare you.”
    “You were following me. I want to know why.”
    She reached into a vest pocket and snapped out a cell phone. “I’m calling the police.”
    “Fine. Just be sure to say it guh-VAN, not GAH-wayne. Hopefully he’s run your plate by now, so he knows exactly who you are, Ms. Bates.”
    She whipped off her sunglass and took a step toward him. “What the hell do you want?”
    “Why would you follow me?
    She shook her head, seemingly incredulous, and came anothertwo hard steps closer. “I was on your tail because you drive like an old lady.”
    “Come now, Lilith. You can do better than that. You really should take your car in for a checkup before you tail someone. Hey—maybe Randy Hyde can take a look, huh? Is that who’s coming to save you? Got ol’ Randy’s number on your phone there?”
    That stopped her. She took off her sunglasses, then dropped her cigarette on the shoulder and crushed it beneath the toe of one of her rubber-toed duck shoes.
    “You’ve been to see Randy?” she asked. “Did he . . . mention me?”
    Bingo, Perry thought. “In fact, he did.”
    “What . . . what did he say?”
    “That he knew you. Biblically speaking.”
    Lilith took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
    Perry saw her eyes drift past him. A black SUV, big as a city bus, windows tinted charcoal, rolled past. Perry was looking at it,