The Sinner: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel

She dropped the magnifying glass and sat stunned.
    Birds. They were dead birds.
    She went into the kitchen, picked up the phone, and paged Rizzoli. When her phone rang a few minutes later, she jumped at the sound.
    “There’s something I need to tell you,” said Maura.
    “At six-thirty?”
    “I should have told Agent Dean yesterday, before he left town. But I didn’t want to say anything. Not until I could talk to Victor.”
    “Victor? That’s your ex-husband?”
    “Yes.”
    “What does he have to do with anything?”
    “I think he knows what happened in India. In that village.”
    “He told you that?”
    “Not yet. That’s why you have to bring him in for questioning.”

N INETEEN
     
    T HEY SAT IN B ARRY F ROST ’ S CAR , parked just outside the Colonnade Hotel. Frost and Rizzoli were in the front seat, Maura in the back.
    “Let me talk to him first,” said Maura.
    “It’d be better if you stayed right here, Doc,” said Frost. “We don’t know how he’ll react.”
    “He’ll be less likely to resist if I speak to him.”
    “But if he’s armed—”
    “He won’t hurt me,” said Maura. “And I don’t want you to hurt him, is that clear? You aren’t arresting him.”
    “What if he decides he doesn’t want to come?”
    “He’ll come.” She pushed open the car door. “Just let me handle it.”
    They took the elevator to the fourth floor, sharing the ride with a young couple who probably wondered about the grim trio standing beside them. Flanked by Rizzoli and Frost, Maura knocked on the door to room 426.
    A moment passed.
    She was about to knock again when the door finally swung open and Victor stood looking at her. His eyes were tired, his expression infinitely sad.
    “I wondered what you’d decide,” he said. “I was starting to hope that . . .” He shook his head.
    “Victor—”
    “But then, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.” He looked at Rizzoli and Frost, standing in the hallway. Gave a bitter laugh. “Did you bring handcuffs?”
    “There’s no need for handcuffs,” said Maura. “They only want to talk to you.”
    “Yes, of course. Just talk. Should I call a lawyer?”
    “It’s up to you.”
    “No, you tell
me
. Am I going to need a lawyer?”
    “You’re the only one who knows that, Victor.”
    “That’s the test, isn’t it? Only the guilty insist on a lawyer.”
    “A lawyer is never a bad idea.”
    “Then just to prove something to you, I’m not going to call one.” He looked at the two detectives. “I need to put on my shoes. If you have no objections.” He turned and walked toward the closet.
    Maura said to Rizzoli, “Could you wait out here?” She followed Victor into the room, letting the door swing shut behind her for one last moment of privacy. He was sitting in a chair, lacing up his boots. She noticed his suitcase was lying on the bed.
    “You’re packing,” she said.
    “I’m booked on a flight home at four. But I guess those plans are about to change, aren’t they?”
    “I had to tell them. I’m sorry.”
    “I’m sure you are.”
    “I didn’t have a choice.”
    He stood. “You had a choice, and you made it. I guess that says it all.” He crossed the room and opened the door. “I’m ready,” he announced. He handed Rizzoli a key ring. “I assume you’ll want to search my rental car. It’s the blue Toyota, parked in the garage, third floor. Don’t say I didn’t cooperate.”
    It was Frost who walked Victor down the hall. Rizzoli tugged on Maura’s sleeve, holding her back as the two men continued toward the elevators.
    “Here’s where you have to back off,” Rizzoli said.
    “I’m the one who gave him to you.”
    “That’s why you can’t be part of this.”
    “He was my husband.”
    “Exactly. You have to step away and let us handle this. You know that.”
    Of course she did.
    She followed them downstairs anyway. Climbed into her own car and tailed them to Schroeder Plaza. She could see Victor in the back seat. Only once, as they waited at a stoplight, did he turn and look at her. Their gazes met, just for an instant, through the window. Then he turned away and did not look at her again.
    By the time she found a parking spot and walked into Boston PD headquarters, they had already brought Victor upstairs. She took the elevator to the second floor and headed straight for the Homicide Unit.
    Barry Frost intercepted her. “You can’t go back there, Doc.”
    “He’s already being