Delia's Shadow (17 page)

“I’m glad to hear.” She smiled, gentle mischief in her eyes. “Otherwise I’d feel obligated to turn Sadie loose on him. I’m sure she knows someone Colin’s age.”

He laughed. “That might do him some good.”

Holding Delia’s hand while talking about Victoria was both strange and comforting, a confusing sensation Gabe didn’t examine too closely. Delia was the only person who hadn’t known Victoria in life he’d been able to talk to and that must mean something. He was afraid if he thought too hard about any of it, all his fears would surface and he’d back away.

He didn’t want to back away. Gabe grew more certain of that every hour he spent in her company. That Delia hadn’t pulled her hand away gave him hope she didn’t, either. He’d stumble forward, one step at a time.

Friendship couldn’t be that hard.

Delia

The waitress brought our dinners and the smell of chicken and dumplings, roast beef and hot rolls made my mouth water. Once she was certain we had all we needed, Kari Lynne went back to hover near Henderson. She refilled salt and pepper shakers lined up on the counter, giving herself a reason to be near enough to chat and not be too obvious about flirting. Henderson didn’t blush talking to Kari Lynne. I imagined that even with the distance, he might visit her again.

No ghosts paraded past the windows or lingered inside the diner to distract me, a blessing. Shadow had vanished before we left Colin’s office and hadn’t reappeared, though not being visible didn’t mean she wasn’t with me. She was always there, a presence I couldn’t deny.

Victoria’s ghost hadn’t appeared either and I was profoundly grateful. I’d encouraged Gabe to talk about her, but at the same time I’d been afraid that his pain and grief would act as a summons. How I’d react knowing Victoria was there, listening and watching, was an open question and one I’d rather not have answered.

There was always the chance that the night Shadow led her away, Victoria had gone for good. Why some ghosts roamed the world of the living, restless and unsettled, was a puzzle I’d still not solved. I hoped Victoria was at peace. Gabe had loved her very much.

I cast about for a safer topic of conversation, one that didn’t involve ghosts or chasing murderers, or people we’d lost. Watching Henderson with the young waitress gave me one. “Do you know how Jack and Sadie met? Sadie is so crazed with planning a wedding and making guest lists I haven’t heard the story. Anyone can see the two of them belong together, but I can’t imagine Jack as part of her usual social circles.”

“Jack doesn’t mingle with San Francisco society by choice, but his family insists he has an obligation. Unfortunately for him, his stepmother has always dragged him back into the social whirl each time Jack tried to escape.” Gabe took the last roll from the basket, the corners of his mouth twitching toward a smile. “His stepmother was overjoyed when he took up with a girl from a suitable family. But until I got to know Sadie, I couldn’t see Jack getting serious about her or any other socialite.”

“Really?” I stared, more surprised than I wanted to admit. Embarrassed, as well, both for making assumptions about Jack’s family and not stopping to think. “Who is Jack’s stepmother?”

“Katherine Norton Fitzgerald, one of the most sought-after hostesses on Nob Hill. That’s how Sadie and Jack met. They were both at one of Katherine’s garden parties.” Gabe grinned and set aside his bread. “Jack introduced himself by spilling a full water tumbler of punch down the front of Sadie’s dress and trying to clean her up with a napkin. His usual method for surviving Katherine’s social functions was to add whiskey to his punch and he wasn’t entirely sober. So not only was her dress ruined, but Sadie smelled like a brewery. She retaliated by dumping a half-f punch bowl over Jack’s head.”

“Oh, poor Sadie. And poor Jack.” I slumped back in the chair, helpless with laughter. One of the older couples near us frowned and looked on with disapproval, but I ignored them. “He’s lucky Sadie didn’t break the bowl over his head. That would be just like her.”

“Jack arrived on her doorstep the next day with a bouquet of roses to apologize. He wouldn’t leave until she took them.” He tore the bread roll into little pieces, but left them on the plate, lost in his own thoughts. “He’d already fallen for Sadie. I recognized the signs.”

“Roses were a wise choice.” I sipped my tea, not wanting the lighthearted mood to slip away. “Sadie’s the social butterfly and makes the rounds of all the parties, but I’ve never met Katherine Fitzgerald. I’ve read items about the family on the society page and I’m sure Sadie’s passed on gossip, but I don’t recall hearing of a stepson.”

“I’m not surprised.” Gabe finished his coffee and gestured to the waitress. She spoke to Henderson before starting toward us. “Jack didn’t find out Katherine was his stepmother until his father passed away when he was fifteen. He was too young when his mother died to remember her. For some reason his father thought keeping his mother’s death a secret was in Jack’s best interests.”

“Oh, how horrible for him. What a shock that must have been.” The taste of tea and lemon soured on my tongue. I set the teacup on the saucer, vaguely unsettled. “I can’t imagine a good reason. How did Jack’s mother die?”

“Cholera. Jack’s never really forgiven his father for letting him grow up thinking Katherine was his mother. Even as a child, he’s never gotten on with her.” Gabe lowered his voice, frowning. “My mother lost a sister in the same epidemic. Jack and I are only a few months apart in age, so I was an infant at the time. Mom was always grateful the weather turned cooler and the epidemic never spread to our part of the city.”

Kari Lynne arrived to refill Gabe’s coffee and clear away empty plates. “Would you folks like dessert?”

I leaned back in the chair, hands folded in my lap and feeling much more relaxed in his company than when we’d arrived. “I don’t know if I could manage a whole dessert alone. Would you be willing to share something, Gabe?”

We ordered cherry pie à la mode and two forks, and set about becoming better friends. I told Gabe about the three years I spent in New York teaching. He told stories about growing up near Mission Delores and summer vacations camping in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We talked long after the waitress cleared away the dishes. All the worries and cares that were such a part of my life retreated into the background, lost in stories of happier times.

Stars filled the sky by the time we finally left the table, a glimmering sea of silver strewn across the darkness. I waited near the big window next to the door while Gabe paid the bill. Shadow stood next to the parked car and watched me with knowing eyes, patient as always.

My troubles hadn’t wandered far after all.

Gabe

Gabe opened his door as soon as Henderson parked in front of Sadie’s gate. The patrol car still sat across the street from the Larkin house, headlights off. Night shift had started and the men keeping watch had changed, but he knew them both so that was all right. Habit and caution still caused him to pause for a look around the yard, peering into murky corners before opening Delia’s door.

Jack sat on Sadie’s front step, huddled deep into his overcoat. Anything that caused his partner to be here this late and waiting for him outside couldn’t be good.

Gabe offered Delia his hand. She didn’t let go once she was out of the car. That was a strange feeling, but one that made him smile. “Jack’s waiting for me. I’ll say good night at the door and not come inside after all. Please give Annie and Sadie my apologies if they’re still awake.”

“I’m going to guess that Jack sitting on the step doesn’t bode well.” She opened the gate herself and led the way up the walk, still holding his hand. “Something to do with your case is my guess. Even if Sadie gave him the boot, Annie would offer him shelter in the kitchen.”

Jack met them at the base of the front steps. He eyed Gabe before greeting Delia, obviously amused and doing a poor job of hiding it. “I’m sorry to pull Gabe away, Delia, but duty calls. Annie’s gone to bed, but the front door’s unlocked for you.”

She leaned and kissed Jack’s cheek. “Thank you for guarding the door until we got back. I’m sure Sadie’s pacing a hole in the carpet waiting for me to get inside. The curtains on her window have twitched four times since the car pulled up.”

“That’s my girl.” Jack stuffed his hands in his coat pockets and started down the walk. “I’ll wait in the car, Gabe. Take your time saying good night.”

They’d talked for hours, both in the diner and on the drive home, all the silences between them comfortable ones. Now that it was time to say good night all the ease Gabe had felt in her company deserted him. He couldn’t deny that some of his nervousness came from being on display and knowing his men were watching. The rest was worry over what Jack needed to tell him.

But his concerns about the case had nothing to do with Delia. Constantly letting his job come between them would end their friendship before it started; Gabe wouldn’t let that happen. “I’m glad you came with me to see Colin today. The evening turned out to be a lot of fun.” He almost left it at that, but something nudged him to take the next, slow step. “I’d like to do that again, if you’re willing. I promise our next excursion will have nothing to do with tracking down evidence.”

Delia clasped his hand tighter. This time he knew without a doubt she wasn’t teasing. “I’d like that a great deal, Gabe. I had a wonderful evening. But I won’t hold you to that promise just yet. I suspect it’s one you might not be able to keep.”

She released his hand and opened the front door. Light framed her face, the gentle lines of her profile and the soft shimmer of her hair reminding him again how lovely she was. Her beauty was quieter than Sadie’s, but no less real.

The bemused look on her face jerked Gabe back to the moment and the realization that he was staring. He ducked his head, grateful that he hadn’t made a total fool of himself yet. “I’ll say good night now. Jack’s waiting.”

“He is. I hope the two of you aren’t out too late.” Delia touched his hand, a quick brush of her fingers that filled his chest with loneliness. “Be careful, Gabe.”

The door closed and Gabe stood on the porch for a moment, thinking. He didn’t have to sort through his feelings or make decisions now. Breathing was still all he need do, all that was required.

He took the steps two at a time and hurried to the car. Jack had left the curbside door open for him and Gabe slid inside, strangely apprehensive about where they might be going. Henderson pulled away as soon as the door closed.

Jack tugged on the end of his mustache and watched out the window. He glanced at Gabe, the flicker of streetlights and shadow across his face concealing his expression. Tricks of light couldn’t hide how much Jack enjoyed teasing him. “I’m glad you and Delia had a good time. Sadie will be very pleased. She might even stop matchmaking and inventing reasons to throw the two of you together.”

“No, she won’t. You know that as well as I do.” Gabe tugged his hat off and balanced it on his knee, trying to ward off a headache. Each faint pulse in his temple pulled the old fedora tight as an iron band. “We had a great time once we left Colin’s office, but try to keep Sadie from pushing too hard. I like Delia a lot, I really do, and we’re friends now. But I need to leave things at friends for a while, without any pressure from you or Sadie, or anyone else. Can you make her understand that?”

“I’ll make sure Sadie goes easy. She’d never want to hurt you, Gabe.” Jack’s amusement disappeared. “What about Delia? Does she know about Victoria?”

“She knows. She found a picture of Victoria in Colin’s office. He still keeps Victoria’s wedding portrait on his bookshelf.” The pain of saying her name was still there, but blunted just a little. Maybe given enough time and practice, he wouldn’t need to brace himself against the ache first. “Delia asked me to tell her about Victoria over dinner. I told her how we met.”

“It’s a step, Gabe.” Jack watched him closely. His friend knew him too well. “The next step will be easier.”

He took a deep breath to clear his head. “Yes, it’s a step, but forgive me if I don’t believe this will get easier anytime soon. Now tell me where we’re going and what was so important neither of us gets to go home.”

Now it was Jack’s turn to take a breath. “The handbag Henderson and Baxter found did belong to the victim left in the Presidio. Elaine Meadows was reported missing by her sister Jodi this morning at the Gough Street station. She hadn’t heard from Elaine in a week. Miss Meadows lived in a small cottage behind the house at 85 Pine Street.”

“Let me guess. The cottage address is 86 Pine.” Gabe wiped a hand over his face, hit hard with the memory of perfume wafting from her handbag and filling his office. The killer wouldn’t lead them to Elaine’s house without a reason. “Did her sister have a key?”

“No, the one found in Elaine’s handbag and a spare kept by the owner of the cottage are the only keys as far as her sister knows. I was at the murder scene in the park until after four. The desk sergeant at Gough Street sent two men over to the cottage on Pine. They didn’t have a key and no one answered their knock, so they broke down the door.” Jack hunched deep into his coat. “Someone died inside that cottage, Gabe. Not Elaine, but someone else. The killer wanted us to find her house and see what he’d done.”

“He’s playing with us. I’ve never thought this man was completely sane. After the information Colin gave us today, I think he’s crazier than I imagined.” Gabe explained Colin’s theory about the Egyptian court of the dead and then gave Jack a brief account of Delia’s latest nightmare. They were entering Pacific Heights and only a few blocks from Pine by the time he’d finished. “One other thing you should know. I’ve changed my mind about this not being the same killer. I’m convinced we’re looking for the same man my father tried to find thirty years ago.”

Jack frowned. “Your hunches usually pan out, I have to give you credit for that. But the same man coming back and killing again seems like long odds.”

“It is long odds, but two different men, following the same pattern and killing the same way feels wrong. This is more than a hunch. I know I’m right.” He shrugged, but Jack’s skepticism was always welcome. His partner kept Gabe honest and forced him to think things through. “Right or wrong, it won’t change how we conduct the investigation enough to matter. But the more we understand about him, the better our chance of catching him becomes.”