She thrust her fist against her teeth and turned away from the ghastly wall. The blood drained from her face and for a moment Sharky thought she was going to faint. He put his arm around her and as he did she began nodding very slowly.
‘Arch,’ Sharky said, ‘there’s some brandy in the dining room.’
‘Right.’
‘I’m sorry. I should have warned you but. . . I, uh... didn’t know what to say. Tiffany was here last night, right?’
‘Y-y-y-yes.’ She looked up at him and her face began to go, first at the corners of her mouth, then the tears welling in her eyes. She started to ask a question, but the words caught in her throat and she choked. Livingston brought a pony of Courvoisier and handed it to her, but she did not take it, she kept searching Sharky’s face, hoping her fears were wrong.
‘I’m sorry,’ Sharky said, ‘she’s dead.’
The tears came and she began to sag, weak-kneed, against him and he led her to the couch and sat down beside her. She covered her face with her hands, her fingers pressing against her eyelids, trying to control her feelings. Finally she broke down and began to sob.
‘H-h-h-ow. . . d..d-did . . .?‘ she said and then stopped speaking. Sharky handed her the brandy. ‘Here,’ he said, ‘try this.’
She took a sip and gagged.
‘I h-h-hate brandy,’ she said.
‘Look,’ Sharky said, ‘I know how you must feel right now, but this is very important. When did Tiffany first know she was going to be staying here?’
Watery, bloodshot eyes peered over her trembling hands.
‘I.. . decided on the spur of the moment to go to Savannah and see some friends so I.. . told her she could
stay here for the night.’
‘When was this?’
‘Yesterday morning.’
‘What time?’
‘I had an early hair appointment at Raymond’s on Piedmont Road and I called her after I was through. I guess it was about. . . ten-thirty. We met at Houlihan’s for lunch and I gave her the key. Then I had to leave to catch my plane.’
‘So she had no idea you were leaving town until ten-thirty yesterday morning?’
‘That’s right.’
‘That does it,’ Livingston said. ‘We gotta get her outa here and fast. I’m gonna make a phone call.’ He went into the bedroom.
‘What’s he talking about?’ Domino asked.
‘Are you okay now?’
‘I guess. I don’t know. Why... what happened to Tiff?’
‘She was shot. About eight o’clock last night.’
Domino stared back toward the door, the full horror of what had happened working on her features. ‘What
‘No, it wasn’t a bold-up and it ‘wasn’t an accident. But we think the killer made a mistake.’
The horror in her face turned to shock. ‘Mistake?’
‘We think.. . we’re almost positive. . . that he was after you.’
‘She was shot by an ex-Mafia assassin named Scardi. Angelo Scardi. Does that name mean anything to you?’
She shook her head and then said, ‘Mafia?’
‘How about the name Howard Burns?’
‘No, no. Neither of them. I’ve never heard either of those names before. What do you mean, Mafia?’
‘This Scardi was a Mafia killer. Someone hired him to kill you. He came here last night and got Tiffany by mistake.’
She was more controlled now, the shock and horror replaced by confusion and doubt. ‘Why?’
‘We were hoping you could answer that.’
‘Well, I can’t answer it,’ she said and anger crept into her tone. ‘And I don’t think you know.. . how do you know that?’
‘This Scardi’s a real pro. He’s been planning it for several days. Don’t you see? If Tiffany didn’t know she was coming here until yesterday, it had to be you he was after. And he’ll try again. He’s not the kind who’ll settle for a mistake. That’s why we’ve got to get you out of here.’
She shook her head violently. ‘No, I won’t be forced out.’ ‘Forced out? We’re not forcing you out; we’re trying to
