Final Breath

answer all your questions about what happened way back when?'

Sam frowned. 'I guess so.'

His uncle put a hand on his shoulder as they moved toward the revolving door. 'And you're satisfied?'

'No, I'm not,' Eli admitted, gazing down at the floor. 'Not really.'

She had an exclusive scoop on the so-called 'Story of the Year,' and yet Sydney couldn't stay focused on it. In front of her, she had all the information they'd faxed her this morning about Chloe Finch and what had happened on that Evanston beach about thirteen hours ago.

But Sydney couldn't stop thinking about this twisted killer's first duet.

The deaths of those two teenage girls had been a Seattle murder case; so now she could go to the Seattle police about the hero-killings. But even with Mr. and Mrs. Gerrard to back her up about the flowers, it would take a lot of explaining--and more information about the other deaths--in New York, Portland, and Chicago. She kept thinking about a Chicago cop who might be able to help her if only she had it in her to call Joe and admit she needed him.

On the plane, Sydney forced herself to read more about Chloe Finch, who was thirty-one, single, and lived alone. According to the reports, she'd been walking along the beach for about an hour when she caught Derrick De Santo trying to murder his pregnant girlfriend.

Police had recovered Chloe's raincoat and shoes at the scene, and they'd found a few stones in the pockets of the raincoat. Chloe had said she was collecting them for the garden at her apartment building.

Sydney wondered if the police really believed her.

The production assistant sat with Chloe Finch on a park bench along the beach off Lake Shore Drive. It was approaching 'magic hour'--about 6:45--with the sun just starting its slow descent. It was the best light for taping. The shimmering lake and the golden-hued Chicago skyline made for a perfect background.

As Sydney and her crew made their way toward the bench, she saw Chloe get to her feet and limp toward them. Sydney had seen her photo, and found Chloe prettier in person. She hadn't known about Chloe's foot problem until now.

She gave Sydney a wry smile, and then shook her hand. 'No, I don't have a pebble in my shoe,' she said. 'It's one reason I'm a fan of yours. I don't walk so well either. Plus I'm a huge figure-skating fan. I read your autobiography twice, and have seen Making Miracles: The Sydney Jordan Story at least five times--even though Amanda Beck is horrible in it. The girl couldn't act her way out of a wet paper bag.'

Sydney laughed. 'So--is that how come I got this exclusive?'

'Oh, totally, your reporting doesn't have a damn thing to do with it.'

Sydney chuckled again. Usually she spent a lot of time trying to put her subjects at ease, and here was the subject helping her to relax. She quickly introduced Chloe to her crew--two cameramen and a soundman. Chloe had already met the production assistant. While the shot was being set up, Sydney and Chloe sat down on the park bench where she would interview her. Chloe quietly explained that she admired Sydney's Movers & Shakers pieces. 'I knew you'd treat me with respect,' she said.

Sydney nodded. 'I will, but you'll need to be honest with me, Chloe. I read the reports. Those stones in the pockets of your raincoat reminded me of how Virginia Woolf went about drowning herself.'

'Clever lady,' Chloe murmured, with an ironic smile. 'I got the idea from The Hours.'

Sydney put her hand on Chloe's arm. 'You went down to that secluded beach at two o'clock in the morning to kill yourself, but you ended up saving someone's life. That's the story I want to do here, Chloe.'

Chloe glanced out at the lake and sighed. 'I don't know how it'll go over with the university if they find out one of their executive employees was contemplating suicide last night.'

Sydney shrugged. 'Maybe they'll pay for some therapy sessions. I wouldn't mind that. Do you want to talk about it?'

Chloe balked. 'Now--or later in front of the camera?'

'Well, you'll probably hold back a bit while we're taping,' Sydney whispered. 'And it'll take another ten minutes to set up. So you might as well give me the uncensored version now.'

'So--why did I want to off myself?' Chloe said, pushing back her auburn hair and looking out at the water again. 'It's a bunch of things, really. I've had this cat, Hutch, ever since college and he went and died on me three weeks ago. Cat cancer. Suddenly I realized how lonely I was. I've never had a boyfriend. My friends call me the one-date-wonder. I don't know if it's my foot problem or the fact that I don't have the kind of looks most guys go for. I just haven't been lucky in the love department. I didn't realize it, but I was becoming this awful, bitter person. But then, two weeks ago, I met a guy.' She laughed a little. 'It was kind of embarrassing, actually. I'd just tripped over my cane on the stairs of the Administration Building, and he came to my rescue. His name was Riley, and he said he was a graduate student. I really liked his looks--cute and stocky, like a football player, and his eyes were to die for. That night, we went out for dinner and ended up necking like crazy outside the front door of my apartment building. He wanted to come up, but I wouldn't let him.'

She gave Sydney a melancholy smile and shrugged. 'I held out for twenty-four whole hours. It was pretty wonderful making love with him. I was crazy for the guy. I know it sounds corny, but Riley made me feel beautiful. God, I'm such a sap...'

Tears filled her eyes as she gazed out at the lake again. 'Our third date was supposed to be dinner at the Ambassador East, but first he wanted me to meet some friends of his at this slightly seedy bar downtown. Riley led me in there, and he seemed so proud of me when he introduced me to his friends. There were six of them, and they had dates, too. I kept thinking, 'Riley has to be older than these guys. They all seem so young.' And then I got a look at their dates. I'm sorry, but it was like a freak show--all these sad, clueless characters. All of them were so much older--or heavier--or uglier than the young men who had brought them to the bar. That's when I realized Riley had taken me to a 'dogfight.'' She wiped a tear away and glanced at Sydney. 'Do you know what that is?'

Sydney put her hand over Chloe's. 'I think I know what you're talking about,' she murmured. 'Oh, Jesus, Chloe, I'm sorry.'

She'd heard stories about frat brothers or army buddies who made bets on who could scrape up the ugliest date. They called them dogfights. And the women they'd chosen to bring to these competitions weren't supposed to have feelings.

'I overheard Riley tell his friends that he qualified for twenty bonus points, because he'd fucked me,' Chloe muttered. She rubbed her eyes, and then let out a sad, little laugh. 'Whew! When I heard that, I just started crying and got out of there as quickly as I could. I don't know whether or not Riley won the dogfight. But you want to hear the totally crazy part? I kept waiting for the son of a bitch to call me and apologize. I'm such an idiot--I thought he might have really felt something for me--despite everything. How stupid can you get? I waited five nights for that kid to call me. Then last night, I went to the beach. I'd decided that was where I'd kill myself. And I was suddenly content, at peace. I haven't been that happy in a long, long time. I finally figured out a way to stop feeling so miserable. Anyway, I thought I'd found the perfect spot until Derrick and his girlfriend showed up.'

Sydney handed her a Kleenex.

Chloe wiped her eyes and blew her nose. 'So--is that what you want me to say for the folks watching at home?' she asked.

Sydney nodded. 'We'll probably edit some of it,' she said delicately. 'I'll ask you about what you witnessed down on the beach, and rescuing Lenora, of course. I might also ask about your foot problem. Would that be okay?'

'Hey, I just told you about the most humiliating experience of my life,' Chloe said. 'I think I can talk about my foot problem. By the way, you'll love this, too. When I first spotted Derrick and Lenora on the beach, they looked so pretty together and so much in love. I thought, 'I wish I could be her.' Hah, I can sure pick them, can't I? Three minutes later, he was bashing her brains in.'

Sydney asked the production assistant to fetch a mirror. She said nothing, and just gently patted Chloe on the back until the assistant returned with a hand mirror from the SUV.

'Go ahead, and fix your face so you look pretty,' Sydney told Chloe, setting the mirror on her lap.

'Huh, we don't have that much time,' Chloe said, opening her purse.

'Oh, shut up,' Sydney smiled.