“That’s changed, Mr. Brighton,” Inspector Birminghammotioned to the table. “As you can see, we’re having a lovely time together.”
“Ah! He is more than an inspector. He is also a great tourguide!”
Brighton rose and headed to the bar. As Cheyenne watched himgo, she glanced at the entry again.
Mark Bower had arrived, as well. He saw the table with theirgrouping and walked straight to it. “Inspector, you told me not to talk tothese two, and now…liars and hypocrites, all of you. You’ll never catch thekiller.”
“We’re all watching you now, Bower,” Inspector Birminghamsaid.
“Watching me…do what? You’re going to arrest me for comingto a club?”
Bower turned to leave, telling them what they should all dowith themselves in succinct terms—all perfectly pronounced with his elite Londonaccent.
“Well, I guess tonight was…a waste of time.” Birminghamturned back to his drink and the view of the stage.
“You never know,” Andre said. “You weren’t aware that goodold Clark Brighton was a customer here until tonight, were you?”
“True,” Birmingham admitted. He stood, looking at Andre andCheyenne. “I’m going to get back and hope our search yields something.”
“I guess we’ll head back, too.” Andre stood. “Inspector, aminute?”
“Yes?”
“Why was suspicion cast so heavily on Eric and Emily?”
“We always look at ex-boyfriends. I’m sure you and yourgroup look for motives in murder cases, too. Eric might well have been afraidof what Sheila could do. Emily might have been jealous.”
“You think a woman would have the strength to do this?”Cheyenne asked.
Birmingham leaned against the table for a minute. “What ifthey were working together, Special Agent Donegal? Every killer has relatives.But I do ask that you forgive me.”
Cheyenne shook her head, meeting his eyes with a levelstare. “No, you needn’t apologize. You’re doing your job. Please, keep doingit. But one more thing, if I may.”
“Yes?”
“We’re not the enemy.”
The inspector smiled. “Several units are out scouring everyconceivable piece of the underground. I do not see you as the enemy. I promise.”
She nodded. With a quick return nod, he left.
Andre watched him go. “I think we should get back, too.Maybe ask if we can help.”
“We’re not going to catch him now,” Cheyenne said.
“No. But let’s head back.”
“Okay.”
Cheyenne noted that Annie was off the stage, and a prettyredhead with a well-endowed chest had taken over on the pole.
They started out, only to be stopped by Father Faith, whohad arrived without them noticing.
“You’re leaving?”
“I’m afraid so,” Andre said.
“And here I thought we might have a lovely chat.”
“Well, sir, exhaustion got the better of us,” Cheyenneadded. “Anyway, you have a good evening.”
“Oh, I will!”
He slid into the seat she had vacated. “Drive safely, myfriends.”
“We will, thank you,” Andre assured him.
They made it out the door, only to be stopped by AnnieConnor, who followed quickly in their wake, now wearing a tan trench coat overwhat remained of her clothing.
“You were with Claude. Claude Birmingham, right?” she askedanxiously.
“Yes,” Andre said.
“It was Edith who was here,” she said. “I didn’tget a chance to tell him. He showed me a picture, and I thought it was her, butwe did a silly video together, and I just brought it up. The picture he showedme didn’t do her justice. But it was definitely Edith. Please…she’s a lovelygirl. Yes, she wanted to be a stripper, but that doesn’t make a lass bad. I—”
“Please, Annie,” Cheyenne interrupted. “We are not judginganyone. And no, of course, it doesn’t make anyone bad.”
“You have to find her.”
“We will do our best,” Andre promised. “I swear to you,we’ll do everything in our power, and I know Inspector Birmingham will, too.”
“She’s still alive. I…I want to believe so badly she’s stillalive. I know you’re American, and this is Britain, but you were with Claude.If you can help him…”
“We will do everything we can,” Cheyenne assured her. Shesmiled. “And that includes getting back so we can help.”
“Of course, of course. I’m so sorry! Go. And…thank you.”
“Thank you,” Andre told her.
They managed to head down the street to the car.
“If Edith Greenbriar is still alive, she won’t be for long,”Cheyenne said.
“He’s draining them…but slowly. Hanging them up with justthose marks…and then letting their blood drain out, bit by bit.” He looked ather. “There’s a chance, but…he killed Sheila right away. He may not keep Edithlong at all.”
“Birmingham may well be a good cop.” Cheyenne thought aboutthe inspector’s motivations and decided to cut the guy some slack. “I mean, wecan’t really blame him for not trusting us.”
“He met us, and he didn’t let up on the farce,” Andre said.
“True, but maybe he meant to and didn’t get around to it.”
He glanced her way, and she knew he was still bitter aboutbeing deceived. But could they really blame Birmingham? They weren’t from here,had no connections to him, and might very well appear to be taking over in hiseyes. She could understand the inspector’s caution. But it seemed that hegenuinely did want to solve the case and find the murderer. She just had toconvince Andre to see it that way.
“Hey, he started a search.”
“Because Adam Harrison called someone who called someone,”Andre argued.
“I don’t care how or why it happened. It’s being done.”
“You’re right,” Andre murmured.
She looked ahead as he drove, wondering why she feltdiscomfited. Something said that night had bothered her, but she wasn’t quitesure what it was.
“You okay?” Andre asked.
She shook her head. “I feel like I should be seeing something,but whatever it is…it’s just beyond my grasp.”
“It’ll come to you,” he said softly.
“And you? Anything?”
“Yeah. Mark Bower is one of the biggest jerks I’ve ever comeacross.”
She smiled. “But—”
“That doesn’t make him a murderer,” Andre finished.
“And,” she added, grinning, “Clark Brighton likes stripclubs.”
“But that doesn’t make him a murderer, either.”
“No. So…?”
“We get back, and we join the search,” Andre said.
“If Birmingham allows it.”
“He will,” Andre said with assurance. She was relieved tohear it. “He will.”
Chapter 10
They found Inspector Birmingham was more than happy to letthem trail around after his officers, if they chose.
He was in the middle of Swain’s Lane when they found him.Inspector Michael Adair
