Echoes in Death (In Death 44)

With a nod, Eve went in. She saw Del sitting on the side of Daphne’s bed. Her hand gripped his as Del spoke in low tones.

She jerked when she saw Eve, then seemed to settle again as Del turned his head.

“You’re back,” he said.

“You’re still here. Do you live here?”

“Feels like it half the time. But I went home awhile, got some Zs. Did you?”

“On my way there. How are you feeling, Mrs. Strazza?”

“Better, I think. It’s Daphne. You can call me Daphne. I haven’t remembered anything more. I’m sorry.”

“No rush on it. Just wanted to check a couple of things, if you’re up to it.”

“I … Yes, all right?” Ending on a question, she looked at Del for confirmation.

“Anything you remember helps,” he told her. “Even little things, things that don’t seem to matter.”

“That’s right,” Eve said. “You and your husband went into the bedroom together, is that accurate?”

“Yes, we went upstairs together. We were going straight to bed. He had rounds in the morning, and the party went a little longer than he thought it should—would. Thought it would.”

“And you were attacked. At the same time?”

“I…” Her eyes went blank for a moment. “I think—it was so fast, so shocking.”

“Take your time,” Eve said as Daphne gripped Del’s hand. “You went upstairs, into the bedroom.”

“Yes, upstairs. I think I was, maybe, just a step behind my husband. He had my arm. I think. I think my husband had my arm, and was just a step ahead. And suddenly he fell forward. I think. I think he did, but something—someone hit me. In the face. Everything went gray. I just laid on the floor. And hit me in the stomach. Kicked me?”

Instinctively, Daphne wrapped an arm around her waist.

“‘Stay down’—I think he said that. ‘Stay where I put you, bitch.’ I think. And I did. I didn’t move. I closed my eyes.”

She did so now, and tears stood on her lashes.

“I heard grunting, and everything hurt, so I laid on the floor with my eyes closed.”

“And when you opened them?”

“It was the devil.” She pushed up, eyes going wild. “The devil. I swear it. I swear.”

“Easy now.” Del took her shoulders, gently. “Breathe. Look at me, Daphne, and breathe. Nobody’s doubting what you saw.”

“That’s right.” Eve stepped closer. “It was makeup, it was a kind of mask. It was a man, Daphne, but he looked like a devil. He made himself look that way to scare you, and to keep you from being able to describe him.”

“Makeup?”

“Theatrical makeup.”

“But … He had horns, little horns, and the light was red and yellow, and I smelled sulfur.”

“Sulfur?”

“I think … ‘This is hell. I’m taking you with me to hell.’ I think he said. I’m not sure. And his … penis. It was red. It glowed like fire. And it burned inside me. God, it burned inside me.”

“He wore a condom, and makeup,” Eve said, keeping her tone even. “He used a novelty light that flashed the colors. All of it to confuse you, frighten you, and to set a kind of stage for himself.”