The Dead Play On (12 page)

Larue looked at Quinn questioningly.

“He took what he wanted. He’ll move on to someone else next. But we do have to catch him—quickly. The next person might not be so smart or so lucky.”

* * *

When they got back to the house, Quinn was pleased to see that Bo Ray was doing much better. His chipmunk cheeks were down to slightly puffy, and he was even managing to down some soft scrambled eggs. He hadn’t shaved, so he looked a little the worse for wear, but not too bad. Bo Ray was a good-looking young man in his early twenties, and in much better shape in every way than when they’d met on the first case Danni and Quinn had worked together. He’d committed no crimes himself, but he’d become involved with some very dark characters because of his drug addiction. Father John Ryan had seen to it that he went to rehab, and Bo Ray had proved to be a valuable asset ever since. He was brave in the best way, Quinn thought. Even when he was afraid, he still did what needed to be done. To Quinn, that was real courage.

Billie had cooked, but he looked both aggravated and exhausted, his white hair going every which way. He was clearly still angry with Danni; Quinn could tell by the way he looked at her. But she would weather the storm. When you got right down to it, Quinn thought, he was still angry with her himself. Given what they knew about this killer, it had been insane for her to run out in the night, even if she had called the police first.

Bo Ray forgot his breakfast when Jenny and Brad followed Quinn and Danni into the kitchen. Luckily it was still a few minutes before opening time and they were able to sit comfortably in the kitchen while Jenny told her tale again. Wolf sat with his big nose on her lap, as if he knew she was upset and was trying to make it better.

“I’ll call Father Ryan and Natasha and bring them up to speed,” Billie said. “Then I’m taking a nap. You four, go to sleep and let Bo Ray open the shop. Night will come again soon enough.”

“Night...how can I play again tonight? Or any night?” Jenny asked, looking at Brad with terrified eyes.

“It’s how we make our living,” he reminded her.

“I—I— Danni, you have to forget about playing that other place. You have to. You’re my friend, and you have to come play with us. I need to work to survive, but I’m...I’m terrified. I can’t go back out in the dark, not without you there to keep me safe.”

Danni turned to Quinn. “She’s right. We can divide and conquer, you know. I can sit in with Jenny and Brad, and you can go to La Porte Rouge.”

It made sense, of course. But while he prided himself on not being a chauvinist, he couldn’t help but think that he wasn’t letting Danni go off alone to the Midnight Royale Café
with Brad and Jenny.

“Let’s think on it, shall we?” he asked. “But don’t worry—we’ll come up with something.”

“Why don’t we do it the other way?” Billie asked. “You go with Brad and Jenny. Danni and I will stick with La Porte Rouge
.
I won’t leave her, and we’ll ask Father Ryan and Natasha to come again, too. Not to mention that nothing happens until after the set, when things go all to hell.”

Quinn still didn’t like the suggestion, though he had to admit it did make sense, and that if he weren’t so ridiculously in love with Danni, he would freely admit it was the best plan.

He could also get Larue to assign a man to La Porte Rouge
.
Besides, what Billie had said was true: the killer seemed to attack around five, after closing, when he knew the local musicians would just be heading home. He attacked when he could wear a mask and pretty much count on going unnoticed.

“That’s even better,” Jenny said cheerfully.

Danni looked at her. “Oh?”

“No offense,” Jenny said. “But Quinn just...well, he looks a lot fiercer than you, that’s all.”

Brad shrugged. “So Quinn is fierce-looking, huh?”

“Safety in numbers,” Quinn said quickly.

“So that’s the plan?” Jenny asked.

“Temporarily,” Quinn said. “Probably.”

“Go to bed,” Billie said. “And I mean to sleep.”

They all rose as one and headed up the stairs. Danni and Quinn showed their guests to Angus’s old room and gave them towels and whatever else they might need, including sweats to sleep in, since they had left Brad and Jenny’s house without thinking to pack anything, and no one had been in the mood to stop there once they left the police station.

Once they were alone in the bedroom they shared, Quinn tried not to jump down her throat in anger, but he had to say something. “What were you thinking? This guy is a
maniac
. First, you ran out of the house without letting anyone know where you were going. Second—”

“Quinn! I didn’t act foolishly—I called the police. I knew we would get there at pretty much the same time. You would have done exactly what I did.”

“Danni, I’ve been in the military. I’ve been a cop.”

“And you taught me how to shoot.”

“Did you have a gun on you?”

She drew in a breath and stared at him. “We can’t do this—argue like this.”

“You can’t risk your life that way—not even for Jenny!”

“Shh! She’ll hear you.”

“I’m speaking as quietly as I can. And then you suggest we split up. Are you crazy?”

“No, I’m just doing what my father would have done. Quinn, you can’t always be the conquering hero. We’re in this together. And right now I really am exhausted,” she said. “We can talk about this more when we’ve had a few hours’ sleep.”

It was true. He had to shut up.

“Fine,” he said quietly then removed his clothes neatly, pulled back the bedcovers and crawled in.

A moment later he felt her slide into her side of the bed. She didn’t touch him.

He lay there for a while, knowing he needed to sleep, his mind racing. He didn’t like to go to sleep when they were upset at each other like this. It hurt. At the same time, he kept thinking about the things Jenny had said.

Demon eyes?

Was the killer actually some kind of a demon, and was there really something special about the missing sax?

He didn’t know. The killer sounded like flesh and blood.

And the greatest evil in the world could exist in the human psyche.

He hated lying here like this, next to Danni, yet so far apart.

Apparently Danni did, too. She rolled closer, as if unconsciously trying to get more comfortable. But she had come to bed naked, as had he. And her flesh burned against his body, soft and silken.

He waited a moment, smiling to himself. She’d made the first move.

He rolled over, taking her into his arms, feeling the firm pressure of her breasts against his chest. He kissed her lips, and his mouth grew more forceful, his tongue pressing deeper as he was instantly aroused by the mere taste and feel of her.

It was all she needed. She crawled atop him. The soft tease of her hair fell over his flesh as she leaned down, planting slow, lazy kisses on his chest. The length of her body rubbed erotically against his as she rose to find his lips again.

“Danni, I just—”

“You really don’t know when to shut up, do you?” she asked softly.

He was afraid she was going to move away, so he quickly said, “I do...trust me,” as he gathered her in his arms, rolled with her and took the lead, returning every kiss she’d delivered to his flesh with a kiss of his own to hers. Never a passive lover, she arched and writhed and rose against him, and soon they were locked together, the world around them disappearing as they made love. By the time they reached a searing climax they were panting and damp, lying side by side, truly exhausted in the best way. He pulled her back into his arms.

She started to arch away from him. “Quinn...”

He pulled her back down to him and nuzzled her ear softly. “You really don’t know...”

She laughed softly and whispered in return, “Oh, but I do.”

They made love again, and it was beautiful. Finally they slept, bodies completely entangled.

* * *

Danni knew that Quinn worried about her when he wasn’t with her, but she didn’t intend to give an inch on what she had done the night before. She really hadn’t behaved stupidly; she’d made sure to call the police. In retrospect, she should have called him, too, and told him to head straight to Jenny and Brad’s, but still, he would have done the same thing in her shoes.

She knew, too, that Billie’s suggestion of who should go where tonight made the most sense. She was sure Quinn knew it, too. He just wasn’t great at admitting it when he had to accept a solution he didn’t wholeheartedly embrace, so she didn’t say anything to him later, when he simply let the plans for the evening ride. He had, however, she learned, called Father Ryan and Natasha, who had both promised to come to La Porte Rouge
and stay there. Both had been appalled to learn that Jenny had nearly been attacked, and Father Ryan—being a fighting man’s priest, for certain—was doubly determined to keep an eye on Danni.

Maybe, she mused, that was enough to allow Quinn to accept the situation.

There wasn’t much of the day left by the time they were all awake, had made some kind of meal that was breakfast, lunch and dinner rolled into one and gotten dressed and ready for the night.

That took longer than usual, since Brad and Jenny had to borrow from Quinn and Danni, since neither of them had much of an appetite for going back to their house just yet.

Danni was much taller than Jenny, though, and Quinn had several inches on Brad, as well as a bigger build generally. Bo Ray and Billie both offered up whatever they had, and in the end Brad settled on a pair of jeans from Bo Ray and a T-shirt from Quinn. Danni had a dress she didn’t wear often, because she considered it too short, which made it perfect for Jenny.

Bo Ray assured them that he had the store under control, but despite his confidence, they had no intention of leaving until the shop was closed, the house was all locked down and Wolf was prepared to guard Bo Ray and the premises while they were out.

Quinn left first with Brad and Jenny. Before Danni was ready to head out with Billie, she paused to ask Bo Ray, “You’re sure you’re fine? You know not to open the door. I’ll be just a few blocks away, up on Bourbon. Well, you know that. If anything happens—”

“I’ll call 911 and then you,” Bo Ray said. “And I’m fine. Well, I’m fine ’cause you’re leaving me Wolf. I wouldn’t be so fine if you weren’t.”

She smiled, hunkered down to give Wolf a big hug before leaving and then kissed Bo Ray on the cheek, as well.

Billie—despite his grumpiness of the morning—was in a good mood as they made their way through the Saturday night crowds that already thronged Bourbon Street. He didn’t even complain when a slightly inebriated young woman leaning over a balcony above them managed to pelt him almost in the face with a strand of brightly colored Mardi Gras beads.

At least she called down an apology.

When they reached La Porte Rouge,
a folksinger was entertaining the crowd. The young woman had a lovely voice, Danni thought, but her songs were slow, and people weren’t paying much attention. When she finished one number, Danni nudged Billie, and they both made a point of clapping enthusiastically, drawing the attention and finally the applause of the other patrons.

Tyler was alone, sitting at one of the round high-top tables near the stage. Danni claimed a stool beside him and explained that they were down one guitarist, and told him what had happened.

Tyler listened gravely. “Well, I’m glad we have you,” he said cheerfully.

“Really?” she said disbelievingly.

“Yeah, really. Jessica was saying the other night that there are a few numbers she’d like to do with you if there’s a chance for her to join us onstage. Now, that would be great—the two of you up there together. All those hormonal frat boys would go crazy.”

“Great,” Danni murmured.

“Frat boys pay with good money for lots of drinks,” Tyler said.

“Speaking of, I’m getting a soda to keep the old pipes wet,” Billie said, walking over to join them. “Danni?”

“Water, Billie, thanks,” she said.

When he had gone, Tyler looked at Danni worriedly. “Are you guys sure it has something to do with a sax? Maybe this guy is after a song. You said he took some of their sheet music.”

“And a sax,” Danni reminded him. “You have no idea where the special sax could be, right?”

He shook his head. “And I was his best friend. Well, here, of course.”

“What do you mean,
here
?”

“He was close with a bunch of guys when he was in the service. He was a staff sergeant and squad leader. He had three fire team leaders under him, who each had three or four men under them. His best friend in the service was Corporal Kevin Hart—one of his fire team leaders—who hailed from Houma. I can’t imagine that Arnie kept secrets from me, but if anyone else knows anything, it would be Kevin.”

“So he would have been discharged about the same time as Arnie, right? Is he back in Houma? We can take a ride out and talk to him.”

“He’s not in Houma,” Tyler told her.

“Oh?”

“Kevin stepped on a mine. He’s been up at Walter Reed getting his prosthesis and working on his physical therapy.”

“Oh,” Danni said softly. “Maybe we’ll have to take a trip up to see him.”

Tyler smiled. “Maybe we can get a friend with one of the veterans’ organizations to send the band up for the day. We could play for the patients. And I’d like to meet Kevin, too. Any friend of Arnie’s, you know?”

“We could just call him,” Danni suggested.

“You want a dead man’s secrets from one of his best friends?” Tyler asked. “A fellow soldier? You need to see him face-to-face.”

Billie came back with his soda and Danni’s water. In a few minutes Blake, Gus and Shamus came in, as well. They were disappointed that Quinn wasn’t coming, but Shamus said, “Not to be crude, darlin’, and forgive me, but I believe we’re lucky we got the eye candy.”

Jessica had come by with her tray on her hip, checking whether she could get anyone anything. “Now, now, Shamus. Quinn is the eye candy to some of us, you know.”

“Big talk from a little girl who never goes out,” Shamus said.

“Ah, but I have a child, remember?” Jessica said.