The detective’s face went very still and Erin suddenly didn’t want to hear what he was about to say. He cleared his throat. “We found Mr. Cupper in the elevator like you said, and of course you know about the security guards.”
“But?”
“Ma’am, I just don’t know how to tell you this, but we didn’t find anyone else in the building.”
“That’s impossible!” Carson jumped to her feet. “He didn’t just vanish into thin air. You must have missed him somewhere.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. We checked the place pretty thoroughly. There’s no one else here.”
“He got away,” Erin breathed in horror.
Chapter Five
THE PROCEEDINGS WITH the homicide detectives lasted for hours just as Erin had predicted. As soon as they entered the police station, two different officers escorted Carson and Erin to different rooms to give their statements. Detective Hutchins explained that such a thing was standard procedure and no reflection on their veracity. It was simply that by interviewing each woman alone they weren’t influenced by the other and were likely to give them more details.
With the statements out of the way, a uniformed officer escorted Carson and Erin to another room and asked them to look at mug shots. When that yielded no results, they met with a police sketch artist. They spent another hour and a half trying to describe the brutal killer in as much detail as possible.
Finally satisfied with the result, both women nodded and agreed that the sketch was indeed the man they had encountered.
“How big did you say this guy was?”
“About six and a half feet, perhaps a little taller.”
Carson nodded in agreement with Erin’s statement. “He was also very big though, stocky. One of his arms was easily the size of my waist.”
Erin raised an eyebrow at the comment, and got a funny look on her face as if she wanted to add something. She refrained and Carson wondered what she was thinking. Although most people considered her painfully thin, she still thought the comparison relevant.
The detective coughed. “Yes, well. That’s not really very big, is it?”
Carson was ready to make an indignant reply when Erin interjected. “The point is he was a very large man. His hands were the size of platters, and he had very little neck to speak of.”
“Would you say he was muscular or overweight?”
“A little of both,” Carson answered after a moment. “His midsection wasn’t protruding, but he was obviously carrying a lot of body fat.”
Hutchins nodded. “All right, I think we’ve got enough for now. We’ll get this description out over the wires and see what we get.”
“Have you found...anything else at the office building?”
From the hesitant way in which she asked the question, it was apparent that Erin was worried if anyone else had died. Carson noticed the darkened brown eyes and reached out a hand for support. Erin knew these people, and worked with them every day. Of course, she was more affected by their ordeal than Carson.
Carson had been able to distance herself from the events to a certain degree because she wasn’t personally acquainted with any of them except Erin. If things had been different and Erin one of the victims, she wasn’t sure how she would have reacted.
Just the thought of Erin’s possible death caused Carson’s heart to twist painfully in her chest and her grip tightened on Erin’s hand.
Detective Hutchins’ voice was gentle when he answered. “We didn’t find anyone else in the building. As for anything that would lead us to the killer, we just don’t know yet. The sheer volume of people that move through that place on a daily basis precludes lifting fingerprints so we’re concentrating on the individual crime scenes. We’re checking the elevator where Mr. Cupper died and the security office. That also includes the firebox where the glass was shattered and the handle of the axe. Hopefully we’ll get something from that, but it’ll take a while.”
“So he’s just running around free,” Carson said acidly, “and we have no idea who he is.”
“And he’s seen our faces. He knows that we can identify him.”
A shudder ran up Carson’s spine when Erin added that, but the detective tried to reassure them. “From your statements, he wasn’t wearing gloves. If he’s got a record, or been fingerprinted anywhere, we’ll find him.”
Hutchins sounded confident, but Carson didn’t miss how he worded his statement.
“And if he doesn’t have a file?”
“Then it will be harder.”
His words hung in the air for a moment, but one look at Erin and Carson decided they had experienced enough for one day. Erin had dark circles under her eyes and there was an unhealthy pallor to her normally vibrant features.
“If we are finished here, I believe we’ve had enough.”
“Of course. We’ve got your contact information and we’ll let you know as soon as we hear anything, or if we have any more questions.”
Carson nodded and released Erin’s hand. She stood up. “Thank you, Detective.”
She didn’t mean to sound so cold when she said the pleasantry, but at the moment, she didn’t care. She was tired, hungry, and concerned that Erin wasn’t doing as well as she pretended. Quietly, she led the way to the front door of the police station.
A small hand on her arm prevented her from exiting out the doors and into the parking lot.
She looked down at Erin curiously and noticed the hardness of her expression. It appeared that Erin had slammed down her corporate attorney façade over her emotions and Carson thought it was in an effort not to feel too much pain about what she had been through.
“Yes?”
“I know we talked about breakfast, but I really don’t feel up to it right now. All I want is a shower and bed so I think I’ll just call a cab.”
Carson wasn’t sure Erin could stand on her feet long enough to wait for one. “Why don’t you let me drive you? I assure you, it’s no trouble,” she added when she saw her hesitate.
“All right. Thank you.”
She had parked right outside the main entrance to the police station. Carson and Erin trudged through a foot of fresh snow to the passenger side of the vehicle. Dawn was just starting to break, but it lent no warmth to the air even though the blizzard had blown itself out. The sky was overcast and the sun invisible through the cloud cover.
Carson used the keyless entry to unlock the vehicle and pulled Erin’s door open for her. She insisted on waiting until Erin was inside before she went around to the driver’s side. As soon as the doors closed, she started the Lexus and turned on the heated seats. Erin still hadn’t said anything and Carson kept looking worriedly at her.
Small hands were clasped so hard in her lap that her knuckles were white, and Erin stared straight ahead rarely blinking. Carson was concerned that she was going into shock, but didn’t know what she could do to help.
“Where to,” she asked and shifted the Lexus into reverse.
“747 North Wabash.”
Carson wondered why the address sounded familiar, but obediently backed out of the parking space before she shifted gears. She listened to the studded tires thump on the snow as she expertly pulled into traffic and headed toward the downtown Chicago area.
Erin’s tight voice concerned Carson more than ever, so she decided to try to get her thoughts off the events of the previous night.
“Is that in the Gold Coast area?”
Erin nodded, “Yes, I live in The Bernardin.”
Carson’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. She never realized that corporate law paid so well. The Bernardin was for very ritzy clientele, and the building was located just one city block from Chicago’s premiere shopping district known as The Magnificent Mile. It also wasn’t very far from the Holcomb Building, perhaps a fifteen-minute walk.
Rumor had it that a resident had everything they could ever want at their beck and call, even including a dry cleaner’s service on the sixth floor, and really ne
ver needed to leave the building.
They reached the corner of North Wabash and Chicago Avenue. Erin directed Carson to drive around to the side of the building to an attached parking garage with controlled apartment access for the residents.
“There’s valet service if you pull up to the front, but I’d rather avoid anyone seeing me like this.”
Erin glanced down and Carson followed her gaze. Her hose were stuck against her knees from the dried blood, and stains covered the lower half of her skirt as well as her hands.
“I understand,” Carson said. And she did.
Erin Donovan was sophisticated and conservative while accustomed to presenting a certain image. She would probably die of embarrassment if anyone saw her looking less than stellar or completely in control. It was at times like this that Carson wondered if the woman had a husband or boyfriend hidden in the wings. She had gotten a few vibes from Ms. Donovan that suggested her interests might not lean that way, but there was nothing definitive. Then Erin would withdraw into herself and leave Carson convinced that she couldn’t even spell the word gay.
Carson pulled into a parking space and shut off the engine. She removed the key and disconnected her seatbelt to get out, but Erin stopped her.
“You don’t have to follow me in. I’m fine,” Erin said softly.
Erin got out and slammed the door. She had already turned to walk away when Carson spotted something she left on the floor. She grabbed the item and then got out of the Lexus.
“Sure, you’re doing great. I guess that’s why you forgot your shoes.”
The sarcasm stopped Erin in her tracks and she turned around to look at Carson. The stricken look made Carson sorry she was being so harsh.
“I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you.” Carson walked to Erin and handed her the pumps. “Please, humor me. Let me walk you up. Besides, I’ve never been in The Bernardin, and you can’t let me come here and not satisfy my curiosity.”
The lightly spoken words seemed to penetrate where sarcasm or even seriousness did not. Erin smiled a little and nodded. She led them to an elevator and pushed the button for the twenty-sixth floor and the penthouse apartment.
Erin cleared her throat. “If you’ve never been here before I should give you the tour. The place really is amazing. It has pet sitting, on-site dry cleaning and even a yoga studio and a library.”
Even in her own private hell, Erin was trying to reach out, impressing Carson by the gesture. “Some other time perhaps? I think right now you could use a shower and something to eat.”
“The shower is a good idea, but I’m not much of a cook. I usually just go down to the RL Restaurant or have something delivered.”
“Well, I’m a pretty good cook,” Carson offered with a shrug. “Why don’t you let me make you something light while you’re in the shower?”
She didn’t want to appear too forward or have Erin think she was inviting herself in, but Carson was still very worried. She wanted to make sure Erin ate something, even if it was only a bite or two and she was sure that any minute now Erin was going to break down. Honestly, how thick was the armor she wore on a daily basis? No one could witness what she had, with people she knew, and not be affected emotionally.
After a minute, Erin finally answered. “I’m not sure what you’ll find that’s edible in my kitchen.”
It was not a refusal. A smile tugged gently at the corner of Carson’s lips.
“I’ll find something.”
The elevator stopped on several floors as people got on and off the conveyance while they traveled to the top floor, some cast curious glances at the disheveled women but no one spoke.
Each time the doors opened Carson was amazed at the opulence that surrounded her. Heavy fixtures and chandeliers hung from the ceilings, and fireplaces seemed to adorn every floor. Thick Berber style carpet was everywhere including the elevator. Everyone they saw was extremely well clothed.
Carson felt as though she had missed something, and she frowned in confusion. Erin was a very impressive woman, but she didn’t strike Carson as the rich, snobby type.
“Erin, this place is amazing. How did you manage to get in here?” She was well aware that such a place would have an enormous waiting list. However, while the luxury apartment building was impressive, she could never imagine living here. Carson preferred the freedom and seclusion offered by her comparatively modest home on private grounds.
Erin smiled and glanced at her. “I’m fortunate that my father was one of the first people in here.”
Carson couldn’t think of a reply so she merely raised an eyebrow.
Erin chuckled. “He was one of the original investors when The Bernardin was built. Since he was in on the ground floor, so to speak, he had his choice of the freshly designed units. A few years ago, he decided that the smog was too much for him, and the penthouse too large. He wanted to move to Arizona for his asthma, but didn’t want to give up the unit so I took it over.”
Carson sensed there was more to the story, but let it go. Her curiosity was satisfied enough and they had reached the twenty-sixth floor, but she did have to swallow the twinge of jealousy spawned from the casually uttered words.
It wasn’t Erin’s fault that she enjoyed an amicable relationship with her father. Something Carson could only dream of. She blinked back the slight sting of tears and concentrated on the fancy ‘B’ carved into the elevator doors before they slid open. There was only one unit entrance on the floor and Carson looked around in confusion.
Erin noticed the look. “The unit takes the whole floor. There are three other penthouses, but they’re located in the other towers.”
“Oh.”
She watched Erin produce a key card from her purse and pass it through a sensor. Then Erin pushed open the door, which was made of solid mahogany and polished to an impressive shine, and stepped casually inside.
Carson followed feeling a little uncomfortable. When she got up yesterday morning she certainly hadn’t expected to be accompanying the woman of her fantasies home, but here she was.
She entered a large, granite-tiled foyer and looked around at the tastefully furnished room before moving into the living area. A fireplace took up one wall and a glass door led out the other side onto a private balcony. She could just see a landscaped terrace and the glint of water from a lap pool. Though undoubtedly heated, Carson shuddered at the thought of having to emerge from the steaming liquid into the frigid chill of a Chicago winter.
More Berber style carpet covered the floors and she tried not to look too curious as she glanced around.
“Would you like the tour?”
She sounded polite, but Carson could hear the strain underneath. It was probably better if she let Erin try to pull herself together in private, and she was certain that a guided walk-around was the last thing Erin needed. Watery light from the overcast day shone through the balcony doors and highlighted the lines in Erin’s otherwise smooth features.
She looked tense, tired, and so fragile that she might shatter into a million pieces if anyone touched her.
“No,” Carson answered gently. “I just wanted to make sure you made it home all right. I should probably go.”
Erin surprised her by reaching out to touch her lightly on the forearm, but she suddenly seemed to have difficulty meeting her gaze.
“Do you think...I mean would you mind...”
Looking away self-consciously, Erin dropped her hand. “I know it’s irrational, but I can’t get that guy out of my mind. Do you think you could stay for a few minutes, just until after I get out of the shower? I really don’t want to be alone right now.”
Erin Donovan was normally so in control and Carson knew what that admission had cost her. She got the impression that she didn’t do vulnerable very well, and she had no desire to make her ask again. It was still early in the day and it wouldn’t hurt to stay for a while if Erin needed her.
“Sure. How about I give myself that tour while you take your shower?
I’ll be right here if you need anything.”
She meant to be reassuring, but given her hidden feelings for Erin Carson hoped what she said didn’t sound like a come on. To her imagination it sounded like she just offered to scrub Erin’s back and she tried hard not to blush under the sudden scrutiny.
Finally, Erin must have decided to take what she said at face value. “Thank you,” she said, smiling tremulously before she turned and walked down a hall where Carson guessed the bedrooms and bathrooms must be.
She waited until she heard the shower start and slowly began to look around. She was curious about the layout, but didn’t intend to start opening doors or cupboards since that would be too intrusive.
They had entered through the tiled foyer and walked through a formal dining room before they emerged in the living room. A hallway led past the entrance for a short distance and Carson explored in that direction. A small coat closet on the right was the first thing she came to, but she passed it and soon reached the end of the corridor at the doorway to a half bath.
The hall turned left and Carson saw a utility room on her right and a doorway on her left as well as one straight ahead. She walked to the end of the short corridor and saw that it led into Erin’s office. She only took a quick glance around but noticed how tidy, but well used the room seemed to be. A computer took up one side of the desk, and shelves full of hardback books lined the walls. Most of the books appeared to deal with corporate law, but she noticed one row of fiction on the bottom shelf.
Carson didn’t feel it would be appropriate to go through Erin’s books to find out what she liked to read so she turned and left the room.
She walked into another and found what must be a guestroom. A white chenille spread covered the queen-sized bed and another exit led onto another veranda. It was a smaller one than the balcony off the living room, but still offered a tremendous view.
She saw another entrance near the far corner and surmised that it was a bathroom.
Now You See Me Page 7