Raphael had no idea if the brunette was leggy or not. She wore navy blue trousers and a starched white shirt. Raphael had spent his childhood in parochial schools. He hated starch, despised it on mere sight.
What the hell? Raphael muttered.
The brunettes head came up at the sound of his voice. He had never seen hair like hers in his life, Raphael thought. It was a million shades of onyx shimmering to deep copper in the chandeliers light. He thought maybe it was supposed to be tied back or something, but who could tell? It was wild, with corkscrews zinging everywhere.
She reached a hand up to smooth it as though reading his opinion of it in his eyes. Shes bigger than me, she muttered. It was a fight.
Raphael cleared his throat. Come again?
It was a fight to keep her away from the table. From him. To keep her from messing up your evidence. Arent you a cop?
Yeah. Hed even be an employed cop in another three hours or so.
The woman gave a heartfelt sigh. Its about time you got here. Shes all yours. And with that statement, she stood. The woman beneath her let out a yowl that stirred the hairs at Raphaels nape. Then she rolled onto her back, sat up and sprang to her feet.
Philip! she cried.
Finally, too late, Raphael understood why the brunette had been sitting on top of her. This came to him in the split second before he recognized the other woman. He should have known her from her legs.
Allegra Denise.
She hurled herself in the general direction of McGaffneys corpse in that long, ankle-length dress that draped her like a second skin and caught the chandeliers light. Raphael stepped quickly to block her. She hit his chest like a battering ram, and she had arms and legs that were everywhere.
Whoa, he murmured. Lets ease up here.
Thats what I told her, said the brunette.
Phillip! the blonde wailed again.
Raphael took an elbow in his gut, and one knee came perilously close to his groin. He tucked one of Allegras arms behind her. He used it to lever her into a dining room chair, then he leaned close enough to her ear to inhale the sweet, clinging scent of her perfume. Quiet now, or Ill let the lady sit on you again, he whispered.
Phillip, Allegra whimpered.
Cut me a break. You had dinner with Bonnie Joe Donnelly last weekend. How attached to Phil could you have gotten in, what, six days?
Allegra blinked up at him, her eyes swimming. How do you know?
I know. Raphael straightened away from her and looked at the brunette again. And who the hell are you?
He watched everything about her draw up and in. She couldnt be more than five foot four, but for a second she reminded him of his second grade teachera behemoth, stern, unforgiving and wicked with a ruler. Then he blinked, and she was petite again.
A voice came from behind him. Shes the caterer. Allegra here was having an intimate dinner with our pal.
Raphael turned to find C. Fox Whittington grinning at him. He grinned back. They just barely restrained themselves from several hearty slaps on each others backs.
You ready to get to work? Fox asked, laughing.
Better check with Plattsmier on that one. But a smile kept twitching at one corner of Raphaels mouth.
No need. Im wearing a watch. Fox looked at it and gave a groan that almost vibrated with pleasure. Three more hours with the rookie.
The brass hadnt broken up other partnerships to cover a one-month suspension. Theyd brought up a Homicide wannabe to replace Raphael during his time-out without pay. Raphael knew all about it. He and Fox spoke every other night or so.
There was an odd sound from the brunette. They both glanced her way.
What? Raphael demanded. Starch, drawn-up shoulders and that sound shed just made. Like a tsk. All of it was like sandpaper on his nerve endings. Whats the matter?
Youre having a kaffeeklatsch, she murmured. But a mans dead.
Well take care of him, maam, Fox said politely. He looked at Raphael, then he tilted his head in the direction of the brunette. She was in the kitchen when it went down. Why dont you deal with her? Under the circumstances, Id better handle the scene myself.
Raphael nodded. Anything he found in the house would be inadmissible in court. He wasnt back on the payroll yet.
An excellent approach, said a baritone from the doorway.
Raphael felt something wither deep in his gut. It was Plattsmier. He turned slowly, edgily, to face his captain.
I could order you off the scene, the man said.
Raphael gritted his teeth. What would be the point?
Id make the commissioner smile.
Raphael snarled. The sound was out before he could bite it back. Fox put a warning hand on his shoulder, but Plattsmier only nodded sadly.
You still dont get it, his captain said.
Sure I do. Thirty days. Raphael bit out the words. A chunk of change. Whats not to understand?
I supported you.
Raphael was too angry to answer.
I may well have done what you did, Montiel, in my younger days, Plattsmier said. However, I would not have done it in front of an Eyewitness News Action-Cam. Thats why the commissioner was distressed with you. He paused, then his temper showed. Its why I couldnt save you a suspension. Damn it, do you think I wanted you out? If Id wanted you out, youd still be out. Internal Affairs wanted to suspend you for three months. And