So he was breaking up with her. In public.
But she knew he was right.
And wrong!
He loved her, she was sure of it. He loved her in his roundabout, twisted way. He couldn’t help loving her, she knew that too, even though he tried not to. He couldn’t stay away from her, and that was what got him into this mess. She had already cost him his job. What more would she cost him?
What more would he cost her?
“You came here . . . to tell me this,” she said in a small voice. “You came to say goodbye.”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t there something . . . a drug or herb or something . . . you could take?”
“No. I tried. But no.”
A commotion was happening somewhere in the airport. Heads were turning. A group of men and women in suits were striding through the airport crowd, heading straight for where Rust and Kate were seated.
Both Rust and Kate looked up.
The man in the lead was slender. He had a face which was all angles, as though his cheekbones were cut out of glass. His hair was close cropped, and he wore razor stubble on his sharp jaw.
“Rust O’Brien?” he said. “Kate Penney?”
Rust stood up. “Yes?”
“We would like you to come in to the station to answer a few questions, please.”
Kate stood up too. The dread was like a dark cloud in her stomach.
“What is this about?” Rust demanded.
“Where were you last night, Mr. O’Brien?”
“I’ll answer that only when I know what this is all about.”
“Very well.” The man took out a badge from inside his jacket and flashed it. “I’m Detective Lance Horner from the NYPD. We’re investigating the murder of Teddy Mitchell. His body has been found in the woods near his home in Long Island this morning. We would like both of you – ” he paused significantly as he took Kate’s pale face in “ – to come with us.”
Teddy Mitchell!
Kate was stunned.
How could Teddy Mitchell be dead? They were just all together last night at his father’s house.
She caught sight of Rust. The blood too had suddenly drained out of his face. She was instantly very scared.
What exactly had happened to Rust and Teddy last night?
Rust managed to compose himself, but the detective already shrewdly caught sight of his face.
“Yes, sure,” Rust said, managing to keep his voice even, though Kate knew him well enough to know that he was unsettled. “I have nothing to hide.”
As they both went with the NYPD, Kate wondered for the first time if either of them could even account for everything they did anymore.