He wanted to know why she lied. He wanted to know what really happened inside 22756 Pacific Coast Highway.
And then there was the bigger question. What was to become of them? Looking at Syd he knew he still loved her. But after the way Anne so easily seduced Ryan, he had to wonder if he loved Syd enough. And what does he tell Syd about what happened at the hotel? If he tells her the truth, could she ever forgive him? Should he lie to protect her feelings?
Syd’s attention returned to Ryan. He was tense, tenser than she’d ever seen him. And ever since he first walked into Blake Hunter’s house, there had been a reticence to Ryan, like he was holding something back. Anne? She wanted to ask him what happened at the hotel, but she was terrified he’d lie to her and she could never forgive him if he lied.
And so there they stood; two people looking across the crowded room at each other, with so much to say to one another, and no idea how to say it.
The sky outside the picture windows lightened as sunrise approached. “Okay, people, time to feed the sharks,” Hanrahan said. “Ryan, you’re the reason every reporter in Southern California is camped outside this house. You want to make a statement?”
Ryan felt bad about killing the Lady in Red and worse about the lottery. The last thing he wanted to do is face a barrage of questions. “It’s been a long night, Lieutenant; if it’s all right with you, I’d just like to get home and grab a little sleep before tomorrow’s lottery presentation.”
“No problem. Syd, this is your chance to get famous; want to go out there and tell everyone how you broke the case?”
My chance to get famous, Syd thought. For years that drive to get famous had fueled her career in the LAPD. But now, somehow, it didn’t seem as important as it did a few days ago. “I’m kind of beat, too, Chief. I’ll pass if you don’t mind.”
Hanrahan reacted, surprised. “No problem,” he said. “I can handle it. You and Ryan head home and we’ll run interference.”
“Sounds good,” Syd said.
“Thanks, Lieutenant,” Ryan said, and then something occurred to him. “Wait, we still need to go through all of Blake Hunter video material, see if we can find the high school tape.”
Syd panicked for a moment but was saved by Hanrahan. “It’s late, you’ve been up all night. We’ll seal the house, come back tomorrow after the Lotto presentation.”
“Great,” Ryan said stifling a yawn.
Ryan and Syd weaved their separate ways through the crowded room and met at the door. “Are you coming to the presentation?” Ryan asked.
“Do you want me there?”
“Of course I do. You’re the one who got me into this mess. You’re the one who found the ticket.”
Oh, shit, Syd thought. Maybe that was the domino in her relationship with Ryan, finding that stinking ticket.
“I’ll be there, Ryan, but I need to go home and grab some sleep.”
Ryan got her meaning. She wanted to go to her apartment, alone. And honestly, so did he. Ryan needed time to figure out what the hell to say. “Yeah, me, too,” he said.
As they stepped outside, the army of reporters, cameramen and photographers burst to life. Strobes flashed, camera shutters clicked, video cameras zoomed in, the helicopters swooped low and questions were hurled at them over the police barricades.
Syd stared at the frantic faces of the massed media; part of her still yearned to step up to the gathered microphones and bask in the limelight and part of her was revolted by their scavenger-like behavior.
“Detective Magee, is it true you shot the Lady in Red?”
“Do you know why she went on a killing spree?”
“Can you confirm reports that she killed a man in Newport Beach last week?”
They ignored the questions as Sherriff’s Deputies cleared a path so Ryan and Syd could back out of the driveway. Ryan opened Syd’s door. Syd got in, and was about to ask Ryan about his meeting with Anne. But she was afraid of the answer; afraid he’d lie, so she hesitated.
“I’ll see you later, sweetie,” Ryan said and closed the door. He headed for his car.
Oh, fuck it, Syd thought. She hit the button to roll down her window. “Hey, Ryan.”
He stopped and turned.
“I almost forgot to ask, how’d your meeting with Anne go tonight?”
Ryan paused, measuring his words. “Let’s just say, it was full of surprises.”
Shit, Syd thought. A non-answer! But, hey, at least he didn’t lie. Yet.
“I’ll give you the details later,” Ryan said, waved and got in his car. As Ryan backed up, he’d wished he put his top up because the reporters were literally shoving their microphones into his face shouting questions:
“Who was the Lady in Red?”
“What was the final body count?”
“Did she know all her victims?”
Finally, his old friend, Patricia, from KNBC stuck her beauty pageant winning smile in front of him and said, “Solving the biggest serial killer case this town has seen in decades and winning the lottery — this must be a great day to be Ryan Magee.”
A great day to be Ryan Magee, Ryan thought. Yeah, right.
He put the Mustang in gear and pulled away, leaving the unhappy media in his wake.
FORTY-NINE
Anne couldn’t believe it. As she drank her room service coffee, she flicked between the morning news shows. They were all covering the same story: The Lady in Red.
Why hadn’t Ryan called her to tell her the good news? He’d not only solved the case but also killed a notorious serial murderer.
This was huge.
Getting publicity for someone winning the Lotto was one thing, getting publicity for someone winning the Lotto who is also a genuine American hero was a whole different ball of wax.
This was great for the foundation. Additional money should come pouring in. But new avenues for revenue had suddenly opened up. Books, movie offers, personal appearances. Ryan Magee was about to become an industry.
And he was all hers.
Which made her wonder again why he hadn’t called? Probably didn’t want to wake me, she decided and reached for her phone. She called him but it went straight to voicemail. Anne said, “Hi, honey, it’s me. I’m watching TV and I see you’ve had a busy night. Congratulations, this is wonderful news. Call me as soon as you get up. I want to hear all the details. I love you.”
Anne hung up, excitement rippling through her. Today was going to be a wonderful, unforgettable day.
Syd never got to bed. When she left Blake Hunter’s house, she took the Pacific Coast Highway to the Interstate 10. She drove east to the 405, but instead of taking it north to head toward her apartment, she suddenly took the ramp leading south to Orange County.
It was just a little after dawn so traffic was light and before she knew it, she was knocking on the front door.
Betty Waterman answered the door and was surprised to see Syd. What was the detective doing back here?
She obviously hasn’t seen the news, Syd realized. And no one had called the Waterman’s because the Lady in Red’s identity hadn’t been released yet.
Then Betty read the expression on Syd’s tired face and put two and two together. “Oh, no,” she whispered.
“I’m so sorry,” Syd said, and the next thing Syd knew she was holding Betty and they were both crying.
Cliff Waterman greeted Syd brusquely and took the news stoically, as if he always knew his daughter’s life would end like this. And Syd sensed something else, too. Relief. He was scared of Alice, she realized. Well, she had tried to burn down the house. And now she was killing people, so he was probably afraid he was on her hit list, too.
What do you say to the parents of a slain serial murderer? How do you console them? Syd couldn’t tell them about the DVD or video yet. They had to remain secret for the time being. So she said, “In a few days everyone will know exactly what happened to Alice. In a few days everyone will know that Alice was the real victim.” Then Syd told them who to call to claim Alice’s body, and left.