Page 137 of Eternal Obsession

“I shouldn’t have come,” I said.

“But you did, so let’s talk about the facts.”

“The facts are you are way off.”

“Stop screwing with me,” she said.

“Ingrid, I stood in that art gallery, alone, wanting my life to stay that way. You approached me. What do you want me to say?”

“Tell me you had nothing to do with the murder of those girls. Tell me you’re innocent. That you are not evil and unnatural,” she shrieked.

“Evil and . . . what are these words you use for me? When have I ever given you any need to say such things?”

“Did you murder those women?”

“No.”

“Tell me.”

“I did not kill those girls. Neither did Alex.”

“Do you know who did?”

“You have got to back off,” I urged.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a policewoman!”

“I’m trying to protect you.”

“Then tell me the truth!”

“It’s complicated.”

“You seduced me,” she said. “For what purpose, I haven’t discovered yet.”

“Ingrid, I merely spent an evening with you⁠—”

“No, don’t come any closer.”

“What evidence do you have that I am anything other than what I have shown you?”

Her lip quivered.

“Ingrid?”

The truth stung like fire.

“I formed the puzzle, and all clues lead to you,” she said.

“What clues?”

“Evidence that places you at the scene of the crimes.”

“There is no such evidence,” I said. “I’m going.”

She was bluffing, but terrifyingly good at it.

“You wait right there. Who is Orpheus? What kind of place is Belshazzar’s?”