At first, I feel faint because I thought it was Michel, but I also feel close to Julien, having read his words and his story and now having met him and spoken to him. I stare at the image of him. My first thought – a crazy thought – is that it was Michel, but it couldn't behim.
"It was Soren," Isay.
"No," Ed says, making a face of disbelief. "He told Michel that if he brought you to see him, he'd spare Julien," Edsays.
"I can't believe you'd accept what he says. He's a killer and amanipulator."
Ed shrugs. I stare at the fax and feel incredible guilt that Julien's been staked because of me. I realize I've been warming to Julien. I examine the photographs taken of his body, which show him lying on the grass in a park outside the cathedral, a stake through his heart, his beautiful face contorted in agony, his blue eyes half-open, his hands around the base of the stake and I'm shaken that he'sdead.
"He's not really dead dead,right?"
"Technically, he's dead dead, but just not destroyed. He's still got his head, so he can be resurrected. If the killer had cut off his head, he'd beunrecoverable."
"How do they recoverhim?"
"Only with the blood of an Ancient and unless Michel has connections, they're few and far between. Only about two-hundred spread out around the world and as a whole, they're nasty fuckers. Although Soren seemed like an OKguy."
"OK?" I say, shaking my head. "He's a monster. He has Michel firmly under his thumb. He compelled you, Ed. Can't yousee?"
"He said he wouldn't hurt Julien. Someone else didit."
We drive across the bridge to the cathedral grounds where they found his body. The old stone building sits surrounded by trees, its turrets reminding me of castles in Hungary where my father conducted a string quartet when I was achild.
The murder took place in a small copse of evergreens near the corner of the grounds a short distance from the entrance to the Holy Cross Cathedral. We stop at the side of the road and I leave the car to stand beneath the huge boughs of one tall evergreen. Police have cordoned off the area with yellow tape, which flaps in the wind. Ed speaks with the detective in charge as he leaves. He ushers me over. From where we stand I can make out a dark stain on the ground. Blood. Julien'sblood.
"Our suspect must have arranged to meet him here and then stakedhim."
"Where's thebody?"
"Being taken to the SCU morgue. I've claimedjurisdiction."
"Anywitnesses?"
"One. They're transferring him to the SCU to be interviewed. He's a derelict. Seems pretty crazy. Homeless guy who hangs out around the cathedral hoping forhandouts."
Several bystanders crowd together on the sidewalk across from the crime scene and speak together. A uniform keeps them away from the churchgrounds.
"Any other witnesses?" I say, glancing at thecrowd.
"Ed shakes his head. "Naw, it was really late. Everyone was asleep and no one admits hearing anything out of the ordinary." Ed turns to me. "Do you want to look around, see if you can findanything?"
"Sure," I say and duck under the tape. "But I already know who did it." I take the flashlight and point it around. I run a hand over the dirt where the bloodstain was located but nothing turns up. There really isn't much to see – just pine needles and a few bits of old newspaper. I touch the paper just in case, but get nothing fromit.
I return to Ed and hand him the flashlight. "Nothing jumps out. Maybe if I come back tomorrow, I'll find something in thedaylight."
He nods. "OK, I'll have someone protect the scene. I've tried to find Michel but he's not answering his cell or responding to texts. The two of you seem intent on violating the rulestonight."
I say nothing. What can Isay?
"Let's go and interview the witness, then we'll see the body once I findMichel."
I sit in the seat, totally numb from the events of theevening.
* * *
Terri meetsus in the hallway outside heroffice.
"I just heard," she says, her voice shaky. "He'srecoverable?"