Mister X

82

Addie finished her drink and then stared at the ice cubes, as if there might be some revelation there now that the liquid was gone.

"Nothing between us was real," Addie said.

Quinn nodded. "I somehow knew that from the beginning."

"But you didn't know you knew."

"I still can't be sure. Not yet."

"Yes, you can," Addie said. "Nothing's been real for me since Edward Keller. I'm afraid nothing ever can be. I followed him to Detroit, then from Detroit to New York, unsure he was the one who attacked me, who later killed Tiffany. I knew he wasn't someone named Edward Archer, though I wasn't sure he was the Carver. But I became sure."

"Why did he try to kill you, of all people, in Detroit?"

"My watching him must have attracted his attention, and something about me disturbed or attracted him."

"But why, after attacking you, did he come here to New York to stalk and kill more victims?"

"I don't know for sure," Addie said. "Maybe it was because he was almost caught and he realized the risk he was taking, so he wanted a bigger city to disappear in. Or a larger pool of prospective victims. Maybe he followed Tiffany in New York. Maybe there was something special about me. I'd been a surprise to him, and he ran from it. He was sure I hadn't seen his face, and he wouldn't know I recognized his voice. I couldn't prove anything. After he killed Tiffany, he'd be safe. No one would believe Chrissie in a he-said, she-said confrontation about childhood molestations, even if she did work up the courage to speak out. He didn't see her as a threat, and I'd hardly make a credible witness. But when he became successful and got political ambitions, he had to eliminate all his vulnerabilities, including Chrissie, which is why he agreed to your request to act as bait. He wanted to draw Chrissie to him so he could kill her."

"You joined the case after Lisa Bolt disappeared," Quinn said.

"At that point I hadn't seen her. I assumed she was the real Chrissie, and I was afraid she might recognize me. Just like I was afraid Erin Keller might recognize me."

Quinn stared at her. "So that was the reason for the reading glasses when Erin first came into the office. Why their lenses were unground."

"You noticed that. It's just like you to notice things."

"Addie Price wasn't the first time you changed your name, was it?"

"No," she said, lowering her head and smiling sadly.

When she looked up at him there were tears in her eyes. Her mascara was running.

"Are you satisfied now?" she asked.

"That's a hell of a question."

She laughed. From somewhere she produced a wadded tissue and dabbed at her eyes.

After an awkward silence, Quinn said, "What Keller did to himself…why?"

Addie shrugged.

"Guilt," she said.

"Shame," Quinn said.

"They're twins," she said.