NYPD Red

Chapter 53

Gabriel fondled the Walther. He now realized it was too hot to ever use again, but it was like an ancient hound dog. Too old to hunt, but he loved it too much to get rid of it. He put it back in his closet, then tucked the Glock into his backpack.

“Where you going?” Lexi said. She was still in bed.

“Out.”

“You need a partner in crime?”

“I thought we had a deal,” Gabriel said. “Coproducers work on the script, supervise wardrobe and makeup…”

“Sleep with the director,” she said. “I thought maybe because the sex has been so good, you’d change your mind.”

He sat down on the bed, rested one palm on her breast, and kissed her lips softly. “The sex was so incredible, I just want to think of you lying here naked while I’m out,” he said.

“You’re full of shit,” she said, “but I love you for it. When will you be back?”

“A couple of hours.”

Excellent, she thought. The longer you’re gone, the better.

He left, locking the door behind him. She listened as the elevator arrived at their floor, the doors closed, and she could hear the whir of the motor as it descended to the lobby. Then she tiptoed to the window and watched him walk out the front door and down the street toward the subway.

She knew there was no way he’d let her go to Mickey’s with him, but she had to ask. If she didn’t ask, he’d get suspicious. That was her character. Now that he was gone, she was ready to become her new character.

She hadn’t been able to decide whether to call herself Pandemonia or Passionata, so she opted for both. She was Pandemonia Passionata, Satan’s beautiful lover.

She had found the perfect outfit in a thrift shop on Mulberry Street-a dull-looking gauzy black silk dress, trimmed with lace and velvet ribbon. It was at least fifty years old, and cost all of eighteen bucks. For another twelve she bought some jet-black beads and a little black ostrich feather hat with a black veil. She pinned her hair up, then carefully put on her makeup. The final touch was the lipstick-the brightest red she could find. Without that, she thought, the whole scene could have been shot in black and white.

She checked her watch. She still had plenty of time to get uptown and find a good spot.

She looked in the mirror.

Perfect. All she needed now was one last prop.

She went to Gabriel’s closet and took down the Walther.