Emily Kimelman - Sydney Rye 02 - Death in the Dark by Emily Kimelman Page A

football.”
    “Sorry, that’s great. I’ll see you in a bit,” I said, covering the mouth piece. Carlos smiled and jogged off down the hill.
    “Does he know about you?” Bobby asked. I didn’t answer as I watched Carlos join a group of other men on the field below. “Sydney, are you there?”
    “I’m not doing you any favors. I don’t know if you’re totally clear on the fact that you took something from me.”
    “Sydney, I don’t understand this animosity. I was just doing you a favor.”
    “A favor!” I heard myself yelling. Looking around I saw that I’d attracted the attention of several of the groups of Londoners trying to enjoy their first day of sun. “You bastard,” I hissed quietly. “I hope you rot in hell.”
    “I’m sorry I didn’t do it sooner, darling.”
    “Call me darling again and I will make it my life’s mission to take your ball sack. Are we clear?”
    “Anything you’d do with my ball sack would be very welcome.”
    “I forgot what a sick fuck you are.”
    “A sick fuck who did you a favor and is now looking for one in return.”
    “You’re insane!” I heard myself yelling again. I took a deep breath. In through my nose, out through my mouth. Blue tapped his muzzle against my hip to let me know he was still there.
    “Sydney, I didn’t know what you two had planned. I would have killed Kurt long before you showed up. Remember, I’m not the one who left my fingerprints behind; whose blood was spilled all over the floor. You took yourself down, it had nothing to do with me.” He said it in an off-hand way. Like I was being petty and missing the big picture.
    “You killed him,” I whispered, trying to control my anger, but I could feel myself shaking. “That was my right. Kurt Jessup murdered my brother and I should have been the one to end him.”
    “At the time I had no idea about that. Mulberry didn’t tell me what you were planning, just that we had a problem. I had no intention of stifling your little revenge act. If anyone should be pissed it’s me. At least you got the treasure.”
    I stood on the green feeling lightheaded. It was like Bobby Maxim was taking the world and flipping it upside down. “What are you talking about? Mulberry told you that?”
    “Oh Cher, you didn’t know?” Maxim’s voice rose an octave, teasing and dripping with syrup. A cold knowledge traveled from my toes right up to my brain, my best friend betrayed me, our relationship was built on a lie. I walked toward the shade of a tree, reaching out to rest a hand against the rough trunk. “Mulberry called me, told me about Kurt. About him killing Tate and Joseph,” Bobby paused, “about how he killed your brother, James.” I picked at the tree in front of me, breaking off a piece of the bark. I looked at the white underneath, the exposed inner branch. “Now don’t get all upset and quiet on me, dear. He only did it to save you.”
    “Save me?”
    “From becoming a killer.”
    “You think someone can be saved from that?” I heard sadness in my voice and hated myself for it.
    “No, I don’t. I think you are what you are, Sydney. And I think it’s amazing. I want you on my team.” He sounded upbeat and excited about our future together.
    I didn’t answer.
    “Aren’t you even curious about the case?” Bobby continued.
    “No.”
    “It’s a good friend of mine in Mexico, his daughter has disappeared. The reason I’m hoping you’ll help is she’s a fan of yours.”
    “What?”
    “She’s on that site about Joy.” I felt nausea creep up my throat. Mulberry told me about the website but I had yet to visit it. I couldn’t face whatever kind of madness I had spawned. The basic principle, that Joy Humbolt murdered the Mayor of New York to revenge her brother’s killing, was off by a couple of heartbeats. The member’s fanatical agreement that Joy was a hero was just sick. “You had a real effect on that Jackie,” Bobby continued. “Starting that site about you