I got up to leave. His money could buy many things. A lesson in the cost of betrayal was one of them. Francois had made his choices.

“That is interesting. You are an interesting companion, Miss Knight.” It was his highest compliment, spoken as a god to a mortal.

“Good-bye,” I said. “I doubt we’ll see each other again.”

He began counting his ancient coins as I let myself out. No one was in the Blue Room. One of his tuxedoed henchmen held the door for me as I left, no doubt a video camera cuing him as I approached.

There were a few people in the downstairs area, but I paid no attention to them. Dawn was coming and there were places I had to go. I headed for the back door. Just as I got there, Francois appeared, his servant’s mask intact.

“Is everything satisfactory, Ms. Knight?”

“Quite. I think Colombé found our conversation very interesting.”

“Oh?”

Francois had to be aware that Joey was just one more skin for this snake to shed. It didn’t much matter whether he had gotten the whole seventy-five or just skimmed twenty-five off the top. I considered telling him what Colombé now knew about his betrayal, just to see his mask crumble. But I merely said, “Yes. Good-bye, Francois.” And as I had said to Colombé, “I doubt I’ll see you again.”

“Oh?” His curiosity held him. “You’re not working for us anymore?” The smile that appeared on his face was smug, letting me know that I was no better than he was.

“I never worked for you,” I replied savagely.

He looked surprised. Soon he would understand. I wondered which master he would serve then.

I turned and walked out the door, then got in my car and drove away. As I passed through the wrought iron gate, I could think of no reason that I would ever return to the Sans Pareil Club. I felt no regrets.

Chapter 37

A gray dawn had appeared while I was hidden away in Colombé’s lair. The sun might not shine today. It was a little after seven. The beginning of a Monday morning would not be a convenient time for him, but I no longer cared for convenience.

The parents weren’t here yet, and parking was easy to find. A few children were in the schoolyard, their sleepy eyes waiting for the day to begin. I was an adult with adult privileges, and walking into the school door before the official beginning of classes wasn’t forbidden to me. I strode purposely, too quickly for any memories these halls might hold to catch me.

He was just coming out of his office as I rounded the corner.

“Warren. May I talk to you?” I called to him.

He looked surprised to see me. He quickly covered it by saying, “Micky, I didn’t expect to see you here at this time in the morning.” His friendly grin smoothly fell into place.

“No doubt,” I supplied.

He headed back into his office and I followed. In the shrouded night, I had been so sure, so confident. Now in the day, in his office with children’s pictures covering the wall, everything seemed too normal, too gentle to harbor a monster that taught children the adult lesson of how quickly betrayal can walk into your life.

Kessler sat behind his desk, his expression easy and calm. “What can I do for you, Micky?” he asked kindly.

He indicated a chair opposite him, but I couldn’t sit. I leaned against the window, watching the arriving kids. “You gave yourself away,” I said.

“Oh? How so?” He sounded puzzled. But the kindness in his voice was slipping away.

“You couldn’t resist taunting me about my cousin. I’ve only told a few close friends about him. And you. Only you could have left that note on Cissy’s picture.”

“Take off your jacket,” he ordered, the kindness gone so utterly, it might never have existed. Without waiting to see if I would comply, he grabbed my wrist, and pulled me away from the window. His other hand searched for a gun or a wire. When he found none, he released me. “What do you want? More money?”

“Justice.”

Kessler laughed. “Try again.”

“Did you kill Judy Douglas?”

“No. Poor Judy really did fall and kill herself. We had a few more pictures to take. If she hadn’t run away from me, she wouldn’t have tripped.”

“She was running from you. You used her death as a way to terrify the children into silence.”

“Not that crude. They were just told that that’s what happens to little girls who play when they should be working.”

“Do you enjoy frightening children?”

“No, I hate it. But, dear me, a man’s got to make a living,” he retorted sarcastically.

“Why did you kill Joey?”

“Why not?” he callously replied. “He wanted too much. Too much money, too much power. Children are easy. I thought an adult might be more of a challenge. But Joey never suspected until I actually had the noose over his neck.”

“You almost sound disappointed.”

“I’ve never killed an adult before. I looked at it as taking a step up, novice to veteran. His body was a little heavier, that was all. A lollipop or a thousand dollars. They’re all easy to fool.”

“Francois Brunette. Where does he fit in?”

“Francois, my old college roommate. We were both meant for better things.”

“Better than molesting girls?” I acidly retorted.

“I’m not going to spend the rest of my days listening to whining brats and their snarling parents for some two-bit pension. I want comfort. A penthouse in New York. A flat in London.”

“Like the plantations built on the backs of slaves. Ten, a hundred, a thousand lives broken for your comfort.”

“And what do you have, Micky? A barely running car, a cheap apartment in a bad neighborhood?”