Cini hid on the sixth floor.
She snuck in from the back stairs and found a darkened corner at the far end of the sixth-floor hall where she could huddle in the shadows and hope that the cleaning crew didn't spot her.
Had to think things through.
Carefully. Sanely. So much at stake now.
Even in panic, she realized that she couldn't just leave her purse up in Eric's office. Eventually, the police would get there and find it. And then she would be dragged into the case.
God, she could just imagine the interrogation…
And after the bar, you went back with Eric to his office?
Yes, sir.
Why?
(Obviously lying) He, he wanted to show me some commercials he'd done.
I see. He couldn't have shown you the commercials during regular business hours?
I guess I never thought of that.
Were you aware of Eric Brooks' reputation?
Reputation?
He was quite the ladies' man.
I see.
In fact, he was notorious for making love to women right in his office.
Oh.
Did you make love to him in his office, Ms Powell?
(Pause) No.
You hesitated.
I wouldn't call it making love.
What would you call it, then?
Please, do I have to tell you what happened?
This is a murder investigation. Of course you have to tell us what happened.
Well, he, I I mean
Ms Powell?
(Silence)
Cini?
(Silence)
You have to tell us the truth. Maybe not right now, Cini. But eventually.
And she would have to tell the truth. About what she'd done, there in his office. Just so she could get a part in a commercial. Just so she could make Michael jealous. It would be in all the newspapers, and on all the TV stationsand all the radio stations. She could hear the disc jockeys laughing about it now. This was the sort of thing they loved. She would be a laughing stock to all of Chicago. Or maybe even worse… Maybe David Letterman or Jay Leno would start making jokes about her
She had to go up and get her purse.
Nobody must ever know what she'd done in Eric's office tonight. Nobody. Ever.
She'd take the stairs again. Walk very quietly. And when she got to the top, she'd listen very hard. The killer was probably gone by now. They didn't usually hang around. Not on television, anyway.
She moved away from the shadows of the corner.
Walked toward the FIRE sign at the far end of the hall. She'd have to go back up there and get her purse. Go back up there and try very hard not to look at Eric. He had been so bloody the last time she'd seen him.
She reached the door. Eased it open. Started climbing.
She just hoped that the killer watched enough TV to know he shouldn't be hanging around up there.