Death Mask

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR Talking to Detective Bellman

Detective Bellman was hot and exhausted after nearly an hour in the elevator. He sat astride one of the office chairs with his necktie loosened, drinking from a bottle of mineral water. His white shirt was sticking to his back.

Sissy had explained to him exactly what had happened on the seventeenth floor. She had told him the truth about Frank, and who Frank really was, and how Molly had created Deputy. She described how Red Mask had come bursting out of the closet and stabbed Officer Gillow.

She told him how Frank and Red Mask had burned into ashes, right in front of their eyes.

Detective Bellman listened to all of this wearily, without making notes. When Sissy had finished, he said, “How am I supposed to file a report on this?”

“I don’t know. It depends if you believe it or not.”

“No, it doesn’t. It depends if my lieutenant takes me off the case and sends me for a psych evaluation. It’s madness. It’s like something out of Alice in Wonderland. Playing cards, coming to life.”

“Where do you think Lewis Carroll got the idea from? It’s been recorded in so many cultures. pictures that step out of their frames and sculptures that move.”

Detective Bellman took another swig of water and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Well, it’s not going to be recorded in the Cincinnati Police Department culture. It’s going to stay our little secret, capiche?”