Free Sidney Sheldon's Angel of the Dark by Sidney Sheldon, Tilly Bagshawe

here. Aren’t I enough for you?”
    â€œOf course you are, darling,” Danny assured her. “You’re everything to me.”
    But for years afterward, in his dreams, Angela Jakes still bewitched him with her milky-white skin and reproachful chocolate eyes:
    â€œFind the animal who did this.”
    Danny promised he would, but he had failed. The animal was still out there.
    Gradually, however, Danny did move on. His marriage to Céline was supremely happy. Two months ago, when Danny got promoted to head up the entire IRT division, running twenty-eight global response teams for both crime and disaster assistance, it felt as if everything had come full circle since the nightmare of 420 Loma Vista and Andrew Jakes’s murder. Professionally as well as personally, Danny McGuire was finally at peace.
    Then he got the first e-mail.
    Matt Daley’s first message had been titled simply Andrew Jakes. Just seeing those two words on a screen made Danny McGuire’s blood run cold. Daley gave little away about his own background, saying merely that he was an “interested party” and that he had “new information” on the case that he wanted to discuss with Danny in person. Dismissing him as a crackpot, Danny didn’t reply. But the e-mails kept coming, then the phone calls to Danny’s office, at all times of the day and night. Finally, Danny responded, informing Mr. Daley that if he had any newinformation he should make it available to the LAPD homicide division. But Daley wouldn’t be fobbed off. Insisting that he had to talk to him personally, Matt Daley announced that he was flying to Lyon next week and that he “wouldn’t leave” until Danny had agreed to see him.
    Now, true to his word, he was here. Mathilde, Danny’s excellent secretary, had called an hour ago. A “blond American gentleman” was sitting outside Danny’s office, claiming he had an appointment and that it was urgent. What did Danny want her to do?
    I want you to send him away. I want you to tell him to stop reminding me about Angela Jakes and to get the hell out of my life.
    â€œTell him I’m on my way in. But I don’t have long. He’ll have to make it quick.”
    Â 
    â€œM R . D ALEY .” T HERE WAS NO WARMTH in Danny McGuire’s tone. “You’d better come in.”
    McGuire’s office was large and comfortable. Matt knew that the former detective had done well for himself since he left the LAPD, but he was surprised to find just how well. Photographs of a stunning, redheaded young woman were everywhere.
    Matt picked one of them up idly. “Your wife?”
    McGuire nodded curtly.
    â€œShe’s very beautiful.”
    â€œI know. And she’s at home right now, waiting for me.” Danny glared at him. “What can I do for you, Mr. Daley?”
    Matt’s heart rate quickened. So much for small talk. He took a deep breath and said, “You can reopen the investigation into Andrew Jakes’s murder.”
    Danny frowned. “And why would I want to do that?”
    â€œBecause there’s new evidence.”
    â€œLike I told you in my e-mail, Mr. Daley, if you have relevant evidence you should report it to the L.A. police. This case is no longer my business, or within my jurisdiction.”
    â€œYou’re Interpol,” said Matt reasonably. “The whole world’s within your jurisdiction, isn’t it?”
    â€œIt’s not as simple as that,” Danny McGuire muttered.
    â€œWell, I think it is.” Matt Daley leaned forward, fixing Danny with a gimlet stare. He was as stubborn in person as he had been on the telephone. “The LAPD doesn’t give a shit. They closed the case and gave up. That’s why you quit.”
    Danny said nothing. He couldn’t argue with that.
    Matt Daley’s next words turned his blood to ice.
    â€œWhat if I told you there’d been another