Ten set a hand over his heart. “Is there a quieter place we can talk for a minute?”
“It’s bad, ain’t it?” Brain looked as though he already knew the answer.
“Let’s talk and I’ll tell you what I know.” Ten couldn’t believe Brian was listening to him.
Brian motioned for Ten to follow him. They walked past the Roulette wheels and tables of people playing poker. He stopped in front of a black door with the word Vacant on a placard beside it. Brian opened the door and turned on the lights. “This is a room for private high-roller games. We can talk in here. Have a seat.”
Ten settled into a seat across from Brian. Ronan sat beside him and Jude stayed by the door.
“Okay, who the hell are you guys anyway?” Brian’s eyes moved between the three men.
“My name is Tennyson Grimm. I’m a psychic from Salem.”
“Jesus Christ on the cross!” Brian half-shouted. “You think I’m gonna sit here and listen to some kook tell me my future?”
“No, sir.” Ten pulled out his badge and set it on the table in front of himself. Ronan did the same. “I think you’re going to listen to members of the Salem Police Department.”
“I ain’t saying nothing without my lawyer.” Brian made the move to stand up.
“Listen to what Tennyson has to say, Mr. Cullen. Then you’ll be free to leave,” Jude said. “We’re not here to jack you up on any charges.”
Brian pointed to Tennyson. “Talk. Make it fast.”
Ten could do that. “A frozen human head was found in a freezer at Maria’s house the other day.”
“Fuck me,thatwas Maria’s house? I heard the story on the news.” Brian looked genuinely surprised by the news.
“Yeah, it was Maria’s house. The reason it was found in the first place was because Maria is in the hospital.” Ten knew the key with Brian Cullen was to give him small doses of information.
“In the hospital? For what? No one told me.” Brian’s earlier cocky attitude was gone. In its place was genuine concern.
“According to her niece, Sofia, Maria fell at her house two weeks ago and broke her hip. She had to have surgery and now she’s in a rehab center in Salem. Her family wants to put her in assisted living and they were cleaning out the house when the nephews found the head.”
“Is she going to be okay?” Brian asked.
Ten shook his head. “In the process of operating on the hip, the doctors found cancer. Her body is riddled with it. I estimate she only has a week or two left.” He watched Brian’s reaction closely. Instant pain flashed through his eyes, before his cocky mask fell back into place.
“Youestimate? Who the hell are you, some circus freak? What the hell do you know about medicine?” Brian’s hands fisted on the table.
Ten sighed, he didn’t have time for this bullshit. “Please don’t make me go through my whole rigamarole where I tell you about your mother and the song she sang to you when you broke your wrist when you were twelve. Just go on faith that I know what I read when I saw Maria.”
“You know the song?” Brian asked, most of his skepticism gone.
“I can sing the chorus if you like?” Ten was a huge Bette Midler fan. There was no way he could do “Wind Beneath My Wings” any justice, but if Brian forced the issue, he’d give it his best shot.
Brian shook his head and held up a hand. “Not necessary. Does Maria know how sick she is?”
“She does,” Ten agreed, “but the rest of her family does not.”
“Damn,” Brian said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re here to ask about the head?”
“We are,” Ronan said. “It has a seventies-era haircut and based on tissue samples, it has been dead for decades. We’re hoping you can help us identify this man so that the remainder of his remains can be searched for and returned to his family.”
“No, I don’t believe that. You want to know if I know who this guy is and who killed him.” Brian crossed his arms over his chest.
“Look who’s psychic now.” Ten grinned at the mobster’s son. “I know you’re reluctant to do or say anything that would put the bullseye on Maria, but based on what I saw and felt yesterday, the law won’t have time to catch up with her if she killed this person. On the other hand, if this was done by a member of your family or the Marinos, well, then that changes things, doesn’t it?”
“I don’t know who he is,” Brian said.
