“Oh… well, it’s just that if Bobby needs me…”
“You’ve got some time before they release him, even if it’s today. And you’ll be downtown, nearer the hospital. Tell you what, if there’s anything you need to pick up, I’ll have the uniforms take you around. Then give you a hand getting Bobby home.”
“Really? I could really use the help.”
“I’ll try to get clear here, give you a hand myself.”
“I don’t know what I’d have done without you the last few days.” Those big blue eyes went predictably damp. “It’ll take me a little while to get dressed and everything.”
“No rush. I’ve got things I’ve got to get out of the way first. I’ll just have the uniforms bring you down when you’re ready. How’s that?”
“Okay.”
At the knock on her door, Eve sighed. “Gotta go. It’s crazed around here this morning.”
“I can’t even imagine it. I’ll be down as soon as I can.”
“Yeah, you will,” Eve muttered when she cut transmission. “Come on in. Reo.” She nodded at the curvy blond APA. “My Christmas was great, yours was, too. Blah, blah, blah, let’s get down to it.”
“Nice sweater, blah, blah, blah. Everything you’ve got is circumstantial and speculative. We can’t charge, much less prosecute.”
“I’ll get more. I need the warrants first.”
“I can wrangle the search. Items missing from victim’s room, victim’s daughter-in-law’s prints, as well as the blood and the prints in the room next door. Getting the match on the mouth is good, it’ll give it a nice push, but it’s still in that speculative area. A pair of lips aren’t solid ID.”
“I’ll get more,” Eve repeated. “I’m getting more. Get me the search and seizure. I’ve got her coming in for Interview. I know how to work her.”
“You’re going to need a confession to lock this up.”
Eve smiled. “I’m going to get one.”
“Sounds like something I’ll want to watch. I’ll get the search warrant. Bring her in.”
When it was done, she rounded up Baxter and Trueheart. “She’s on her way in. Go in, find me what I need. When you’re back here with it, give me a beep on my communicator. When I’m ready, I’ll send Peabody out for it.”
“She seemed so normal,” Trueheart commented. “Nice, too.”
“Bet she thinks she is. But that’s for Mira,” who was someone else Eve wanted to bring in.
She called Mira’s office, plowed her way through the admin. “I need you in Observation, Interview Room A.”
“Now?”
“In twenty. I’m bringing Zana Lombard in. I believe she’s actually Marnie Ralston, who assumed a new identity in order to get inside the Lombard household. I’m sending you my report now. I’ve got the PA’s office moving with me. I need you on this.”
“I’ll do what I can to shuffle things around.”
That would have to do, Eve decided. She made a few more contacts, then sat back, cleared her mind.
“Dallas?” Peabody stepped to the office door. “They’re bringing her up.”
“Okay. It’s showtime.”
* * *
She went out, met Zana and her escorts in the busy corridor outside her division.
Dressed for it, Eve thought. If she wasn’t mistaken—and she was getting good at bull’s-eyeing wardrobe—Zana was wearing a light blue cashmere crew neck, with floral embroidery on the cuffs. And that matched the description of one of Trudy’s purchases.