Origin in Death (In Death 21)

The main level was dark but for dim security lights, and the steady red blink at the entrance door indicating lockdown.

It meant the doctor was in, which would make the entry easier and the search itself messier. She'd just leave the diplomacy of that to Reo.

It was after nine now, full dark, with a cool, kicky breeze. A neigh­boring house had some sort of folk-arty decoration on its front door in the shape of a fat turkey.

It made her think about Thanksgiving and having numerous Irish strangers underfoot.

Roarke's family, she reminded herself. She'd have to figure out how to get on with them-or get around them. She'd liked Sinead, his aunt, the only one of the group she'd met. But that didn't mean she knew what to do with her, or the rest of them, when they were just hanging around.

Family relations were way out of her orbit.

He hadn't said for how long, and she could admit now she'd been afraid to ask. Maybe it was just for the day. Just an overnight thing.

What if it was longer? What if it was a week?

Maybe she'd get lucky, catch some vicious, violent homicide that would keep her out of the house for most of their stay.

And that, she thought with a sigh, was just sick.

Roarke was nervous about this deal, she reminded herself. And he had ice for blood most of the time. So that meant it was important to him. Really important. Which meant she had to be supportive and wifely.

God. It wouldn't actually be her fault if a vicious, violent homicide landed in her lap, would it? She couldn't control these things.

She caught sight of Peabody coming up from the west corner. And of the skinny form in neon-green skin-pants and purple duster strolling beside her.

"Mag coat," McNab said. "Do they make it in brights?"

"I wouldn't know. Did I tell you to bring your boy toy?"

"Figured we could use an e-man."

McNab smiled, his green eyes twinkling in his pretty face. "Not that I mind when she toys with me. Hey, Mavis says hi. We saw her as we were heading out. Getting large," he added, rounding his arms over his belly to indicate the extent of Mavis's pregnancy. "What size is the coat?"

"Lieutenant size. You assist on the search," Eve added. "No on-site e-duty unless so ordered. Since you're here, you can oversee any transfer should we deem appropriate, of any units, data, and communica­tion to Central."

"Got it."

"Aw, look at the turkey." Peabody grinned over at the neighbor's holiday door art. "We used to do stuff like that when I was a kid. Not that we ate turkey on Thanksgiving, that being considered a commercial and/or political symbol of oppression and commercialization to us Free-Agers."

Where the hell was Reo, Eve wondered, and dug her hands into her pockets. "We're having a Thanksgiving thing, if you guys are interested."

"Really?" Surprise and sentiment covered Peabody's face. "Aw, that’s so nice. I'd really like to, but we're going out to spend a couple days with my family. As long as we're not on active. It's the first sort of family deal as a couple."

McNab showed his teeth in a smile, and Eve saw the nerves in it. "What was it about family that scared the brave and true?

"We

're saving up to spend a couple days in Scotland with McNab's clan right after Christmas." And now Peabody got that same sick smile on her face. "Get it all done in one year if we can swing the fare."

"No big." But Eve was disappointed. It was going to cut into her I-actually-know-these-people portion of the party.

She put the problem aside when she saw the city car swing to the curb. Reo, in her lady suit and matching heels, stepped out.

Reo handed a paper warrant to Eve. "Let's go find something. De­tective Peabody, right?" Reo's gaze skimmed over to McNab flirta­tiously. "And?"

"Detective McNab." His skinny shoulders straightened. "E-unit.'

"Cher Reo." She offered him her hand before she drifted toward the entrance.