Origin in Death (In Death 21)

"Everybody but Mavis is getting hair. Did hers this morning. You want something different with yours."

"No." Defensively, Eve reached for her hair, and got her hand cov­ered in slime. "Oh man."

"Could give you a temp tint, or try extensions. Just for fun."

"My world can't take any more fun. I don't want different."

"Can't blame you."

Eve opened one eye, suspiciously. "For?"

"Keeping it as is. It's working for you. But you don't take care of it, or your skin, like you should. Doesn't take that long for basic mainte­nance, you know."

"I maintain," Eve said, but under her breath.

"Your body, yeah. You got a prime one. Mag muscle tone. Some of my clients? They got shit under the sculpting."

Eve's eyes blinked open. Fear, she thought in disgust, had blinded her to an excellent source.

"You work on anybody who's used the Icove Center?"

"Shit." Trina sniffed as she worked. "Probably fifty percent of my base. You don't need them, take my word."

"Ever worked on Icove's wife? Avril?"

"She uses Utopia. I worked there about three years ago. She had Lolette, but I filled in on her body care one appointment 'cause Lolette was out with a black eye. Boyfriend was an asshole, which I told her, but would she listen. No, not until he-"

"Avril Icove," Eve interrupted. "Could you tell if she'd had any work done? Sculpting, reconstruction, surgical enhancements."

"You get a body naked under the scanners, you know all the dish. Sure, she had some. Little face work, little boob job. Top work, but you'd expect that."

Her husband had claimed she was just blessed, Eve remembered. "You're sure about that?"

"Hey, you know your job, I know mine. Why?"

"Just curious." Eve closed her eyes again. Thinking about murder made a facial almost bearable.

AFTER AN ENDLESS EVENING, AND MORE WINE

than was probably wise-but extremely necessary - Eve trudged up to her office. Maybe a couple hits of strong coffee would counteract the alcohol, and she could squeeze in an hour of work.

First on the

list was a check of Avril's standard medicals. She'd be interested to see just what sort of elective surgery she'd find.

Then she wanted a closer look at Brookhollow Academy.

She was taking the first slug of coffee when Roarke walked in from his office.

"Yellow belly," she said.

"Excuse me?"

"Your belly's as yellow as Nadine's was a couple hours ago."

"I don't even want to know what that means."

"You skipped out, left me alone."