Survivor in Death (In Death 20)

“Tell me about the waffles,” Peabody begged as she scurried after Eve. “Were they the kind with strawberries and whipped cream all over them, or the kind you just drown in syrup? I’m dieting, sort of. I had a low-cal nutridrink for breakfast. It’s disgusting, but it won’t expand my ass.”

“Peabody, I’ve observed—unwillingly and with considerable regret—that the person you have chosen to cohabitate with appears to have a nearly unnatural fondness for your ass.”

“Yeah.” She smiled, dreamily. “He does, doesn’t he?”

“So why—I ask unwillingly and with some regret—are you so obsessed with the size and shape of that particular part of your anatomy?”

“I’ve got the body type and metabolism that means I have to watch it or you’ll be able to serve a five-course meal off the shelf of that particular part of my anatomy. It’s a matter of pride. Not all of us are preordained to go through life skinny as a snake.”

“Now that we’ve cleared that up, I want coffee.”

She’d planned to wait a couple of beats, then give Peabody the Look of Destruction. But her partner moved directly to the AutoChef and programmed. “I guess what happened last night with Knight and Preston got me and McNab both thinking, and just appreciating what we’ve got. Knowing what can happen sort of makes the moment more intense. He doesn’t usually walk me to Division.”

She handed coffee to Eve, took one for herself. “We just wanted a few minutes more.”

“Understood.” And because it was, Eve gestured to the chair before she leaned back against her desk. “I left you a message, as well as leaving one for the rest of the team. Conference Room C, ten hundred. We’ll brief, and hope Yancy’s got a better picture of our suspects. Meanwhile, I have some names to be run. Potentials. Morris worked on Knight and Preston last night. Nothing new or unexpected there. Stun took them down, knife took them out. Tox was clear. I’m waiting for the lab to confirm that Preston’s weapon was fired before he went down.”

“Hope he got off a good stream.”

“Ophelia said one of them was limping. I’d say Preston got some of his own in before the end. EDD doesn’t give us anything new, but it establishes pattern. Let’s see if we can find it again with any of the names on the list of people the Swishers knew who are now missing or dead.”

“I’ll get started.”

“Your portion of the list is attached to the voice mail I sent you. You get any sort of a ring, I need to know.”

“I’m there.” She started out, paused. “The waffles. Come on, Dallas, smothered in whipped cream or swimming in syrup?”

“Syrup, drowning.”

“Mmmmm.”

Peabody gave a little sigh and walked out. To satisfy her curiosity, Eve peered through the door and watched her go. She didn’t think overmuch about female asses, but Peabody’s looked fine to her.

She sat, called up her own list.

Brenegan, Jaynene, age 35 at TOD, February 10, 2055. Emergency care physician. Killed by multiple stab wounds in robbery attempt in parking lot of West Side Memorial Hospital. Suspect identified, apprehended, tested positive for Zeus. Currently serving twenty-five to life, Rikers.

Brenegan treated Coyle Swisher for a fractured arm—sports injury—and testified in Swisher’s custody case Vemere v. Trent, May 2055, and Kirkendall v. Kirkendall, September 2053.

The addition was Roarke’s, she noted. The guy was nothing if not thorough.

She’d take a look at Vemere and Trent and Kirkendall, and keep Brenegan on the active list for now. She was thorough, too.

Cruz, Pedro, age 72. Court reporter. Died of heart condition, October 22, 2058. Medical files confirm.

Cruz served as reporter in several of Swisher’s trials in family court, and consulted Swisher regarding nutrition.

Unlikely, Eve decided, and bumped him down the list.

Hill, Lindi and Hester, ages 32 and 29 respectively. Same sex spouses. Died in a vehicular accident, August 2, 2057. Driver at fault, Fein, Kirk, charged with DWI, speeding, two counts of vehicular manslaughter. Serving term in Weizt Rehabilitation Complex.

Yeah, she thought, kill a couple of women because you’re drunk and stupid and serve it out in a country club for ten years.

The Hills retained Swisher and Rangle to assist them in their plans to adopt a child. This was in process when they were killed. Both women also were clients of Keelie Swisher.

No motive, Eve thought, and crossed them off.

Mooreland, Amity, age 28 at TOD, May 17, 2059. Dancer. Killed by ex-cohabitation partner in rape/homicide. Lawrence, Jez, convicted. Serving life sentence, Attica.