Survivor in Death (In Death 20)

“Wind’s coming up,” Peabody observed. “Rain’s coming in.”

“Thank you for the forecast.”

“It’s going to strip the trees. I always hate to see that happen. Then they’re all naked out there, at least until we get the first snow.”

&nb

sp; “You’re that worried, maybe you and some of your Free-Ager relations can knit them some sweaters.”

“I’m better at weaving.” Peabody’s voice remained placid while Eve parked in front of the house. “Haven’t hit the loom in a good long while, but I bet I could pick it up again. I should think about that, with Christmas right around the corner.”

“Oh, stop. It’s fricking October.”

“Nearly November. I’m not going to let it get away from me this year. I’ve already started picking up gifts. Easier to afford it now because—hey, I made detective.”

“The fact of which you never forget to remind me, and anyone else within hearing.”

“I added time in due to being injured in the line. Still, I’ve cut it back to once or twice a week.” She climbed out, drew in a deep breath. “Don’t you love the way it smells?”

“What smells?”

“The air, Dallas. The it’s-almost-November-and-the-rain’s-rolling-in-on-the-city air. All brisk and damp. And you got those mums and asters going over there—just a little spicy. Makes me want to rake up a big pile of leaves and jump in them.”

That put a hitch in Eve’s stride, enough for her to stop and stare. “Christ” was all she could think of, and she strode to the door and in.

Summerset was there, the specter of the foyer, with his stark black suit and thin, disapproving face.

“I see you’ve decided to make an appearance.”

“Yeah. And for my next act I’ll boot your ugly ass out of my way.”

“You brought a child into this home, who needs and expects some of your time and attention.”

“I brought a witness, minor, into this home, who needs and expects me to find out who killed her family. If you can’t deal with her while I’m doing that, I’ll bring in a child care droid to handle it.”

“Is that all she is to you?” His voice was a blade, edgy and slicing. “Witness, minor. A droid has more feeling. She’s a child, one who isn’t through her first decade and who has endured unspeakable horror and suffered unspeakable loss. And you have to be manipulated into spending a few spare moments with her over the morning meal.”

“I know just what she’s endured and suffered.” She matched him tone for tone, even as her fingers dug hard into the newel post. “I’m the one who walked through the blood they left behind. So don’t you get in my face on this. You son of a bitch.” She started up the stairs, stopped, looked down at him. “She’s not yours. You better remember that.”

Peabody stayed where she was a moment, breathing in air that was no longer brisk and damp but thick and seething. “You were off.” She said it quietly, drawing Summerset’s gaze to her. “I make it a policy to stay out between the two of you. But you were off. Her mind’s on that kid, one way or the other, every minute, every day.”

She crossed to the steps, followed Eve up.

Long, angry strides had carried Eve to her office and taken her on one turn around it when Peabody came in.

“Dallas—”

“Don’t talk to me.”

“He was wrong. I’m going to say it.”

“Just don’t talk to me for a minute.”

She had to burn it off—the rage, the insult, and the damning suspicion creeping under it that he was right.

She’d taken that step back, the step away necessary to maintain professional objectivity. She wouldn’t apologize for it. But she’d taken another step back, a personal one. The one she needed to keep herself from projecting, from seeing too much of herself in the girl she needed to protect. Lost, alone, terrified, damaged.

It was different, different, different, Eve repeated to herself as she paced. As she yanked off her jacket, heaved it toward a chair. But the results, weren’t they horribly the same?