“We’re not with Illegals, Mr. Steeple. Carleen Steeple?”
The woman eased out, tugging at the belt of a robe. “Yes.”
“Your sister is Lily Napier?”
“Yes.” There was a flicker over her face. That first dawning of fear. “Is something wrong?”
“I’m sorry to inform you, your sister’s dead.”
“No.” She said it quietly, the single sound on the verge of a question.
“Oh Jesus. Jesus.” Andy Steeple transformed from pissed-off man to concerned husband in a snap. He walked quickly to his wife, gathered her against him. “Oh, honey. What happened?” he asked Eve. “What happened to Lily?”
“No,” Carleen said again. Just: No.
“Can we sit down, Mr. Steeple?”
He gestured toward a seating area with comfortably worn chairs, a sofa cheerfully covered in bright, overblown flowers. “Come on, honey. Come on, sweetie.” With his arm around his wife, he led her to the sofa. “Let’s just sit down.”
“Daddy?” A little girl, all curls and sleepy eyes, padded into the room.
“Go back to bed, Kiki.”
“What’s wrong with Mommy?”
“Go on back to bed, baby. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“I’m thirsty.”
“Kiki—”
“Would you like me to take care of her?” Peabody asked.
“I . . .” He looked undone for a moment, then nodded.
“Hi, Kiki, I’m Dee.” Peabody walked over, took the little girl’s hand. “Why don’t we get a glass of water?”
“My partner’s good with kids,” Eve told him. “She’ll be fine.”
“Could there be a mistake?”
“No, sir.”
“An accident?” Carleen turned her face into her husband’s shoulder. “An accident?”
“No. Your sister was murdered.”
“Junkies,” Steeple said. Bitterly.
“No.” Eve studied Carleen’s face, the pallor, the tears, the plea in her eyes. “I know this is difficult. It’s going to get more so. It appears that your sister was attacked on her way home from work. In Memorial Park.”
“She always cut through the park.” Carleen groped for her husband’s hand. “It’s quicker. It’s safe.”
“A mugging?”
Get through it, Eve told herself. Get it done fast, so they don’t suffer in the speculation. “She was raped and strangled.”
“Lily?” Carleen’s teary eyes went huge in shock. “Lily?” She would have slid to the floor if her husband hadn’t held her. “No, no, no.”