Echoes in Death (In Death 44)

“Half sister from father’s previous relationship. Parents have been married for about twenty-five years. He’s fourth-generation money—that’s Hernandez money, which is substantial. He’s an engineer, specializing in rebuilding areas after natural disasters. The mother’s on the board of Give Back, which is an arm of the Hernandez Family Foundation.”

“Lori Brinkman’s a human rights attorney. Rosa Patrick’s family is heavy into good works. Daphne Strazza’s parents were killed in a natural disaster—nearly fifteen years ago, but possible cross there. Thin, but possible.”

The elevator opened into a colorfully lush reception area just as a woman strode through a set of glass doors etched with the On Screen logo.

Her suit wasn’t all business. A flowing jacket in bold red had a snatch of black lace beneath where impressive breasts swelled. The tiny skirt showed off long legs and skyscraper heels that matched the jacket. Her hair, shorter than Eve’s, formed a golden halo around a face dominated by huge eyes so blue they read purple.

“Lieutenant Dallas.” She had a smoky-room voice and a firm handshake. “Detective. I’m Zella Haug, Mr. Patrick’s admin. I’ll take you to his office. We’d like to keep this as quiet as possible.”

“No problem.”

They walked by a few offices, and a large area with a conference table around which about a dozen people all talked at once. A lot of people walked briskly while they talked on ’links or headphones or tapped on tablets.

Eve saw a man in an NYU sweatshirt with his feet on a big desk, watching a car chase on his wall screen. And another pacing his office while juggling three blue balls and apparently talking to himself.

“Writers,” Zella said absently. “Show runners, project acquisitions.”

She led the way to a corner office, knocked on the door, then opened it. “Neville, the police are here.”

He turned from the trio of wide windows and a view grander than his office.

He seemed younger than his ID shot, Eve thought, and certainly less polished. He wore a dark gray suit, no tie. He had a curling mass of hair around a thin face. His frame was also thin, as if he’d lost muscle as well as weight.

His eyes, a few shades lighter than his suit, met Eve’s, then shifted to Zella. “Thanks. I’ve got it. Send Rosa straight back if she comes in.”

“Of course.”

She eased back, shut the door.

“I spoke with Detective Olsen,” he began. “She said there’d been another, but this time…” He gestured vaguely. “I’m sorry, please sit down. I can offer you coffee or tea, or my own personal vice? Pepsi.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry to put you in the position of revisiting a difficult experience, Mr. Patrick.”

“Revisiting??

?? He shoved at his hair, sat on a chair that looked more comfortable than stylish. “We live with it every day. Every night. My wife … We sold the house we loved and are living in a fully secured condo neither one of us want. And still she can’t be alone for more than a few hours during the day, has nightmares constantly. She was just starting to do better. We were starting to do better. And now this.

“Why can’t you find him?” Neville demanded. “Until he’s locked away, it’ll never be over.”

And not even then, Eve thought. “I wish I had a simple answer, and could promise you we’ll find him quickly. What I can tell you is Detectives Olsen and Tredway have never stopped working the investigation. Detective Peabody and I won’t stop, either.”

“He’s a monster. It wasn’t just a costume.”

“I know it.”

“How do you catch a monster?”

“By understanding him.”

Frowning, Neville leaned forward. “Yes. Yes. Understanding him. How do you do that?”

“We’re working on doing that right now. It’s why we’re here. He targeted you and your wife, specifically.”

“Why do you say that? Nikki and Stan never said that.”

“I believe you were specific, as were Ira and Lori Brinkman, as were Anthony and Daphne Strazza.

“You represent something to him. Someone.”