Vendetta in Death (In Death 49)

“Two years. I’m going to buy she’s carried all this emotion for him around for two years when he stole what she built herself, when he tossed her aside for a younger—lots younger—woman with bigger tits? And at the same time, the group leader has notes on how Darla seemed to have turned a corner, how she seemed steadier and all that, but was still angry and bitter.”

Eve scooped up the last of the potatoes. “Steadier,” she continued, “maybe steadier because she’d worked out a plan, a solution. She bonded with the women in the group—that’s in the notes. She brought in gifts for Christmas. She gave one of them money to help her get a safe place to stay. She found her …”

She trailed off, searching, then grabbed the wine. “Tribe. Sort of. Her tribe, and designated herself as their warrior, their avenger. Justice seeker.”

Pushing up, she went back to the board, circled, circled. Roarke stayed where he was, watching, enjoying watching her work.

“Maybe one or more of them joined in with her, but I don’t think so. I don’t see it—at least not yet. She’s doing it for them. For herself, sure, but for them. For women who get screwed over, who get knocked around, forced, harassed. All of it. She’s going to take care of the tribe first.”

“Not to toss a spanner in the works, but if she continues to kill men connected to women in the group, isn’t she bringing the investigation to her own door?”

“Already has,” Eve agreed. “Maybe she didn’t expect us to connect the group this fast, but she’s smart. She brings up the group herself. She can’t know we already know about it, but she brings it up herself to throw suspicion away if we move in that direction, or someone else mentions it.”

“Of course. Why would she mention it if she used it to select her prey?”

When Eve glanced back at him, her eyes were flat and cool. All cop. “She thinks she’s got it all covered. And she’s done a pretty good job of it. I’ve got no probable cause. None, zip. I just know.”

“How many in the group?” Roarke asked.

“It averages about fifteen.”

“When do they meet again?”

“Not soon enough. Not for another ten days. She’s already got another lined up. It’ll be soon, really soon. But who and where and why? She’s the only one who knows.”

Shaking her head, she jammed her hands in her pockets. “And I could be wrong, just wrong, and it’s someone else in the group. Someone we haven’t interviewed yet, who hasn’t connected yet. So I need to put this aside, dig into what I’ve got. Painted concrete and a list of first names.”

“Isn’t it likely some of the women bonded outside the group? Met outside the group for additional support? Forged friendships?”

“Yeah. Leah Lester indicated as much, but none of the three women we’ve interviewed knows full names—or admits to it.” She aimed a stare at Darla’s ID shot again. “Except … Darla gave money to another member of the group. What did she do, just hand her a wad of cash? Unlikely.”

“Didn’t you say the money was to help the other woman secure a safe place to live?”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s just give that a push.”

She went back to her command center, found what she needed, tried Darla’s ’link.

“Hello, yes, Lieutenant. Have you found who killed Thaddeus?”

“We’re pursuing a line of investigation. You may be able to help.”

“Oh, of course. Anything. Just—I’m going to take this in the other room, Grand, and have Ariel make us that vid snack.”

Eve heard the murmur of a second voice, saw Darla give a quick smile. “You know I will.” The screen wobbled a little as Darla moved from what Eve could see was a bedroom done in elegant rose and cream.

“I’m sorry, Lieutenant. I was just helping Grand settle in for the evening. We’re actually going to watch The Icove Agenda. She wants to see it again now that she’s met you. It’s been a …” Her voice shuddered, tears swirled. “Just a horrible day. We both need some entertainment. What can I do to help you?”

“You made a monetary gift to another member of the support group last December.”

“Oh.” Distress rippled over her face. She ran a hand over the hair still drawn back in a tail. “That’s confidential.”

“Not anymore. I need the full name o

f the recipient.”

“Lieutenant, the entire framework of the group is built on mutual trust. And I don’t see that helping a—an acquaintance applies to this awful thing.”

“Two men connected to women in the group are dead. It applies. From what I’ve already learned, Una needed financial assistance to rent an apartment for herself and her young son.”