Cheaper, she thought, but pretty effective.
She buzzed.
Moments later, through the static on the intercom, somebody demanded, “Who is it?”
“NYPSD.”
“Yeah, right.”
“NYPSD,” Eve repeated, and held her badge up to the Judas hole.
“I’m calling in to check that before I open the door.”
“Dallas, Lieutenant Eve; Peabody, Detective Delia, Cop Central.”
“Yeah, right again.”
Eve waited, waited. Actually heard a squeal from inside, then rising female voices before locks began to clunk. She heard the distinct metal slide of a riot bar before the door popped open.
The two women who stood gaping hit about the same age. One was tall, busty, blond, the other just hitting average height with a small build. A mixed-race brunette.
Both had big blue eyes.
“Holy shit,” they said in unison. “You look just like Marlo Durn did in the vid,” the blonde continued. “Or Marlo, I guess she looked like you. We saw it twice.”
“Great.” She should get used to it, Eve thought.
She’d never get used to it.
“Did somebody break in and kill somebody?” Lydia, the brunette, demanded. “Somebody’s always breaking into this dump, or trying to.”
“No. It’s about a package you delivered this morning, Ms. Merchant.”
“Really?” Big blue eyes got bigger. “Which one?”
“Can we come in?” Peabody added a quick smile.
“Oh, sure. You’re prettier than the actress in the vid,” the blonde told her. “I know she was killed and all that, but it’s just true.”
The roses from the stairway scent stood on the skinny bar that separated the crowded living area from a tiny kitchen. A bottle of wine stood open beside it.
“Have a seat, I guess. We were just going to have some wine. Can you have wine? We’re celebrating.”
“No, but thanks.”
“We both got raises.” The blonde, definitely bubbly, perched on the arm of the chair. “I got mine last week, and Lydia’s finally came through today. We’re moving out of this hellhole!”
“Congratulations. Ms. Merchant—”
“Just Lydia’s okay. It’s really so weird you’re both here, in our hellhole. I deliver a lot of packages. I work for GP&P, but I guess you know.”
“You delivered one to Kent Abner this morning.”
&
nbsp; “Dr. Abner, sure. I deliver to him and to Dr. Rufty. They’re really nice—always give me a tip for Christmas. Not everybody does. Was something wrong with the package? I handed it right to Dr. Abner at the door.”
“Was there anything unusual in how the package came to you?”