Golden in Death (In Death 50)

She wove through to stand with Louise and Charles.

“I’m glad you came.” Louise took Eve’s hand to squeeze, then Peabody’s. “It’s a hard day, but the way they’re doing it…”

“It shows not only that he was loved,” Charles finished, “but that he loved. He cared. Delia.” Charles bent down to kiss her cheek, then with the ease of a friend, flipped a finger in her hair. “I love the red.”

“I’m having fun with it. How are you doing, Louise?”

“Hanging in. They asked me to give the eulogy.” Louise leaned into Charles as she spoke. “They were afraid none of the family would be able to get through it without breaking down. But I—”

“You won’t,” Eve interrupted. “You won’t break down because you know what they need from you.”

“That’s what Charles said. I want you to know Martin has absolute faith in you.”

“Oh hell.”

“No, it’s important for you to know. He understands we’re friends, but he didn’t have to tell me, and he did. He believes you and Peabody will do everything you can do. He said with all his years of working with educators, he can recognize whether someone has a passion for the work, the importance of it, or if it’s just a job. And he recognized it’s not just a job for either of you.”

Louise put an arm around Eve for a quick hug before Eve could evade it. Then did the same with Peabody.

“It matters to him. It comforts him. And right now, when I’m about to speak about a really good friend, it comforts me.”

“She won’t ask,” Charles put in, “so I will. Is there any more? Do you know any more you can tell us?”

“We have a full agenda today on the job that, no, isn’t just a job. We have a lead, and we’ll build on it. You know a lot of these people, so if you see anyone who doesn’t fit in, or who just gives you a wrong feel, let us know.”

She looked around again. “For now, we’re going to move around, get a sense, pay our respects.”

“We’re going back to the house with the family, Kent’s office staff, some of the close friends after. We’ll pay attention,” Charles assured her.

“I’ll be speaking in a few minutes. I guess I’ll have a pretty good view from up there.” Louise gestured to a slim podium set between baskets of flowers. “I’ll try my best.”

With Peabody, Eve moved through the crowd, kept her eyes and ears open, until they paused near Rufty.

“Lieutenant, Detective. It’s so kind of you to come.”

Though red-rimmed, his eyes stayed dry.

“I saw you speaking with Louise a

nd Charles. They’ve been such strong shoulders the last few days.”

“We wanted to pay our respects, and to offer you and your family the condolences of the NYPSD.”

“Thank you. Thank you very much. It’s—it’s time for Louise to speak. Our son started to write the eulogy, but, well, he couldn’t. None of us felt we could manage it.”

“It’s time to sit, Daddy.” His daughter took his arm. “Excuse us.”

“Let’s move back, Peabody. You go left, I’ll go right. Find a vantage point.”

Eve found her own, watching, watching as Louise began to speak, as people stopped chatting or moving around to listen.

She had a mini mic clipped to her black jacket so her voice carried. Eve didn’t pay attention to the words as she studied faces, groups, but heard the tone.

Strong and soothing, and that hit the mark.

She didn’t break down, and though Eve stayed for another ten minutes, no one gave her a buzz.

She signaled Peabody to meet her at the car.