Leverage in Death (In Death 47)

“We’re not like monks, and I bet monks watch the Oscars, too. My granny? Man, she never misses. She has a big Oscar party every year. I still sort of watch it with her and the rest. I set up my home screen, have the family on my tablet so we all watch. Granny’s brutal when somebody wears something she thinks is stupid. It’s the best. And now I’m going to—Oh my God, what will I wear? I don’t have anything that’s Oscar worthy.”

“Roarke talked to Leonardo, so Leonardo’s covering that, for both of you.”

“I . . .” Now she turned her head, stared at Eve. “I’m wearing Leonardo to the Oscars?”

“Why do people say that? You’re not draping a big Leonardo all over you. Christ. Jesus Christ, if you cry the deal’s off.”

The tears came anyway. “I have to. Just for a minute. I know it’d be like torture for you. But for me? It’s like this amazing dream. I’m not even going to say I wish you were coming because torture. That’s how much this means to me.”

“If it means so damn much, why didn’t you say so before?”

“You gave us Mexico. You gave McNab time to recharge when he needed it. I’m not going to ask my partner, my LT, my friend, to do me another solid right on top of that.”

She let out a breath, scrubbed the tears dry. “Add to it, I never thought about going, not seriously. It’s so . . . beyond. It never really landed that we could.”

“Well, now you are.”

The building had its own parking, Eve had the gate scan her badge, followed the instructions for the visitors’ section. Pulled into a slot.

“Now get your head in the game.”

“I will.” But Peabody put a hand on Eve’s arm. “I wanted to be a cop. I studied you, and I wanted to be a New York cop. A Dallas-worthy cop.”

“For Christ’s sake.”

“Just one minute, okay? When you pulled me into Homicide as your aide, that was the biggest moment of my life. I’ve had other big ones. McNab, making detective, helping take Oberon down. All the bad guys, but her especially because she’s the opposite of what we are. This doesn’t come up to those because they’re life-changing. But outside of life-changing, it’s the biggest. Thanks.”

“Nadine’s the one hauling you.”

“She’ll get a whole bunch of thanks, too. And Leonardo, and Roarke. You first.”

“Okay, good. Now done.”

They got out, started the walk toward the elevator. “I’ve got to do this one thing.”

“If you try to kiss me,” Eve warned coldly, “I will mess you up.”

“I’m not even going to threaten to kiss you, or kiss you in my head—that’s how much this means to me. But I have to—”

In the garage, Peabody threw her arms in the air, tossed back her head and screamed. The sound echoed, ping-ponged, and made Eve’s ears vibrate.

“Okay. Whew.” Peabody huffed out another breath. “Now, head in the game.”

“Every dog in this building is barking. Glass has shattered. Small children are hiding under their beds.”

“Maybe.” Peabody pressed the call button. “But it had to come out so I could get my head in the game.”

“It better stay there,” Eve warned and, using her badge to bypass the lobby, called for the Markins’ floor.

The elevator opened in the center of an area with wide hallways leading to each of four corner units. And each, she assumed, had private, fully secured elevators of their own. She crossed to the southwest facing unit, rang the bell.

Please state your name and business.

Clipped and brisk, Eve noted, and answered in kind.

“Lieutenant Dallas and Detective Peabody, NYPSD.” She held up her badge. “We need to speak with Mr. and/or Mrs. Markin.”

Your identification is being scanned . . . Your identification has been verified. Please state your business.