Reunion in Death (In Death 14)

"Not anymore," Eve commented.

"Your data, Lieutenant," Roarke said as he ordered it onto the next wall screen.

She studied Julianna's side-by-side images. "She cut her hair, went red, changed her eye color. Didn't bother with much else. That jibes with her old pattern. Logged her correct, if temporary address. Julianna dots her i's and crosses her t's. What does she have to do with Walter Pettibone?"

"Do you think she went pro?"

"She likes money," Eve mused. "It, I don't know, feeds some need. The same need killing men feeds. But it doesn't fit her old pattern. Point is, she's back, and she killed Pettibone. I have to update the all-points."

"Have you considered she came here, killed here, because of you?"

Eve blew out a breath. "Maybe. That would mean I made a hell of an impression on her all those years ago."

"You tend to—make an impression."

Since she couldn't think of a response, she pulled out her communicator and ordered the new all-points bulletin on Julianna Dunne.

"If she follows her old pattern, she's already out of the city. But we scooped her up once, we'll scoop her up again. I'll need to bring Feeney in on this. We were partners when Julianna went down."

"As I'm fond of him, I hope you don't intend to do that until morning."

"Yeah." She glanced at her wrist unit. "Nothing else to be done tonight."

"I don't know." He walked around the desk again, slid his arms around her. "I can think of one thing."

"You usually do."

"Why don't we go to bed, and I'll get you naked. Then we'll see if you think of it, too."

"I guess that's reasonable." She started out with him. "I didn't ask: Did the rest of the deal go okay with the Peabodys?"

"Mmm. Fine."

"Figured. You play with strangers better than I do. Listen, I hear they're going to stay in this camper thing they travel in, and that's not a good idea. I thought since you have hotels and stuff you could get them a deal on a room."

"That's not going to be necessary."

"Well yeah, because if they bunk in that thing on the street or in some lot, a beat cop's going to cite them, maybe pull them in. They won't flop at Peabody's because her place is pretty tight. You've got to have an empty hotel room or apartment somewhere they can use."

"I imagine I do, yes, but..." At the door to their bedroom, he pulled her inside, toward the bed. "Eve."

She began to get a bad feeling. "What?"

"Do you love me?"

A very bad feeling. "Maybe."

He lowered his mouth to hers, kissed her soft and deep. "Just say yes."

"I'm not saying yes until I know why you're asking the question."

"Perhaps I'm insecure, and needy, and want reassurance."

"My ass."

"Yes, I want your ass as well, but first there's the matter of your great and generous and unconditional love for me."

She let him release her weapon harness, noticed he put it well out of reach before turning back and loosening the buttons of her shirt. "Who said anything about unconditional? I don't remember signing that clause in the deal."