“I don’t understand what you mean.”
Tighten that jaw another notch, Leo, something’s going to snap. “Yes, you do.”
“Mrs. Anders devoted—devotes—much of her considerable energy into the charitable and humanitarian programs sponsored by Anders Worldwide. She’s very well respected.”
“She puts in time around here?”
“Of course, though she most often works from home, or by attending or hostessing functions.”
“You’d have been privy to her dealings with her husband, and with his nephew.”
“Somewhat certainly, as Ben—as Mr. Forrest was gradually taking over his uncle’s duties. Some of those duties involved the programs. I’m sorry, Lieutenant, I have a very crowded day, and a very difficult one. If that’s all—”
“It’s not. How would you describe the relationship between Mr. Forrest and—shit, let’s simplify. How did Ben and Ava get along?”
“They were very cordial, of course. Ben admired her talent and her energy, and was certainly impressed with many of her ideas.”
“Cordial. Not affectionate. He strikes me as an easy and affectionate sort, but you choose the cooler, more formal, ‘cordial’ to describe their relationship.”
“Mrs. Anders was his uncle’s wife.” Leopold’s tone was equally cool and formal. “Their relationship was perfectly proper.”
“Proper, there’s another cool term. Ben doesn’t like her much, does he? Neither do you.”
“I’ve said or implied nothing of the kind. I don’t—”
“Relax. I don’t like her either. So, you can keep standing there with that rod up your ass or…” She dropped into a chair without invi
tation. “Tell me why. Record off, Peabody,” Eve said as she switched off her own. “Just the three of us, Leo. Off record. What about Ava sticks in your craw?”
Eve watched him debate. Propriety or the opportunity to speak his mind. Opportunity won. “She’s studied, she’s deliberate, and she’s cold. Those aren’t crimes, but personality traits. And…”
“Don’t stop now.” Eve lifted her hands, palms up in invitation.
“There’s a pettiness about her. She would often circumvent Ben by making plans or decisions without consulting him or seeking his input. Her plans and decisions were always well thought out and researched. She had—has—excellent ideas. But it’s been her habit to brush over Ben, a very deliberate habit. In my opinion.”
“How’d Ben take that?”
“It frustrated him from time to time, though I admit, it frustrated me more.”
“Did he ever complain to his uncle?”
“Not to my knowledge, and I believe I would know. He might complain to me, or use me as a sounding board. Invariably, after he had he’d say the same thing. ‘Well, it’s the end result that matters.’ Mrs. Anders gets excellent results.”
“I believe that.”
“I think…”
“We’re off record, Leo. What do you think?”
“I think she often did the same regarding Mr. Anders. That is, failed to keep him in the loop until whatever she planned was essentially a fait accompli. There was some office gossip, and I don’t like office gossip.”
“Me, I love it. How about you, Peabody?”
“Revs up the day. What kind of gossip?” Peabody asked Leo.
“There was talk that she charged certain personal expenses to program budget. Household purchases, wardrobe, salons, that sort of thing. Nothing major, you understand. That pettiness again, from my point of view. I heard Mr. Anders, I mean Mr. Reginald Anders, called her on it.”
“Her father-in-law? When would this be?”