“And I know you. I’m not giving you anything on the inves tigation.”
“I’m here for that—though I’d never turn it down.” She dropped the box on the desk. “I had Bart Minnock on my show a couple of times. He was a sweet boy. I hope you roast the balls of his killer.”
Eve opened her eyes, looked into Nadine’s always camera-ready face. Those clever green eyes meant business. “Working on it.”
Nadine gestured to the murder board. “So I see.”
“Shit.” Eve’s boots hit the floor. “That’s off record.”
“How long have we been friends?”
“Not really all that long,” she said and made Nadine laugh.
“God, you’re a hard-ass, which is probably why you’re my friend. I’m here to personally and in person remind you your presence is desired at my book launch party tomorrow night.” She winged up her brows as Eve frowned. “And no, I don’t expect you to remember, but Roarke will. It hits day after tomorrow. The book does. So . . .” She ran her fingers through her perfectly styled streaky blond hair—a sure sign of distress. “God, I’m so nervous. No, make that terrified.”
“Why?”
“Why? Why? What if it bombs?”
“Why would it bomb?”
“Well, Jesus, because it sucks?”
“It doesn’t suck. You made me read it. I mean, you asked me to read it,” Eve amended, on the chance there was a friendship rule about “made me.”
“For accuracy since the Icove case was mine. Which I did. It didn’t suck, and it was accurate.”
“Great, it doesn’t suck.” Nadine tossed up her hands. “Fabulous. I wonder if I can get them to put that as a PR quote. ‘Lieutenant Eve Dallas says this book doesn’t suck.’”
“Do you need written permission?”
Nadine plopped down in a chair.
“Oh, make yourself the fuck at home. Can’t you see I’m working on a murder here?”
“Can’t you see I’m having a breakdown here?” Nadine snapped back, and gave Eve pause.
“Okay.” Because it was rare to see Nadine so jittery, Eve rose and went to the AutoChef. “You can have coffee, pull yourself together, then you’re out of here.”
“Oh, thanks a bunch.”
“Listen, I told you it was good when you made me”—shit—“asked me to read it.” Eve pushed the coffee at Nadine. “The reviews say it’s good.”
Nadine blinked. “You’ve read the reviews?”
“I maybe saw one or two, somewhere. The point is, you did a solid job. More than, if it matters what I think. You made it human and important, and you didn’t sentimentalize it—if that’s a word. You got it accurate, and that matters, but you made it real. And that’s probably just as important. So stop being a big baby about it.”
“I knew I’d feel better if I came by here. You bitch.” She grabbed Eve’s hand. “I’d really like you to be there tomorrow night, even if you can’t stay long. I might need you to kick me in the ass again.”
“What’re friends for? Look, I’ll try. I’ll plan on it, but if something breaks on this case—”
“Remember who you’re talking to. I know the priorities of the job. Anyway, if you’re roasting the balls of whoever did this instead of kicking my ass and drinking champagne, I’ll be fine with it.” She sat another minute, finishing the coffee. “Okay. All right. That should hold me for a couple hours.”
“Go bother somebody else if you need a booster shot.”
“I do have other friends, you know.” She glanced at the board again. “Go get them, Dallas.”
Eve sat again. After a moment, she opened the box and took out a cookie. She studied it a moment, then took a bite, sighed at the rush of sugar.