J. Robb - Survivor in Death

“Welcome, Miss Nixie.” Like Roarke, his face was sober. Eve had to give them both credit for not plastering on those big, scary smiles adults often wore around vulnerable kids. “Would you like me to show you where you'll sleep?”

“I don't know.”

He reached down, picked up the cat. “Perhaps you'd like some refreshment first. Galahad would keep you company.”

“We had a cat. He was old and he died. We're going to get a kitten next…”

“Galahad would be pleased to have a new friend.” Summerset sat the cat down again, waiting while Nixie loosened her grip on Eve's hand and moved closer. When the cat bumped his head against her leg, a ghost of a smile trembled on her lips. She sat on the floor, buried her face in his fur.

“Appreciate this,” Eve said to Roarke under her breath. “I know it's a major.”

“It's not.” There was blood on her as well. And the faint scent of death. “We'll talk of it later.”

“I need to go. I'm sorry to dump this on you.”

“I'll be working here most of the morning. Summerset and I will deal well enough.”

“Full security.”

“Without question.”

“I'll get back as soon as I can, work out of here as much as possible. Right now, we need to go notify the parents of the minor female vie. Peabody, you have the Dysons' address?”

“They're not home.” Nixie spoke with her voice muffled against Galahad's fur.

“Nothing wrong with your hearing,” Eve commented, and walked across the foyer. “Where are they?”

“They went to a big hotel, for their anniversary. That's why we could have a sleepover on a school night, me and Linnie. Now you have to tell them she's dead instead of me.”

“Not instead of. If you'd been in the room, you'd both be dead. Where does that get you?”

“Lieutenant.” The irritated shock in Summerset's voice had her doing no more than lifting a hand to jab a finger at him for silence.

“She's not dead because you're not. This is going to be hard on the Dysons, just like it is on you. But you know who's to blame for what happened.”

Nixie looked up now, and those quiet blue eyes hardened like glass. “The men with the knives.”

“Yeah. Do you know what hotel?”

“The Palace, because it's the best. Mr. Dyson said.”

“Okay.” It was the best, Eve thought, because it was one of Roarke's. She shot him a look, got a nod.

“I'll clear the way.”

“Thanks. I've got to go,” she said to Nixie. “You're going to hang with Summerset.”

“The men with knives could come looking for me.”

“I don't think so, but if they do, they can't get in. There's a gate, and it's secure, and the house is secure. And Summerset? I know he looks like a bony, ugly old man, but he's tough, and you're safe with him. This is the deal if you're staying here,” she added as she rose. “It's the best I've got.”

“You're coming back.”

“I live here, remember? Peabody, with me.”

“Her bag's right here.” Peabody gestured to the duffle she'd packed. “Nixie, if I forgot anything you want, or you need something else, you can have Summerset contact me. We'll get it for you.”

Eve's last look was of the child sitting on the floor between the two men, and seeking comfort from the cat.

The minute she was outside, Eve rolled her shoulders, rolled the weight off. “Jesus” was all she said.

“I can't imagine what's going on inside that kid.”

“I can. I'm alone, I'm scared and hurt, and nothing makes sense. And I'm surrounded by strangers.” It made her sick, just a little sick, but she pushed past it. “Check in with EDD, see where they are.”

As she drove back toward the gate, Eve used the dash 'link to contact Dr. Charlotte Mira, at home.

“Sorry. I know it's early.”

“No, I was up.”

On screen Eve could see Mira dab a white towel at her soft sable hair. There was a dew-either sweat or water-on her face.

“Doing my morning yoga. What's the matter?”

“Multiple homicide-home invasion. An entire family, save the nine year-old daughter. Sleepover friend murdered through mistaken ID. Kid's a witness. I've got her stashed at my place.”

“Yours?”

“Fill you in later, but that's how it stands. I'm heading over to notify next of kin on the daughter's friend.”

“God's pity.”

“I know you've probably got a full slate, but I'm going to need to interview this kid today. I'm going to need a shrink-sorry.”

“No problem.”

“I'm going to need a psychiatrist on hand, one who's got experience with children and police procedure.”

“What time do you want me?”

“Thanks.” And relief rolled in where the weight had rolled off. “I'd prefer you, but if you're squeezed I'll take your best recommendation.”

“I'll make room.”

“Ah.” Eve checked her wrist unit, tried to gauge the timing. “Can we make it noon? I've got a lot to push through before then.”

“Noon.” Mira began to make notes in a mini memo book. “What's her condition?”

“She wasn't injured.”

“Emotional condition.”

“Ah, she's fair, I guess.”

“Is she able to communicate?”

“Yeah. I'm going to need an eval for Child Protection Services. I'm going to need a lot of things for the red tape brigade. I'm on borrowed time here since I went over the rep's head. Have to notify the supervisor there. Soon.”

“Then I'll let you get to it, and see you at noon.”

“EDD's on scene,” Peabody said when Eve ended transmission. “Their team's going through security and checking 'links and data centers on site. They'll transport the units to Central.”

“Okay. Next of kin on the other vies?”

“Grant Swisher's parents divorced. Father's whereabouts currently unknown. Mother remarried-third time-and living on Vegas II. Works as a blackjack dealer. Keelie Swisher's parents are deceased- back when she was six. Foster care and state schools.”

And that, Eve knew, was just tons of fun. “When we've talked to the Dysons, contact Grant Swisher's next of kin and inform. She may have legal guardianship of the kid, and we'll need to deal with that. You got an addy on Swisher's law firm?”

“Swisher and Rangle, on West Sixty-first.”

“Close to the hotel. We'll hit there after the Dysons. See how it goes and tap in another pass at the scene if it fits.”

This, as hard as it was, she knew how to do. Shattering the lives of those left behind was a job she did all too often. Roarke had, as promised, cleared the way. Since she was expected, she avoided the usual wrangle with the doorman, the time-consuming conversation with desk clerks and hotel security.

She almost missed it.

But she and Peabody were efficiently escorted to the elevators and given the Dysons' room number.

“Only child, right?”

“Yeah, just Linnie. He's a lawyer, too, corporate. She's a pediatrician. Reside about two blocks south of the Swishers. Daughters go to the same school, same class.”

“You've been busy,” Eve commented as they rode up to the forty second floor.

“You were wrapped up with the kid awhile. We detectives do what we can.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Eve saw Peabody shift her stance, wince just a bit. Ribs still bothering her, she thought. Should've taken a few more days medical. But she let it pass.

“Get any financials on the Swishers?”

“Not yet. We detectives are not miracle workers.”

“Slacker.” Eve stepped off, walked straight to 4215. She didn't allow herself to think, to feel. What good would it do?

She pressed the buzzer, held her badge up to the security peep. Waited.

The man who answered was wrapped in a plush hotel robe. His thatch of dark brown hair stuck up in wild tufts and his square, attractive face held the sleepy, satisfied look of someone who'd just enjoyed some early morning nookie.