J Robb - Imitation in Death

“Nadine.” It was the quiet patience in Eve’s tone-something rarely heard-that hadNadine subsiding again. “There were complaints. And there’s speculation of the sort that could bring us both grief if I don’t throttle back on the cop/reporter relationship a bit. So I can’t feed you this time. I need the rumbles to quiet down before I start to be known as Furst’s pet, or you as mine. Enough reporters get together and start crying foul and favoritism, it’s not going to be good for either of us.”

Nadinehissed through her teeth. She’d heard the complaints, and the speculation, and had already weathered some resentment among her own rank and file. “You’re right, and that’s a pisser. Doesn’t mean I won’t hound you,Dallas.”

“Goes without saying.”

The battle light shone in her eyes again, and matched the sharp little smile. “Or bribe your men.”

“I like brownies, especially the ones with those chunks of chocolate in them.”

Nadineset the coffee down, got up. “Listen, if you need to leak something, give Quinton Post a try. He’s young yet, but he’s good, and the work matters to him as much, maybe even a little more, than the ratings. That won’t last,” she added cheerfully. “But you might as well get him while he’s fresh.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

– -«»--«»--«»--

Alone,Eve refined her official statement, then ran it through channels. Carting the bakery box back into the bullpen, she dropped it on the communal AutoChef.

All movement stopped. Silence fell.

“ Peabody,” she said into the breathless hush, “with me.”

She’d barely hit the doorway when the riot of rushing feet and clamor of voices erupted behind her.

Cops and doughnuts, she thought. A well-honored tradition that almost brought a sentimental tear to the eye.

“I bet there were jelly-filled. I bet there were,” Peabody muttered as they muscled onto an elevator.

“Some of them had those little colored sprinkle things on top. Like edible confetti.”

Peabody ’s square and sturdy jaw wobbled with emotion. “All I had time for this morning was reconstituted banana slices on a stale bagel.”

“You’re breaking my heart.” At garage level,Eve strolled off the elevator. “ Carmichael ’s first stop. We’re catching him between his morning aqua therapy and daily skin treatment.”

“You could’ve saved me one. One little doughnut.”

“I could have,”Eve agreed as they climbed in her vehicle. “I could have done that. In fact…” She rummaged around in her pocket, pulled out an evidence bag. Inside was a jelly doughnut. “I believe I did.”

“For me?” Overjoyed, Peabody snatched it, sniffed through the bag. “You saved me a doughnut. You’re so good to me. I take back everything I was thinking-you know, how you’re a cold, selfish, doughnut-hogging bitch and all that. Thanks, Dallas.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“I really shouldn’t eat it though.” Peabody caught her bottom lip between her teeth, stroking the bag asEve backed out of the slot. “I really shouldn’t. I’m on a diet. I’ve just got to lose some of the square footage of my ass, so I-”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake. Give it back then.”

But whenEve reached out, Peabody cringed back, doughnut bag clutched at her breasts, face screwed into dangerous lines. “Mine.”

“ Peabody, you continue to be a fascination to me.”

“Thanks.” Slowly, savoring the moment, Peabody unsealed the bag. “Anyway, I deserve it. I’m using up lots of calories studying for the detectives’ exam, and stressing about it. Stress sucks up calories like a vacuum. That’s why you’re so thin.”

“I’m not thin, I’m not stressed.”

“If you’ve got an excess ounce of body fat, I’ll eat it. Respectfully, sir,” Peabody added with a mouthful of jelly doughnut. “But I’ve really been hitting the discs and the simulators. McNab’s helping me out. He’s hardly even being an asshole right now.”

“Wonder of wonders.”

“It’s coming up really soon. I was wondering if you could tell me where you think my weak areas are so I could work on them.”

“You question yourself. Even when your gut tells you you’re right, you don’t trust it enough. You’ve got good instincts, but you tend to be afraid to go with them without confirmation from a superior. You often question your own competence, and when you question yours, you’re questioning mine.”

She glanced over, unsurprised to seePeabody keying her comments into her notebook between bites of doughnut. “You’re writing this down.”

“It helps to see it, you know. Then to do these affirmations in the mirror. I’m a confident, competent officer of the law, and like that.” She flushed a little. “It’s just a method.”

“Whatever.”

Evenosed into a narrow space at the curb. “Let’s confidently and competently see whereCarmichaelSmith was night before last.”

“Yes, sir, but I also have to stress and obsess about having eaten that jelly doughnut. That’ll work off the calories and even it out. It’ll be like I never ate it at all.”

“Then you might want to wipe the jelly off your lip.”

Evestepped out of the car, studied the building. It had been, she supposed, a small three-level apartment building at one time. Now it was a single residence on a tony street. Private security again, two entrances in the front. At least one in the back, she assumed.

Not so far from an alley inChinatown geographically, but worlds away in every other form. No LCs on the stroll here, no glide-carts on the corners. High-maintenance and low crime.

She circled around the walk and up to the main entrance on the second level.

Security panel, palm plate, and a retinal scan. A very careful man. She engaged the panel and frowned at the music that soared out. A lot of strings and keyboard around a creamy male voice.

“‘Love Lights the World,’” Peabody identified. “It’s sort of his signature song.”

“It’s got more calories than your doughnut.”

WELCOME, the computer said in polite, female tones. WE HOPE YOU’RE HAVING A WONDERFUL DAY. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR BUSINESS.

“Dallas,LieutenantEve.” She lifted her badge for a scan. “Police business. I’ve got an appointment withMr.Smith this morning.”

ONE MOMENT, PLEASE… THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT.MR.SMITH IS EXPECTING YOU. YOU’RE CLEARED.

Almost immediately the door was opened by a dark-skinned woman in snowy white. There was more music here, quietly dripping its sweetness in the air.

“Good morning. Thank you for being prompt. Please come in, make yourself at home in the living area.Carmichael will be right with you.”

She glided,Eve thought, like a woman on rollers instead of feet, as she ushered them into a large room with blond walls. There was a mood screen taking up one of those walls, with an image of a white boat drifting on a blue sea as calm as a plate of glass. Thick gel cushions were spread over the floor in lieu of actual furniture, and all were in pastels. Tables were long and low, in that same blond tone.

A fuzzy white kitten curled on one of the tables, and blinked emerald eyes atEve.

“Please relax. I’ll letCarmichael know you’re here.”

Peabodywalked over and poked at one of the floor cushions. “I guess you sink right in and it molds to your butt.” Experimentally, she reached back and patted a hand over her ass. “That could be embarrassing.”

“That music is making my teeth ache.”Eve ran her tongue around them, then turned asCarmichaelSmith made his entrance.

He was tall, about six three with a well-toned body he was currently showing off in a fluid white vest that left his pecs and abs on display. His pants were black and snug, so he could display his other attributes. His hair was dramatically streaked black and white, and worn back in a queue to leave his face-wide, high-boned, and narrowed to a sharp, pointed chin-unframed.