J Robb - Imitation in Death

“It’s really for her, sir. I’m in training.”

“I see.” He was relaxing, Peabody could see. Just as she could see his amusement at thinking he’d escaped the lion and gotten himself a pussycat. “Have you been with the police long?”

“Not very. I do mostly administrative work. The lieutenant hates paperwork.” She started to roll her eyes, seemed to catch herself and worked up a blush.

Fortney laughed. “Your secret’s safe with me. Still, I wonder what an attractive woman like you is doing in such a difficult field?”

“Men still outnumber women on the job,” she heard herself saying, and felt the quick, flirtatious smile curve her lips. “That can be a pretty strong incentive. I’d just like to say how much I admire your work. I’m such a fan of musical theater, and you’ve been involved in wonderful projects. It seems so glamorous and exciting to someone like me.”

“It has its moments. Maybe you’d like me to give you a tour of the theater, backstage, where the action really is.”

“That would be…” She trailed off breathlessly. “I’d just love it.” She glanced back at the door again. “I’m not supposed to do something like that. You won’t say anything?”

He mimed zipping his lip and made her giggle.

“If I can just clear up some of these discrepancies before she gets back. Otherwise, she’ll skin me.”

“Sweetheart, you can’t really believe I’d kill anyone.”

“Oh no,Mr.Fortney, but the lieutenant…”

He got up from the desk, came around, and sat on the corner of it. “I’m not interested in the lieutenant. The fact is, Pepper and I… well, our relationship has devolved, you could say. We’re really just business partners at this point, keeping up appearances for the public. I don’t want anything to damage her while she’s working so hard in this play. I have a great deal of affection and respect for her even though… even though things aren’t what they were between us.”

He gavePeabody a puppy-dog look, and she did her best to respond with one of sympathy. Even as she thought: Putz. Do I look that green? “It must be awfully hard for you.”

“Show business is a demanding mistress, on both sides of the curtain. I did tell nearly the truth about that night. I didn’t mention that Pepper and I didn’t really speak or have contact with each other when she came back from the theater. I spent that night as I’ve spent far too many of them. Alone.”

“So you have no one to corroborate your whereabouts?”

“I’m afraid I don’t, not directly, though Pepper and I were in the same house together all night. It was just another lonely night, and to be frank, they blur together now. I wonder, maybe you and I could have dinner?”

“Ummm…”

“Privately,” he added. “I can’t be seen having dinner with a beautiful woman while Pepper and I still have to keep up this pretense. Gossip would hurt her, and she’s so temperamental. She needs to focus on the play. I have to honor that.”

“That’s so…” The words that ran through her head were anything but flattering, but she choked out an alternative. “… so brave. I’d love to, if I can get the time off. These murders have the lieutenant working practically24 /7. And when she works, I work.”

“Murders.” For a moment he looked genuinely puzzled. “Is that what all this business about this Gregg person is? Another prostitute’s been killed?”

“There was another attack,”Peabody evaded. “It would help me out a lot if you could tell me where you were Sunday morning, between eight andnoon. That would cover you, and I could probably smooth things out withLieutenantDallas so she won’t bother you again.”

She tried a simper, but didn’t think it was her best look.

“Sunday morning? Sleeping the sleep of the just until ten-ish. I indulge myself on Sundays. Pepper would have been up and out early. Dance class, she never misses. I would have had a light brunch, lingered over the Sunday paper. I doubt I was even dressed untilnoon.”

“And alone again?”

He gave a sad, crooked smile. “Afraid so. Pepper would have gone directly to the theater after class. Sunday matinee. I did go to the club, but not until at least one. For a swim, a steam, a massage.” He lifted his hands, let them fall. “I’m afraid I did nothing of any interest all day. Now, if I’d had a companion. Someone… simpatico… we’d have taken a leisurely drive in the country, stopped at some charming little inn for a champagne lunch, and whiled away our Sunday in a much more entertaining fashion. As it is, I have nothing but work, illusion, and solitude.”

“Could you tell me the name of your club? Then I can giveLieutenantDallas something solid.”

“I use the Gold Key, onMadison.”

“Thanks.” She rose. “I’ll see if I can head her off.”

He tookPeabody ’s hand, looking into her eyes as he brought it to his lips. “Dinner?”

“It sounds mag. I’ll contact you as soon as I know when I’m clear.” She hoped she had one more blush in her. “Leo,” she said shyly.

She hurried out and straight to whereEve stood with her ‘link. “I can’t break character yet,”Peabody reported. “He might ask one of his bimbos what went on out here, so you should look annoyed and doubtful, and like you could ream my ass at any moment.”

“Fine. Then I don’t have to break character either as that’s the one I walk around in on a daily basis.”

“He’s a total sleaze, and he doesn’t have a solid for either murder. Hard for me to see somebody that slimy being our guy, but he’s not covered.”

She looked down at her shoes, studying the shine, and hoping the body language looked subservient. “He also cheats on Pepper, regularly by my take. He hit on me, and it seemed like a natural rhythm.Guy ’s got more tired lines than an afternoon soap and less talent at selling them.”

“You hit back?”

“Enough to keep the rhythm up, not enough to get me a reprimand should there be an official inquiry. Maybe you could stomp off to the elevator now. It’s getting hard to keep looking naive and subservient.”

Eveobliged and timed it soPeabody barely had time to nip in with her before the doors shut. “I thought that was a good touch.”

“Good thing my butt isn’t any bigger than it already is. He’s shifting his story for the night of the Wooton murder. Says he and Pepper are just business partners now, and keeping up the pretext of otherwise so there isn’t any negative publicity through the run of the play. Still says he was at home all night, though, and home all Sunday morning. Alone. The original Lonely Guy.”

“What kind of moronic female falls for that crap?” Eve wondered.

“Lots, I guess, depending on the delivery.” She moved her shoulders. “His wasn’t bad, actually. But it was too quick, and too obvious. Anyhow, he claims he went to the Gold Key on Madison about one on Sunday. I say he’s twinking at least one of those bimbos on the side. He’s not the type for an LC. Isn’t going to pay for it when he can bullshit and brag his way into it. And I’d say it’d be news to Pepper that they’re just business partners now. I’d also say he doesn’t think much of women as a species.”

Go, Peabody, Eve thought, and leaned back against the elevator wall as her aide ran it through.

“Thinks about them, because he probably imagines fucking any woman who’s remotely attractive. But he doesn’t like them. He kept calling you that woman. Never referred to you by name or rank. And there was a lot of passion in the way he said it.”

“Good job.”

“I don’t know that I found out anything really useful. Except now that I think about it, I can see him doing the murders.”