J Robb - Imitation in Death

“Means, motive, opportunity.”

“Yeah,ThomasA. just jumped to the top of our list.”

Evehad barely disconnected withBaxter when her communicator signaled.Whitney ’s face filled the screen.

“He’ll see you atten forty-five. Make it good.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

PeabodystudiedEve ’s satisfied smile. “A person’s fifteen minutes late, one time, and she’s out of the loop?”

“Get me some data onSophiaDiCarlo, the Renquist’s au pair, and I’ll fill you in on the way to the U.N.”

“We’re going back to the U.N., to Renquist, and not risking federal imprisonment?”

“We’re going back to apologize, grovel, and eat massive portions of crow.”

“You don’t know how to do those things.”Peabody looked mournful. “We’re going to the pen.”

“Just get the data. If I don’t know how to apologize, grovel, and eat crow, it’s because it’s rarely appropriate for me to do so. You have to be wrong first.”

When there was silence,Eve glanced over. “No smart-ass comment?”

“My grandmother always says, if you can’t say something positive about someone, keep your trap shut.”

“Yeah, like you listen to her. Renquist is pissed, his wife is pissed, and they’re in the position to crimp the investigation. Nobody knows how to tie up red tape like a politician. And since my impression of them is that they are pompous assholes, I figured slathering on the ‘I’m just a public servant, ergo a bonehead’ line might get me in.”

“You said ergo.”

“It goes with pompous.”

“SophiaDiCarlo, twenty-six and single. Citizen ofItaly with green card and work permit. Parents and two sibs reside inRome. Aha, parents are domestics, employed byAngelaDysert. Bet it’s a relation toMrs.PompousAsshole.Sophia ’s been employed by the Renquists as domestic, child-care position, for the past six years. No criminal on record.”

“Okay, the girl-Renquist’s girl, she’s old enough for school, right? See what you can find on that.”

“It’s touchy getting data on minors,Dallas, especially foreign nationals, without more clearance.”

“Get what you can.”

Peabodywent to work whileEve drove across town. Overhead in the hazy sky, ad blimps and tourist trams moved sluggishly. Inside the relative cool,Eve practiced groveling in her head. Even telling herself it was for the greater good, it rankled.

“They’ve got the kid’s privacy blocked. That’s pretty standard,”Peabody told her. “Especially with more upscale family types. You don’t want kidnappers and unsavory types knowing stuff about your kids. You’re not going to get anything without clearance.”

“Can’t ask for clearance. I don’t want the Renquists to know I’m looking at them. Doesn’t matter. The au pair’s bound to take the kid out sometime, or better, go out on her own. Has to have a day off.”

Evetucked her thoughts away as they approached the U.N., and prepared to go through the multiple security checks.

It took twenty minutes to get through to Renquist’s outer office. It was his admin who greeted them, and invited them to wait.

Evefigured the extra twenty Renquist kept them cooling their heels was just his way to show who was in charge. Crow was already sticking in her throat when they were admitted.

“Please make it brief,” Renquist said immediately. “I’ve made time for you out of a very busy day only due to the direct request of your chief of police. You’ve already infringed on my time here, and my wife’s.”

“Yes, sir. I’m very sorry to have intruded on you, and onMrs.Renquist. In my zeal to further my investigation, I overstepped. I hope neither you norMrs.Renquist will take this offense personally, nor let it reflect on the department.”

He arched his brow, and the surprise-the satisfaction-was obvious in his eyes. “Being considered a suspect in a murder is hardly usual for me, and could hardly be anything but personally offensive.”

“I regret that I gave the impression you were a suspect. Investigative procedure demands that I pursue any and all possible connections. I…” She tried a little fumble, wished she could work up a flush. “I can only apologize again, sir, and tell you frankly that my own frustration in being unable to clear this case may have made my demeanor less than courteous to both you andMrs.Renquist. In actuality, I’m only seeking to remove your name from any list as applies to this investigation. My interview withMrs.Renquist, however ill-advised, did serve to confirm your whereabouts at the time of the murders.”

“My wife was very distressed that the subject came up in our home, with guests on the point of arriving.”

“I realize that. I apologize again for the inconvenience.” You schmuck.

“I hardly see why my name should be on any sort of a list merely because I may have some writing paper in my possession.”

She lowered her eyes. “It’s the only lead I have. The killer has taunted me with these notes. It’s very upsetting. But that doesn’t excuse my disturbing your wife at home. Please convey my apologies toMrs.Renquist.”

He smiled now, thinly. “I will do so. However, Lieutenant, I have the impression that you wouldn’t be here, offering this apology, had your superiors not insisted you do so.”

She lifted her gaze, met his, and let a hint of the resentment show through. “I was doing my job as best I know how. I don’t play politics well. I’m just a cop. And I follow orders,Mr.Renquist.”

He nodded. “I can respect someone who follows orders, and give some leeway to a public servant who allows her zeal for duty to cloud her judgment somewhat. I hope you weren’t reprimanded too harshly.”

“No more than my actions warranted.”

“And you remain as primary in this investigation?”

“Yes, sir, I do.”

“Then I’ll wish you luck with it.” He rose and offered a hand. “And hope that you identify and arrest the person responsible quickly.”

“Thank you.”Eve took his hand, held it and his eyes. “I intend to put him into a cage, personally, very soon.”

He cocked his head. “Confidence, Lieutenant, or arrogance?”

“Whatever works. Thank you again, sir, for your time and your understanding.”

– -«»--«»--«»--

“I take it back,”Peabody said when they were clear of the building. “You’re good. Frustrated apology, with just a hint of resentment. The foot soldier who’d tried to do her job, and got shafted by her superiors. Forced to eat that crow, and swallowing it down stoically. You really sold it.”

“Wasn’t that far off. He could turn up a lot of heat under the department. He’s got both political and media connections. Nobody ordered me to apologize, but nobody’s going to be sorry I did, either. Fucking politics.”

“You make rank, you’ve got to play them sometimes.”

Evemerely shrugged and climbed back into the car. “Don’t have to like it. Don’t have to like him, either. In fact, every time I see him, I like him less.”

“It’s the snooty factor,”Peabody explained. “It’s really hard to like somebody who has a high snooty factor, and his is top of the scale.”

She looked back at the glossy white building, the shining tower, the waving flags. “I guess dealing with diplomats and ambassadors and heads of state every day makes a high snooty factor a prerequisite.”

“Diplomats, ambassadors, and heads of state are supposed to represent the people, which makes them no different than us. Renquist can take his snooty factor and shove it.”

She drove away from the white walls and flags, toward the heart of the city. “Wouldn’t hurt my feelings a bit if it turns out to be him. I’m going to lock the cage on this son of a bitch personally. I meant that. And I wouldn’t mind seeing Renquist’s snotty face on the other side of the bars when I do.”