J Robb - Imitation in Death

“Hmm” was Roarke’s only response.

“I had some good ones stockpiled. They’ll come back to me. But my head’s crowded with this business, and the case. Then there’s Peabody driving me over the edge.”

“It’s tomorrow for her, isn’t it?”

“Thank God. I’ll hit Fortney and Breen tomorrow while she’s in exam. I can get Feeney to team with me. And then… oh, speaking of hitting, Fortney socked Pepper.”

“Excuse me?”

“Blackened her eye. She came in, filed charges, so that smoothes the way to holding him. I’ve shuffled things so he won’t be able to whine for bail until tomorrow. I already had round one with Breen today. He started out smirky, but I wiped that off his face. I’ve got him shadowed until our scheduled interview tomorrow. Renquist is reportedly out of the city on business. I thought I might tug on one of my connections and see if that’s the case or just a runaround.”

“Would it be my ego talking again if I assume I’m that connection.”

She gave him a quick, toothy grin. “You’re pretty handy to have around, even after sex.”

“Darling, that’s so touching.”

“I’ve got Smith locked down, too. I want to know where all of them are24 /7until I can push for a warrant.”

“And how do you know which of the four is your man?”

“I recognized him,” she replied, then shook her head. “But that’s gut, and you can’t arrest on gut. There’s only one who fits the profile, right down the line. Only one who’d have needed to feed himself by writing the notes. I need to eliminate the other three, build the case on the one. Once I tie the travel to the other murders, I’ll have enough for a search warrant. He’s got stuff-the paper, the tools, the costumes. He’s kept all that. Tomorrow, the next day, I’ll get in. And I’ll have him.”

“Are you going to tell me who it is?”

“I think we’ll work on the elimination process, do the travel and murder dates. See if you start leaning in the direction I’ve taken. You’ve got a pretty good gut yourself. For a civilian.”

“Such flattery. Then it appears we’re going to work.”

“Yeah, I-Shit.” Her pocket ‘link beeped. “I’ve got it,” she said, leaping up to scramble to the platform where the bed stood and grab her trousers from off of the floor.

She dragged it out of a pocket, flipped it on. “Dallas.”

“Lieutenant.” Sela Cox’s tear-streaked face filled the screen and hadEve ’s heart dropping to her knees.

“Mrs.Cox.”

“She’s awake.” The tears kept falling even as she smiled. Brilliantly. “The doctor’s with her now, but I thought I should tell you as soon as I could.”

“I’m on my way.” She started to click off, stopped herself. “Mrs.Cox. Thank you.”

“I’ll be waiting for you.”

“I just got a miracle,”Eve told Roarke and dragged on her trousers. Then she found she had to sit, just give into weak legs for one moment. “I saw her face. In my dream tonight. Hers, and the others, my own. I saw her face, and I thought she was dead. That I’d been too late for her, and she was dead. I was wrong.”

She took a deep breath as Roarke came over to join her. “I saw him, too. My father, standing on the other side of the hospital bed. He said it never ended anyway. There’s always another victim and I might as well give up before I was dead, too.”

“And he was wrong.”

“You’re damn right.” She pushed to her feet. “I’m not tagging Peabody. I want her fresh for the exam. Want to stand in?”

“Lieutenant, I already am.”

She strode down the hospital corridor. She’d hooked her badge on her belt to stop any medicals from getting in her way. Roarke wanted to tell her the fire in her eyes would have done the job, but he was afraid it might dim that fierce light.

And he enjoyed seeing it too much to take the chance.

The guard she’d placed at the door to ICU was at attention when she turned the corner. In Roarke’s opinion, the uniform had likely scented her energy and whipped himself on alert.

Even as she reached for the door, it swung open. The doctor, Roarke thought, was a more courageous soul. He barred her path, folding his arms across his chest and using a frown as a shield.

“I was told you’d been notified and were en route. The patient is barely conscious and drifting in and out. Her condition is still critical. I won’t risk having her interrogated at this point.”

“Twenty-four hours ago, you told me she’d never regain consciousness. She has.”

“Frankly, I consider it a miracle she’s come out of a coma, even briefly.”

Sela Cox had asked for another miracle,Eve thought. And by God, she’d gotten it. “I don’t believe in wasting miracles. Somebody put her in that room, and there’s a chance she can tell me who before he puts someone else in the hospital. Or the goddamn morgue.” Now her voice lashed like a whip that had the uniform wincing. “You don’t want to get in my face on this.”

“On the contrary.” Laurence kept his melodious voice low. “I am in your face on this, and this is my turf. My patient’s welfare is paramount.”

“On that last point, we’re in perfect agreement. I want her alive and well.”

“For her testimony.”

“Goddamn right. If you think that makes me the enemy, then you’re just stupid. I put her in the dead column, Laurence, just like you. But she showed us both what she’s made of. Now, I want her to know the man who did this to her has been put away. I want her to know I’m going to do that for her, and that she had a part in making it happen. Right now, she’s just a victim. I’m going to help make her a hero. That’s something to live for. You’ve got two choices,” she said before he could speak again. “I have this officer restrain you, or you go in with me and supervise.”

“I don’t like your tactics, Lieutenant.”

“File a complaint.” She pushed open the door, glanced at Roarke over her shoulder. “I need you to wait.”

When she stepped in her heart sank again.Marlene lay still and deathly pale in the bed. Her mother stood beside her, holding her hand.

“She’s just resting,” Sela said quickly. “When you said you’d come, I asked my husband to go down to the chapel. They’ll only let two of us in here at a time.”

“Mrs.Cox, I must tell you again,LieutenantDallas ’ presence is against medical orders. Your daughter needs to remain calm and quiet.”

“She’s been quiet since this was done to her, and she won’t be calm until he’s caught and punished. I’m grateful to you, Doctor, more than I can begin to say. But Marley needs to do this. I know my child.”

“Watch your step,” Laurence warnedEve, “or you’ll be the one restrained.”

She kept her focus onMarlene as she moved to the side of the bed. “You should talk to her,Mrs.Cox. I don’t want to scare her.”

“I’ve told her you were coming.” Sela leaned over the bed, touched her lips to her daughter’s forehead. “Marley? Marley baby, wake up now.LieutenantDallas is here to talk to you.”

“So tired, Mom.” The words were slurred and soft.

“I know, baby. Just for a little while. The lieutenant needs your help.”

“I know you’ve been through a lot.”Eve ignored the doctor as he edged closer. “I know this is hard. I’m not going to let him get away with what he did to you. We’re not going to let him get away with it, Marley. You and me. You got away from him. You stopped him once. You can help me stop him once and for all.”

Her eyes fluttered open. It was painful to watch, the effort of lifting those lashes, the intense focus in those eyes. Eve recognized the look, the determination of fighting back pain.