Echoes in Death (In Death #44)(55)

“How do you do it all?”

“Comp primarily, so there’s a record of everything.”

“They’ve taken this trip before?”

“Every Thanksgiving. It’s their tradition. I can’t go as I have my own—my family in New Hampshire. It’s a lovely tradition for them, close friends, their families. I book what needs to be booked—including some of the guests’ transpo, hotel rooms or rentals, as not everyone can fit in the house. I make reservations, appointments. Ira loves to golf—there’s an indoor nine-hole, and he likes an early tee time. Things like that. And I work with the house droid on wardrobe, book Ira’s haircut for three days before the trip, Lori’s cut and color for the day before. I—”

“I bet they have a usual salon for that.”

“Ira goes to this fabulous classic barbershop. Lori’s used Arthur at Serenity for years.”

“And being comfortable there, they’d probably talk about their plans, how much they’re looking forward to this trip, to having that time with friends and family.”

“Yes, I’m sure they do.” More red strands fell as Lilia pushed at her hair. “You’re saying it didn’t have to be me.”

“It didn’t have to be you, or them. It could have been a friend, an associate who mentioned something about them being off on their annual fall trip. One or both of them could have been stalked by this attacker before they left. People who worked for Ira knew he’d be away, when he’d be back.”

“That’s true. That’s true. But now I want a good slug of wine instead of coffee.”

“Let’s try this. Lori stated she’d met Rosa Patrick prior to the attacks.”

“Yes. They didn’t really know each other, and Lori didn’t put it together as Rosa hadn’t yet married Neville when they met—very casually—a couple years ago. She was using her maiden name. It was after they started talking, after what happened, that they realized they’d met before.”

“And Rosa knows Daphne, as they’d worked on the same charity function. Lori spoke to Daphne at a function last spring.”

“She did? I didn’t know that.”

“The Celebrate Art Gala. You were there.”

“Yes, I sat at Lori and Ira’s table, with Rhia and Marshall Vicker. I didn’t see Daphne. I would have recognized her.”

“You were in the ladies’ lounge together.”

Lilia looked baffled, then doubtful, then gave Eve a firm shake of her head. “I’m sure I didn’t see Daphne Strazza. I don’t forget names and faces, and she has a really amazing face.”

“Lori spoke to her. Daphne had been crying.”

“Now that I remember. That’s who it was? Lori said she’d spoken to a beautiful woman in a beautiful dress who’d looked miserable, had tears in her eyes and a fresh bruise on her arm. I’d been sitting on the sofa, gossiping with a couple of women I knew. I never saw her.”

“Looking back, did you notice anyone paying too much attention to Lori? Anyone who made you uncomfortable?”

“I don’t remember anything like that, and believe me, I’ve gone over and over it in my head since Lori and Ira were hurt. It was a fun night, and there was a lot of wine going around. A lot of competition in the silent auction, celebrity guests, dancing. I danced a lot. I didn’t take a date so I could mingle—I can always use more clients. And I danced a lot.”

“You’d have made the bookings for the Brinkmans soon after that night.”

“Yes, I start the setup for Thanksgiving first week of May. You think that’s important?”

“It’s a line to tug on.”

“I can send you all the e-mails, the itinerary, everything. I sent it to the detectives before, but—”

“I know. I have it.” And would study it again now. “That’s the third time your ’link’s signaled since I’ve been here,” Eve pointed out. “You’re not going to answer?”

“I’ll catch up.”

“Do you usually answer?”

“Not when I’m with a client—or talking to the top cop in New York. And I always return contacts quickly.”

“But otherwise. Say you’re working with a vendor or setting something up, helping coordinate an event.”

“Sure.”

“And say if the tag was to confirm a booking, switch something, add something, you’d deal with it right then.”

“Usually.”

“Or if you’re out with friends, on a date?”

“A date, I’d excuse myself, take the tag if I felt I needed to. Out with friends, I’d check the readout, take it if I needed to. So I might have easily said something about this trip, at least some of the details, in front of someone else.” She pressed her hand to her belly. “I feel sick.”

“None of this is your fault or responsibility. Even if the information got passed to the assailant in this way. Any more than it would be Ira’s for mentioning his plans when he was in the barber’s chair or Lori’s if she talked about it over a lunch date with a friend. He had an agenda, and he found a way to get the information he needed.”

The buzzer sounded. “That I should get.”