Desperation in Death (In Death #55)(28)

“No freedom when authority’s in control.”

“Not in her experience. I believe she was certainly cagey enough to fully understand her fate if she remained held.”

“She’d be sold,” Eve concluded.

“With no choice in the matter. No ability to refuse the whims and wishes of whoever bought her. And that brings me to the blood, hers on Mina’s clothing. She may have been hurt during the escape, but—”

“Mina wasn’t wearing those pants when she got out.”

“Exactly.” Mira nodded at Eve. “Tending these—in their view—products would also require medical attention. Tests to be certain of the girls’ health, regular tox screenings, I’d think.”

“Blood tests.”

“Most certainly, which would make it a simple matter to plant the blood.”

“After they transferred the body from the kill zone to where she’d be easily found. The kid got away,” Eve murmured. “She got out. Why else try to set her up for the murder? Wouldn’t it diminish her worth as a product to have the cops ID her, search for her? It damages her. I should’ve thought of that. You can’t sell a damaged product for full price. She got out, and that makes her the perfect fall guy.”

Eve closed her eyes a moment. “She doesn’t trust cops, why would she? They’d know that. They might even have a shrink on tap—bet they do. She’s not coming to us. We’re as much the enemy as the people who grabbed her up. She’d already been tossed in juvie once, why risk it again?”

She looked at Mira. “Freedom’s the driver, I get that. She’ll find a hole and hide, or she’ll run. Anything else is a cage, one kind or another.”

“You understand these girls in a way few can, not just from training or a natural insight, but from your own experiences. That makes you uniquely qualified for this case. And makes it very, very difficult for you. Both of you,” Mira qualified. “You can see and feel through them. You may struggle to maintain your objectivity as well as your emotional balance.”

“I have to see and feel through the victim to do my job. It’s how I do my job. Through the killer, too. This isn’t any different.”

If she heard the defensive tone in Eve’s voice—and of course she did—Mira let it pass.

“Your empathy is as key to your process as your instincts and training. But this is different, and it’s deeper. I hope you’ll come to me if you feel the need.”

“I’m fine. I’m good. I can handle it.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

She’d closed her hand around her water glass before Dennis spoke. Now simply sat very still.

“They don’t give a choice. They speak to you, these girls. They all speak to you, every victim you stand over and for. But you hear these girls in your head, your heart. How could you ignore them, pretend not to hear?”

Her chest went tight, and she breathed out. “I can’t.”

“You wouldn’t be who you are if you could, or did. It costs you, of course it does, but turning away would cost so much more.”

He poured more wine into her glass, then a tiny bit more into his own. “Charlotte and I often talk through our day and our worries. Sometimes we have to do that hypothetically, but we have our codes. Don’t we, Charlie?”

“Yes.” She closed a hand over his. “We do.”

“I can’t count the number of times over the years I’ve worried about her. What she does, what she sees. It often hurts her, what she does, what she sees. And so I hurt. You understand.”

“I do, yes,” Roarke said.

“We don’t have a choice, either, do we? We fell in love with strong, courageous women, women dedicated to facing down the monsters in the world, whatever the cost.

“We tell our children monsters aren’t real. But they are. You’ll find this girl, I’m sure of that. And you’ll find the monsters. Roarke and Charlie will help you. You have to let them.”

“Sometimes it’s easier to close off help than to open up to it.”

Now he smiled, and his eyes danced. “I could tell you stories.”

Mira laughed, leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Don’t.”

They had strawberry shortcake with fresh whipped cream and coffee, then at Mira’s request took a walk around the gardens.

Roarke guided them through the grove of fruit trees to the pond.

“Now I have serious envy.” Mira sighed. “What a beautiful spot.”

“I could dream away a day right there on that bench.”

“You’re welcome to,” Roarke told Dennis. “Any time at all.”

Following the path lights, they walked back to the house. At the door, Mira kissed Roarke’s cheek. “Thank you for a wonderful dinner.” Then Eve’s. “I’ll write up the conclusions and profiles.”

“I appreciate it.”

When Dennis hugged her, she spoke quietly in his ear. “Thanks for what you said before.”

He simply drew back, pressed a light kiss to the bruising under her eye. “Next time, duck.”

“Got it.”

When Roarke closed the door, Eve stood where she was a moment. “It was a good idea to have them over like this. Thanks for taking care of it.”