Desperation in Death (In Death #55)(71)

She broke off when the gate signaled.

“Okay, okay, that’s going to be Sebastian. Let me open the gates.”

“I’ll do it,” Roarke told her.

“Thanks. I’ll tell Leonardo—he’s upstairs doing some organizing in his design center—which is total. And Peabody. She just went next door to bask a little.”

“Get Leonardo,” Eve said. “I’ll text Peabody.”

“Okay.” But she gripped Eve’s hand again. “It could’ve been you or me, remember.”

“I’ve got it.”





15





She didn’t have to like it, Eve thought as she signaled Peabody. She just had to get the details, the location, all the information she could out of the kid. Then secure the kid safely.

And they outnumbered her, Roarke had that right, Eve thought. So she scoped out the area, considered the best way to conduct the interview. Whatever she thought of Sebastian, Eve admitted—and she didn’t think much—he’d brought Dorian in, or this version of in.

If, as seemed apparent, he had Dorian’s trust, Eve determined to use him in any way possible.

“I can hear the wheels turning in there.” Roarke tapped the side of Eve’s head. “I don’t suppose it would do any good to suggest you handle this a bit organically?”

“Organically, my ass. I’m already over a line here. I can justify it, but I’ve crossed it. The kid sits in that chair, I take that one, facing her. Peabody in the third. You and the rest on that big-ass couch.”

“You don’t want her leaning too heavily on Sebastian.”

“No, I don’t.” She turned as the glass doors opened and Peabody hustled in. “You there, kid there,” Eve said. “When we need the soft touch, come into it.”

She heard the murmur of voices, turned again. Waited.

Leonardo, tall as a tree in his long red shirt, towered over the rest. His hair, a gleaming copper, tumbled down, and eyes nearly the same color were dark with concern.

Eve hoped the look she sent him—we’ve got this—settled his nerves.

She flicked a glance at Sebastian, saw worry on his aesthetic face, and his hand loosely curled around the girl’s arm.

She favored her left leg a bit, Eve noted, but otherwise looked fit, even strong. Longer hair than in her ID shot, and carrying some expertly done highlights, deep gold against the raven black.

Resentment and defiance simply radiated from her. No less than expected.

“Dorian,” Sebastian began, “this is Lieutenant Dallas.”

“Yeah, I know. If you try to send me back—”

“Dorian.” Sebastian spoke again, gently.

She only shrugged.

“Let’s get you a drink.” Leonardo, obviously struggling to play host, gave her a wide smile. “Do you like fizzies?”

“I like them okay. Cherry mostly.”

“All right. Sebastian?”

“Just water, thank you.” He aimed a look at Dorian.

She did a half eye roll. “Yeah, thanks.”

“Take a seat.” Eve gestured Dorian to the chair. “Sebastian.” And to the next. Though it grated, she nodded to him. “I appreciate you bringing Dorian here to talk to us.”

“She’s been through an ordeal.”

“I’m aware. We’ve been looking for her for a couple days because we’re aware.”

He simply held up his hands, let them fall, then took his seat.

“You can just blow off giving him grief about it,” Dorian snapped. “I’m only here because he talked me into it. And he said you swore you wouldn’t send me back to Freehold. I’m not living in that rathole with my mother anymore. If you try—”

“Your mother’s not living in that rathole anymore because I arrested her, and she’s currently living in a jail cell. Take a seat.”

Dorian’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean you arrested her?”

“I mean I put her in cuffs, charged her with multiple offenses, and handed her over to the Freehold PD. Now sit down.”

“What offenses?” But she sat, and so did Eve.

“Child abuse and neglect, and since she continued to collect the professional parent stipend after you took off, failed to report you missing, fraud. You should know your neighbors stood up for you.”

“Tiffy, sure, but—”

“All of them. They’d also reported the abuse and neglect to CPS through Truman.” At Dorian’s snort, Eve nodded. “And now Truman’s been fired. It’ll be up to the PA, following an internal investigation at CPS, if she’s also charged and arrested.”

Dorian took the fizzy from Leonardo, muttered a thanks, but kept narrowed, suspicious eyes on Eve.

“It’s easy to say all that shit. Cops lie all the time.”

“Believe it or don’t. You left home sometime in August. We’re unsure of the exact date.”

“I don’t know. Who remembers? I’d had enough of getting knocked around, and getting the eye from the guys she dated. I can take care of myself.”

“If that were true, you wouldn’t have been grabbed off the streets. When and how did that happen?”