Ceremony in Death (In Death #5)(68)

“Make sure you don’t look like a rag picker,” Nadine shot back. “Do something with your hair, for God’s sake.”

Rather than respond, Eve ended transmission. “What is this obsession people have with my hair and wardrobe?” She raked a bad-tempered hand through the hair in question.

“Mavis told me you’re overdue for a style session. Leonardo’s bummed about it.”

“You hanging with Mavis?”

“I’ve gone down to catch her act a couple times.” She blew her nose heartily. Over-the-counters were pure crap, she decided. “I like watching her.”

“I haven’t had time for a style session,” Eve muttered. “I trimmed it myself a couple days ago.”

“Yeah, I could tell.” At Eve’s narrow look, Peabody smiled blandly. “It looks just lovely, sir.”

“Kiss ass.” Eve switched her screen back on. “And if you’re finished with your critique of my personal appearance, maybe you’d like to run a few of these names.”

“I recognize some of them.” Peabody bent over Eve’s shoulder. “Louis Trivane: big shot celebrity lawyer. Gets the stars out of legal jams. Marianna Bingsley: department store heiress and professional manhunter. Carlo Mancinni, cosmetic enhancement guru — medical doctor — you have to be way rich to have him even consider doing body sculpting on you.”

“I know the names, Peabody. I want background, personal data, financial data, medical data, any arrests. I want to know the names of their spouses and kids and pets. I want to know when and how they connected with Cross and why they decided Satan was a cool guy.”

“It’ll take days.” Peabody said it mournfully and reminded Eve painfully of Feeney. “Even shooting them into the IRCCA.”

Eve said nothing. The International Resource Center on Criminal Activity was one of Feeney’s prides and joys.

“If I could tag someone in the E-Division for help, we could cut the time in half. Maybe less.” Peabody jerked a shoulder. “So, where do you want me to start?”

“We’ve got a hop on Wineburg, so dig deeper there, and on Lobar — Robert Mathias. Then start at the top and work down. I’ll start at the bottom and work up. Look for withdrawals of large amounts at regular intervals. We damn well better have what we need when we meet in the middle.”

She narrowed her eyes, thinking. The financial data on Selina’s cult would be protected by the Privacy Act and its status as a registered religion. Still, there was a chance, a slim one, that she’d been cocky enough to make deposits in her personal account.

That was a simple matter to check on. For the other, she would have to decide if the data would hold solid if she was able to access it, and to access it, she needed Roarke.

She’d wait, she decided, a day or two. Once they ascertained how much money the membership list was suspected of feeding into Selina’s pockets, she’d reassess.

It would be tough to sell the PA on religious contributions as extortion, but it might be a start.

“With Wineburg’s name linked to Cross’s cult, I can pull her into Interview. I think we’ll make it, say, around eleven thirty.”

“You’ve got the spot with Nadine at eleven forty-five.”

“Yeah.” Eve’s smile spread. “That’ll work.”

“Oh.”

“It’s not my fault if some big-nosed reporter finds out I’m questioning Selina Cross, knows I’m primary on two recent homicides, then puts two and two together.”

“And goes on air with it.”

“Might shake up some of these fine, upstanding Satanists. Some people get real chatty when they’re shook. Get me that data, and I can shake them harder.”

“I bow to you.”

“Save it until we see if it works. You use this unit. I can use one of Roarke’s to make the first pass. Computer, copy disc, print out hard copy.” She glanced up at the movement in the doorway, went very still. “Abort,” she murmured and braced to take the next hit from Feeney.

“Peabody.” He sent her a quiet look out of sleep-starved eyes. “I need a moment with your lieutenant.”

“Sir?” Though she rose, Peabody waited for Eve’s signal.

“Take a break, Peabody. Get yourself some coffee “

“Yes, sir.” She headed out, feeling the needles of edgy tension prickling the air.

Eve didn’t speak, simply stood. Her body was set, he noted, not to defend, but to absorb the next blow. Her eyes were carefully empty. But her hand that she braced on the desk shook. He stared at it a moment, amazed and ashamed that he’d caused that.

“Your, ah, Summerset said I should just come up.” It was warm in the room, but he didn’t remove his rumpled overcoat. Instead, he shoved his hands in the pockets. “I was off yesterday. Coming down on you was off. You were doing your job.”

He saw her lip tremble, as if she would speak or make some sound. Then she firmed it again and said nothing. She looked, he realized, whipped.

“You broke her heart.”

“Her father beat her, tortured her, raped her.”

“You’ve been her father for ten years.”

How the hell was he supposed to deal with that? And how could he possibly ignore it?