Ceremony in Death (In Death #5)(99)

She found herself obeying dully, while a part of her mind screamed in protest. “Not so smart now, are you, Lieutenant Dallas? Not so cool. We led you right where we wanted you. Stupid bitch. How do you set this thing to auto?”

“I — ” She couldn’t think. Fear couldn’t get through the haze, nor could anger or training. She stared blankly at the controls. “Auto?”

Her voice was enough. The vehicle shuddered, then hummed discordantly.

“I don’t believe you’re in any shape to drive.” Selina threw back her head and laughed. “Give it the address. My apartment. We have a very special ceremony in mind for you.”

Mechanically, Eve repeated the address and stared straight ahead as the vehicle slowly slid from the curb. “Not Forte,” she managed, struggling to snap back. “It was never him.”

“That pathetic excuse for a man? He couldn’t kill a fly if it landed on his dick. If he’s got one. But he and that half-breed Wiccan are going to pay. You’ve seen to that, haven’t you? They thought they could save poor little Alice. Well, so did her stupid grandfather. See where it got them. No one challenges me and lives. You’ll find out just how much power I have very soon now. And you’ll beg me to kill you and end it.”

“You killed them all.”

“Every one of them.” Selina leaned closer. “And more. Many more. I enjoy the children most. They’re so… fresh. I walked right in on the grandfather, used his weakness for females. Sobbed, told him I was afraid for my life. Alban would kill me. Then I slipped the drugs into his drink and I killed him. I wanted blood but, well, it was nearly as satisfying to watch his eyes as he realized he was dying. You’ve seen how the eyes die first, haven’t you, Dallas? They die first.”

“Yes.” The mists were moving back to the corners of her mind. She could feel her legs and arms tingle as the nerves pumped back to life. “Yes, they do.”

“And Alice. I was almost sorry when we had to end that. Tormenting her day after day was so arousing. They way she would jump at a cat or a bird. Droids. Easily programmed. We used the cat that night, had it speak to her with my voice. We were waiting for her, we had plans for her, but she ran into the street and killed herself instead.

“So we’ll do to you what we’d planned for her. Here we are now.”

As the car veered toward the curb, Eve tested her hand, forced it into a fist. She struck out, backhanded, felt the satisfying connection with flesh and bone. Then the door was wrenched open behind her, hands clenched around her throat.

And the world went black.

“She should be here by now.” Though her apartment was filled with people and noise and wildly spinning lights, Mavis pouted. “She promised.”

“She’ll be right along.” Roarke managed to avoid being butted by a red-robed bull, lifted a brow at the manic call of “Toro!” An angel spun by, desperately dancing with a headless corpse.

“I really wanted her to see what Leonardo and I have done with the place.” Proud, Mavis turned a quick circle. “She’d never recognize her old digs, would she?”

Roarke scanned the magenta walls with their uninhibited splashes and streaks of cerise and periwinkle. The furniture consisted of heaps of glossy pillows and glass tubes. In keeping with the event, streamers of orange and black swayed everywhere. Skeletons danced, witches flew, and black cats arched.

“No.” He could agree with complete honesty. “She’d never recognize her old apartment. You’ve done… wonders.”

“We just love it. And we’ve got the best landlord on planet.” She kissed him enthusiastically.

While he hoped her purple lipstick hadn’t transferred to his face, he smiled. “My favorite tenant.”

“Could you call her, Roarke?” With fingers tipped the same shade, she plucked at his sleeve. “Just give her a little goose.”

“Of course. Go play hostess, and don’t worry. I’ll get her here.”

“Thanks.” She rolled off on glittery, red-wheeled shoes.

Roarke turned with the idea of hunting up somewhere quiet to make his call, then blinked at the apparition. “Peabody?”

Her elaborately painted face fell. “You recognized me.”

“Barely.” With a faint smile, he stepped back to take a full measure.

Long blonde hair swirled over her shoulders, down her back, over the tiny scallop-shaped bra that covered her br**sts. From the waist down, she was encased in shimmering green.

“You make a lovely mermaid.”

“Thanks.” She perked up again. “It took me forever to rig myself out.”

“How the hell do you walk?”

“I’ve got a cutout for my feet, the skirt of the tail covers it.” She wiggled back. “Pretty restrictive to movement though. Where’s Dallas?” She twisted her head to search. “I want her to get a load of it.”

“She isn’t here yet.”

“No?” Because she hadn’t worn her watch, she peered down at his. “It’s almost ten. She was only going to stake out Isis’s place for a couple hours then come straight here.”

“I was about to call her.”

“Good idea.” Peabody tried to ignore the prickle of nerves. “She’s probably stalling. She hates stuff like this.”