Holiday in Death (In Death #7)(66)

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But his hand wasn’t quite so steady now as he picked up the water in front of him. Dark red streaks of emotion began to burn along the milk-white skin.

Eve knew if she’d had him on a truth tester, the graph would have cracked through the screen.

“Yes, you do. And I bet it wouldn’t be too tough for me to dig out a couple of your clients who Holloway jumped during one of those nice, polite meets you recommend. Once I do, I can charge you and your sister for soliciting, for fraud, for accessory to several types of sex crimes.” She shot a look over. “And your lawyer knows I can make at least some of that stick, and it’ll stick long and hard enough to put your business in the sewer, to put your face, and Piper’s, on every screen in the city for newsflashes.”

“We can’t be held responsible. She can’t be held responsible for what that… that deviant did.”

“Rudy.” The lawyer held up a hand, then laid it on Rudy’s shoulder. “I’d like a moment to confer, Lieutenant.”

“No problem. Record off. You got five,” she warned and left them alone.

With her eyes on them through the glass, she pulled out her communicator. “McNab.”

While she waited for response, she rocked back and forth on her heels, judging the body language inside the room. Rudy had his arms crossed, his fingers digging into his biceps. The lawyer was hunched over, talking fast.

“McNab. I’m heading in, Dallas.”

“Then head back. I’m getting a warrant to put you into the system at Personally Yours. Wait for it.”

“Can I take a six-eight? Grab some lunch?”

“Hit a glide-cart on the way back. I want you in place the minute the authorization comes in.” She heard his sigh and smiled thinly. “How was the facial, McNab?”

“Great. I got cheeks like a baby’s ass. And I saw Peabody naked. Well, mostly. She was coated with green shit, but I got the picture.”

“Just put that picture out of your mind and get ready to dig.”

“I can do both. Hell of a picture. She’s really pissed, too.”

Eve did her best not to grin back at him, and shut him off before she lost the battle.

“Time’s up, pal,” she murmured and walked back into Interview. After resetting the record, she sat down, lifted a brow. Sometimes silence worked a subject better than hammering.

“My client wishes to make a statement.”

“That’s what we’re here for. So, what do you have to say, Rudy?”

“Brent Holloway was extorting money from my company, through me. I did my best to protect my clients, but he was blackmailing me and part of what he demanded was regular consultations and matches. He was, in my opinion, difficult and irritating, but not dangerous to the women we matched him with.”

“That’s your professional opinion?”

“Yes, it is. We advise all our clients to meet their matches in a public place. Any who agreed to meet him privately subsequent to that were making their own decision. All clients sign a waiver.”

“Uh-huh, so you figure that covers your ass, ethically speaking. I’m pretty sure the courts may have a different view. But let’s get to the meat first. What did he have on you?”

“It’s not relevant.”

“Oh yeah, it is.”

“It deals with my personal life.”

“It deals with homicide, Rudy. But if you don’t want to tell me about it, I’ll go back and talk to your sister.” She started to rise, but Rudy’s hand flew out and gripped her arm.

“Leave her alone. She’s delicate.”

“One of you will talk to me. Your choice.”

His fingers tightened on her arm, dug in hard before he released it and sat back. “Piper and I have a unique and special relationship. We’re twins. We’re connected.” He kept his eyes level. “We’re matched.”

“You and your sister have a sexual relationship.”

“It’s not for you to judge,” he snapped. “Nor do I expect you to understand the bond between us. No one can. And though what we have together isn’t strictly illegal, society disapproves.”

“Incest isn’t a pretty word, Rudy.” The image of her father, his face red with effort, his eyes hard with purpose, flashed into her mind. Under the table she clenched her hands into fists and forced the image, and the sickness it caused, back.

“We’re matched,” he said again. “For most of our lives we refused to act on what was in our hearts. We tried to be with other people, to live separate lives. And we were miserable. Are we supposed to be unhappy, unfulfilled, because people like you say it’s wrong?”

“It doesn’t matter what I say, or what I think. How did Holloway find out?”

“It was in the West Indies. Piper and I had taken a vacation. We’d been careful. We’re discreet. We understand that we’d lose clients if they knew. We’d gone away where we could have a little time alone together, to be free to be together openly as any other couple can. Holloway was there. He didn’t know us, nor we him. We had registered under different names.”

He paused, sipped his water. “A few months later he came in for a consult. It was just… fate. I didn’t even recognize him at first. But after his screening, when the data on him showed up and we refused his application, he reminded us where we’d met, and how.”