Immortal in Death (In Death #3)(100)

“Peabody,” Eve said and flicked a finger under her eyes. “I’ve never been more touched.”

“I’m shit faced, Dallas.”

“The evidence points to it. Can we get any food in here that doesn’t promise ptomaine? I’m starved.”

“The bride to be wants to eat.” Still sober as a nun, Mavis bolted to her feet. “I’ll take care of it. Don’t get up.”

“Oh, and Mavis.” Eve jerked her down, murmured in her ear. “Get me something nonlethal to drink.”

“But, Dallas, it’s a party.”

“And I’m going to enjoy it. I really am, but I want to be clear-headed tomorrow. It’s important to me.”

“That’s so sweet.” Weeping again, Mavis lowered her face to Eve’s shoulder.

“Yeah, I’m a regular sugar substitute.” On impulse she jerked Mavis around and kissed her square on the mouth. “Thanks. Nobody else would have thought of this.”

“Roarke did.” Mavis mopped at her eyes with the glittering fringe swinging from her sleeve. “We worked it out together.”

“He would, wouldn’t he?” Smiling a little, Eve took another dubious look at the naked bodies gyrating on stage. “Hey, Nadine.” She topped off the reporter’s glass. “The guy up there with the red tail feathers has his eye on you.”

“Oh, yeah?” Nadine looked blearily around.

“Dare you.”

“Dare me what? To get up there? Shit, that’s nothing.”

“Then do it.” Eve leaned over, grinned in her face. “Let’s see some action.”

“You think I won’t.” Rising, Nadine teetered, righted herself. “Hey, hot stuff,” she shouted to the closest dancer. “Give me a hand up.”

The crowd loved her, Eve decided. Especially when Nadine got into the spirit and stripped down to purple underwear. Eve sighed into her mineral water. She sure knew how to pick her friends. “How’s it going, Trina?”

“I’m having an out of body experience. I think I’m in Tibet.”

“Uh-huh.” Eve cast a look at Dr. Mira. The way the woman was cheering, Eve was afraid she’d leap up onstage herself. She didn’t think either one of them wanted that vision in their memory logs. “Peabody.” She had to jab her fingers into Peabody’s arm to get even a vague reaction. “Let’s get some more food here.”

Peabody grunted. “I could do that.”

Following her gaze, Eve watched Nadine in a crotch grind with a seven-foot black in body paint. “Sure you could, pal. You’d bring the house down.”

“It’s just that I’ve got this little pouch.” She staggered, and Eve caught her neatly by the arm. “Jake called it my jelly belly. I’m saving up to have it sucked.”

“Just do some more abs. Don’t go for the vacuum.”

“It’s hereditary.”

“Hereditary.”

“Right.” She swayed and hobbled as Eve steered her through the crowd. “Everybody in my family’s got one. Jake likes ‘em skinny. Like you.”

“Screw him, then.”

“Did.” Peabody giggled, then leaned heavily on a serving bar. “Screwed our brains out. That’s not what does it, though, you know that, Evie.”

Eve sighed. “Peabody, I don’t want to punch a fellow officer when she’s impaired. So don’t call me Evie.”

“Right. Know what does it?”

“Food,” she ordered from the server droid. “Any kind and lots of it. Table three. What does what, Peabody?”

“What does it. It. What you and Roarke got, that’s what does it. Connection. Inside connections. Sex is just the extra.”

“Sure. You and Casto having problems?”

“Nope. Just don’t have much connection now that the case is closed.” Peabody shook her head and lights exploded in front of her eyes. “Jesus, I’m plowed. Gotta use the John.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“I can do it myself.” With some dignity, Peabody nudged Eve’s hand from her arm. “I don’t care to vomit in front of a superior officer, if it’s all the same to you.”

“Suit yourself.”

But Eve watched her like a hawk as she toddled across the floor. They’d been at it nearly three hours, she judged. And though fun was fun, she was going to get some food into her little playmates and see that they all got transport home.

Smiling, she leaned on the bar herself, watching Nadine, still wearing purple briefs, sitting at the table having an earnest discussion with Dr. Mira. Trina had her head on the table now and was probably communing with the Dhali Lama.

Mavis, eyes shining, was onstage, screeching out an impromptu number that had the dance floor rocking.

Damn it, she thought as she felt her throat burn. She loved the whole snockered lot of them. Peabody included, she decided, and opted to take a short peek into the toilet to make sure her aide hadn’t passed out or drowned.

She made it nearly halfway across the club before she was grabbed. As it had been happening on and off all evening as hopeful club goers trolled for partners, she started to shake off good-naturedly.