Memory in Death (In Death #22)(15)

"You've misspoken. It was to her, not for her. Now then, what you don't understand, Ms. Lombard, is I'm compensating you right now."

"You'd better think before—"

"I'm compensating you," he interrupted, "by not getting up, coming over there, and twisting your head off your neck with my bare hands."

She gasped, theatrically. "You're threatening me?"

"Indeed, I'm not," he continued in the same easy tone. "I'm explaining to you how you're being compensated for walking away from this. I'm telling you what's not happening to you, and believe me, it's costing me dearly not to put my hands on you for what you did to my wife when she was defenseless."

He rose, slowly. There wasn't a gasp this time, and no theatrics. She simply froze as all the blood drained out of her face. Finally, he decided, she saw what was under his own shell, under the sophistication, the style, the manners money had bought him. Even a viper hadn't a prayer against it.

With his eyes on hers, he came around the desk, then leaned back against it. Close enough that he heard her breath shudder out.

"Do you know what could be done, what I could do like that?" He snapped his ringers. "I could kill you, here and now, without a flinch. I could have as many people as I deemed appropriate swear you'd left this office hale and hearty. I could have security discs altered to prove it. They'd never find your body—what was left of it when I was done with you. So consider your life—which I assume is worth a considerable amount to you—your compensation."

"You must be crazy." She shrank back in her chair. "You must be out of your mind."

"Consider that if you ever think of bargaining with me again... If you consider lining your pockets by speaking of a child's torture and nightmare for money... If you ever attempt to contact my wife again... Think of that, and be afraid. Be afraid," he repeated, leaning toward her a bit, "because restraining myself from carving pieces of you away, slowly, one at a time, is irritating. I dislike being irritated."

He took one step toward her, had her scrambling to her feet and backing toward the door. "Oh, and you may want to pass the message on to your son, should he feel inclined to try my patience."

When she reached the door, fumbled behind her for it, he spoke softly. "There's nowhere in or off this world you could hide from me if you do anything more to hurt my wife. Nowhere I wouldn't go to settle with you for it." He waited a beat, smiled, and said: "Run."

She ran, and he heard a thin scream, like a wheezing breath as her footsteps pounded away. He dipped his hands in his pockets, closed one over Eve's button again as he walked back to study the dank gloom of the December sky.

"Sir?"

He didn't turn as his admin stepped into his office. "Yes, Caro."

"Did you want Security to monitor Ms. Lombard's exit?"

"That won't be necessary."

"She seemed to be in a hurry."

He watched the ghost of his reflection smile a little. "She had a sudden change of plans." He turned now, glanced at his wrist unit. "Well, it's time for lunch, isn't it? I'll go up, greet our guests. I have quite the appetite this afternoon."

"I imagine," Caro murmured.

"Oh, and Caro?" he said as he strolled toward his private elevator. "Would you notify Security that neither Ms. Lombard nor her son— I'll see they have an ID print of him—should be given access to this building?"

"I'll take care of it right away."

"One more thing? They're staying at the West Side Hotel, over on Tenth. I'd like to know when they check out."

"I'll see to that, sir."

He glanced back as the elevator opened. "You're a treasure, Caro."

She thought, as the door closed behind him, that at moments like, this she was pleased he thought so.

4

TO KEEP HER MIND BUSY, EVE CONCENTRATED on paperwork and follow-ups. Dealing with the drone work had the added benefit of getting her desk reasonably clear before the holidays snuck up and bit her in the ass.

She was making considerable headway when Peabody came to her office door.

"Tubbs's tox came back positive for traces of Zeus, and various others. Other vic was clean. The bodies, such as they are, will be released to next of kin tomorrow."

"Good job."

"Dallas?"

"Mmm. I'm sending the squad's expense chits up. Most of them," she said with a sneer. "Baxter and I are going to have a little chat."

"Dallas." Eve glanced up, saw Peabody's face. "What?"

"I've got to go to court. Celina."

Eve got to her feet. "We've already given our testimony."

"Prosecution called me separately, remember? As one of the victims."

"Yeah, but... I thought you weren't coming up for that yet, not for another week or two anyway. With the holidays..."

"It's moving along pretty fast. I need to go in."

"When?"

"Sort of now. It shouldn't take long, but... You're going with me?" Peabody asked as Eve grabbed her coat.

"What do you think?"

On a long breath, Peabody closed her eyes. "Thanks. Thanks. McNab's going to meet me there. He's out in the field, and he's going to try to... Thanks."