Origin in Death (In Death #21)(82)

"All right. Peabody."

"I'll go with you, Mrs. Icove."

Alone, Eve used the time to check in with Feeney.

In a lab now, attached to a kind of clinic. They're billing it as an in-house treatment, evaluation, and teaching center. How they monitor the kids' health, well-being, nutritional index, and give instruction on medical shit. Treat minor injuries here, have sims for students. Got six medical staff, rotating, and two med-droids on, twenty-four/seven. Place is equipped with all the latest. So much latest I've never seen, some of it before. I'm working on the data centers and scanners. It's early yet, but it's looking like students are required to have weekly exams."

"Extreme, but not illegal."

"Give me time," Feeney promised.

She moved from him to Roarke, who had made it home. "I'm going to be really late."

"I suspected as much. With my absolute confidence in you, I'm wagering you'll close this by morning, then be entitled to-and willing to-take at least a few hours personal."

"For what?"

"Mad sex would be nice, but as some of my relations will be here tomorrow afternoon-"

"Tomorrow. It's not Thanksgiving tomorrow." Was it?

"No, but it's the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and they'll be staying a few days. As we discussed."

"Yeah, but we didn't discuss Wednesday, specifically, right?"

"You didn't even know tomorrow was Wednesday."

"Beside the point. I'll shake some time loose if I can. Right now, I've got a big, fat mess waiting to crap all over me."

"You've had the shittiest imagery going lately. Still, it might perk you up to know I've got a line on more of the money."

"Why didn't you say so in the first place? Where-"

"Darling, of course, you're welcome. Don't think a thing about the fact I've been wracking my brain over this little chore."

"Jeez. Okay, thanks. Kiss, kiss. Gimme."

"I adore you. There are times I don't comprehend why, but still, I adore you. There's what you could call a funnel leading out of Brookhollow, and-"

"Out of the school? They used the schools to disburse funds? Forget kiss, kiss. This plays out, I'll screw you blind and deaf, first op."

"That sounds lovely, I'll check my schedule. Meanwhile, yes, they've used the school to wash the funds, then funnel it out to various accounts, under various nonprofit organizations-including Unilab- set up-"

"Nonprofit?" She did a little victory dance. "I'll wear costumes, your choice."

"Well now, that is interesting. I've always had a little yen for-"

"We'll talk about it later. Document it, get me every little detail you can manage. If I can show they used the school for laundering unreported income, channeling it into nonprofits, I can use RICO, tax fraud, all manner of juicy stuff, and have those schools shut down whether or not we find anything wonky on premises."

"You'll have to hand it to Federal."

"I won't give a rat's ass. You know how long it would take to ferret out every facility where they might be doing this work, aspects of this work, moving girls out? But you cut off the funding, you cut off the work. I gotta go, somebody's coming to the door. Might be Avril's rep. I'll get back to you."

She started toward the door with a little spring in her step. She could see how it could work, nearly all the way through.

Then she heard the security green light go on. She drew her weapon as the front door opened.

And held it steady even as her heart gave a little thud.

Two women stood just beyond the threshold. They were identical- face, hair, body. Even down to clothes and jewelry.

Both gave her a slow, sober smile. "Lieutenant Dallas, we're Avril Icove," they said together.

"Hands behind your heads, turn and face the wall."

"We're unarmed," they said.

"Hands behind your heads," Eve repeated levelly. "Turn and face the wall."

They obeyed, their movements in synch. Eve took out her communicator. "Peabody, secure the witness. Bring her down now."

"On our way."

Eve patted each of them down. Weird, she thought, to feel exactly the same shape, the same textures.

"We've come to answer your questions," the one on the right told her.

"We'll waive the right to an attorney at this time." Both glanced over their shoulders. "We'll give you full cooperation."

"That'll be peachy."

They glanced up, toward the stairs, and each smiled.

"Oh wow." Peabody's voice had a kick that was both shock and excitement. "Surreal Town."

Eve waited while the woman with Peabody took her place with the others. "Which one of you is Avril Icove of this address?"

"We are Avril Icove. We're the same."

"Yeah." Eve cocked her head. "This is going to be some party. In." She gestured to the living area. "Sit. Quiet."

They moved the same, she noted. She couldn't detect the slightest difference in rhythm or stride.

"What do we do now?" Peabody spoke in undertones, her eyes locked on the three women.