Promises in Death (In Death #28)(76)

“I want to hear the minute you have anything. Even half of anything.”

“Cha. Back when. Callendar out.”

“Cha?” Eve repeated.

“As in ‘gotcha.’ ” Baxter rolled his eyes. “E-geeks.”

Eve shook her head, in perfect accord. “E-geeks.”

She swung to the curb at Ricker’s building. “On duty,” she said and preened a little when her light flashed on.

“Solid.”

“If we wrap this, I’ll show you how she verticals as we head back.”

She badged her way in, moved straight to the elevator when the doorman said they were already cleared and expected by Mr. Ricker.

He met them in the foyer. “Lieutenant.”

“Mr. Ricker. Detective Baxter. We appreciate you making time to answer a few more questions.”

His tone was as polite and neutral as Eve’s. “I want to cooperate in any way I can.”

“As discussed, we’d also like to speak to Mr. Sandy.”

“Yes. He’s probably in the kitchen, getting coffee. Please sit down. I’ll get him.”

“Prime digs,” Baxter commented as he looked around. “And they say crime doesn’t pay.”

“Only idiots say that.”

“The world’s full of idiots.”

Alex came back alone. “Sorry, he’s generally an early riser, so I assumed . . . He must be upstairs. Excuse me.”

As Alex started up, Eve and Baxter exchanged glances.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Baxter murmured.

“Somebody’s gone rabbit. Goddamn it. Routine follow-up, what spooked him? There’s nothing here to make him bolt, risk his position, turn our suspicions. It’s stupid.”

“Lieutenant.” Alex came to the top of the stairs, and she saw it in the pale set of his face. “Rod isn’t here. His bed hasn’t been slept in. I won’t object if you want to look for yourself.”

Damn right they would. Eve started up. “When did you last see him?”

“Last night, about eight. He had a date. But he knew you were expected this morning. It’s not like him to miss an appointment. And he’s not answering his ’link. I just tried it.”

Eve walked to the doorway of Sandy’s room. “Who’s the date?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”

She moved past Alex to check the closet, then frowned. “His things are still here. Anything missing, that you can tell?”

“Whatever he wore last night—ah, let me think. He had on a brown leather jacket, black pants, I think. I can’t recall what color shirt. Casual. A casual date. His clothes are here, as far as I can tell. But why wouldn’t they be? He had no reason to leave, and wouldn’t leave without telling me.”

“Maybe it was a sudden decision,” Baxter suggested with just enough sarcasm to have Alex turn frigid eyes on him.

“He doesn’t make sudden decisions, and he works for me. He’s my oldest friend, and he works for me. Obviously, the date turned into something more than casual, and he stayed the night. He’s overslept and doesn’t hear his ’link. I’m perfectly willing to answer any questions you have for me now, and I’ll see to it that Rod makes himself available to you as soon as he gets back.”

He turned to Eve then. “I didn’t contact my lawyers. They don’t even know you’re here. I’m not playing you. Rod just—”

“Got lucky?” Eve suggested. “Baxter, wait for me downstairs.”

“Sure.”

“Rod’s done nothing but be careless about an appointment,” Alex began.

“Stow it. Who was your driver yesterday?”

Biting and cold replaced polite and neutral. “And that’s relevant because?”

“Because I want to know, Mr. Cooperation. Who drove you to your meet with Roarke?”

“Carmine. Carmine Luca,” he added when Eve simply stared. “He’s downstairs, in an apartment I keep as staff quarters.”

“Bring him up.”

“I don’t understand why you want to interview my driver.”

“You’ll understand after I do. Bring him up, or call your lawyers and tell them to meet you downtown.”

Eyes, already cool, went to ice. “Maybe I misjudged the situation. I’ll bring him up, and we’ll see if you make me understand. Otherwise, unless you’ve got a warrant, you’re gone.”

Alex pulled out a ’link as he pointed Eve toward the door. “Carmine, I need you up here.”

Within minutes, the big, burly Carmine lumbered in. He had, Eve thought, a face like stone that had been battered for decades by wind and water. Tough, pitted, and blank.

“These officers would like to ask you some questions, Carmine. Answer them, is that clear?”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Ricker.”

“When did Rod Sandy ask you about Mr. Ricker’s meeting with Roarke?”

“I don’t know about any meeting.”

Eve looked at Alex. “Would you like to make it clearer, or should I?”

“Carmine, I want you to answer the lieutenant’s questions. I had a meeting with Roarke yesterday morning, on Coney Island. You drove me.”