Rapture in Death (In Death #4)(52)

He stopped, covered his face with his hands. “Fifteen minutes later she walked out, smiling and — and nude. I was so stunned, I just sat there. Just sat there.” His teeth began to chatter. “I’ve never even seen her without her shoes.”

“Being naked’s not her big problem now,” Eve pointed out. “Did she speak to you, say anything?”

“I, well, I was so stunned, you see. I said something, something like, ‘Ms. Devane, what are you doing? Is something wrong?’ And she just laughed. She said it was perfect. She had it all figured out now, and everything was wonderful. She was going to sit out on the ledge awhile before she jumped. I thought she was joking, and I was nervous so I laughed a little.”

His eyes were stricken. “I laughed, and then I saw her go to the edge of the roof. Jesus. She just popped over the side. I thought she’d jumped, and I ran out and over. There she was, sitting on the ledge, swinging her legs and humming. I asked her please to come back up before she lost her balance. She just laughed, spritzed a little of the spray at me, and told me she’d just found her balance and to go away like a good boy.”

“She get any calls, make any?”

“No.” He wiped his mouth. “Any transmissions would have gone through my unit. She’s going to jump, I tell you. She leaned over while I was watching, nearly went over then. And she said what a nice trip it was going to be. She’s going to jump.”

“We’ll see about that. Stay available.” Eve turned away. The company shrink was easy enough to spot. He was dressed in a knee-length white smock and black pipestem pants. His comforting gray hair was twisted into a neat queue, and he was leaning over the edge of the roof, his posture transmitting anxiety.

Even as Eve started toward him, she swore. She heard the whirl of flybys, then cursed the media again as she spotted the first air van. Channel 75, naturally, she mused. Nadine Furst was always first out of the gate.

The shrink straightened, smoothed down his smock for the cameras. Eve decided she was going to detest him. “Doctor?” She held up her badge and noticed the undisguised excitement in his eyes. All Eve could think was, a company the size and strength of Tattler could afford better.

“Lieutenant, I believe I’m making some progress with the subject.”

“She’s still on the ledge, isn’t she?” Eve pointed out and brushed past him to lean over. “Cerise?”

“More company?”

Sleek and pretty, skin the color of blushing rose petals, her well-toned legs swinging merrily, Cerise looked up. Her hair was jet black, its carefully groomed waves blowing in the breeze. She had a foxy, intelligent face and sharp green eyes. Just now, those eyes were soft and dreamy.

“Why, it’s Eve, isn’t it? Eve Dallas, the new bride. Lovely wedding, by the way. Really the social event of the year. We moved thousands of units with our coverage.”

“Good for you.”

“You know, I had research and data search busting butt to try to get the honeymoon itinerary. I don’t think anybody but Roarke could have managed a full media blackout.” She wagged her ringer playfully, and her perky br**sts swayed. “You could have shared, just a little. The public’s dying to know.”

She giggled at that, shifted, and nearly overbalanced. “We’re all dying to know. Whoops. Not yet. Too much fun, don’t want to rush it.” Straightening, she waved at the air vans. “Usually I hate the damn visual media. Can’t think why, just now. I love everybody!” She shouted the last, tossing her arms wide.

“That’s nice, Cerise. Why don’t you come back up for a minute. I’ll give you some data on the honeymoon. Exclusive.”

Cerise smiled slyly. “Uh-uh-uh.” The refusal was playful again, almost a giggle. “Why don’t you come down and join me? You can go with me. I’m telling you, it’s the ultimate.”

“Now, Ms. Devane,” the shrink began, “all of us have moments of despair. I understand. I’m with you. I hear your sorrow.”

“Oh stuff it.” Cerise brushed him back with a gesture. “I’m talking to Eve. Come on down, sweetie. But not too close.” She shook the spray and giggled. “Come on and join the party.”

“Lieutenant, I don’t recommend that you — “

“Shut up and go wait for my aide,” Eve told him as she swung a leg over the steel safety wall, lowered herself over the edge.

The wind didn’t seem quite so pleasant when she was dangling seventy stories over the street, nudged on a steel ledge barely two feet wide. Here it buffeted and swirled, aided by the backwash from the air vans. It plucked at the clothes and slapped the skin. She ordered her heart to stop jumping and pressed her back to the building.

“Isn’t it beautiful,” Cerise sighed. “I’d love to have some wine now, wouldn’t you? No, a big flute of champagne. Roarke’s Reserve forty-seven would go down smooth right now.”

“I think we’ve got a case at home. Let’s go open one.”

Cerise laughed, turned her head, and smiled hugely. And it was the smile, Eve realized as her heart lurched again, she’d seen on the face of a young man hanging from a homemade noose. “I’m already drunk on happiness.”

“If you’re happy, why are you sitting naked on a ledge considering taking the last leap?”