Rapture in Death (In Death #4)(53)

“That’s what makes me happy. I don’t know why you don’t understand.” Cerise lifted her face to the sky, closed her eyes. Eve risked shifting a few inches closer. “I don’t know why everyone doesn’t understand. It’s so beautiful. It’s so thrilling. It’s everything.”

“Cerise, you go off this ledge, it’s nothing. It’s over.”

“No, no, no.” She opened her eyes again, and they were glazed. “It’s just the beginning, don’t you see? Oh, we’re all so blind.”

“Whatever’s wrong can be fixed. I know.” Carefully, Eve laid a hand on Cerise’s. She didn’t grip, didn’t want to risk it. “Surviving’s what counts. You can change things, make things better, but you have to survive to do it.”

“Do you know how much work that is? And what’s the point when there’s so much pleasure just waiting. I feel so good. Don’t.” Chuckling, Cerise aimed the spray at Eve’s face. “Don’t spoil it now. I’m having such a nice time.”

“You have people who are worried about you. You have family, Cerise, who love you.” Eve strained to remember. Was there a child, a spouse, parents? “If you do this, you’ll hurt them.”

“Only until they understand. The time’s coming when everyone will understand. It’s going to be better then. Beautiful then.” She looked dreamily into Eve’s eyes, that beaming and terrifying smile on her lips. “Come with me.” She grabbed Eve’s hand, clutched. “It’s going to be wonderful. You only have to let go.”

Sweat snaked a line down Eve’s back. The woman’s grip was like a vise, and a struggle for freedom could doom them both. She forced herself not to resist, to ignore the twisting wind and the hum of the air vans documenting every movement. “I don’t want to die, Cerise,” she said calmly. “And neither do you. Self-termination is for cowards.”

“No, it’s for explorers. But suit yourself.” Cerise patted Eve’s hand, released it, and gave a long, trilling laugh to the wind. “Oh God, I’m so happy,” she said and, throwing her arms wide, leaned forward into space.

Instinctively, Eve grabbed. She nearly lost her perch as her fingertips brushed the trim line of Cerise’s hip. She banged onto her side, fought the roll forward as wind and space pulled at her. Gravity worked fast, mercilessly. Eve stared down into that wildly smiling face until it was only a blur.

“Jesus God. Oh, Jesus God.” Dizzy with reaction, she pushed herself up, leaned her head back, shut her eyes. Screams and shouts rained on her, and the air displaced by the media van coming in for a close-up struck her cheeks.

“Lieutenant. Dallas.”

The voice was like a bee buzzing in her ears, and Eve simply shook her head.

On the roof, Peabody stared down and fought against the nausea rising into her throat. All she could see now was that Eve was pressed on the ledge, white as a sheet, and one careful move would send her after the woman she’d tried to save. Taking a deep breath, Peabody trained her voice to sharp, professional tones.

“Lieutenant Dallas, you’re needed here. I require your recorder for a full report.”

“I hear you,” Eve said wearily. Keeping her eyes straight ahead, she reached behind to grip the edge of the roof. As a hand locked over hers, she got to her feet. Turning her back to the fall, she looked dead into Peabody’s eyes, read the fear. “The last time I thought about jumping, I was eight.” Though her legs shook a bit, she swung back onto the roof. “I won’t go that way.”

“Jesus, Dallas.” Forgetting herself for a moment, Peabody gave Eve a hard hug. “You scared the hell out of me. I thought she was going to pull you off.”

“So did I. She didn’t. Get a grip here, Peabody. The press is having a field day.”

“Sorry.” Peabody pulled back, coloring a bit. “Sorry.”

“No problem.” Eve looked over to where the shrink was standing at the edge, one hand to his heart in a pose for the busy cameras. “Asshole,” she muttered. She dug her hands into her pockets. She needed a minute, just another minute, to settle. “I couldn’t stop her, Peabody. I couldn’t find the right button to push.”

“Sometimes there isn’t one.”

“There was one that switched her onto this,” Eve said quietly. “There had to be one to switch her off.”

“I’m sorry, Dallas. You knew her.”

“Not really. Just one of the people who walk past a corner of your life.” She pushed it away, had to push it away. Death, however it came, always left responsibilities. “Let’s see what we can do here. Did you tag Feeney?”

“Affirmative. He locked on her ‘links from EDD and said he would head over personally. I downloaded data on the subject, didn’t take time to scan it.”

They walked toward the office. Through the glass, Rabbit could be seen sitting with his head between his knees. “Do me a favor, Peabody. Pass that limp rag off to a uniform for a formal statement. I don’t want to deal with him right now. I want her office secured. Let’s see if we can figure out what the hell she was doing that set her off.”

Peabody marched in, had Rabbit up and out with a uniform in seconds. With wicked efficiency, she cleared the room, sealed the outer doors. “It’s all ours, sir.”