Rapture in Death (In Death #4)(94)

“No. I think courage and viciousness have no gender.”

“Well.” Disappointed, Reeanna pursed her lips briefly. “In any case, I corresponded with him briefly a couple of years ago. We exchanged ideas, theories. The anonymity of underground E-services are handy. I enjoyed his pontificating and was able to flatter him into sharing some of his technical progress. But I was well ahead of him. Frankly, I never thought he’d get as far as he apparently has. Simple mood expanding, I imagine, with some direct suggestion.” She cocked her head. “Close enough?”

“You went farther.”

“Oh, leagues. Why don’t you sit down, Eve? We’d both be more comfortable.”

“I’m comfortable on my feet.”

“As you like. But a few steps back, if you don’t mind.” She gestured with the stunner. “I wouldn’t want you to try for your weapon. I’d have to use this, and I’d hate to lose such a good audience.”

Eve took a step back. She thought of Roarke, several floors above. He wouldn’t come down to seek her out. At least she didn’t have that concern. If anything, he’d call down if he locked onto something. So he was safe, and she could stall.

“You’re a medical doctor,” Eve pointed out. “A psychiatrist. You’ve spent years studying to help the human condition. Why take lives, Reeanna, when you’re trained to save them?”

“Branded at conception perhaps.” She smiled. “Oh, you don’t like that theory. You’d have used it to push your case, but you don’t like it. You don’t know where you came from, or from what.” She saw Eve’s eyes flicker and nodded, pleased. “I’ve studied all available data on Eve Dallas as soon as I learned Roarke was involved with you. I’m very attached to Roarke, once toyed with the idea of making our all-too-brief liaison into something more permanent.”

“He dumped you?”

The smile froze as the insult hit target. “That’s beneath you, such a petty female hit. No, he didn’t. We simply drifted in opposite directions. I had intended to drift back, let’s say, eventually. So I was intrigued when he took such an avid interest in a cop, of all things. Not his usual taste, certainly not his usual style. But you are… interesting. More so after I accessed data on you.”

She made herself comfortable on the arm of the relaxation chair. The weapon stayed aimed and steady. “The young, abused child found in a Dallas alley. Broken, battered, confused. No memory of how she’d gotten there, who’d beat her, raped her, abandoned her. A blank. I found that fascinating. No past, no parents, no hint of what made her. I’m going to enjoy studying you.”

“You won’t get your hands in my head.”

“Oh, but I will. You’ll even suggest it yourself, once you take a trip or two on the unit I’ve made just for you. I really hate that I’m going to have to see to it that you forget everything we discuss here. You have such a keen mind, such a strong energy. But it will give us a chance to work together. As fond as I am of William, he’s so… short-sighted.”

“How involved is he?”

“He has no idea. The first test I ran on the doctored unit was on William. Quite a success, and it made things so much easier. I could direct him to adjust each unit I wanted. He’s quicker, more adept electronically than I. He actually helped me refine the design and personalize the one I sent to Senator Pearly.”

“Why?”

“Another test. He was very vocal about the misuse of subliminals. He enjoyed games, as I’m sure you’ve discovered, but he continually pushed for regulations. Censorship, if you ask me. He stuck his nose into  p**n ography, consenting adult dual controls, commercial advertising and its use of suggestion, all manner of things. I thought of him as my sacrificial lamb.”

“How did you gain access to his brain pattern?”

“William. He’s very clever. It took him several weeks of intense work, but he managed to hack through security.” She angled her head, enjoying the moment. “At the top level of NYPSD as well. He injected a virus there. Just to keep your EDD men occupied.”

“And that’s where you accessed my pattern.”

“Indeed it is. He has a soft heart, my William, it would pain him horribly to know he had a vital part in coercion.”

“But you used him, you made him part of it. And it doesn’t pain you at all.”

“No, it doesn’t. William made it all possible. And if not him, there would have been another.”

“He loves you. You can see it.”

“Oh please.” It made her laugh. “He’s a puppy. All men are when it comes to an attractive female form. They simply sit up and beg. That’s amusing, occasionally irritating, and always useful.” Intrigued, she touched her tongue to her top lip. “Don’t tell me you haven’t used your basic female advantage on Roarke.”

“We don’t use each other.”

“You’re missing a simple advantage.” But Reeanna flicked it away. “The esteemed Dr. Mira would label me a sociopath with violent tendencies and a driving need for control. A pathological liar with an unhealthy, even dangerous fascination with death.”

Eve waited a beat. “And would you agree with that analysis, Dr. Ott?”