Reunion in Death (In Death #14)(91)

"I don't know." Peabody sniffed them sentimentally. "Anyway, it's the thought that counts. You let my parents come in and observe. You don't like having civilians observe an interview."

"I made an exception."

"They said they were proud of me."

"You're a good cop. Why shouldn't they be proud of you?"

"It just means a lot to hear them say it. I want to thank you for sending that note in, snapping me back on track. I'd gone way off. I knew I was losing her and couldn't figure where I'd gone off."

"You picked it back up, and you got it done. How do you feel about it?"

"Good, I guess. I feel good about it." But she lowered her arms, drooping the flowers toward the floor. "Jesus, Dallas, I feel sorry for her. Her whole world's broken into little pieces. It was an accident. She's being straight about that. She worked herself up to confront Marsha, told her how she felt about Boyd. They argued, it got physical, and Marsha went down hard, hit her head. Hit it wrong. Then Maureen panics and tries to cover up."

"And they'll plead it down to Manslaughter. Manslaughter when it should be Murder Two."

"Lieutenant."

"Maybe she panicked, for a minute or two, she panicked and was sorry and shocked. But then what did she do? Does she call for help? On the slim chance Marsha Stibbs could be revived or saved, does she call for help? No, she seized an opportunity. She not only covers up the crime, but she goes just a few steps further. She plants false evidence that paints a dead woman with adultery, leaves that dead woman's husband, a man she herself claims to love, with the pain and doubt and misery of wondering if his wife could have lied to him, cheated on him, betrayed him. She casts a cloud over the life she stole so that everyone who knew Marsha Stibbs would look through that cloud and see a woman who was a cheat, so she can bide her time, pave the road, and eventually step into her place."

Eve shook her head. "Don't waste your pity on her. If you've got pity, give it to Marsha Stibbs, who had her life taken for no reason other than she had what someone else wanted."

"Yes, sir, I know you're right. I guess it just has to settle in."

"Peabody. You stood for Marsha Stibbs in that interview. You did a good job for her."

Peabody's face cleared, and so did her lingering doubts. "Thank you, Lieutenant."

"Go home, snazz yourself up for this fancy deal you've got going tonight."

"It's not end of shift."

"I'm springing you an hour early and you want to argue about it?"

"No, sir!" Peabody pulled a yellow daisy out of her bunch, offered it.

"You passing on stolen property, Officer?" Amused, Eve twirled it, then turned to her beeping interoffice 'link. "Hold on. Dallas."

"Lieutenant." Whitney's face filled the screen. "I want you and your team in my office. Fifteen minutes."

"Yes, sir. Sorry, Peabody." Eve pushed to her feet. "Want your flower back?"

...

Fifteen minutes didn't give Eve enough time to finish compiling and analyzing all the data to support her hunch on Julianna's personal holiday. Instead she worked out an oral pitch in her head to pursue that hunch on the way to Whitney's office.

The pitch stalled when she walked in and saw Roarke.

He sat in one of the chairs facing the commander's desk, apparently very much at home. Their gazes met, locked, and she knew instantly that whatever was going on she wasn't going to like it.

"Lieutenant." Whitney gave a quick come-ahead signal. "Officer Peabody, I'm told you closed a homicide case this afternoon, with a full confession in Interview."

"Yes, sir. The Marsha Stibbs matter."

"Good job."

"Thank you, Commander. Actually, Lieutenant Dallas-"

"Had complete confidence in Officer Peabody's ability to investigate and close this case," Eve interrupted. "That confidence was justified. Officer Peabody pursued this investigation primarily on her own time while continuing to serve as my aide and as part of the investigative team formed in the Julianna Dunne homicides. A commendation regarding this matter has been added to Officer Peabody's file."

"Well done," Whitney said while Peabody stood speechless. "Come," he called out at the knock on his door. "Captain, Detective." He nodded at Feeney and McNab.

"Nice work." Feeney gave Peabody a wink and a little arm punch as he joined them. "Roarke." He dipped his hands in his pockets, gave his bag of nuts a little rattle. Something was up, he thought, and it was bound to be interesting.

"Julianna Dunne." Whitney began with the name, pausing on it as he scanned the faces of his officers. "She has committed three homicides in this city. A fourth in another-though Denver Police and Security is... reluctant to confirm that at this time." His lips curved, a sharp, knowing smile as he looked at Eve. "She is also responsible for seriously injuring an officer."

"Commander-"

He cut off Eve's protest with one narrowed stare. "It's fortunate you recover quickly, Lieutenant. However, these are the facts, facts that the media are actively broadcasting. Facts that this department must respond to. Two of the victims were prominent men, with prominent connections. The families of Walter Pettibone and Henry Mouton have contacted this office, and the office of Chief of Police Tibble, demanding justice. Demanding answers."