Strangers in Death (In Death #26)(51)

“I hardly see how my opinion is relevant.”

“Humor me.”

“In my opinion, Mr. Thomas Anders was a fair and honest man who brought that fairness and honesty into business. He trusted, correctly, that his nephew would do the same.”

“The manner of Mr. Anders’s death must have caused some speculation and gossip within the organization, and its accounts.”

Leopold’s jaw tightened. “People will talk, Lieutenant. It’s human nature.”

But you don’t, she thought. No juicy office gossip for you. But you hear it, file it.

“What’s the buzz about Mrs. Anders?”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

Tighten that jaw another notch, Leo, something’s going to snap. “Yes, you do.”

“Mrs. Anders devoted—devotes—much of her considerable energy into the charitable and humanitarian programs sponsored by Anders Worldwide. She’s very well respected.”

“She puts in time around here?”

“Of course, though she most often works from home, or by attending or hostessing functions.”

“You’d have been privy to her dealings with her husband, and with his nephew.”

“Somewhat certainly, as Ben—as Mr. Forrest was gradually taking over his uncle’s duties. Some of those duties involved the programs. I’m sorry, Lieutenant, I have a very crowded day, and a very difficult one. If that’s all—”

“It’s not. How would you describe the relationship between Mr. Forrest and—shit, let’s simplify. How did Ben and Ava get along?”

“They were very cordial, of course. Ben admired her talent and her energy, and was certainly impressed with many of her ideas.”

“Cordial. Not affectionate. He strikes me as an easy and affectionate sort, but you choose the cooler, more formal, ‘cordial’ to describe their relationship.”

“Mrs. Anders was his uncle’s wife.” Leopold’s tone was equally cool and formal. “Their relationship was perfectly proper.”

“Proper, there’s another cool term. Ben doesn’t like her much, does he? Neither do you.”

“I’ve said or implied nothing of the kind. I don’t—”

“Relax. I don’t like her either. So, you can keep standing there with that rod up your ass or…” She dropped into a chair without invitation. “Tell me why. Record off, Peabody,” Eve said as she switched off her own. “Just the three of us, Leo. Off record. What about Ava sticks in your craw?”

Eve watched him debate. Propriety or the opportunity to speak his mind. Opportunity won. “She’s studied, she’s deliberate, and she’s cold. Those aren’t crimes, but personality traits. And…”

“Don’t stop now.” Eve lifted her hands, palms up in invitation.

“There’s a pettiness about her. She would often circumvent Ben by making plans or decisions without consulting him or seeking his input. Her plans and decisions were always well thought out and researched. She had—has—excellent ideas. But it’s been her habit to brush over Ben, a very deliberate habit. In my opinion.”

“How’d Ben take that?”

“It frustrated him from time to time, though I admit, it frustrated me more.”

“Did he ever complain to his uncle?”

“Not to my knowledge, and I believe I would know. He might complain to me, or use me as a sounding board. Invariably, after he had he’d say the same thing. ‘Well, it’s the end result that matters.’ Mrs. Anders gets excellent results.”

“I believe that.”

“I think…”

“We’re off record, Leo. What do you think?”

“I think she often did the same regarding Mr. Anders. That is, failed to keep him in the loop until whatever she planned was essentially a fait accompli . There was some office gossip, and I don’t like office gossip.”

“Me, I love it. How about you, Peabody?”

“Revs up the day. What kind of gossip?” Peabody asked Leo.

“There was talk that she charged certain personal expenses to program budget. Household purchases, wardrobe, salons, that sort of thing. Nothing major, you understand. That pettiness again, from my point of view. I heard Mr. Anders, I mean Mr. Reginald Anders, called her on it.”

“Her father-in-law? When would this be?”

“I couldn’t say, exactly. He’s been gone nearly two years now. I only remember the talk because they got along very well, so the reprimand—if there was one—wouldn’t be expected.”

Leopold shifted his stance. “I don’t understand why this matters to you.”

“Oh, every little thing matters to me. This reprimand, that may or may not have happened? How did they get along afterward?”

“Back to status quo. I believe she sent Mr. Reginald a box of his favorite caramel creams as an apology.”

“Hmm. Mrs. Anders’s position here rises with the death of her husband. The late Mr. Anders held fifty-five percent of the shares in the company, Ben came in with fifteen, and Ava held a token two percent. Is that correct?”

“I believe so.”

She had his attention now, Eve noted. Big-time.