Visions in Death (In Death #19)(101)

"Your wits were gold." He handed her a stack of hard copies. "Tell Peabody we're pulling for her."

"Bet your ass." She punched him lightly on the shoulder, a sign of affection as much as appreciation, and hurried out. "Going to run for a match myself. Feeney'll probably beat me to it, but we'll get this started. And once we—shit, shit, shit."

She yanked out her beeping communicator. Seeing McNab's code on the readout, she stopped short. Instinctively, she reached for Roarke's hand as she answered. "Dallas."

"She's awake."

"On my way."

———«»——————«»——————«»———

Eve all but sprinted down the hospital corridor, and when an ICU attendant held up a hand, she only snarled. "Don't try it."

She surged through the door and straight into Peabody's room. And stopped short.

Peabody was propped up in bed, a vague smile on her battered face. The short counter under the single window had been transformed into a garden, with flowers jammed together in such abundance their scent overpowered even the hospital scent.

McNabstood beside her, holding her hand as if he'd been glued there. Louise was on the other side. And perched on a chair was Mavis, doing some blooming of her own in florid purple and green.

"Hey, Dallas." Peabody's voice was slightly slurred and absolutely cheerful. "Hello, Roarke. Jeez, he's just so gorgeous, what're ya gonna do? You gotta think about it."

Louise chuckled. "And who could blame you? You'll have to excuse her," she said to Eve. "They gave her something for the pain."

"Something really, 'specially good." Peabody grinned. "Totally iced drugs."

"How's she doing?"

"Very well." Louise gave Peabody a light pat. "She's got more treatments in store. Tests, scans, therapy—all that fussy medical business. And she'll need to be monitored carefully for a while yet. But they've bumped her all the way down to stable. She'll move to a standard room within a few hours if she stays stable. I expect her condition will be deemed good by the end of the day."

"You see my face? I mean, whoa shit! Messed me up good. They had to—what was it—reconstruct my cheekbone. I don't know why they couldn'ta done both while they were in there, and given me some. Cheekbones, you know? And he dislocated my jaw, so I'm talking funny. But it doesn't hurt a bit. I love drugs. Can I have more?"

"Can you cut them back a little?" Eve asked.

"Aw." Peabody poked out her bottom lip.

"I need to talk to her, get her statement. I need her a little more coherent for that."

"I'll check, see what I can do. But you'll need to keep it short."

"She's in a lot of pain without them," McNab said when Louise stepped out.

"She'd want to do this."

"I know." He sighed, smiled as Peabody examined the fingers of her free hand. "She's really wonked."

"How come we don't have six fingers, you think? Six would be frosty. Hey, Mavis!"

"Hey, Peabody." Mavis moved across the room, slid an arm around Eve's waist. "She says, 'Hey, Mavis,' about every five minutes," she whispered. "It's cute. I'm going to go out, sit with Leonardo and Charles while you do this part. Anybody you want us to tag to update them?"

"We spread the word, but thanks. Thanks, Mavis."

Louise and Mavis passed, going in and out. "I'm going to cut her IV down a little and give you ten minutes tops. She doesn't need to deal with pain right now."

"Can I kiss Roarke first? Come on. Please, please, please!"

Though Eve rolled her eyes, Roarke laughed and walked to the bed. "How about I kiss you, gorgeous?"

"Not so pretty right now," she said. Coyly.

"You're beautiful to me. Absolutely beautiful."

" Awwww, see? What're ya gonna do?"

He leaned down, laid his lips softly on hers.

" Mmmm." She patted him on the cheek when he lifted his head. " Better'ndrugs even."

"Remember me?" McNab asked.

"Ah, yeah, skinny guy. Crazy about the skinny guy. He's just so cute. Got the cutest little butt. Oughta see it naked."

"Louise, cut them back. Have mercy," Eve demanded.

"Takes a minute."

"Stayed with me all night. Sweet boy. Love the sweet boy. Heard you talking to me sometimes. You can kiss me, too. Everybody can kiss me because... oh-oh."

"Give me some room," Eve demanded. "Peabody."

"Sir."

"You get a look at him?"

"Yes, sir." She drew a breath, shakily. "Jesus, Dallas, he messed me up. Came at me like a hell-god. I kept feeling stuff breaking and tearing inside me. Hell of a thing."

Her fingers moved restlessly on the sheet, then dug in as she struggled with the pain. Eve covered it with hers, stilled it.

"I got to my weapon, though. I hit him. I know I did. Arm, shoulder maybe, but I nailed one in him."

"You see his vehicle?"