Visions in Death (In Death #19)(13)

"Uh-huh. You track down Louise?"

"She's at the shelter today."

"Oh." Eve had been hoping for the Canal Street Clinic. She'd yet to make a personal appearance at the women's shelter Roarke had founded. "We take the vic's residence first. If we clear enough time, we'll go by, talk to Louise."

"I've been wanting to see Dochas for myself," Peabody commented. "Charles says Louise is really juiced about it."

"You talk to Charles?"

"Sure, now and then."

As Charles, a professional and licensed companion, was Louise's guy, and had been Peabody's guy, minus sexual fun, it just struck Eve as weird.

But the ins and outs of relationships always struck her as weird. Her own included.

"Any luck with the ribbon?"

"If you call the fact that more than thirty retail outlets carry it in the borough of Manhattan alone luck, then yeah. Got the manufacturers, the distributors. It's a pretty common item, Dallas, in craft stores, party stores. Some of the better department stores carry it in their gift-wrap department. It's going to be tough to find his source."

"If it was easy, everybody would be cops."

———«»——————«»——————«»———

It was far from easy to question Deann Vanderlea again. The woman looked exhausted, ill, and weighed down with worry and grief. "I'm sorry we have to intrude."

"It's all right. Luther, my husband, he's been delayed. Air traffic. I'd do better if he were here. I couldn't do much worse."

She gestured toward chairs in the living area. The lounging robe had been replaced with slouchy black pants and a white, oversized shirt, but her hair was still tousled, her feet still bare.

"I haven't slept, and I'm holding on by the fingernails at this point. Do you have any news? Did you find the man who did this?"

"No. The investigation is ongoing, and we're using all resources."

"It was too much to hope for." She looked around, distractedly. "I should make coffee, or tea. Or something."

"Don't trouble yourself." Peabody spoke gently, a tone Eve never quite managed with the same ease. "If you'd like something, I'd be happy to get it for you."

"No. Thank you, no. Vonnie —she's sleeping again. She and Zanna. I don't know if she understands, really understands, her mother's not coming back. She cried. Cried and cried. We all did. She fell asleep, worn-out from it, and I put her back to bed. Zanna, too. I put them together, so neither of them would wake alone."

"She'll need counseling, Mrs. Vanderlea."

"Yes." Deann nodded at Peabody. "I've already made calls. I'm making arrangements. I want, I need... God. Luther and I, we want to make arrangements for Elisa. For her memorial. I'm not sure who I need to speak with about it, or how soon, or... I need to keep doing." A shudder ran through her. "I'm all right as long as I keep doing something."

"We'll put someone in touch with you," Eve told her.

"Good. I've called our lawyers as well, to arrange for emergency custody of Vonnie. To start proceedings to make it permanent as soon as we can. She's not going to be ripped away from the only home she's ever known. I've spoken with Elisa's parents—well, her mother and stepfather. Her mother—"

Her voice broke again, and she shook her head fiercely as if to deny herself the luxury. "They're coming here later today, so we can sit down and talk about what's best. Somehow."

"Elisa would be grateful that you're taking care of her daughter. She'd be grateful you're helping us do our job."

"Yes." Deann squared her shoulders at Eve's words. "I hope so."

"What do you know about Abel Maplewood? Elisa's father."

"A difficult man, in my opinion. But he and Elisa managed to maintain a good relationship. I haven't been able to reach him to tell him. He's out West somewhere. Omaha, Idaho, Utah... I'm so scattered." She dragged both hands through her hair. "He's been out there a week or so, visiting his brother, I think. Probably sponging off him, to be frank. Elisa was always slipping him money. Her mother's going to try to reach him today."

"It would help if we had his whereabouts. Just routine."

"I'll see you get the information. And I know you need to look in her rooms. I put the girls in Zanna's room, so they won't be disturbed." She started to rise, but Peabody put a hand to her shoulder.

"Why don't you stay here, try to rest. We know where her rooms are."

They left her there. "Record on, Peabody."

They stepped into a small, cheerful sitting room done in bold colors. There were a few toys scattered around, and a little basket with a red cushion Eve assumed was a kind of bed for the dog.

She moved through it, and into Elisa's bedroom. "Make a note to have EDD check out her 'links, her data units." She went to the dresser first, began to go through drawers.

She already had a sense of a settled, content, hardworking woman. The search of her quarters did nothing to change that. There were a number of framed photographs, most of the child. There were flowers and the little trinkets women enjoyed having around.