Forgotten in Death(94)

“He’s fine, thank you.”

“I’m sure he is. I’m hearing really wonderful things about An Didean. Such a brilliant and generous undertaking. I’m hoping to arrange a tour of it very soon.”

She gestured to two chairs of the same rusty red as the enormous couch roses, then settled in the corner of the couch.

“My son tells me you found the person who killed that poor woman. I know it’s a relief to him, to all of us, to know that man’s been caught.”

“Yuri Bardov’s nephew.”

The smile left her eyes. “Yes, so I heard. I’m sorry to hear it. I’m very fond of Marta.”

“You’re friendly with Mrs. Bardova?”

“Yes. She’s been very generous to my foundation. And we’re neighbors, women with some common interests. I haven’t spoken with her since I heard. It feels wrong, even for a friend, to speak to her of this right now. I know she and Yuri treated Alexei as one of their own.”

“You know him?”

“Not well, no. His wife, Nadia, has again given some time to my foundation and I’m grateful. I can’t conceive she knew he was capable of doing what he did. I can’t believe Marta had any idea he was stealing from her husband, from us. Am I correct you’re here to ask us about all of that?”

“In part, yes.”

“It may seem biased for me to say, as a woman, a mother, that neither of these women, these mothers, were aware. But I believe it, absolutely. I’ve known Marta for—God—nearly fifty years.”

“And Yuri?”

“He’s less … knowable. I have talked to him more in the last few years than previously, as he’s actually a very skilled gardener, and I’ve asked his advice in that area.”

She glanced toward the doorway before she continued, “I’m not unaware of Yuri’s reputation, but can tell you I haven’t seen that side of him, if true, in the years I’ve known Marta. Alexei … the phrase is a lean and hungry look. I would have applied that to him.”

“He and your son are about the same age,” Peabody said.

“Yes. Different interests, different circles. And Bolt was a few years older when Alexei came to the country, and already had his established friends, and then was off to college. They never clicked.”

Eve heard more footsteps and noted Marvinia’s glance at the doorway. “And here we are.”

Eve turned her head to watch the entrance.

J. Bolton, trim, tanned, tall in his pearl-gray linen suit, his hair a shining wave of golden blond, had his mother’s hand tucked in his crooked arm.

His smile was all charm and dancing eyes.

Elinor Singer wore a white long-sleeved dress all but cracking with starch. Her hair, gold like her son’s, slicked back from her face to form a hard knot at the base of her neck.

She’d gone with a suite of rubies: bloodred orbs at her ears, another at her throat, a circle of them on one wrist, another on her finger.

On her left hand the bright white diamond cut the air like a knife.

Her eyes glinted, hard blue. Eve wondered how many treatments it took to get every line and wrinkle stretched and erased out of century-old skin.

“What a treat!” Singer patted his mother’s hand as they walked. “The famous Dallas and Peabody in our parlor. I’m J. B. Singer. Lieutenant Dallas, Detective Peabody, let me introduce you to my mother, Elinor Bolton Singer.”

Elinor took the corner of the couch opposite her daughter-in-law. Singer sat between them.

“Isn’t this lovely?” Singer began.

“Don’t be a dolt,” Elinor snapped, and, like her skin, her voice was drum-tight. “They want us to gossip about the Bardovs. You’re wasting everyone’s time. We don’t gossip in this house.”

Strict and stern, Eve thought, came from the top.

“No point in wasting time,” Eve said in return. “So how about we talk about murder?”





19





Elinor’s expression didn’t change—then again, Eve wasn’t sure it could.

“As you’ve arrested Alexei Tovinski and the thief Carmine Delgato is dead, we have nothing more to say on the subject. The woman was trespassing, but her transgression exposed crimes against our company. We will, of course, take steps to ensure such difficulties don’t happen again.”

“Will you continue your association with Bardov Construction?” Eve asked.

She lifted an eyebrow a fraction of an inch. “That association is legal. The Bardov organization, like ours, was victimized. I would assume they, as we, will take all necessary steps to prevent any future thievery or exploitation. If you’ve come here to intimate that the Singer organization or any member of my family played a part in this thievery, exploitation, or the death of a trespasser, I would suggest you leave now. You may address your remarks to our attorneys.”

“Now, Mother.” Singer reached for Elinor’s hand. She swatted his away.

“Our victimization continues with honking media gossip and innuendo. I will not have it. An employee, one who should not have been trusted, stole from and conspired to steal from us. From the very people who provided him with employment, with the wherewithal to make a good living. And we’re to be questioned?”