Golden in Death(67)

With his hands on her shoulders, he turned her toward the mirror, stood behind her, studying the image. “Yes, it works quite well.”

It felt frigging amazing. Soft as butter, light as air, but strong.

“It’s great. Really great.” Turning, she caught his face in her hands, kissed him. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

She grabbed the rest of what she needed from the dresser, assigned things to various pockets. “How’s Summerset going to know which jacket thing to put back on the post in the morning?”

“Consider it more magic.”

“I guess I will.” She walked back to him, kissed him again. “That was the goodbye kiss.”

“So noted. Take care of my cop.”

“She’s got a magic topper.”

She went out, detoured to the office for her file bag, jogged down the steps, where no jacket lay over the newel post.

Magic, she thought, in the form of Roarke buzzing Summerset.

And that was pretty decent magic.

When she got to the park, the memorial area had been staged. Numerous enlarged photos of the deceased stood on simple white easels.

Abner in his doctor’s coat, in running gear, with his husband, with their family. Nothing formal, Eve noted, but warm and casual. Moments in a life.

Flowers made a riot of color in white baskets. Nothing formal there, either, or funereal. Cheerful, she’d have said.

Two tables stood under white cloths. People busily loaded food on one, drinks on the other. A number of runners, already into their morning routine, slowed, even stopped.

Eve kept her eye on them, on those who began to gather—some in running gear, some in mourning black, others in business suits.

She spotted Seldine and those she assumed were her husband, her children, with some of the family. She recognized other faces from Abner’s office.

Buses glided up. She recognized Myata, the chemistry teacher, other adults lining students up as they got out.

By the time Peabody arrived, Eve estimated nearly two hundred already gathered to pay their respects.

“Wow, I didn’t really expect there’d be so many who—” Peabody drew in a long, passionate breath. Whispered, reverently, “The topper.”

“Shut up,” Eve hissed. “Don’t pet it. I mean it.”

“Pet it? I want to lick it.”

“Do and they’ll be holding two memorials this morning.”

“It’s so—just so much so. Ooooh, and the suit! The boots! Holy crap, it’s all—”

She broke off when Eve whipped her head around.

“Whew, nobody dressed like you are should be able to burn the flesh off somebody’s bones with that look.” Then she grinned. “It’s the point!”

“Shut up about it or I’ll crush your still smoking bones with my boot. Jesus, still more coming.”

She’d stayed well back, hoping to scan faces, to judge body language. But now moved into and through the crowd. A lot of kids, she thought, from babies in those pushcart things or in backpacks to toddlers and up to teens.

She wove through to stand with Louise and Charles.

“I’m glad you came.” Louise took Eve’s hand to squeeze, then Peabody’s. “It’s a hard day, but the way they’re doing it…”

“It shows not only that he was loved,” Charles finished, “but that he loved. He cared. Delia.” Charles bent down to kiss her cheek, then with the ease of a friend, flipped a finger in her hair. “I love the red.”

“I’m having fun with it. How are you doing, Louise?”

“Hanging in. They asked me to give the eulogy.” Louise leaned into Charles as she spoke. “They were afraid none of the family would be able to get through it without breaking down. But I—”

“You won’t,” Eve interrupted. “You won’t break down because you know what they need from you.”

“That’s what Charles said. I want you to know Martin has absolute faith in you.”

“Oh hell.”

“No, it’s important for you to know. He understands we’re friends, but he didn’t have to tell me, and he did. He believes you and Peabody will do everything you can do. He said with all his years of working with educators, he can recognize whether someone has a passion for the work, the importance of it, or if it’s just a job. And he recognized it’s not just a job for either of you.”

Louise put an arm around Eve for a quick hug before Eve could evade it. Then did the same with Peabody.

“It matters to him. It comforts him. And right now, when I’m about to speak about a really good friend, it comforts me.”

“She won’t ask,” Charles put in, “so I will. Is there any more? Do you know any more you can tell us?”

“We have a full agenda today on the job that, no, isn’t just a job. We have a lead, and we’ll build on it. You know a lot of these people, so if you see anyone who doesn’t fit in, or who just gives you a wrong feel, let us know.”

She looked around again. “For now, we’re going to move around, get a sense, pay our respects.”

“We’re going back to the house with the family, Kent’s office staff, some of the close friends after. We’ll pay attention,” Charles assured her.