Naked in Death - J. D. Robb [72]
Even couldn’t stop the smile. She waited patiently until Mavis finished another bout of explosive sneezing. “Why?”
“Because the pharmaceutical companies need to sell drugs. You know what a damn sinus tab costs? You can get anticancer injections cheaper. I swear it.”
“You can go to the doctor, get a prescription to eradicate the symptoms.”
“I got that, too. Damn stuff’s only good for eight hours, and I’ve got a performance tonight. I have to wait until seven o’clock to take it.”
“You should be home in bed.”
“They’re exterminating the building. Some wise guy said he saw a cockroach.” She sneezed again, then peered owlishly at Eve from under unpainted lashes. “What are you doing here?”
“I had some business. Look, get some rest. I’ll see you later.”
“No, stick around. I’m boring myself.” She reached for a bottle of some nasty looking pink liquid and glugged it down. “Hey, nice shirt. You get a bonus or something?”
“Or something.”
“So, sit down. I was going to call you, but I’ve been too busy hacking up my lungs. That was Roarke who came in our fine establishment last night, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, it was Roarke.”
“I almost passed out when he walked up to your table. What’s the story? You helping him with some security or something?”
“I slept with him,” Eve blurted out, and Mavis responded with a fit of helpless choking.
“You—Roarke.” Eyes watering, she reached for more tissue. “Jesus, Eve. Jesus Christ, you never sleep with anybody. And you’re telling me you slept with Roarke?”
“That’s not precisely accurate. We didn’t sleep.”
Mavis let out a moan. “You didn’t sleep. How long?”
Eve jerked a shoulder. “I don’t know. I stayed the night. Eight, nine hours, I guess.”
“Hours.” Mavis shuddered delicately. “And you just kept going.”
“Pretty much.”
“Is he good? Stupid question,” she said quickly. “You wouldn’t have stayed otherwise. Wow, Eve, what got into you? Besides his incredibly energetic cock?”
“I don’t know. It was stupid.” She dragged her hands through her hair. “It’s never been like that for me before. I didn’t think it could—that I could. It’s just never been important, then all of a sudden—shit.”
“Honey.” Mavis snaked a hand from under her blanket and took Eve’s tensed fingers. “You’ve been blocking off normal needs all your life because of things you barely remember. Somebody just found a way to get through. You should be happy.”
“It puts him in the pilot’s seat, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, that’s bullshit,” Mavis interrupted before Eve could go on. “Sex doesn’t have to be a power trip. It sure as hell doesn’t have to be a punishment. It’s supposed to be fun. And now and again, if you’re lucky, it gets to be special.”
“Maybe.” She closed her eyes. “Oh God, Mavis, my career’s on the line.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Roarke’s involved in a case I’m working on.”
“Oh shit.” She had to break off and blow again. “You’re not going to have to bust him for something, are you?”
“No.” Then more emphatically. “No. But if I don’t tie it all up fast, with a nice, tidy bow, I’ll be out. I’ll be finished. Somebody’s using me, Mavis.” Her eyes sharpened again. “They’re clearing the path in one direction, tossing roadblocks in the other. I don’t know why. If I don’t find out, it’s going to cost me everything I have.”
“Then you’re going to have to find out, aren’t you?” Mavis squeezed Eve’s fingers.
She would find out, Eve promised herself. It was after ten P.M. when she let herself into the lobby of her building. If she didn’t want to think just then, it wasn’t a crime. She’d had to swallow a reprimand from the chief’s office for veering from the official statement during the press conference.
The commander’s unofficial support didn’t quite ease the