The in Death Collection Books 11-15 - J. D. Robb [540]
“My interview?” Peabody’s mouth fell open. “You saw?”
“It was very difficult, what you did.” Phoebe drew her close.
“It’s the job.”
“A very difficult job. And one you were meant to do.” She eased her daughter back to study her face. “When we leave tomorrow, it’ll be easier to say good-bye knowing that.”
“Tomorrow, but—”
“It’s time. We’ll talk more tonight. You have work now.”
Sam reached down, gave his daughter’s hand a squeeze. “Officer Peabody.” He grinned from ear to ear. “Go be a cop.”
A little misty-eyed she watched them walk toward the down-glide. Then the sentiment dried up in amused shock as McNab bounded off the up-glide carrying an armload of white and yellow daisies.
“Where’d you get those?”
“Don’t ask.” He handed them to her, then broke their mutual agreement by hauling her in for a hard kiss in a public area. “She-Body, you rocked.”
“I nearly blew it.”
“Hey. You kicked ass, you did the job, you closed the case. End of story.” He was so proud he could have burst the pink buttons on his purple shirt. “And you looked really sexy doing it. I was thinking we could play Interview later tonight.” He winked at her.
“You were observing?”
“You think I’d miss it? It was a big fucking deal for you, so it was bfd for me, too.”
She sighed, gave in, and buried her nose in flowers that were no doubt stolen. “Sometimes, McNab, you’re really sweet.”
“So, I’ll give you a good taste of me later. Got to roll. I’m behind.”
Carrying the flowers, she walked into the bull pen, and was flustered, delighted, embarrassed when several detectives called out congratulations. Flushing, she went into Eve’s office. “Lieutenant?”
Eve held up a hand to hold her off and continued to study the results of the probability scan on spa centers. She and the computer agreed that Europe was the most likely destination given Julianna’s profile, with Paris just nipping out the rest of the field.
“I don’t know, I don’t know. Major city, major media, major cops. Why not this place, what’s it, Provence, or this other near the Swiss border in Italy?”
SUBJECT PREFERS URBAN ATMOSPHERE WITH CONVENIENT ACCESS TO THEATER, RESTAURANTS, AND SHOPPING. QUESTIONED OPTIONS ARE LOCATED IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, APPEALING TO THOSE WISHING A MORE BUCOLIC SETTING AND HAVING LITTLE OR NO DESIRE FOR OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES. L’INDULGENCE IS THE TOP-RATED TREATMENT CENTER IN PARIS, WITH FULL SALON, SPA, BODY SCULPTING, AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING FACILITIES. THEIR PRODUCTS ARE FORMULATED OF ALL- NATURAL INGREDIENTS AND CAN BE PURCHASED ONLY THROUGH THIS CENTER. SKIN AND BODY TREATMENTS ARE—
“If I’d wanted a PR quote, I’d’ve asked for one. How do you book?”
RESERVATIONS FOR DAY PACKAGES AND/OR HOTEL SERVICES MUST BE MADE DIRECTLY WITH THE FACILITY BY GUEST, GUEST REPRESENTATIVE, OR AUTHORIZED TRAVEL AGENCY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT REQUESTS FOR RESERVATIONS BE MADE AT LEAST SIX WEEKS IN ADVANCE.
“Six weeks.” Eve pondered, drummed her fingers.
“Are you going to Paris to a spa, Lieutenant?”
“Sure, if someone knocks me unconscious, puts me in shackles, and drags my lifeless body in. But I’m thinking this might be right up Julianna’s alley. A girl needs a break from killing to relax, be pampered, and make sure her skin retains that youthful, dewy look.”
She glanced up, gestured at the flowers. “So, McNab came through. Where’d he steal them?”
“I don’t know.” Peabody sniffed them sentimentally. “Anyway, it’s the thought that counts. You let my parents come in and observe. You don’t like having civilians observe an interview.”
“I made an exception.”
“They said they were proud of me.”
“You’re a good cop. Why shouldn’t they be proud of you?”
“It just means a lot to hear them say it. I want to thank you for sending that note in, snapping me back on track. I’d gone way off. I knew I was losing her and couldn’t figure where I’d gone off.”
“You picked it back up, and you got it done. How do you feel about it?”
“Good, I guess. I feel good about it.” But she lowered her arms, drooping the flowers toward