The In Death Collection Books 16-20 - J. D. Robb [207]
Eve decided her next stop would be Fortney. But it was time to play it, and him, a different way. “I want to nudge Fortney on the second murder, revisit the first. His alibi’s bullshit. And since I tend to get cranky when people lie to me, I’m not going to be particularly friendly.”
“As you are the epitome of cheer and goodwill by nature, sir, this will be somewhat of a stretch.”
“I smell the distinct aroma of lame-ass sarcasm in this vehicle.”
“We’ll have it fumigated.”
“But fortunately I’m the epitome of cheer and goodwill and will not rub your nose in it at this time. A few minutes into my unfriendly conversation with Fortney, I’m going to get a tag on my pocket ’link.”
“As I’m in awe of you in all ways, I’m unsurprised by this sudden psychic ability.”
“I’ll be annoyed, but will have to take the communication, thereby passing the interview to you.”
“Do you also know who’ll be tagging . . . What? To me?”
That, Eve thought, had wiped the sassy little smirk off her aide’s face. “You’ll pick it up as good cop. The long-suffering, somewhat inexperienced, and apologetic underling. Play that up, fumble around.”
“Sir. Dallas. I am the long-suffering, somewhat inexperienced, and apologetic underling. I don’t have to play it up or pretend to fumble around.”
“Use it,” Eve said simply. “Make it work for you. Let him think he’s leading you. He’ll see a girl cop in uniform, who takes orders from me. Second-string. He won’t see past that to what you’re made of.”
I don’t know what I’m made of, Peabody thought, but drew a deep breath. “I can see how it could work.”
“Make it work,” Eve said again, and parked outside the office building to set the timer on her ’link.
Eve bullied her way into Leo Fortney’s office and set the mood. Enjoyed setting it, she admitted. She put a little swagger in her step as she broke in on his holo-conference with a video producer.
“You’re going to want to reschedule your little confab, Leo,” she told him. “Or let Hollywood here in on our conversation.”
“You have no right pushing your way in here, throwing your weight around.”
She flipped out her badge so the images in the room had a clear view. “Bet?”
Fortney’s color was edging toward magenta. “I’m sorry, Thad. I need to take care of this . . . disturbance. I’ll have my assistant reschedule, at your convenience.”
He shut the hologram down before Thad could do more than raise two thin eyebrows into sharp, questioning points.
“I don’t have to tolerate this kind of ambush!” His magenta hair was pulled severely back from his face today, and the sleek tail of it whipped wildly as he flung out his arms. “I’m calling my lawyer, and I’ll see you’re reprimanded by your superior.”
“You do that. And we’ll take this to Central where you can explain to me, your lawyer, and my superior why you handed me a pile of bullshit as an alibi.”
Eve toed in, and punched a finger toward his chest. “Lying to a primary during a homicide investigation doesn’t earn you any points, Leo.”
“If you think you can insinuate that I’m covering up some crime—”
“I’m not insinuating anything.” She got right up in his face as she spoke, and enjoyed that as well. “I’m saying it. Flat out. Your meal ticket didn’t back you up, pal. You did not, as you claimed, retire with her on the night in question. She went to bed alone, and assumes you joined her at some point. Assume ain’t dick. So let’s start this over. Your place or mine, it doesn’t mean a damn to me.”
“How dare you!” He lost all color now, insult and temper robbing his cheeks. “If you think I’m going to stand here and be insulted, have the woman I love insulted by some two-bit dyke bitch cop—”
“What’re you going to do about it? Take me out,