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“Is there anyone else who might have had the access codes for this residence?”

“I don’t know of anyone. Felicity was very strict about her security. She wouldn’t employ any staff and kept only droids for domestic work. She used to say people couldn’t be trusted because they always trusted the wrong people. I remember once I told her I found that very sad, and she laughed, and reminded me if it wasn’t true, my daughter wouldn’t have a job.”

Eve saw Peabody come to the doorway, and rose. “Thank you. I’ll need to talk to you again, and I need your permission, on record, to take your home ’links in for examination.”

“You have it, and whatever else you need to clear this up. I want you to know how much I appreciate you handling this personally. I know you’ll find the truth. Can I go to Reva now?”

“It would be better if you waited here, for a little while longer.” She shot a glance at Roarke, so that he understood she meant for him to do the same.

In the hallway, she nodded a go-ahead to Peabody.

“Sweepers got blood out of the bathroom drain upstairs, and Ewing’s print on the bowl, though it had been wiped pretty carefully. The murder weapon doesn’t match the kitchen cutlery here. There’s a pretty fancy set, and nothing appears to be missing.”

She consulted her notes. “Reactivated the house droid. It was shut down at twenty-one-thirty. Prior to that time, it records that Felicity was at home with a companion. She’d programmed the droid not to give names or details. We’ll need to take it in to override.”

“See to it, then. Any blood traces in the second bath upstairs?”

“None. Just Ewing’s prints on the toilet.”

“Okay. Let’s give Ewing a second pass.”

They moved together into the living area where a uniform baby-sat Reva. The minute Eve stepped in, Reva surged to her feet.

“Lieutenant. I’d like to speak with you. Privately.”

Eve gestured for the uniform to leave the room, and spoke without looking at Peabody. “This is my partner, Detective Peabody. What would you like to speak with us about, Ms. Ewing?”

Reva hesitated, then, when Eve sat, let out a resigned breath. “It’s just that my head’s clearing up, and I’ve realized what sort of jam I’m in. And the sort of jam I’ve put my mother in. She only came because I was hysterical. I don’t want any of the mess that’s on me to rub off on her.”

“Don’t worry about your mother. No one’s looking to hurt her in this.”

“Okay.” Reva gave a short nod. “Okay, then.”

“You said when you pulled back the covers, you saw the bodies, the blood.”

“Yes. I saw they were dead. I knew they were dead. Had to be.”

“Where was the knife?”

“The knife?”

“The murder weapon. Where was it?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t see a knife. Just Blair and Felicity.”

“Peabody, would you show Ms. Ewing the weapon we’ve taken into evidence.”

Peabody drew out the sealed knife, walked over to show it to Reva. “Do you recognize this knife, Ms. Ewing?”

Reva stared at the smeared blade, the smeared handle, then lifted her gaze, full of stunned confusion, to Eve’s. “It’s Blair’s. It’s one of the set he bought last year, when he decided we should both take cooking classes. I told him to go right ahead, but I’d stick with the AutoChef or take-out. He actually took the classes, and did some cooking now and then. This looks like one of his kitchen knives.”

“Did you bring it with you tonight, Reva? Were you so angry that you put it in your bag, maybe to threaten them, to scare them?”

“No.” She took a step back from it. “No, I didn’t bring it.”

This time Eve held out an evidence bag. “Is this your stunner?”

“No.” Reva’s fingers curled into her palms. “That’s a recent military model. Mine’s over six years old, a reconfigured Secret Service make. That doesn’t belong to me. I’ve never seen it before.”

“Both this and the knife were used on the victims. Both this and the knife have your fingerprints on them.”

“This is crazy.”

“The violence of the stabbings would have resulted in considerable blood spatter. On your hands, your arms, your face, as well as your