The In Death Collection Books 16-20 - J. D. Robb [593]
“Music to my ears.” He recalled the elevator. “That was well done, Lieutenant. Giving the collar to Peabody.”
“She earned it. I’m still buzzed.” She rolled her shoulders and stepped into the elevator. “My eyes want to close, but my body’s still jumping.”
“I believe we can fix that when we get home. You can close your eyes.” He leaned down, kissed her, long and deep. “And I’ll jump your body.”
“Sounds like a deal.”
She walked outside, fixed a police seal to the door. “Rain’s stopped,” she commented.
“Still a bit misty yet.”
“I like it.”
“You liked her,” he added.
“I did.” She stood in front of the door, looking out at the street, the wash of puddles as a Rapid Cab slewed through. “I did like her. Still do on some level, even knowing what she is.”
He slung an arm around her shoulders, she hooked hers around his waist. “Do you think she loves him? Lucas?”
“No.” She knew what love was now. “But she thinks she does.”
Eve dropped into the passenger seat this time, yawned comfortably when Roarke took the wheel. She leaned back, closed her eyes, trusting he’d get her home.
Yes, she knew what love was.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s Imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Penguin Putnam Inc. World Wide Web site address is
http://www.penguinputnam.com
SURVIVOR IN DEATH
J. D. ROBB
Contents
PROLOGUE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Survivor in Death
A Putnam Book / published by arrangement with the author
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2005 by Nora Roberts
This book may not be reproduced in whole or part, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission. Making or distributing electronic copies of this book constitutes copyright infringement and could subject the infringer to criminal and civil liability.
For information address:
The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
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ISBN: 978-1-1012-0500-6
A PUTNAM BOOK®
Putnam Books first published by The Putnam Publishing Group, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc.,
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PUTNAM and the “P” design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Putnam Inc.
Electronic edition: February, 2005
So shalt thou feed on Death, that feeds on men, And Death once dead, there’s no more dying then.
—WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
—LEO NIKOLAEVICH TOLSTOI
PROLOGUE
A LATE-NIGHT URGE FOR AN ORANGE FIZZY SAVED NIXIE’S life. When she woke, she could see by the luminous dial of the jelly-roll wrist unit she was never without that it was after two in the morning.
She wasn’t allowed to snack between meals, except for items on her mother’s approved list. And two in the morning was way between.
But she was dying for an Orange Fizzy.
She rolled over and whispered to her best friend in the entire galaxy, Linnie Dyson. They were having a school-night sleepover because Linnie’s mom and dad were celebrating their anniversary in some fancy hotel.
So they could have sex. Mom and Mrs. Dyson said it was so they could have a fancy dinner and go dancing and crap-o, but it was for sex. Jee-zus, she and Linnie were nine, not two. They knew what was what-o.
Besides, like they gave a woo. The whole deal meant Mom—the Rule Monster—bent the rules about school nights. Even if they’d had to turn the lights out at nine-thirty—were they two?—she and Linnie had the