The In Death Collection Books 21-25 - J. D. Robb [275]
“Isn’t that interesting? I’m sending Peabody out for the bag, and other items. Nice work, Baxter.”
“Me and the kid had to make up for botching the tail.”
“Got her in a corner, Dallas,” Feeney commented when she clicked off.
“Yeah, but I want her in a cage.”
She stepped back into the room, her expression sober. “Detective Peabody, I need you to retrieve some items from Detective Baxter.”
“Yes, sir. We’ve completed the Monday time line.”
“Okay.” Eve sat as Peabody went out. “Zana, did you communicate, by ’link, with the victim at any time on the day of her death?”
“With Mama Tru? On that Saturday? She called our room, told us she wanted to stay in.”
Eve laid the ’link on the table briefly, put the file over it. “Did you have further ’link communication with her, later that evening?”
“Ah, I can’t really remember.” She nibbled on her thumbnail. “It’s all sort of muddled.”
“I can refresh you on that. There were more communications from her ’link to yours. You had a conversation with her, Zana. One you didn’t tell me about during your previous statements.”
“I guess maybe I did.” She looked warily at the folder. “It’s hard to remember all the times we talked, especially after everything that’s gone on.” She offered Eve a guileless smile. “Is it important?”
“Yeah, a little bit important.”
“Gosh, I’m sorry. I was so upset, and it’s hard to remember everything.”
“It doesn’t seem like it should be so hard to remember going to her room that night, the night of her murder. She must’ve looked pretty memorable with her face all busted up.”
“I didn’t see her. I—”
“Yes, you did.” Eve nudged the folder aside so there was nothing between them. “You went down to her room that night while Bobby was asleep. That’s how you got that sweater you’re wearing, one she bought on the Thursday before her death.”
“She gave me the sweater.” Tears swam, but Eve swore she saw a light of amusement behind them. “She bought it for me, an early Christmas present.”
“That’s a pile of bullshit, and we both know it. She didn’t give you anything. Not the sweater. . .” She looked over at Peabody who’d brought in another evidence bag. “Not that purse, the perfume, the lip dye, and eye gunk. But you had to figure they wouldn’t do her any good, seeing as she was dead. Why shouldn’t you enjoy them? Why shouldn’t you have it all?”
Eve leaned forward. “She was a stone bitch, you and I both know it. You just seized an opportunity. That’s something you’re good at. Have always been good at, haven’t you? Marnie.”
21
IT WAS IN HER EYES, JUST FOR AN INSTANT. Not just shock, Eve thought, but excitement. Then they rounded again, innocent and wholesome as a baby’s.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. I don’t want to be here anymore.” The lips she’d liked too much to change trembled. “I want Bobby.”
“Did you ever?” Eve wondered. “Or was he just handy? But we’ll get to that. You’re going to want to drop the act now, Marnie. We’ll both be happier, as I can’t imagine you found someone as boring as Zana fun to cart around.”
Marnie sniffled pitifully. “You’re being so mean.”
“Yeah, I get that way when somebody lies to me. You’ve been having some fun with that. But you also got a little sloppy in the room next to Trudy’s, where you cleaned up. Left some blood. Better, left your prints.”
Eve rose, walked around the table to lean over Marnie’s shoulder. She caught the subtle floral scent and wondered if Marnie had dabbed on Trudy’s new perfume that morning. How she’d felt spritzing on a dead woman’s choice.
Probably just fine, Eve decided. Probably giggled while she sprayed.
“You did a good job on the identity switch,” she said quietly. “But it’s never perfect. Then there’s Trudy’s ’link. Little things, Marnie, it’s always the little things that trip you up. You just couldn’t resist lifting a few things from her. You’ve got sticky fingers, always did.”
She reached over, flipped open the file on the table, exposed the split-screen photos she’d generated, along with Marnie Ralston’s data and criminal record.