The In Death Collection Books 21-25 - J. D. Robb [404]
Circling, Eve thought. Not parked, leaving no record.
“She sat in the back with me while the driver started on. She gave me a bottle of water, and we chatted about London. And then…I felt so strange, and I can’t remember. Until I awoke in that room.”
“You’re out of it now,” Eve said when Tandy trembled again. “You’re out, and they’re the ones locked up.”
“I’m out. Yes, we’re out, and we’re safe. They were there, both of them,” she continued in a steadier voice. “And that horrible droid, sitting there, staring at me when I woke up. And they told me how things would be. The baby wasn’t mine, I’d signed it away. I was only the means to its birth.”
She shifted now, to look behind her and meet Eve’s eyes. “They said this to me, all so calm, even when I was screaming and trying to get away, and the droid forced me back on the bed. They said I’d be treated well, have proper nourishment, rest, stimulation, and they expected me to deliver a healthy baby boy within the week.
“I said they were mad, they couldn’t force me to give up my child. He said—the son—he said they had wealth, power, position. I had nothing but a fertile womb. They left that music playing day and night. Good for the baby. Everything in the room was bolted down. I couldn’t even throw anything. I beat against the windows, but no one could see. I screamed until I hadn’t a voice left, but no one could hear me.
“What day is it?”
“It’s early Monday morning,” Eve told her.
“Only Monday,” Tandy said and turned to rest her head again. “It felt longer. So much longer. You saved my baby. You saved me. If I live two hundred years more, I’ll never forget it.”
The lights were on, gleaming against the windows, flooding the grounds where the snow lay like white mink. Tree branches were heavy with it as it continued to fall in a hushed whisper.
“Oh. It’s like a palace.” Tandy’s voice shook. “Like a winter palace. I feel as though I’m the princess who’s been rescued. You’re my knights in shining armor,” she said, rubbing fresh tears from her cheeks.
Even as they pulled up in front, the door to the house burst open, and Mavis, dwarfed in one of Eve’s robes, ran out. Summerset and Leonardo rushed behind her.
“Mavis, you promised you’d wait.” Summerset reached for her arm.
“I know, I’m sorry. I can’t. Tandy!” She wrenched open the door. “Tandy! Are you all right? The baby?”
“They saved us.”
On cue, Eve thought, both women burst into tears and fell into each other’s arms.
“Let’s get you inside now, out of the cold, sweetheart.” Leonardo wrapped his big arms around both of them. “Come inside now, Tandy.”
“Take them straight up to the room I prepared,” Summerset ordered. “I’ll be there in a moment.”
As they walked toward the house, sheltered by Leonardo, Mavis looked back at Eve. “I knew you’d find her. I knew you would.”
“They’re yours now.” Eve pointed at Summerset. “I’ve got work.”
“Lieutenant.”
She turned, scowled at him. “What?”
“Well done.”
“Huh. Thanks.” She raised her eyebrows at Roarke as they went inside. “I’ve got to tag Peabody, make sure the prisoners are secured, check in with Baxter on-scene, and round it out with Reo and Smith.”
“Yes, of course. After you’ve had some sleep.”
“Loose ends dangling.”
“That can be tied up later. Whatever you got from the booster and your own adrenaline is washed, Lieutenant. You’re pale as the moon, and your words are starting to slur.”
“Coffee.”
“Not a chance in hell.”
He must have been right because when she managed to focus, she was standing—barely—in the bedroom. “One hour horizontal,” she said as she took off her weapon harness.
“Four—which gives you enough time to put some fuel in your system in the morning and get downtown to grill your suspects.”
“Not just grill.” She sat to yank off her boots. “I’m gonna fry ’em. Aren’t you gonna carry me to bed?”
“You’re still dressed.”
“’S