The In Death Collection Books 6-10 - J. D. Robb [173]
“You’re telling me.”
“I’m sure you’ll find something perfect. No one knows him better than you.”
“Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t.” And because it was in the back of her mind, she spoke without thinking. “He’s getting into all this Christmas stuff. Parties and trees. I just figured we’d hand each other something and be done with it.”
“Neither of you have the memories of childhood everyone’s entitled to—of anticipation and wonder, of Christmas mornings with pretty boxes stacked under the tree. I’d say Roarke intends to start making those memories, for the two of you. Knowing him,” she added with a laugh, “they won’t be ordinary.”
“I think he’s ordered a small forest of trees.”
“Give yourself a chance at that anticipation and wonder, as a gift for both of you.”
“With Roarke you don’t have a choice.” She did stand now. “I appreciate the time, Dr. Mira.”
“One last thing, Eve.” Mira got to her feet as well. “He’s not dangerous at this point to anyone other than the person he’s focused on. He won’t kill indiscriminately or without purpose and planning. But I can’t say when that might change, or what might trigger a shift in pattern.”
“I’ve got some thoughts on that. I’ll be in touch.”
Peabody and McNab were bickering when she walked into her home office. They sat side by side at her workstation snarling at each other like a couple of bulldogs over the same bone.
Ordinarily it might have amused Eve, but at the moment it was only one more irritation. “Break it up,” she snapped and had both of them shooting to attention with grim, resentful faces. “Report.”
When they both began to talk at once, she seethed for approximately five seconds then bared her teeth. That shut both of them up. “Peabody?”
Risking one smug sidelong glance at her nemesis, Peabody began. “We have three matches with the cosmetics. Two from Hawley’s list and one from Greenbalm’s. One from each bought the works, from skin care to lash dye. The second from Hawley’s purchased eye and brow pencils and two lip dyes. We got a hit on what was used on Greenbalm’s mouth. That’s Cupid’s Coral. All three purchased that shade.”
“Problem.” McNab lifted a finger like an instructor halting an overzealous student. “Both Cupid Coral lip dye and Musk Brown lash enhancer are routinely given as samples. In fact,” he gestured to the counter where the samples Eve had been given were lined up, “you have both here.”
“We can’t track every stupid sample,” Peabody said with a dangerous edge to her voice. “We have three names, and a place to start.”
“The Fog Over London eye smudger used on Hawley is one of the pricier products and it isn’t given out as a sample. You only get it as a separate or when you buy the whole shot in the deluxe package. We follow the smudger, we’ll be closer to the mark.”
“And maybe the son of a bitch lifted the smudger when he was buying the rest of the stuff.” Peabody turned on McNab. “You want to track every shoplifter in the city now?”
“It’s the only product we can’t trace so far. So it’s the one we have to find.”
They were nose to nose when Eve stepped forward and gave them both a shove. “The next one who speaks, I’m taking down. You’re both right. We interview the matches, and we look for the eye gunk. Peabody, get the names, go down to my vehicle, and wait for me.”
Peabody didn’t have to speak, not when a ramrod-stiff spine and hot eyes could say volumes. The minute she stalked out, McNab shoved his hands in his pockets. But when he opened his mouth, he caught the warning glint Eve shot him, and closed it again.
“You run Personally Yours again, client and personnel, find who on there bought that smudger, and see how many more of the products used on the victims you can match.” She lifted her eyebrows. “Say yes, sir, Lieutenant Dallas.”
He heaved a sigh. “Yes, sir, Lieutenant Dallas.”
“Good. While you’re at it, McNab, see if you can wiggle into Piper and Rudy’s credit account. Let’s find out what brand of enhancements they use.” She waited, brows still high. One thing McNab wasn’t was slow.