The In Death Collection Books 6-10 - J. D. Robb [174]
“Yes, sir, Lieutenant Dallas.”
“And stop pouting,” she ordered as she strode out.
“Females,” McNab muttered under his breath, then caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. He spotted Roarke standing in the open doorway between the offices, grinning at him.
“Marvelous creatures, aren’t they?” Roarke stepped in.
“Not from where I’m standing.”
“Ah, but you’ll be a hero, won’t you, if you can match your product with the right name.” He strolled over, scanned the lists and documents that they both knew were official business, and none of his. “I find I have an hour or two free. Want some help?”
“Well, I . . .” McNab glanced toward the door.
“Don’t worry about the lieutenant.” Roarke pleased himself and sat at the computer. “I can handle her.”
Donnie Ray Michael wore a ratty brown bathrobe and a silver nose ring with an emerald cabochon. His eyes were a bleary hazel, his hair the color of butter, and his breath ferocious.
He studied Eve’s badge, expelling air in a yawn that nearly knocked her flat, then scratched his armpit.
“What?”
“Donnie Ray? Got a minute?”
“Yeah, I got plenty of minutes, but what?”
“I’ll tell you after we come in, and you gargle with a gallon or two of mouthwash.”
“Oh.” He went slightly pink and stepped back. “I was asleep. Wasn’t expecting visitors. Or cops.” But he waved them inside, then disappeared down a short hallway.
The place was as tidy as your average pigsty, with clothes, empty and half-empty take-out containers, overflowing ashtrays, and a litter of computer discs strewn over the floor. In the corner beside a threadbare sofa was a music stand and a brightly polished saxophone.
Eve caught a drift in the air of very old onions and the shadow of an illegal usually consumed by smoking. “If we decide a search is in order,” Eve told Peabody, “we’ve got probable cause.”
“What, suspicion of toxic waste?”
“There’s that.” Eve toed what might have been underwear aside. “He’s been pumping Zoner, probably as a bedtime soother. You can just smell it.”
Peabody sniffed. “I just smell sweat and onions.”
“It’s there.”
Donnie Ray walked back in, his eyes slightly clearer, his face red and damp from a quick splash. “Sorry about the mess. Droid’s year off. What’s this about?”
“Do you know Marianna Hawley?”
“Marianna?” His brow wrinkled in thought. “I dunno. Should I?”
“You matched with her through Personally Yours.”
“Oh, the dating gig.” He kicked clothes out of the way then dropped into a chair. “Yeah, I gave that a shot a few months back. I was in a drought.” He smiled a little, then shrugged. “Marianna. Was she a big redhead—no, that was Tanya. We hit it off pretty well, but she moved to Albuquerque for Christ’s sake. I mean what rocks there?”
“Marianna, Donnie Ray. Slim brunette. Green eyes.”
“Yeah, yeah, now I get her. Sweet. We didn’t click, too much like, well, a sister. She came to the club where I was blowing and heard me, we had a couple of drinks. So?”
“You ever watch the screen, read the paper?”
“Not when I’ve got a steady gig. I’m booked with a group downtown at the Empire. Been doing the ten-to-four slot for the last three weeks.”
“Seven nights on?”
“No, five. You blow seven nights, you lose the edge.”
“How about Tuesday night?”
“I’m off Tuesday. Mondays and Tuesdays are clear.” His eyes were focused now and just beginning to go wary. “What’s the deal?”
“Marianna Hawley was murdered Tuesday night. You got an alibi for Tuesday from nine to midnight?”
“Oh, shit. Shit. Murdered. Jesus H.” He sprang up, stumbling over debris as he paced. “Man, that bites. She was a sweetheart.”
“Did you want her to be your sweetheart? Your true love.”
He stopped pacing. Eve found it interesting that he didn’t look frightened or angry. He looked sorry. “Look, I had a couple of drinks with her one night. A little talk, tried to convince her to take a harmless roll, but she wasn’t into it. I liked her. You couldn’t help but like her.”
He pushed his fingers against his eyes, then ran them back into his hair again. “That was, hell, six months ago, maybe more. I haven’t seen her since.