The In Death Collection Books 6-10 - J. D. Robb [228]
She imagined several ounces of illegals would shortly be swimming into New York’s sewer system.
“You bringing more cops into my place?” He glanced over as two skinny dealers made a beeline for the johns. “Somebody’s business gonna suffer tonight.”
“I’m not here for a bust. I got press coming. Got a privacy room we can use?”
“You got Nadine coming down? Now, she be fine. You use room three, honeypot. I look out for you awhile.”
“Appreciate it.” She glanced over her shoulder as the door opened, letting in sunlight, Nadine, and a camera operator. “It won’t take long.”
Eve pointed toward the room and strode over and in without waiting for Nadine’s assent.
“You frequent such interesting places, Dallas.” Wrinkling her nose, Nadine stared at the stained walls and rumpled bed—the only piece of furniture the room could boast.
“You liked the place well enough, as I recall. Enough to strip down to your undies and dance on stage.”
“I was impaired at the time,” Nadine said with some dignity when her operator snickered. “Shut up, Mike.”
“You got five minutes.” Eve sat on the side of the bed. “You can either hit me with questions or I’ll give you a straight statement. I’m not going to give you more than what we’ll release at the press conference, but you’ll have it on a good twenty minutes before anyone else. I’m also giving you the go-ahead to use data already discussed.”
“Why?”
“Because,” Eve said quietly, “we’re friends.”
“Step outside a minute, Mike.” Nadine waited until he’d finished grumbling and had closed the door behind him. “I don’t want any pity favors.”
“That’s not what this is. You kept the deal, holding information until I cleared it. I’m keeping my end. That’s professional. I trust you to report the truth. That’s professional. I like you, even when you’re irritating. That’s personal. Now, do you want the one-on-one or not?”
Nadine’s smile bloomed slowly. “Yeah, I want it. I like you, Dallas, and you’re always irritating.”
“Give me a quick rundown of your take on Rudy and Piper.”
“Charming, absolutely. They can spout their company line like champs. Every button I pushed, they came back with the perfect reaction. Well programmed.”
“Who’s in charge?”
“Oh, he is. No question. He’s a little overprotective of her for a brother, if you ask me. And it’s mildly creepy the way they dress alike down to their lip dye. But it’s probably a twin thing.”
“Did you interview any of the staff?”
“Sure, picked a few consultants at random. They’ve got a very slick operation going there.”
“Gossip about the owners?”
“Nothing but praise. I couldn’t elbow out one spiteful sentence.” She cocked a brow. “Is that what you’re looking for?”
“I’m looking for a killer,” Eve said flatly. “Let’s get this going.”
“Fine.” Nadine reached back, rapping her knuckles on the door to signal Mike. “Straight statement with follow-up questions.”
“One or the other.”
“Don’t be so pissy. Start with the statement.” Nadine glanced at the bed, calculating the varied body fluids that might have been spent there, and opted to stand.
An hour later, Eve listened to Chief of Police and Security Tibble run nearly the identical statement she’d given Nadine. He had a more impressive style, she mused, shivering a bit in the cold, as he’d chosen to give the statement on the steps of the Tower, where his offices spanned the top of the building.
Air traffic had been rerouted for the thirty-minute event so that only a scatter of sky-cams and traffic choppers disturbed the sky overhead.
Eve was certain he already knew she’d gone on-air with the data. He could slap her down for it. But as she had not been officially barred from preceding him with a statement, it would be a waste of time.
Eve knew Tibble rarely wasted anything.
She respected him, and respected him more when he managed to give a complete statement while withholding vital pieces of