by J. D. Robb
‘Keep your little fantasies to yourself, pal.’
‘I tell you that girl’s built. Not like some of the models who have their bodies honed down to bone.’ He made a sound like a man anticipating a large bowl of ice cream. ‘You know one of the best things about working with you recently, Dallas?’
‘My charming ways and rapier wit?’
‘Oh sure.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘It’s being able to go home and tell the wife who I interrogated today. A billionaire, a senator, Italian aristocrats, film stars. I tell you, it’s done wonders for my prestige.’
‘Glad I could help.’ She squeezed her battered police issue between a mini Rolls and a vintage Mercedes. ‘Just try to control your awe while we do the third degree on the actor.’
‘I’m a professional.’ But he was grinning as he climbed out. ‘Just look at this place. How’d you like to own a place in here?’ Then he chuckled and shifted his eyes away from the glossy faux marble facade of the lofty building. ‘Oh, I was forgetting. This is slumming for you now.’
‘Kiss ass, Feeney.’
‘Come on, kid, loosen up.’ He slung an arm around her shoulder as they headed toward the doors. ‘Falling for the richest man in the known world isn’t something to be ashamed of.’
‘I’m not ashamed of it. I just don’t like to dwell on it.’
The building was choice enough to have a live doorman as well as electronic security. Both Eve and Feeney flashed their badges and were admitted into a marble and gilt lobby accented with leafy ferns and exotic flowers in huge china pots.
‘Ostentatious,’ Eve muttered.
‘See how jaded you’re getting?’ Feeney moved out of range and approached the inner security screen. ‘Lieutenant Dallas and Captain Feeney, for Justin Young.’
‘One moment, please.’ The creamy computer voice paused while their identification was verified. ‘Thank you for waiting. Mr. Young is expecting you. Please proceed to elevator three, request your party. Enjoy your day.’
Chapter Six
‘So, how do you want to play it?’ Feeney pursed his lips, studied the tiny camera in the corner of the elevator on the way up. ‘The standard good cop/bad cop?’
‘Funny how it always works.’
‘Civilians are easy marks.’
‘Let’s start with the sorry to bother you, appreciate your cooperation sort of thing. If we get a sense he’s playing games, we can shift gears.’
‘If we do, I want to be the bad cop.’
‘You’re a lousy bad cop, Feeney. Face it.’
He gave her a mournful look. ‘I outrank you, Dallas.’
‘I’m primary, and I’m better at bad cop. Live with it.’
‘I always have to be the good cop,’ he muttered as they stepped into a well-lighted hallway with more marble, more gilt.
Justin Young opened the opposing door with perfect timing. And, Eve thought, he’d dressed for the part of the well-to-do yet cooperative witness in casual, expensive, buff linen slacks and a drapey silk shirt of the same tone. On his feet were trendy sandals with thick soles and intricate beading over the instep.
‘Lieutenant Dallas, Captain Feeney.’ His beautifully sculpted face was in serious lines, the killer black eyes sober and a dramatic contrast to a wavy mane of hair the same color as the gilt in the hallway. He offered a hand adorned with a wide ring studded with onyx. ‘Please come in.’
‘Thank you for agreeing to see us so quickly, Mr. Young.’ Perhaps her eye had become jaded, but Eve’s initial scan of the room left her thinking, Overdone, overwrought, and over-expensive.
‘It’s such a tragedy, such a horror.’ He gestured them in toward a huge L-shaped sofa jammed with pillows in wild colors and slick fabrics. Across the room, a meditation screen was programmed to a tropical beach at sunset. ‘It’s almost impossible to believe she could be dead, much less that she died in such a sudden and violent way.’
‘We’re sorry to intrude,’ Feeney began, prepping for his good cop role while he struggled not to gape at all the tassels and stained glass. ‘This must be a difficult time for you.’
‘It is. Pandora and I were friends. Can I offer you something? ’ He sat, elegant and slim, in a wing chair that could have swallowed a small child.
‘No, thank you.’ Eve tried to wiggle her way back among the mountain of cushions.
‘I will, if you don’t mind. I’ve been living on little more than nerves since I heard the news.’ Leaning forward, he pressed a small button on the table between them. ‘Coffee, please. One.’ Settling back, he smiled a little. ‘You’ll want to know where I was when she died. I’ve done a number of police vehicles in my career. Played the cop, the suspect, even the victim in my early days. With my image, I’ve always been innocent.’
He flicked a glance up as a domestic droid, dressed, Eve noted with horrified amusement, in the classic French maid’s uniform, carried in a glass tray topped with a single cup and saucer. Justin took the cup from it, used both hands to bring it to his lips.
‘The media hasn’t stated exactly when Pandora was killed, but I believe I can give you my movements for the entire evening. I was with her, at a small party at her home until about midnight. Jerry and I - Jerry Fitzgerald - left together, and went to have a drink at a nearby private club. Ennui. It’s very in right now, and it pays for both of us to be seen. I imagine it was one or so when we left. We considered doing a bit of club hopping, but I confess, we’d both had enough to drink, and enough socializing. We came here, stayed here together until about ten the next morning. Jerry had an assignment. It wasn’t until she’d left and I was having my first cup of coffee that I turned on the news and heard about Pandora.’
‘That certainly covers the evening,’ Eve said. He’d recited it all, she thought, as though it was a well-staged play. ‘We’ll need to speak to Ms. Fitzgerald to verify.’
‘Certainly. Would you like to do so now? She’s in the relaxation room. Pandora’s death has left her a bit rattled.’
‘Let’s let her relax a bit longer,’ Eve suggested. ‘You said you and Pandora were friends. Were you lovers?’
‘Now and again, nothing serious. It was more that we ran in the same circles. And to be brutally honest at such a time, Pandora preferred men who were easily dominated, intimidated.’ He flashed a smile as if to show he was neither. ‘She preferred affairs with those who were striving rather than those who had attained success. She rarely enjoyed sharing the spotlight.’
Feeney picked up the rhythm. ‘Who was she involved with, romantically, at the time of her death?’
‘There were a few, I believe. Someone I think she’d met on Starlight Station - an entrepreneur, she called him, but with a sarcastic tone. This up-and-coming designer Jerry tells me is brilliant. Michelangelo, Puccini, Leonardo. Something of the kind. Paul Redford, the video producer who joined us that night.’
He took a sip of his coffee, then blinked. ‘Leonardo. Yes, it was Leonardo. There was some sort of tiff there. A woman came by the house while we were there. They fought over him. An old-fashioned catfight. It would have been amusing if it hadn’t been so embarrassing for everyone involved.’
He spread his elegant fingers, looked mildly amused despite his statement. Well done, Eve thought. Well rehearsed, good timing, lines professionally punched.
‘It took Paul and I both to separate them.’
‘The woman came to Pandora’s home and attacked her, physically?’ Eve asked in carefully neutral tones.
‘Oh no, not at all. The poor thing was devastated, pleading. Pandora called her a few vile names and hit her.’ Justin demonstrated by making a fist, jerking it. ‘Really socked her. The woman was small, but she was game. Scrambled right up and plowed in. After that it was wrestling and hair pulling, scratching. The woman was bleeding some when she left. Pandora had lethal nails.’
‘Pandora scratched the woman’s face?’
‘No. Though I’m sure she was going to have quite a bruise. It was her neck as I recall. Four long,
nasty scratches on the side of the neck where Pandora raked her. The woman, I’m afraid I don’t know her name. Pandora just called her bitch, and varieties of the same. She was trying not to cry when she left, and told Pandora, quite dramatically, that Pandora would be sorry for what she’d done. Then I’m afraid she ruined her exit by sniffling and claiming that love conquers all.’
It sounded just like Mavis, Eve thought. ‘And after she left, how did Pandora behave?’
‘She was furious, overexcitable. That’s why Jerry and I left early.’
‘And Paul Redford?’
‘He stayed; I can’t say how long.’ With a sigh that signaled regret, Justin set his coffee aside. ‘It’s unfair to say anything negative about Pandora when she can’t defend herself, but she was hard, very often abrasive. Cross her, and you paid.’
‘And did you ever cross her, Mr. Young?’
‘I was careful not to.’ He smiled charmingly. ‘I enjoy my career and my looks, Lieutenant. Pandora was no threat to the first, but I’d seen and heard of her doing some damage to faces when annoyed. Believe me, she didn’t wear her manicure like knives just for fashion.’
‘She had enemies.’
‘Plenty of them, most of whom were terrified of her. I can’t imagine who might have finally snapped and struck back at her. And from the news reports I’ve heard, I can’t believe even Pandora deserved to die so brutally.’
‘We appreciate your candor, Mr. Young. If it’s convenient, we’d like to speak with Ms. Fitzgerald now. Alone.’
He lifted a slim, elegant brow. ‘Yes, of course. No coordinating stories.’
Eve only smiled. ‘You’ve had plenty of time to do that already. But we’d like to speak to her alone.’
She had the pleasure of seeing his smooth facade shaken a bit by her statement. Still, he rose and walked toward a connecting corridor.
‘What do you think?’ Feeney muttered.
‘I think it was a hell of a performance.’
‘We’re on wavelength there. Still, if he and Fitzgerald were ripping up the sheets all night, it keeps him in the clear.’
‘They alibi each other, it keeps them both in the clear. We’ll get the security discs from building management, check what time they came in. See if they went out again.’
‘I never trust those, not since the DeBlass case.’
‘If they diddled with the discs, you’ll see it.’ She glanced up at the sound of Feeney sucking in his breath. His hangdog face had gone terrier bright. His eyes were glazed. After a glimpse at Jerry Fitzgerald’s entrance, Eve wondered why Feeney’s tongue wasn’t hanging out.
She was built, all right, Eve mused. Her lush breasts were barely covered with ivory silk that dipped nipple low, clung, then halted briefly a few millimeters below crotch level. One long, shapely leg was decorated beside the knee with a red rose in full bloom.
Jerry Fitzgerald was definitely blooming.
Then there was the face, soft and slumberous as though she’d just climbed out of sex. Ebony hair was razor straight and curved to perfection, framing a round, feminine chin. Her mouth was full and wet and red, her eyes dazzling blue and edged with spiky, gold-tipped lashes.
As she glided to a chair like some sort of pagan sex goddess, Eve patted Feeney’s leg in support - and restraint.
‘Ms. Fitzgerald,’ Eve began.
‘Yes,’ she said in a voice like sacrificial smoke. Those killer eyes barely flickered on Eve before they latched like limpets on Feeney’s homely and dazed face. ‘Captain, it’s just so awful. I’ve tried the isolation tank, the mood elevator, even programmed the hologram for meadow walks, as that always relaxes me. But nothing I do gets all of this out of my mind.’
She fluttered, lifted both hands to her unbelievable face. ‘I must look like a hag.’
‘You look beautiful,’ Feeney babbled. ‘Stunning. You look—’
‘Get a grip,’ Eve muttered and jabbed him with an elbow. ‘We appreciate how upset you are, Ms. Fitzgerald. Pandora was a friend of yours.’
Jerry opened her mouth, closed it, smiled slyly. ‘I could tell you she was, but you’d find out quickly enough we weren’t friendly. We tolerated each other as we were in the same business, but frankly, we couldn’t stand one another.’
‘She invited you into her home.’
‘That’s because she wanted Justin to be there, and we’re very close right now. And Pandora and I did socialize, we even did a few projects together.’
She rose, either to show off the body or because she preferred to serve herself. From a cabinet in the corner she took out a decanter in the shape of a swan and poured its sapphire blue contents into a glass.
‘Let me say first that I am sincerely upset about the way she died. It’s terrifying to think that anyone could hate so much. I am in the same profession, and as much in the public eye. A kind of image, as Pandora was. If it happened to her . . .’ She broke off, drank deeply. ‘It could happen to me. One of the reasons I’m staying here with Justin until it’s all resolved.’
‘Take me through your movements on the night she was killed.’
Jerry’s eyes widened. ‘Am I a suspect? That’s almost flattering. ’ She came back to the chair, drink in hand. After she sat, she folded up her exquisite legs in a way that made Feeney vibrate beside Eve. ‘I never had the guts to do more than give her a few verbal shots. Half the time she didn’t even know I was zinging her. Pandora wasn’t exactly a mental giant and never understood subtlety. All right then.’
She sat back, closed her eyes, and told basically the same story as Justin had, though she had, apparently, tuned in more closely on the altercation between Pandora and Mavis.
‘I have to admit, I was cheering her on. The little one, not Pandora. She had a style to her,’ Jerry mused. ‘Odd, memorable - somewhere between a waif and an Amazon. She was trying to hold her own, but Pandora would have mopped the floor with her if Justin and Paul hadn’t stopped it. Pandora was really strong. She was always in the health club working on muscle tone. I once saw her literally throw a fashion consultant across the room because the poor sap had mislabeled her accessories before a showing. Any’
She waved that off, opened a drawer on the brass table beside her, and located an enameled box. She took out a glossy red cigarette, lighted it, blew out perfumed smoke. ‘Anyway, the woman started off trying to reason with Pandora, make some sort of a deal with her over Leonardo. He’s a designer. My take was Leonardo and the waif were an item and Pandora wasn’t ready to cut him loose. He’s got a show coming up.’
She smiled that cat’s smile again. ‘With Pandora gone, I’ll have to throw him my support.’
‘You weren’t involved in the show before?’
‘Pandora was headlining. I said Pandora and I had done a few projects together. A couple of videos. Her problem was, she had looks, even presence, but when she had to read someone else’s lines or try for charming on screen, she was an oak. Wooden. Just awful. But I’m good.’ She paused to let more smoke stream through her lips. ‘Really good, and I’m concentrating on my acting work. But . . . stepping in on this show, with this designer, will be a nice boost for me mediawise. That sounds callous. Sorry.’ She shrugged. ‘It’s life.’
‘Her death comes at an opportune moment for you.’
‘When I see an opportunity, I take it. I don’t kill for it.’ She moved her shoulders again. ‘That was more Pandora’s style.’
Now she leaned forward, and her bodice gaped carelessly. ‘Look, let’s not play games. I’m clear. I was with Justin all night, didn’t see her after about midnight. I can be honest, tell you I couldn’t stand her, that she was certainly a professional rival, and that I knew that she’d have liked to lure Justin away from me just for spite. And maybe she could have done it. I don’t kill over men, either.’ She warmed Feeney with a glance. ‘There are so many charming ones out there. And the simple fact is, you couldn’t fit all the people who detested her into this apartment. I’m just one of the
crowd.’
‘What was her mood on the night she died?’
‘Razzed and jazzed.’ In a quick change of mood, Jerry threw back her head and laughed lustily. ‘I don’t know what she’d been knocking back, but it sure as hell put a glint in her eye. She was on fast forward.’
‘Ms. Fitzgerald,’ Feeney began in slow, apologetic tones, ‘you believed Pandora had ingested an illegal?’
She hesitated a moment, then moved her alabaster shoulders. ‘Nothing legal makes you feel that good, honey. Or that mean. And she was feeling good and mean. Whatever it was, she was chasing it with champagne by the bucketload.’
‘Were you and the other guests offered illegal substances while you were there?’ Eve asked.
‘She didn’t invite me to share. But then, she knew I didn’t use. My body’s a temple.’ She smiled as Eve’s glance focused on her glass. ‘Protein drink, Lieutenant. Pure protein. And this?’ She waved her slim cigarette. ‘Veggie, with a lace of perfectly legal calmer, for my nerves. I’ve watched a lot of the mighty fall, taking a short, fast trip. I’m in for the long haul. I allow myself three herbal smokes a day, an occasional glass of wine. No chemical stimulants, no happy pills. On the other hand . . .’ She set her drink aside. ‘Pandora was a champion user. She’d gulp down anything.’
‘Do you know the name of her supplier?’
‘Never thought to ask her. Just wasn’t interested. But at a guess, I’d say this was something new. I’ve never seen her so powered up, and though it pains me to say it, she looked better, younger. Skin tone and texture. She had, well, a glow on. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’d had a full treatment, but we both use Paradise. I know she wasn’t in the salon that day, because I was. Anyway, I asked her, and she just smiled and said she’d found a new beauty secret, and she was going to make a pile on it.’
‘Interesting,’ Feeney commented when he plopped back down in Eve’s car. ‘We talked to two of the three people who last socialized with the victim. Neither of them could stand her.’
‘They could have done it together,’ Eve mused. ‘Fitzgerald knew Leonardo, wanted to work with him. Simplest thing in the world to alibi each other.’