by J. D. Robb
Eve looked over and saw Ian McNab swagger into the room. He had a big, satisfied grin on his pretty face, a knee-length vest in eye-searing fuchsia over his Christmas-green jumpsuit, and a striped ribbon of both colors binding back his long sweep of glinting gold hair.
Feeling Peabody stiffen like a flagpole beside her, Eve nearly sighed.
"How's it going, McNab?"
"It's going good, Lieutenant. Hey there, Peabody." He winked cockily then set a hip on the desk. "Captain Feeney said you could use me on this Santa case. I'm here to serve. Got anything to eat?"
"See what's in the AutoChef."
"Mag. Working for you, Dallas, has rocking benefits." He wiggled his brows suggestively at Peabody then walked over to forage breakfast.
"If you were going to use that pinhead," Peabody muttered under her breath, "why can't he work out of EDD?"
"Because I wanted to irritate you, Peabody. It's my main goal in life. Since you're here, McNab," Eve continued, "you can take over these searches. Peabody and I need to go out in the field."
"Just line them up," he said, taking a huge" bite of a blueberry Danish. "I'll knock them back."
"When you've finished stuffing your face," Eve said mildly, "run the names in the Hawley file -- all data."
"Took care of the ex last night," he said with his mouth full. "Can't find any break in his alibi so far."
"Okay." She appreciated the fast return, but decided not to mention it and have Peabody pouting all day. "I'll be sending you another list from the field -- run those names, then do a cross-check between the lists. Take a good look at the Hoffman twins, Rudy and Piper. I want anything that pops. And run this."
She turned back to her computer, called up the evidence file, and shot out a hologram of the second brooch. "I want to know who made this piece, how many were manufactured, where they were sold, how many were sold, and to whom. Cross-check that with the first pin found on Hawley's body. You getting this, McNab?"
"Sir." He swallowed hastily, then tapped a finger to his temple. "Every bit."
"You get me a name that matches both lists and the bauble, and I'll see to it you've got fresh Danishes every morning for the rest of your life."
"That's a hell of an incentive." He wiggled his fingers. "Let me at it."
"Let's ride, Peabody." Eve rose, grabbed her bag. "Don't bother Roarke, McNab," she warned and headed out.
"Looking good, She-body," McNab called just as Peabody hit the doorway. She snarled, hissed, stomped out, and left him feeling gratified.
"EDD's full of detectives with class, you know," Peabody complained as they trooped downstairs. "How come we're stuck with the one asshole in the division?"
"Just lucky, I guess." Eve snagged her jacket off the newel post, and swung it on as they walked outside. "Christ, it's fucking freezing out here."
"You really ought to have a warmer coat, Lieutenant."
"I'm used to this one." But she slid into the car quickly. "Heat, for God's sake," she ordered. "Seventy-five degrees."
"I love this unit." Peabody snuggled into the seat. "Everything works."
"Yeah. But it lacks character." Still Eve glanced down with pleasure as her 'link signaled an incoming. "Catch this," she told Peabody. "Screen incoming," she ordered as she drove through the gates.
"Dallas? Dallas? Damn it." The attractive and irritated face of ace screen reporter Nadine Furst came on screen. "I just missed you at home. Summerset said you're on route somewhere. Answer the damn 'link, will you?"
"I don't think so."
"Hell, those city-issue units you cops drive never work."
Peabody and Eve exchanged cheerful grins while Nadine continued to mutter. "I guess she got wind of the case."
"Sure she did," Eve confirmed. "Now she wants to hit me up for information for her mid-morning report, and she'll hound me for a one-on-one for the noon edition."
"Dallas, I need more data on these women who were killed. Are the cases linked? Come on, Dallas, be a pal. I need to bump up my mid-morning."
"Told you," Eve said complacently as she twisted through traffic.
"Get in touch, will you? We can set up a one-on-one. I'm on deadline here."
"My heart bleeds." Eve yawned as Nadine signed off.
"I like her," Peabody commented.
"So do I. She's fair, she's accurate, and she's good at what she does. But that doesn't mean I'm going to take time out to give her ratings a goose. If I avoid her for a couple of days, she'll be digging on her own. Let's see what she can feedus for a change."
"You're sneaky, Lieutenant. I like that about you. But about McNab -- "
"Live with it, Peabody," Eve suggested and whipped up and into a second-level parking slot on the curb on Fifth.
Inside she went directly to a tube, stepped in, hooked her thumbs in her pockets, and tolerated the ride up to the office level of Personally Yours.
Manning the greeting desk was a young god with shoulders the size of mountains, skin the color of rich Swiss chocolate, and eyes like antique gold coins.
"Stop vibrating," Eve muttered, and Peabody only grunted in response.
"Tell Rudy and Piper Lieutenant Dallas and aide are here."
"Lieutenant." His smile was dreamy and slow. "I'm sorry, but Rudy and Piper are in client consultations."
"Tell them I'm here," Eve repeated. "And that they're minus another client."
"Of course." He gestured to the waiting area to the left. "Please make yourselves comfortable. Feel free to order up some refreshment while you wait."
"Don't keep me waiting long."
He didn't. Within five minutes, and before Peabody could weaken enough to order up something called a Raspberry Cream Froth, both Rudy and Piper stepped into the lobby area.
They were in white again, ankle dusters this time, with Piper jazzing hers up with a blue silk sash. Each wore a single gold hoop in the right ear -- one the mate of the other.
It made Eve's skin crawl.
"Lieutenant." Rudy spoke, keeping a hand on Piper's shoulder. "We're a bit rushed this morning. Our schedule's very full."
"It just got fuller. You want to do this here, or in private?"
The faintest hint of irritation flickered in Rudy's exotic eyes, but he gestured gracefully toward the hallway leading to their offices.
"Sarabeth Greenbalm," Eve began the minute the door shut at her back. "She was found murdered yesterday. She was one of yours."
"Oh God, oh my God." Instantly Piper collapsed in a wide white chair and covered her face with her hands.
"Hush now." Rudy ran a hand over Piper's hair, caressed the back of her neck. "You're certain she was a client?"
"Yes. I want her matches. Which one of you worked with her?"
"I would have." Piper dropped her hands in her lap. The deep green eyes glinted with threatening tears, her pale gold mouth trembled. "I work with the female applicants, Rudy with the male unless otherwise requested. In general we find that people are more comfortable discussing romantic and sexual needs with a member of the same sex."
"Okay." Eve kept her eyes on Piper's face and tried not to notice the way her hand crept up until it was swallowed by her brother's.
"I remember her. Sarabeth. I remember her because she was dissatisfied with the first two matches. She wanted a full refund."
"Did she get one?"
"We have a firm policy against refunds once the client has begun to explore the matches." Rudy gave his sister's hand a reassuring squeeze, then walked to his console.
"I see. Neither of you mentioned that you owned the company."
"You didn't ask," Rudy said simply as he called up the data Eve had requested.
"Who besides the two of you would have access to client data?"
"We have thirty-six consultants," Rudy began. "After the initial screening, which Piper and I deal with personally, applicants are assigned to the consultant who most suits their needs. Our consultants are screened, trained, and licensed, Lieutenant."
&nbs
p; "I want their names, full data."
His eyes shuttered, seemed to frost. "I can't agree to that. That kind of invasion into the privacy of our staff is insulting."
Eve angled her head. "Peabody, request a warrant, search and seizure of all records, personnel and client lists, for Personally Yours. Log in reports on the Hawley and Greenbalm cases, and request warrant be issued directly to me through my communicator. And put a rush on it."
"Right away, Lieutenant."
"Rudy." Rubbing her hands together, Piper rose. "Is this necessary?"
"I think it is." He held out a hand, taking hers when she crossed to him. "If our records are to be part of a police investigation, I want it all to be documented. I apologize for what might seem like a lack of cooperation and compassion, Lieutenant Dallas, but I have a great many people to protect."
"So do I." When the communicator beeped, Piper jolted. "Excuse me." Eve turned her back to them and slipped it out of her pocket. "Dallas."
"We tagged the makeup used on Hawley." Dickie scowled out of the screen. "Brand name's Natural Perfection. High-dollar shit, like I figured."
"Nice work, Dickie."
"Yeah, it cost me overtime, and I got Christmas shopping to do. Prelim indicates the stuff on Greenbalm was the same brand. You gotta buy this crap through salons or an enhancement center. Can't get it in regular stores, even high-end ones, or off screen."
"Good, that'll make it easier to trace. Who manufactures?"
His scowl transformed into a wide, wicked grin. "Renaissance Beauty and Health, a division of Kenbar, which is an arm of Roarke Industries. Don't you know what your old man's up to, Dallas?"
"Hell" was all Eve said, and she cut the transmission before she turned around. "Any of the salons in this building sell Natural Perfection products?"
"Yes." Piper leaned against Rudy in a way that made Eve's stomach roll over. "That line is showcased in All Things Beautiful on the tenth level."
"Are you connected with the salon?"
"It's a separate business, but we maintain relationships with all the salons and shops in the building." Rudy moved to the console, opened a compartment, and selected a glossy, fold-out brochure and attached disc. "Packages including salon work and gift certificates are available with consults here," he said as he offered Eve the material.
"All Things Beautiful," he continued, "is the most exclusive salon in the building. They also offer packages which include a consult with us in their Diamond Day plan."
"Handy."
"It's good business" was Rudy's response.
"Warrant approved, Lieutenant." Peabody tucked her own communicator away again. "Processing transmission now."
* * *
"Feed all that data to McNab," Eve ordered Peabody when they were in the tube again.
"All of it?"
Eve didn't spare much sympathy despite Peabody's wide, shocked eyes. "All. Start with the matches on Greenbalm, then give him personnel. Go from there into client list, go back one year. I have a feeling our man is living pretty much in the present."
"That's going to take twenty or thirty minutes."
"Then find yourself a quiet spot and get started. I get off here. Meet me in the salon when you've finished uploading data."
"Yes, sir."
"And buck up, Peabody. Pouting's not attractive."
"I'm not pouting," Peabody said with some dignity. "I'm gritting. As in my teeth." She sniffed audibly as the tube whooshed shut again.
The salon level smelled of forests and meadows. The sound system piped in soft, tinkling music of lyres and flutes. Underfoot was a carpet the color and consistency of crushed rose petals. The walls were dull silver and drenched with the slowly streaming flow of water that fed into a narrow canal that circled the entire floor. Palm-sized swans in pastel hues glided over its surface.
There were six salons in all, each with glass-fronted archways arbored with exotic vines. Eve recognized the reproduction of the Immortal blossom that had been trained to spiral up a thin, gilded curve that haloed the entrance of All Things Beautiful.
Figures, she thought. That particular bloom had caused her quite a bit of trouble once upon a time.
The doors parted fluidly as she approached. Inside, the lobby area was wide and sumptuous, with deep, cushioned scoop chairs in pale greens. Each was fitted with its own mini-screen and communication system. Statuary and sculpture ran to bronze nudes.
Small serving droids scooted here and there, carrying refreshments, reading material, VR goggles, and whatever else clients ordered for their amusement while they were beautified.
Two of the chairs were occupied by women who chatted absently and sipped something that looked like seafoam while they waited for their treatments. Both wore plush shell-pink robes with the salon's name discreetly etched on the lapel.
"May I help you, madam?" The woman behind a U-shaped console gave Eve's battered jeans, scarred boots, and untidy hair a slow, measuring study out of glittering silver eyes. The eyes matched the S-shaped streaks snaking through her wedge of triangular magenta hair. "I assume you're looking for our Complete Woman package?"
Eve smiled pleasantly. "Is that a dig?"
The woman blinked with a flurry of silver lashes. "I beg your pardon?"
"Never mind, sister. I want to talk about your Natural Perfection line."
"Yes, of course. It's the very best cosmetic and enhancement line money can buy. I'll be happy to arrange for a consultant to speak with you. Would you care to make an appointment?"
"Yeah." Eve slapped her badge on the console. "Now would be good."
"I don't understand."
"I can see that. Get me whoever runs this place."
"Excuse me a moment." The woman shifted on her high stool and spoke softly into her 'link. "Simon, could you come up front please?"
With her thumbs in her front pockets, Eve rocked back on her heels and studied the elegant bottles and tubes in the revolving display behind the console. "What's all that?"
"Personalized scents. We feed your personality and physical traits into a program and create a scent that is uniquely you. The container is your choice. Each is one of a kind and, once selected, will never be made again."
"Interesting."
"They make thoughtful gifts," she arched a razor-thin brow, "but are quite exclusive and expensive."
"Really?" Irritated by the sarcasm, Eve sent her a tawny, slitted stare. "I want one."
"Naturally the purchase must be prepaid before programming."
Seriously riled, Eve imagined grabbing a handful of that stiff, streaked hair and rapping the perfect, sneering face firmly against the console. She took one step forward as hurried footsteps sounded on the floor behind her.
"Yvette, what seems to be the problem? I'm swamped back there."
"She's the problem," Yvette said with a thin smile, and Eve turned and got a full blast of the magnificent Simon.
The eyes caught her first. They were a pale, almost translucent blue framed by thick dark lashes and thin ebony brows that each peaked to a ruler-sharp point in the middle. His hair was a brilliant ruby red, swept high off his forehead and temples and styled to tumble in a snowfall of springy curls to the middle of his back.
His skin had the dull gold sheen indicating mixed-race heritage or complexion dyes. His mouth was painted a deep bronze, and riding along his prominent left cheekbone was a white unicorn with gold horn and hooves.
He swept back the electric-blue cape draped over his shoulders. Beneath he wore a skinsuit of chartreuse and silver stripes with a deeply scooped neckline. A tangle of gold chains gleamed against his impressive chest. He angled his head, sending the long gold dangles in his ears dancing as he set one hand on one slim hip and studied Eve.
"And what can I do for you, dear heart?"
"I want -- "
"Wait, wait!" He threw up both hands, palms out, revealing a chain of hearts and flowers tattooed there. "I know that face." With a dramatic toss of his
head, he circled Eve and gave her a whiff of his scent.
Plums, she thought. The guy smelled like plums.
"Faces," he continued while Eve's eyes narrowed, "are, after all, my art, my business, my stock and trade. I've seen yours. Oh yes indeed, I have."
Abruptly, he grabbed Eve's face between his hands and leaned forward until they were nearly nose to nose. "Look, pal -- "
"Roarke's wife!" He squealed it, then planted a loud, juicy kiss on her mouth, leaping back before she could follow through with the urge to punch him. "That's who you are! Darling," he crooned, turning with his hands crossed over his heart to the receptionist. "Roarke's wife is in our humble salon."
"Roarke's wife?" Yvette went bright red, then lost all color. "Oh," she muttered and looked ill.
"Sit, you must sit and tell me everything you desire." He scooped an arm around Eve's shoulders and began to nudge her toward a chair. "Yvette, be a lamb and cancel all my consultations. Dear lady, I am yours. Where shall we begin?"
"You can begin by stepping back, ace." She shrugged off his arm, and with some regret pulled out her badge instead of her weapon. "I'm here on police business."
"Oh my, oh my goodness." Simon patted his hands to his cheeks. "How could I have forgotten? Roarke's wife is one of New York's finest. Forgive me, dear heart."
"The name is Dallas, Lieutenant Dallas."
"Of course." Then he smiled sweetly. "Forgive me, Lieutenant. My enthusiasm ... I tend to emote. Seeing you here, I lost my head, if you will. You see, you're on our top ten wish list, along with Madam President and Slinky LeMar -- the video Queen," he added when Eve's eyes remained narrowed. "It's excellent company."
"Right. I need your client list for the Natural Perfection line."
"Our client list." He laid a hand on his heart again, and sat. He touched the video screen and had the menu popping on. "A sparkling lemon. Please, Lieutenant, allow me to offer you some refreshment."
"I'm fine." But because he looked chastised and didn't appear to be planning on grabbing her again, she sat across from him. "I need the list, Simon."
"Is it permissible to ask why?"
"I'm investigating a homicide."
"A murder." He whispered it, leaned closer. "I know it's dreadful, but I find that terribly exciting. I'm an avid fan of mystery and detective videos." He offered that sweet smile again, and despite herself Eve softened.