Vendetta in Death

by Robb, J. D.

  Eve drank coffee, considered.

  She could go as a guest. That would work, too. One of many of the rich and fancy.

  “But how do you keep the grandmother unaware?” she wondered. “Or am I wrong there? Is she part of it? Either way, either way, we have to have another conversation. I need another look at the two of you before tonight.”

  Eve stayed as she was when she heard Peabody’s boots clomp toward her office.

  She looked pale, Eve noted. Pale and tired.

  “Please,” Peabody said. “I need coffee.”

  “Go.”

  At the AutoChef Peabody let out a long breath. “I’ve got another name—another of the women. I’ll contact her after this. And I’ve got another name—or two in this case—of potential targets.”

  “Sit down.” Because her partner looked beaten down, Eve gave up her chair, pointed to it. “And sum it up.”

  “First, Ming’s got an alibi for the first two nights. Visiting her family in Maine. I’ll check it out, but it’s going to hold. She got back yesterday afternoon. She has a roommate, another female, and they were both home until around eight, when the roommate went out. She says she went to bed about eleven—tired—and didn’t hear the roommate come in. But saw her this morning about seven-thirty, and the roomie said she got in about one. Big date. It’s sketchy, but it’s not her, Dallas.”

  “Check anyway. The targets?”

  “Gregory Sullivan and Devin Noonan. They’re all grad students at NYU. There was a party right before the Thanksgiving break, a lot of drinking, some illegals—she didn’t hedge there or deny she’d had her share of both. She went into the bedroom to get her coat, ready to head home. They both came in behind her, locked the door. She says Sullivan’s the one who forced her onto the bed, but Noonan helped hold her down while Sullivan dragged off her pants. It’s loud, nobody hears her calling for help. They took turns with her.”

  “Did she tell anyone?”

  “No.” Peabody scrubbed a hand over her face. “They told her she’d asked for it, the way she’d rubbed up against Sullivan when they danced. Everybody saw how she did, how she asked for it, then they left her there. She pulled on her pants, went home, got sick. The roomie had already left to go back home for the break, so she was alone. She’d seen flyers for the group on campus, and decided to go when she kept having nightmares. She started going early December.”

  “Was Pettigrew there when she told the story, named her rapists?”

  “Yeah. She said she started crying, couldn’t finish at first, and Pettigrew came over to her, held her.”

  “Will she file charges?”

  “I didn’t think so, but after we talked, she said she wanted to. She wants to talk to her mother first. She wants to tell her mother what happened. She told her roommate after she started going to the group, but she hasn’t been able to tell her mother. I think she’ll come back, Dallas, and file.”

  “Good. Why don’t you run the targets? I’ll take the next woman.”

  “No, I’m good.” To prove it, Peabody downed the rest of the coffee. “I’m good. I just needed a break. I can interview the next one.”

  “When you need to stop, you stop.”

  “Not yet.” Peabody rose. “Bad as it is, it feels positive, letting them talk it out, showing I believe them. I’ll go write it up, check the alibis before the next comes in.”

  “Peabody. You’re doing good work.”

  “I’ll feel like I am when we close this—and closing it includes helping put assholes like this Sullivan and Noonan in cages.”

  And that’s what they’d do, Eve thought.

  She ran the two names, found Sullivan had several alcohol-and illegals-flavored bumps. And a few weeks in a classy rehab center. His limited employment history stayed confined to a few weeks a year in the family business. He played lacrosse and tennis while he studied business and finance and floated on his trust fund.

  She knew the type.

  Noonan mirrored him closely—though he played golf and tennis, and put in some time working a couple months a year at the country club in Connecticut both families belonged to.

  She gathered what she had, and this time instead of contacting Special Victims, she went in person, spent time discussing strategy with a couple detectives she knew and the lieutenant in charge.

  And considered it time well spent. Positive.

  With Peabody back in Interview when Eve returned, she read her partner’s report, added her own notes from the trip to SVU and her runs.

  Noting Peabody hadn’t had time to check the alibi, she reviewed the information and began to process it herself.

  While Eve talked to the roommate, Linus Brinkman disembarked from his private shuttle. He’d enjoyed a Caesar salad, a bowl of smoked tomato soup, and two glasses of pinot noir on the flight.

  That, in addition to a very successful trip, put him in the finest of moods.

  He clouded a bit when he saw the chauffeur holding a sign with his name.

  “I’m Brinkman. Where is Viktor?”

  “I’m sorry, sir, he took ill shortly ago. I’m here to see you’re not inconvenienced. Please, let me take your bag.”

  Brinkman handed it over, but his frown deepened. “They sent a droid? You’re a good one, but you’re a droid.”

  “Yes, sir. I was immediately available and dispatched to ensure you weren’t required to wait for another replacement. I am, of course, fully programmed and licensed as a chauffeur. Your car is just out here.”

  “All right, all right. I don’t have time to waste.”

  “Exactly so.” The droid rolled the bag toward the car, opened the rear passenger door.

  Brinkman saw the woman as he started to climb in. “And who would you be?”

  “I’m Selina, sir. The company sent you a companion to compensate for the trouble.” She offered a hand, injected the drug into Brinkman’s palm.

  “Not another droid, are you?” he demanded, already slurring his words.

  “Not at all.” She offered him a glass of wine. “Flesh and blood, just like you.”

  He was out cold before the car pulled away from the center.

  “Stop by the salon, Wilford, then we’ll go to the market.”

  “Yes, Ms. Pettigrew.”

  “Afterward, you’ll take him in the usual way. Chain him up.”

  “Of course, Ms. Pettigrew.”

  “I gave him enough to keep him out for a few hours, so when you’re done, you can shut down.”

  “As you wish.”

  Yes, she thought. Just as she wished.

  Between interviews, Eve had Peabody relay the results, give her the names, information. She did the runs, checked alibis herself—and found the loan officer who coerced or attempted to coerce female applicants to provide him with blow jobs for loan approval a strong candidate.

  Maybe he’d—finally—lost his job and done six months in a cage, but she doubted that would be enough for Lady Justice.

  When a hollow-eyed Peabody came in, Eve rose. “Run this one for me on the way.”

  “Where?”

  “We’re going to pay Darla Pettigrew another visit. A follow-up, we’ll call it,” Eve said as she grabbed her coat. “I’m going to spring you after, but I want the sympathetic element there.”

  “I’m so frigging full of sympathy it’s giving me heartburn. I’ve got brothers, Dallas.” They stopped at Peabody’s desk for her jacket. “I’ve got an amazing dad, uncles, cousins. I’ve got McNab. Roarke, Leonardo, Charles, the guys in the bullpen. I know men aren’t all pigs and users. But, Jesus, these men? I don’t have bad enough words.”

  “They’re going to pay. Not with their lives, but they’re going to pay.”

  “I think it’s hearing it, one after another, all in a kind of horrible lump that’s hit me, you know? We see worse, we know worse, but this is one after another.”

  “They’ll pay,” Eve said again, and forced herself to stay in the elevator all the way
down to the garage. “When we’re done with Darla, go home.”

  “I can stick,” Peabody told her. “I can see it through.”

  “There’s not much to see through, and there might be later tonight. I’ve got Baxter and Trueheart to sit on the Callahan residence. If she heads out tonight, I’ll pull you in.”

  “What are you doing after Darla?”

  “I’m going to have a talk with Linus Brinkman. I don’t need you on that. No sympathy factor required. I’ve dumped names on SVU, and I’ve got Nadine sniffing out what can be sniffed on Ryder Cooke. I have a feeling he’s going to get a surprise when he comes back to New York.”

  “This is making me feel better,” Peabody decided when they crossed the garage to the car. “This last one? She goes to stay with her sister after her ex-boyfriend puts her in the hospital. And he’s in the wind, so they can’t find him. Then her sister’s little dog is poisoned. A little dog, Dallas. And the sister’s car gets its tires slashed, the windshield busted. Has a rock thrown through the living room window, shit like that.”

  She settled into the car. “Meanwhile she says she’s seen him—in the subway or on the street—but the cops haven’t found him. She’s scared to stay with her sister, but she’s got no place else to go.”

  “We’ll find him. We’ll get him. Do a run on him now.” Keep busy, Eve thought. “Reach out to the investigating officers, get the file.”

  Peabody took out her PPC to get started.

  “Two other assault charges—and both dropped when the complainant pulled back. Spotty employment history, no known address.” Peabody glanced over. “Can I take the lead on this? I know it has to wait unless she goes after him, but he really is in the wind, so I don’t see how she’d nail him down before the cops. But if I could work it—”

  “It’s yours. Let me know what you need when you need it.”

  Eve drove while Peabody reached out to the investigators on the original assault, then the investigators in Queens on the sister’s dog, house, car.

  Eve might have said something about maintaining objectivity—which is what she didn’t hear in Peabody’s tone, see on her partner’s face. But she knew that kind of involvement, that kind of determination could fuel the drive to re-angle and close a case.

  And she had to admit, as she pulled up to the Callahan gates, she didn’t feel particularly objective herself at the moment.

  She identified herself, got clearance, drove through when the gates opened.

  “The asshole has a friend he couch surfed with for a couple months before the assault who claims he hasn’t seen or heard from him since. And stated the victim of said assault got hysterical easily, was sort of paranoid and clingy. Claimed the asshole had ended the relationship days before the assault, and how she probably got mugged and decided to point the finger.”

  “That’s bullshit.”

  “That’s accessory after the fact.”

  “That, too.” Peabody glanced up when the car stopped. “Okay, I’m putting it away for now, shifting to sympathetic mode.”

  They got out. Before Eve could press the buzzer, the female droid opened the door. “Good afternoon, Lieutenant, Detective. Please come in. May I take your coats?”

  “We’re good.”

  “If you’d wait in the parlor? May I bring you a refreshment?”

  “We’re good,” Eve repeated. “We’d like to speak to Ms. Pettigrew.”

  “Let me check if she’s available. Ms. Callahan is aware of your arrival and will be down directly. Please sit.”

  “Is Ms. Pettigrew on the premises?” Eve asked.

  “I will check if Ms. Pettigrew is available,” she said again, and walked out.

  Seconds later, the elevator slid open. Eloise walked out with a tiny black woman in a blue tunic and black baggies.

  “Lieutenant, Detective, it’s good to see you again. This is the wonderful, if strict, Donnalou Harris, my nurse and keeper.”

  “Oh now, Miss Eloise.” Donnalou gave a hearty laugh as she stepped forward to shake hands. “I’m pleased to meet you both. As you can see, Miss Eloise is feeling feisty this afternoon. I’m going to be out of a job pretty soon now.”

  “Oh now, Donnalou,” Eloise said in a near perfect mimic. “Let’s get comfortable, have some coffee. And don’t give me that look,” she told Donnalou. “I’ve had enough tea these last few months to last me two lifetimes. And didn’t you give me a clean slate this morning?”

  “Almost clean,” Donnalou corrected, but gave Eloise an indulgent look. “One cup, because you could charm the toes off a frog if they had any.”

  “Let me just send for Ariel.”

  “The droid went to see if your granddaughter’s available,” Eve told her.

  “Oh, she’s out. I convinced her to get out of the house, go to the salon. It took some doing, but she needed to get out and about. She’d only go if Donnalou promised to stay until she got back. And I’m nearly back to fighting weight.”

  “Nearly,” Donnalou confirmed.

  “I see,” Eve said. “Do you expect her back soon?”

  “I’m not sure.” Eloise picked up the remote to signal the droid. “Is this about Thaddeus, about your investigation? We heard that another man … I’ve tried to keep her occupied so she wouldn’t watch the reports, but she’s been hoping there would be word. That you’d found who’s doing this.”

  “It must be hard on her,” Peabody said, sympathy fully in gear. “I know being able to lean on you, talk to you must help.”

  “Nobody’s more loving than Miss Eloise,” Donnalou confirmed. “She pestered Miss Darla—with love—to get her to go out awhile, do something for herself. The girl’s selfless. I’m going to miss the pair of you.”

  “No, you’re not, because you’re going to come visit. If Darla’s not back by the time we have our coffee, or when you need to leave, I can tell her what you want her to know. Although, I’m trying to keep her mind off all this. Best of all, I’ve convinced her to take a trip with me in about a week.”

  “Two weeks,” Donnalou corrected. “No flying for two weeks more.”

  Eloise rolled her eyes. “Two weeks. We both need a change of scene, and I think some time basking in the sun on the Côte d’Azur will do the trick. I’m going to book a villa, have the whole family come.” Her face lit up when she spoke. “I miss my kids! And I’ve had more than enough of being an invalid.”

  “You don’t look like one,” Eve observed. “You seem stronger than you did even a couple days ago.”

  “Every day—with this slave driver.” She patted Donnalou’s hand. “And, of course, with my darling Darla. I just … Darla!” Her smile bloomed bright when Darla hurried in. “I didn’t know you were back.”

  “I was in the kitchen. I found the most beautiful strawberries at the market, so I was going to surprise you both with a tea party.”

  “No tea!” Eloise said with a laugh. “Please let it be coffee.”

  “Well …” When she got a nod from Donnalou, she smiled. “Coffee it is. Just let me tell Ariel. She found me back there, told me we had guests, so I have her putting it all together.”

  “You sit down, Miss Darla. I’ll take care of it.” Donnalou got up.

  “Thank you.” Darla sat beside Eloise as Donnalou went out. “She’s an absolute treasure. I don’t know what we’d have done without her. I hope you haven’t been waiting long. I went straight back to the kitchen when I got home, didn’t check in with Donnalou or Ariel. I had marketing.”

  “We haven’t been here long.”

  “Grand convinced me to get out.” She looked at her grandmother, wiggled her hand and its pale pink nails. “And you were right, as always, Grand. I needed to get out, but next week, we’re both going for the works. I already booked a day.”

  “Heaven.” Eyes closed in anticipatory bliss, Eloise let out a happy sigh. “Absolute heaven.”

  “And I’m sorry, Lieutenant, Detective, I’m stalling a little. Trying to hang on to t
he good feeling just a bit longer.” Lips trembled, then firmed. “You have news about Thaddeus?”

  As she spoke his name, Darla reached out to take her grandmother’s hand.

  “We’re actively pursuing several lines of investigation. Eloise said you’re aware there’s been a third murder.”

  Darla cast her eyes down, nodded. “It’s why Grand talked me into getting out. It’s all so horrible.”

  “The three men who were murdered all have connections to women in your support group.”

  While Eloise gasped, Darla fluttered a hand to her throat. “I—I don’t understand.”

  “McEnroy connected to both Jasmine Quirk and Leah Lester. You connect with Thaddeus Pettigrew. Una Ruzaki’s ex-husband, Arlo Kagen, was murdered last night.”

  “Dear God, Darla! To think I’ve been urging you to go back to that group. You can’t, you simply can’t until this is all settled.”

  “I don’t understand.” Now Darla pressed a hand to her temple. “I simply don’t understand.”

  “It’s possible one or more of the women in the group is behind the murders.”

  “Oh no, no. That’s not at all possible. These women are victims.”

  “This must be hard for you.” Peabody spoke gently, kindly. “A group like this, all of you become close. I’ve spoken with several of the women myself, and understand what they’ve been through.”

  “But … how? We only use first names. How could you find them to speak to?”

  “It’s our job to find them.” Speaking briskly, Eve looked directly in Darla’s eyes. “To interview them, check alibis, opportunities, frame of mind. You knew some of these women, by full names.”

  “Yes.” Darla let out a trembling breath, worked up swimming tears. “But we kept that confidential. It’s a matter of trust.”

  “Not in a murder investigation.”

  “Believe me,” Peabody put in, “we’re treating the women we speak with as compassionately as possible. We don’t want to add to their trauma.”

  “But it does, you see. Unless you’ve been through the betrayals, humiliation, the violence, you can’t understand. You can’t know.”

  “Darla, they have to do their job.” Eloise took Darla’s hand again, rubbed it between both of hers. “Someone is killing these men. One of the men was Thaddeus.”