Page 105 of Fury In Death

When they left, Eve waited. And finally the man whose ass she wanted to kick rose and walked to the front.

When Wyst spotted her, she saw him jolt, and lose a little color. Though the room seemed a bit too cool to her, his forehead showed a sheen of sweat.

Then he gathered himself, a man used to the public eye, and began to speak.

“Dr. Lawrence Chu’s contribution to the world can’t be summed up in a few words, so I won’t try. He was valued at Banner-Wyst, a brilliant man, a dedicated scientist who worked tirelessly to make the world we live in a better place, a safer place, a more productive place. And Larry, my friend of many, many years, was at the core a family man whose pride and love for that family was boundless. He honored his parents, he treasured his wife, showered that pride and love on his sons, their wives, his grandchildren.

“The world is a better place, a safer place, a more productive place because Larry Chu lived in it. I speak for Calvin Banner and for all at Banner-Wyst when I say he will be remembered. He will be missed.”

When he stepped down, the soft music piped in again. Those who’d sat, stood. People began to mill or move to the light buffet set up by the side wall.

Wyst moved to the family, embraced the widow, shook hands with the sons.

Joleen Everly, alone, turned toward the door. She didn’t jolt when she saw Eve and Peabody, but Eve saw her sigh.

“I’m not doing this for Ezra.” She glanced back at the crowd. “He wouldn’t want it. We’re having a private family gathering. We don’t need a representative of the company to tell us how brilliant and valued he was. Right now we don’t care that the world lost him. Just that we did.”

She glanced back again. “I know what his family’s going through, and I hope they found some comfort here. I need to find mine in my own way, my own time.”

“I hope you do.”

“So do I,” she said as she walked out. “So do I.”

“Do you want to speak to the family?” Peabody asked her.

“No, they don’t know anything, and we’d just have to give them the usual line. The investigation’s active, ongoing, pursuing any and all leads. However true, it’s not much fucking comfort.”

“That picture they put up, Redman and his family. Jesus.”

“Yeah, they don’t have a clue. But he does,” Eve added, as Wyst, with the bodyguards, started toward the door.

“Lieutenant, Detective, I see you have time to visit a memorial and watch a family grieve.”

“Yeah, you, too.”

If he stiffened another inch, Eve calculated, he’d crack.

“Larry Chu was deeply valued by my company, and a personal friend.”

“So you said. How about Ezra Dent? Valued, a personal friend? Then there’s Carlos Cruz.”

She saw the shock; she saw the fear.

“Plan to attend his memorial?”

“You understand nothing.” He said it between gritted teeth. “You know nothing.”

“I know you came to Chu’s memorial flanked by two bodyguards. Worried for your personal safety? You’ve got reason to be. We both know and understand that. I can keep you alive. All that takes is a straightforward conversation.”

His gaze bored holes through her, or tried. The fresh sweat beading on his forehead spoiled the aim.

“Step aside.”

“Your choice,” she said as she did so. “You can try to leave the city, leave the country, leave the freaking planet. He’ll find you. You better hope we have that conversation before he does.”

As they left, Peabody shook her head. “He still thinks his money, his position, his all that insulates him. But that’s starting to crack.”

“He’ll run,” Eve said. “He needs to make sure he’s covered up whatever needs covering, arranges whatever needs arranging, then he’ll run and hide somewhere until we have Redman.