Page 110 of Fury In Death

“I sit Dee’s desk. Catch bad guys.” As Simon informed Eve, his focused and measuring stare switched into his father’s blinding smile.

“Somebody’s got to,” she said as she gave the room a long, cool stare of her own.

The room got back to work.

“Wow, power.” Cassie grinned. “We know you’re busy, and won’t stay. We wanted to see as much of the city as we could while we’re here. We’re going to meet up with Mal, Leah, and the kids, Zeke, too, in about an hour, walk the High Line.”

Eve imagined Peabody did the internal squeal as both kids clung to her like sticky vines.

“Peabody, take ten, show your family around some.”

“Can we see one of those rooms where you and Dee interview suspects?”

Cassie tipped her head toward Ben’s magnificent shoulder, laughed. “Ben’s addicted to the Law and Order channel.”

“Sure. Hey, Simon, we’re going to see the room where we take the bad guys after we catch them.”

“Okay, yeah! Bye,” he said to the room at large.

Cassie took Fawn’s hand, but the kid stopped in front of Eve. Looked up.

“I don’t wanna be a cop like Dee.”

“Okay.” After a beat, Eve realized she was supposed to ask. “What then?”

“I’m gonna be a farmer. And a fairy princess.”

“Well, good goals.”

“Ben.” Cassie put the girl’s hand in her father’s. “I’ll be right behind you. Just one minute of your time,” she said to Eve, “to thank you for what you’ve given Dee.”

“I didn’t give her anything.”

“You gave her the chance. This is what she wanted.” She gestured to Peabody’s desk. “To sit there, to catch bad guys. She’d have gotten there eventually, because she doesn’t give up. But you gave her the chance.”

“I saw a smart cop who deserved one. She earned the desk, and the detective’s shield.”

“I didn’t want her to go. It was hard to let her go from just my little sister, Dee, to Detective Peabody.”

“Looks like she’s both now.”

“You’re right about that. I’d better catch up. See you at the party.”

“Nice people,” Jenkinson commented. “Got the ground solid under them.”

“Yeah. Santiago, Carmichael?”

“In the lounge interviewing a wit.”

With a nod, Eve walked to her office to contact Reo.

The contact went about how she’d expected.

“Dallas, you know that’s not enough for a warrant to search and seize Banner-Wyst. Since Calvin Banner’s not obligated to let you inside or talk to you, I can’t get you a warrant to get inside Banner’s estate and compel him to talk to you. Not at this point.”

“Delgato worked for them, top secret shit, Reo, at the same time Redman’s apartment building blew up. I’ve got her glamming it up in Acapulco with the guy who lit the fuse.”

“You believe he lit the fuse.”