Page 23 of Fury In Death

“And if you’re right, what does that tell you?”

As she ate some bacon, she saw Galahad’s nose twitch. “It goes back to personal, and it leans me heavily toward they knew each other. Chu crossed someone he shouldn’t have crossed. Someone physically strong and furious.”

“It would be hard to hide that sort of rage.”

“Counting on that.”

“So again, I say take care. Someone that full of rage and fury wouldn’t stop at taking on a cop. Strong, and smart, and dangerous.”

“Got that. Might’ve been boosted on Zeus—feels like a chemical boost to me. It’ll make you crazy, and not stronger so much as it blocks out pain. You can’t beat someone like Chu was beaten and not feel it.

“The cat’s annoyed that I’m eating bacon and he’s not.”

“He started his day with tuna.”

“He knows he’s got it good.” She took a last bite. “I’ve gotta get dressed.”

She braced herself to face her closet and what felt like acres of clothes.

She opted for what she knew by now Roarke called indigo for trousers, a leather jacket that would hit her mid-hip. Grabbed a sort of blue sweater that was warm enough for fall, light enough not to weigh her down.

She deemed that enough color and pulled out sturdy boots, a thick belt, both in that blue that wasn’t black, black that wasn’t blue.

She pulled on the trousers, the sweater, and the belt, then carried the jacket and boots into the bedroom.

She caught Roarke’s smile, said, “What?”

“I wondered if you’d ever wear that sweater on the job. The violet goes well with the rest.”

“Violet?” Mildly appalled, she looked down at it. “This is violet?”

“Don’t let that worry you.”

“I’m calling it blue.” She picked up her weapon harness. “Ish.”

“All right then.”

She filled her pockets with her badge, communicator, ’link, the rest, then sat to pull on the boots.

“I should tell you there was nothing off in the younger son’s finances.”

“I’m leaning toward none of them knowing about the Cayman account, the very strong probability of blackmail or bribery.”

“It’ll come out when you’re done.”

“Yeah, and they’ll take another hard punch. I liked her, Rachel Chu. I liked that she took on some asshole who tried to pressure her into sex for advancement at work. And won. I liked the way she made herself hold on when she was clearly shattered because she wanted to help. And she wanted me to know her husband was a good man.”

“Was he?”

She shook her hair out of her eyes. Bangs too long, she admitted. She needed to take a whack at them.

“Maybe he wasn’t. I don’t think he was, not all the way through, but to her he was a good man.”

“Are any of us good?” Roarke wondered. “All the way through?”

“No, but you don’t take three million dollars, and over a quarter million annually thereafter, unless there’s a serious flaw. You hide it from your family, I say you’re ashamed of it. But not enough to say no thanks.”

“Weakness, fear?”