In Death 03 - Immortal in Death

than competent to investigate these matters. Do you agree, Commander?"
    "Yes, sir, both are excellent cops."
    "Then, I suggest they cooperate with each other instead of playing games. Lieutenant Dallas will remain primary, and as such, will keep Lieutenant Casto and his department apprised of any and all progress. Now is that it, or do I have to threaten to cut a baby in two like Solomon?"
    "Get that report finished, Dallas," Whitney muttered as they filed out. "And next time you bribe Dickhead, do a better job of it."
    "Yes, sir." Eve glanced down at the hand on her arm, looked up at Casto.
    "Had to give it a shot. The captain, he likes those clutch RBIs."
    She didn't miss his not-so-subtle reference to baseball. "No problem, since I'm still the one up at bat. You'll get my report, Casto."
    "Appreciate it. I'll do some more poking around on the streets. So far, nobody knows anything about a new blend. But this off planet angle might open something up. I know a couple drones in Customs who owe me."
    Eve hesitated, then decided it was time to take the term cooperation to heart. "Try Stellar Five for a start. Pandora came back from there a couple of days before she died. I still have to backtrack and see if she did any station hopping."
    "Good. You let me know." He smiled and the hand that was still on her arm slid down to her wrist. "I got a feeling, now that we've aired this out, we'll make a hell of a team. Closing this one up's going to look good on both of our files."
    "I'm more interested in finding a murderer than I am in how it affects my promotion status."
    "Hey, I'm all for justice." His dimple winked. "But I ain't going to cry if making it pushes me closer to a captain's salary. No hard feelings?"
    "No. I'd have done the same."
    "That's fine then. I might just drop around for some more of the coffee one day soon." He gave her wrist a quick squeeze. "And, Eve, I hope you clear your friend. I mean that."
    "I will clear my friend." He'd taken two strides away when she admitted she couldn't resist. "Casto?"
    "Yeah, darling?"
    "What'd you offer him?"
    "Dickhead?" The grin was as wide as Oklahoma. "A case of unblended scotch. He snatched at it the way a frog's tongue snatches a fly." Casto flicked his own tongue out, winked again. "Nobody bribes better than an Illegals cop, Eve."
    "I'll remember that." Eve stuck her hands in her pockets, but couldn't help but grin. "He's got style, I'll give him that."
    "And a great butt," Peabody said before she could stop herself. "Just an observation."
    "One I have to agree with. Well, Peabody, we won that battle. Let's go try for the war."
    By the time the report was complete, Eve's eyes were all but crossed. She sent Peabody off duty as soon as copies were transmitted to all necessary parties. She considered canceling her session with the shrink, thought of all the reasons why she could and should postpone it.
    But she found herself in Dr. Mira's office at the appointed time, taking in the familiar scents of herbal tea and subtle perfume.
    "I'm glad you came to see me." Mira crossed her silk-draped legs. She'd had her hair restyled, Eve noted. It was cut short and sleek rather than tucked up in a smooth roll. The eyes were the same, of course, quiet and blue and filled with ready understanding. "You look well."
    "I'm fine."
    "I can't see how you would be, with so much going on in your life. Professionally and personally. It must be tremendously difficult for you to have such a close friend charged with a murder you're investigating. How are you handling it?"
    "I'm doing my job. By doing it, I'll clear Mavis and find out who set her up."
    "Do you find your loyalties divided?"
    "No, not after I thought about it." Eve rubbed her hands on the knees of her trousers. Damp palms were a usual side effect of her meetings with Mira. "If I had any doubt, any doubt at all that Mavis was innocent, I'm not sure what I would do. But I don't, so the answer's clear."
    "That's a comfort to you."
    "Yeah, you could say that. I'll feel a hell of a lot more comfortable after I close the case and she's out of it. I guess I was worried when I made the appointment to see you. But I feel more in control now."
    "That's important to you. Feeling in control."
    "I can't do my job unless I know I have the wheel."
    "And in your personal life?"
    "Shit, nobody grabs the wheel from Roarke."
    "He's running things then?"
    "He would if you let him." She gave a short laugh. "He'd probably say the same about me. I