In Death 07 - Holiday in Death

throat and held out the file she carried. "I have the probability scan on Rudy. With current data he comes out at eighty-six point six percent. That's high enough to poke at him again, but I can tie him up tighter after you test him. Rollins said Rudy's lawyer popped to it."
    "Yes, I have him scheduled for this afternoon as you flagged it Priority One."
    "I need to know his head, his violence potential, so I can put him away long enough for me to dig up evidence. I don't think he's going to break, or deal. If the sister knows anything, I can work on her. She'll fold eventually."
    "I'll give you what I can, as soon as I can. I understand the pressure you and your team are under. However," she added, tilting her head, "you look well. Rested. The last time I saw you I was a little concerned. I still think you came back to full duty sooner than was wise."
    "You and everyone else." Then she shrugged. "I feel good. Better. I had a top-level relaxation therapy session last night, and about ten hours sleep."
    "Really?" Mira's lips curved. "And how did Roarke manage that?"
    "He drugged me." At Mira's delighted burst of laughter, Eve scowled. "Figures you'd be on his side."
    "Oh, completely. How well you suit each other, Eve. It's a pleasure to watch what grows between you. I look forward to seeing you both tonight."
    "The party, right." Whoopee, she thought irritably, but her mouth twitched when Mira laughed again. "Get me that profile, and maybe I'll be in a party mood."
    But she wasn't when she walked into her office and found McNab rifling through her desk.
    "I don't keep my candy stash there anymore, ace."
    He straightened so quickly his hip hit the drawer, and shoved it closed on his fingers. His pained yelp greatly lifted Eve's mood.
    "Jesus, Dallas." Pouting, he sucked his throbbing fingers. "You might as well blast me as scare me to death."
    "I ought to give you a jolt. Stealing a superior officer's candy bars is no small matter, McNab. I need my candy fix."
    "Okay, okay." Trying for contrite, he smiled and pulled out her desk chair for her. "Looking good this morning, Dallas."
    "Don't suck up, McNab. It's pathetic." She dropped down in her chair and stretched her legs out, which bumped her boots against the wall. "You want to make points, give me some news."
    "I verified the financials, and found eight complaints lodged against Holloway buried in the FI file."
    "FI?"
    "Fuck It file," he said with a quick grin. "It's a place businesses stick cranks and other shit they don't intend to deal with. But all eight women were given free perks, just like Peabody. Salon treatments or free match lists, credit in the boutiques."
    "Who authorized?"
    "Both of them, depending. She knew what was up, all right. I got her initials on three of the complaints."
    "Okay, that puts Piper in, but it doesn't win us a prize. I can use it to squeeze her some."
    "Something else's a little interesting," he said and sat down on the corner of her desk.
    Eve eyed him balefully. "Interesting enough for me not to kick your ass off my desk?"
    "Well, let's find out. I found a memo on Donnie Ray, dated six months ago and updated the first of December."
    Eve felt a little tickle under her heart. "What kind of memo?"
    "From Rudy to the consulting staff. Donnie Ray was not to be put through to Piper. Rudy would do his consults personally, or oversee them. The update was a little slap, restating the original notice and reprimanding some drone who didn't shield a call."
    "That's fairly interesting. So he didn't want Donnie Ray sniffing around Piper. I can use that. Anything on the other two victims?"
    "Nothing that popped out."
    She drummed her fingers on the desk. "Medical? Mental or physical treatments?"
    "They're both sterilized." McNab squirmed on the desk as he imagined the cold tongue of the laser on his own genitals. "They opted out of the reproductive market about five years back."
    "That follows."
    "Piper's had regular shrink work, weekly sessions at Inner Balance for as long as they have records on file. Last year, she did a month at one of their retreats on Optima II. I hear they do colonies, sleep in mood tubes, and eat nothing but grain noodles."
    "What a party. What about him?"
    "Zip."
    "Well, he's going to get some shrink work this afternoon. Decent job, McNab." She looked over as Peabody came in. "Good timing. The two of you nail down that last piece of jewelry. I want to know where he bought those four calling birds. He got a little sloppy