In Death 08 - Conspiracy in Death

playing."
    "Just run this," she began, then stopped to yank Roarke's porta-link out of her pocket. "Block video. Dallas."
    "Lieutenant, Peabody. Louise is awake; she asked for you. We're going to get you in, but it's got to be fast."
    "I'm there."
    "Come up the east-side stairs. I'll get you through. Step on it."
    "Close it up." Eve jammed the 'link back in her pocket. "We've got to move."
    "Already done. This time, I drive."
    It was just as well, Eve thought as she bared her teeth and hung on. She had a rep for being nerveless and occasionally reckless behind the wheel, but compared with Roarke, she was a suburban matron manning a car pool.
    She did no more than hiss when he screamed into a parking slot in the center's garage. Saving her breath, she shoved out and pounded up the east-side stairs.
    Faithful as a spaniel, Peabody yanked the door open. "Waverly's going to be back with her in a few minutes. Just give me time to bump the uniform off the door and take over for him. Feeney's already inside, but she won't talk to anyone but you."
    "What's her prognosis?"
    "I don't know yet. They're not talking." She looked up at Roarke. "I can't let you in."
    "I'll wait."
    "I'll be quick," Peabody promised. "Watch for it."
    She strode away, squaring her shoulders back to add authority. Eve moved smoothly to the end of the corridor, shifted slightly to bring Louise's door into view.
    She saw Peabody glance at her wrist unit, shrug, then jerk her thumb to indicate she'd take over duty while the uniform took a break. He didn't hesitate. Sprung, he hurried down the hallway toward food, coffee, and a chair.
    "I won't be long," Eve promised. She made the dash, slipped through the door Peabody opened.
    The room was larger than she'd expected, and the light was dim. Feeney nodded and flipped the shield on the wide window, closing off the view from outside.
    Louise was propped in the hospital bed, the bandages wrapped around her head no whiter than her cheeks. Scanners and TVs ran from her to machines and monitors that hummed and beeped and blinked with lights.
    She stirred as Eve approached the bed and opened eyes that were deeply bruised and blurry. A smile ghosted around her mouth.
    "I sure as hell earned that half million."
    "I'm sorry." Eve wrapped her fingers around the bed guard.
    "You're sorry." With a weak laugh, Louise lifted her right hand. The wrist was cased in a clear stabilizer. "Next time, you get your head bashed in, and I'll be sorry."
    "Deal."
    "I got the data. I put it on a disc. It's -- "
    "I've got it." Feeling helpless, Eve leaned over, laid her hand over Louise's uninjured one. "Don't worry."
    "You've got it? What the hell did you need me for?"
    "Insurance."
    Louise sighed, closed her eyes. "I don't know how much good it'll do you. I think it goes deep. Scary. Christ, they gave me primo drugs here, I'm about to go flying."
    "Tell me who hurt you. You saw them."
    "Yeah. So stupid. I was pissed. Put the disc away for safe keeping, then figured I'd handle it myself. Confront the enemy on my turf. Fading out here, Dallas."
    "Tell me who hurt you, Louise."
    "I called her in, let it rip. Next thing... caught me off guard. Never thought... Jan. Faithful nurse. Go get the bitch for me, Dallas. I can't kick her ass until I can stand up."
    "I'll get her for you."
    "Get all the bastards," she mumbled, then drifted off.
    "She was coherent," Eve said to Feeney, hardly aware she still held Louise's hand. "She wouldn't have been that coherent if there was brain damage."
    "I'd say the lady has a hard head. Jan?" He took out his memo pad. "Nurse at the clinic? I'll pick her up."
    Eve slid her hand away, shoved it into her pocket as she battled impotence. "Will you let me know?"
    His eyes met hers over Louise. "First thing."
    "Good. Great. I'd better get out before I'm tagged." She stopped with her hand on the door. "Feeney?"
    "Yeah."
    "Peabody's a good cop."
    "That she is."
    "If I don't get back, ask Cartright to take her."
    His throat closed, so he swallowed hard. "You'll be back, Dallas."
    She turned, met his eyes again. "If I don't get back," she said evenly, "ask Cartright to take her. Peabody wants Homicide, she wants to make detective. Cartright can bring her along. Just do that for me."
    "Yeah." His shoulders slumped. "Yeah, okay. Goddamn it," he muttered when she'd slipped out the door. "Goddamn it."
    Roarke gave her the silence he thought she needed on the drive home. He was certain, in her mind, she was riding with