In Death 14 - Reunion in Death

here. She's just not here. Goddamn it." She pushed away from the desk to pace. "I'm wasting time when I should be nitpicking the setup at the ballroom."
    "You've several more locations on your list."
    "They're all low probability. Maybe I'm just projecting what I'd like her to do, to make it easy for myself."
    "You wouldn't know how to make it easy for yourself if you took classes on it. My name also comes in low probability, but you've dismissed the computer's brain on that, haven't you? You know her, Eve. Don't second-guess yourself now."
    "I'm playing a hunch instead of dealing with established data."
    "Then play it out. Which one appeals to you?"
    She went back to the desk, scanned the remaining locations on her list. "This is the one I liked from the get-go, but the computer tossed it. Doesn't fit her usual pattern."
    "That's nice. Why do you like it?"
    "Because it's the most expensive, has the most history-some count guy owned the estate way back when." She looked at him. "Yours?"
    "Fifty-one percent of it. Would you like to have the rest?"
    "That just lowers the probability. She doesn't want to get that close to you yet. Then again..." Eve considered. "She might get a real charge out of it. Pop in, get buffed up, pop out, all the while imagining that in a little while she'll be eliminating the guy who owns the majority share. Yeah, let's run this one."
    She slammed into the same reluctance, Italian-style, with the assistant reservations clerk. "Are you having trouble reading the warrant?" Eve demanded. "It comes in a variety of languages, and one of them must be yours."
    The clerk was young, gorgeous and more than a little frazzled. "No, signorina."
    "Lieutenant. Lieutenant Dallas, New York City Police and Security. I am investigating multiple homicides. You may, at this moment, be harboring a murderer in your facility. How do you figure your other guests are going to feel about that?"
    "Villa de Lago has very strict policies regarding guest privacy."
    "You know what, I have very strict policies, too." She shot a hand out, caught Roarke in the belly as he stepped forward. She wasn't having him smooth the way. "And so does international law. Would you like me to list what the penalties are for interfering with an international warrant?"
    "No, Signorina Lieutenant. I do not feel I am authorized to proceed. I would prefer you speak with the reservations manager."
    "Fine. Dandy. Make it snappy."
    "It would've been snappier," Roarke pointed out, "if you'd let me speak to her."
    "My way, Coffee Boy."
    Obliging, he poured the last of the second pot into her cup.
    "Lieutenant Dallas." Another woman came on-screen. She was older, and equally gorgeous. "I am Sophia Vincenti, the reservations manager. I apologize for keeping you waiting. I have your warrant here. Please understand my assistant was only following our policy in protecting our guests from any privacy violation."
    "I'd think it would be just as important to protect your guests from the possibility of dipping into the hot tub with a murderer."
    "Yes. We will, of course, fulfill the demands of the warrant. You have our full cooperation. Perhaps in the interest of sparing innocent guests you could tell me the name of the party you're seeking."
    "I can't be sure what name she'd be using. It's likely whatever it is, the initials are J and D."
    "Just one moment... Lieutenant, we have three guests with reservations in the stated time period with those initials. Justina D'Angelo is expected next week. I know Senora D'Angelo personally. She has been a guest here many times."
    "How old is she?"
    "Lieutenant, this is a delicate area."
    "Come on."
    "She admits to fifty, and has so admitted for ten years."
    "She's clear. Number two."
    "Jann Drew, expected at the end of this month. She is a new guest. Let me pull up her file for you."
    "This is more like it," Eve stated and sat back sipping coffee.
    "Lieutenant, Ms. Drew lists her address in Copenhagen. She is booked for ten days, and will be joined by a companion for the last three."
    "I'm going to have my assistant run her while you give me the data on the third."
    "This is a Josephine Dorchester, and is also a new guest. She arrived only last night and is booked through tomorrow."
    The back of Eve's neck prickled, and she leaned forward. "Where did she come in from?"
    "She lists her U.S. address as Texas. She has our premiere accommodations. I was on duty last night when Ms. Dorchester arrived. She is very