In Death 21 - Origin in Death

of them? "And your function here, Ms. Poole?"
    "I'm chief operating officer."
    "Young," Roarke commented, "for the position."
    "True." Her smile never dimmed. "I came to the Center directly from college."
    "Where did you go to university?"
    "I attended Brookhollow College, taking an accelerated course." The doors opened, and she gestured. "Please, after you. I'll escort you directly to Mrs. Icove."
    "Mrs. Icove?"
    "Yes." Poole gestured again, leading the way through the reception area, through the glass doors. "Dr. Icove served as CEO, with Dr. Will Icove retaining that position upon the death of his father. Now ... Mrs. Icove is acting CEO until such time as a permanent successor can be named. Even through tragedy, the Center will run efficiently, and serve the needs of its clients and patients. Their care and satisfaction is our highest priority."
    The doors to what had been Icove's office were open. Poole stepped inside. "Mrs. Icove?"
    Her back was to the room as she faced the wide windows looking out on New York and a sulky sky. She turned. Her blond hair was swept back from her face, rolled under at the nape. She wore black, and her lavender eyes seemed weary and sad.
    "Oh yes, Carla." Mustering a smile, she moved forward, extended her hand to Roarke, then Louise. "I'm very pleased to meet you both."
    "Our condolences, Mrs. Icove, on your recent losses."
    "Thank you."
    "My father was acquainted with your father-in-law," Louise put in. "And I myself attended a series of lectures he gave while I was in medical school. He'll be missed."
    "Yes, he will. Carla, could we have a moment, please?"
    Surprise flickered briefly over Poole's face, and was quickly masked. "Of course. I'll be outside when you need me."
    She went out, closed the doors.
    "Shall we sit? My father-in-law's office. Intimidating, I find. Would you like coffee? Anything?"
    "No, don't trouble."
    They settled in the sitting area, and Avril laid her hands in her lap. "I'm not a businesswoman, and have no aspirations in that area. Far from it. My function here is-and will continue to be-that of a figurehead. The Icove name."
    She looked down at her hands, and Roarke saw her run a thumb over her wedding ring.
    "But I felt it was important that I meet with you personally when you expressed interest in Unilab and the Center. I need to be frank." "Please do."
    "Carla-Ms. Poole-believes you have intentions of acquiring majority shares in Unilab. At least that this visit is a kind of scouting expedition toward that end. Is it?" "Would you object to that?"
    "At this moment, I feel it's important that we evaluate and reconstruct, as it were, the Center, and all its facilities and functions. That I as the head of the family, be involved in that process as much as it's feasible. In the future, possibly the near future, I would like to think that someone with your reputation and skill, your instincts, could be a leading hand in the work done here. I'd like time for that evaluation and reconstruction. As you know, probably with more comprehension than I, the center is a complex, multifaceted facility. Both my husband and his father were very hands-on, on every level. It's going to be a laborious restructuring."
    Forthright, Roarke thought. Logically so, and very well prepared for this meeting. "You have no desire to take a permanent, active part in running Unilab or the Center?"
    She smiled. Contained, polite, nothing more. "None whatsoever. But I want time to do my duty, and the option of then putting it in capable hands." She rose. "I'll leave you to Carla. She'll be able to give you a much more comprehensive tour than I, and answer your questions more intelligently."
    "She seems very capable. She mentioned she went to Brookhollow College. I'm sure you understand I had some research done before this meeting. You also graduated from Brookhollow, correct?"
    "Yes." Her gaze stayed steady and level. "Though she's younger than I, Carla actually graduated ahead of me. She was on an accelerated course."
    At Central, Eve conducted the briefing in a conference room. Attending included the chief of police, her commander, APA Reo, Mira, Adam Quincy-chief legal counsel for the NYPSD-as well as her partner, Feeney, and McNab.
    Quincy, as was typical in Eve's-thankfully rare-dealings with him, played devil's advocate.
    "You're seriously alleging that the Icoves, the Icove Center, Unilab, Brookhollow Academy and College, and potentially all or some of the other facilities with