In Death 22 - Memory in Death

up, don’t want to wake you. I know you didn’t sleep very well. I’m just running out to get some coffee and some bagels or danishes, something. Doesn’t feel right to
    have your friend coming by and not have anything to offer. I should’ve stocked the AutoChef before. Sorry, honey. I’ll be twenty minutesjust running to that deli a couple blocks down.
    Or up. I can’t figure this city out. Deli Delish. I’ll have coffee for you when you get out of the shower. I love you, honey.
    Noting the time on the stamp, Eve flicked Peabody a glance.
    “Why don’t I walk out and meet her?” Peabody said. “Give her a hand.”
    “Have a seat, Bobby,” Eve told him. “I have a few questions.”
    “Okay.” He stared at the door Peabody closed behind her. “I shouldn’t worry. It’s just that she’s never been to New York. She probably turned the wrong way coming out, something like that. Got turned around, that’s all.”
    “Peabody’ll find her. Bobby, how long have you known your partner?”
    “D.K.? Since college.”
    “So you’re tighton a personal level?”
    “Yeah, sure. I was best man at his wedding, and he was at mine. Why?”
    “He knew your mother then?”
    “I had to tell him, had to call and tell him yesterday.” When his mouth trembled, Bobby firmed it. “He’s covering for me back home. Said he’d come out here if I needed him to. Don’t want him to do that. Christmas coming, and he’s got a family.” Bobby put his head in his hands. “Nothing he can do anyway. Nothing to do.”
    “What kind of relationship did he have with your mother?”
    “Careful.” When he lifted his head, he nearly mustered a smile. “Oil and water, you know?”
    “Why don’t you explain it to me?”
    “Well, D.K., he’s what you’d call a risk-taker. I never would’ve gone out on my own if he hadn’t nudged me. My mama, she could be a little critical of people. She didn’t think we’d make it in the business, but we’re doing okay.”
    “They didn’t get along?”
    “Mostly, D.K. and Marita stayed out of her way. Marita’s his wife.”
    “Anyone else she didn’t get along with?”
    “Well, I guess Mama wasn’t what you’d call a people person.”
    “How about people she did get along with, people she was close to?”
    “Me and Zana. Always used to tell me she didn’t need anybody but me, but she made room for Zana.
    She raised me on her own, you know. That was hard. She had to give up a lot to make sure I had a
    good home. I came first. She always told me I came first.”
    “I know this is hard. How about her assets? She had the house, right?”
    “It’s a good place. Can’t have a son in the business and not have a good property. She was pretty well
    set. Worked hard all her life, was careful with her money. Frugal.”
    “You inherit.”
    He looked blank. “I guess. We never talked about it.”
    “How’d she get along with Zana?”
    “Good. Things were a little rough at first. MamaI was all she had, and she wasn’t real happy about Zana right off. You know how mothers are.” He caught himself, colored. “Sorry, that was stupid.”
    “No problem. She had a problem with you marrying Zana?”
    “Just me getting married, I’d say. But Zana won her over. They getgot along fine.”
    “Bobby, were you aware that your mother went to see my husband on Friday afternoon?”
    “Your husband? What for?”
    “She wanted money. A lot of money.”
    He simply stared, shook his head slowly side to side. “That can’t be right.”
    He didn’t look shocked, she noted. He simply looked baffled. “Do you know who I’m married to?”
    “Yeah, sure. There were all those media reports after the cloning scandal. I couldn’t believe it was you, right up on the screen. I didn’t even remember you at first. It’s been a long time. But Mama did. She”
    “Bobby, your mother came to New York for a reason. She wanted to contact me again because I happen to be married to a man who has a lot of money. She wanted some of it.”
    His face remained blank, his voice slow and careful. “That’s just not true. That’s just not.”
    “It is true, and it’s very likely she had an associate, and that associate killed her when there was no
    money given. Bet you could use a couple million dollars, Bobby.”
    “A couple million … You think I did that to Mama?” He got shakily to his feet. “That I’d hurt my own mother? A couple million dollars.” His hands went to the sides of his