In Death 23 - Born in Death

her ’link. “If he won’t clear a license because I fast-talk him into it, I want you on tap to bribe him.”
    “I can do that. They’ll need someone to officiate. The center must have someone who fits that particular bill. I’ll go find out.”
    Eve nodded, took a breath. “Mr. Mayor, this is Lieutenant Dallas. I have a personal favor to ask of you.”
    As she ended the call, Peabody and McNab bounded off the elevator. “Relief troops, sir, with supplies.” Peabody grinned like a maniac. “What’s the status?”
    “They’re having babies. And as if that wasn’t enough, Mavis decided she and Leonardo are getting married. Now.”
    “Here? Now? Holy crap.”
    “I talked the mayor into issuing them a special license. Roarke is hunting up somebody to do the deal.”
    “McNab, go back and start the ’link tree over. We did the contacting,” Peabody told Eve. “I had a list. Now you start it again, and give them the update. Wedding and baby.”
    “I’m all over it. Tandy?”
    “That way. Mavis this way.”
    “I’ll take hers.” Peabody did a little dance. “I’m so glad I put the tiara thing in her bag before we came. She gets to wear it for a bridal headdress.”
    As Peabody opened the door there were squeals—from her, from Mavis. Eve just pressed her fingers to her eyes. When she dropped them, Roarke was coming down the hall with a very pale man Eve recognized as Aaron Applebee.
    “I found a wandering Daddy,” Roarke said.
    “I’ve been so turned around, and my mind just won’t work. Oh, God, you’re Dallas.”
    Before Eve could defend herself, he’d thrown his arms around her, dropped his head on her shoulder. Her terror only increased when she heard him give a muffled sob. “Thank you. Oh, bless you. Thank you for my Tandy, for our baby.”
    “Ah. She’ll probably want to see you. There.”
    “Tandy.” He lurched away, rushed through the door across the hall. “Tandy!”
    “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”
    “Steady on, Lieutenant.” With his hand on Eve’s shoulder, Roarke lifted an inquiring brow at Summerset when he came out of Tandy’s room. “And?”
    “She’s progressing very quickly. I’d say we’ll have a baby in another two hours, three at the most.”
    “We’re about to have a wedding as well. Mavis and Leonardo.”
    Summerset’s lips curved into a smile, so rare to Eve’s mind, she was surprised his face didn’t simply cave in from it. “That’s lovely. Shouldn’t you be with her? As her coaching team?”
    “We’ve been working here.” Eve shifted. “Peabody’s in there.”
    “It’s you she wants,” Summerset reminded her. “I’ll just go in for a moment myself.”
    “I’m not going to feel guilty,” Eve stated firmly. “I’m not going to feel guilty. Okay, shit, I feel guilty.”
    “Once more into the breech?”
    “Don’t say breech.”
    The next hour was busy, with Peabody and McNab standing in as runners between the two laboring women. Trina hurried in, and insisted on doing Mavis’s hair. The midwife moved between the two rooms and pronounced both women right on schedule, with Tandy well in the lead.
    Mavis stalled at six centimeters as Tandy hit ten and was cleared to push.
    The suite filled up, thanks to the ’link tree. It was full of voices and bodies. Doctor Mira and her husband, Louise DiMatto and Charles, Feeney, Nadine, the huge bulk of Crack who’d come straight from his club, the Down and Dirty.
    “It’s like a real wedding. I’m so happy. How do I look?”
    Leonardo kissed Mavis’s fingers. “You’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
    “Oh, my sweet puppy. Let’s do it! We’ve got everything, right? Flowers.” She clitched the little nosegay of violets Roarke had brought her. “Music, friends. Matron of honor.” She sighed at Eve. “Best man.” And at Roarke.
    “Everything.” Then Leonardo’s eyes widened. “A ring. I don’t have a ring for you.”
    “Oh.” Her bottom lip trembled again, and was heroically firmed. “Oh, well, that’s no big, baby doll. Rings, um, they’re not always the deal anyway.”
    Summerset moved forward. From under his stiffly starched shirt he drew a chain. “If you’ll accept something borrowed, I’d be pleased if you used this until you have your own. It was my wife’s.”
    Tears trembled on Mavis’s lashes. “I’d be so completely honored, thank you. Would you mind giving me away? Would that be okay?”
    He took the ring from