In Death 24 - Innocent in Death

all to Mira and asked for an opinion. She sent copies to her home unit, then gathered what she wanted to take home before she headed out to the bull pen and Peabody’s desk.
    “I’m going to work from home.”
    “It’s nearly end of shift.”
    “And your point is?”
    “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
    “I’m swinging by the school on the way. Just want another feel of the place. Tell McNab I want individual D-and-C’s from the Straffos’ dug deep. Any shadow, any smudges, I want to know.”
    “Um, day off tomorrow. Yours, mine, and ours. Valentine’s Day, too.”
    “Jesus. Consider yourself on call, Detective. So be prepared to throw something over whatever embarrassing outfit you’re going to put yourself into for McNab’s perverted delight if and when I tag you.”
    Peabody gave a sober nod. “I have a trench coat reserved for that purpose, sir.”
    Eve considered it. “I’m forced to say: Ick. You don’t head out until you get your report written and copied to my unit here and at home. I want your notes, too. Impressions, opinions.”
    “You’ve got something.”
     
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    “Dunno. Between bouts of physical expression I can’t bear thinking about, take another look at both vic’s student files-grades, discussions, parental meetings, the works.”
    “And I’d be looking for?”
    “Let me know when you find it,” Eve said as she strode out.
    She took the glides down to the main level, cast a couple of wistful glances at the vending machine. She wanted a Pepsi, but didn’t want to interact with the damn machines.
    They hated her.
    Rather than squeeze onto the elevator, she jogged down the steps to the garage, pulling out her ’link as she went.
    She hit Caro first, and Roarke’s ever-efficient admin sent out a warm smile. “Lieutenant, how are you?”
    “Good enough. Can-” She stopped herself from shooting right to the point. How-are-yous required a how-are-you-doing back. She kept forgetting those sort of details. “How’re you doing?”
    “Just fine. I want to thank you for the use of your house in Mexico. Reva and I had a lovely mother and daughter weekend there. It’s just beautiful, and the weather couldn’t have been better. It was a perfect break from the winter for both of us.”
    “Ah.” She didn’t know Roarke had given Caro and her daughter a couple of days in Mexico. “That’s good.” Now she had to ask about Reva, didn’t she? “So, how’s Reva doing?”
    “Really well, thank you. She’s dating again-casually. It’s nice to see her enjoying herself again. I’m sure you’d like to speak to Roarke.”
    Whew, she thought, navigated the chatty session of the program with no casualties. “If he’s tied up, you could just pass him a message whenever.”
    “I’ll check.”
    Just a little worn out by the ’link socializing, Eve got into her vehicle as Caro switched her to blue screen hold. Moments later, it was Roarke’s blue eyes that blazed on screen.
    “Lieutenant.”
    God, he was pretty. “Sorry to interrupt any world domination meeting.”
     
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    “That was this morning. We’re finishing up satellite and planetoid dominations just now.”
    “Okay, then. I’m just heading out, going to swing by the school.”
    “For?”
    “Not sure. I just want another run-through on scene.”
    His smile was easy and still made her insides curl. “Would you like some company?”
    “What about satellite and planetoid domination?”
    “I believe we have that under control. I’ll meet you there.”
    “Good. Great.” In fact, it was perfect. “See you.”
    “Lieutenant?”
    “Damn stupid traffic,” she muttered as she fought her way into it. “What?”
    “I love you.”
    Okay, that was perfect. “I heard that somewhere. There’s a rumor going around I love you, too. Goddamn maxibus. Gotta go.”
    She stuffed her ’link back in her pocket and enjoyed the armed combat of driving uptown. Once there, she scouted out then fought for a parking spot, another type of warfare, then walked the block and a half to the school.
    He was getting out of a car when she was half a block away. Tall and rangy, long black coat billowing in the wind. As the car cruised off-he’d have arranged that so they could drive home together-he turned. Just as he’d done the very first time. Turned as if he sensed her, knew she was there, and latched those wild blue eyes on her face.
    Just like the first time, the very first time, something inside her leaped.
    It wasn’t her