In Death 25 - Creation in Death

elevator.
    Moments later, they stepped out into the twenty-first century.
    The room was simply and efficiently furnished, and reflected business. All business. Wall screens displayed the club, various areas—which included the kitchen, wine cellar, and liquor storage area. The desk held a multi-link, a computer, and a tray of disc files.
    “Can I offer you anything to drink?” Zela began.
    “No, thanks. You know Sarifina York?”
    “Yes, of course.” The worry deepened. “Is something wrong?”
    “When did you last see her?”
    “Monday. We have our Monday teas geared toward our older patrons. Sarifina runs those, she has such a knack for it. She’s on from one to seven on Mondays, and I take the evening shift. She left about eight, a little before eight, I think. I asked because she didn’t show on Wednesday.”
    Zela glanced at Roarke, pushed at her hair. “Tuesdays are her night off, but she didn’t come in Wednesday. I covered. I just thought…”
    Zela began to fiddle with the necklace she wore, running her fingers over the sparkling, clear stones. “She had a breakup with the man she’s been seeing, and she was down about it. I thought they might have picked things up again.”
    “Has she missed work without notice before?” Eve asked.
    “No.”
    “Are you saying that to cover?”
    “No. No. Sari’s never missed.” Now Zela’s gaze latched onto Roarke’s face. “Never missed, and that’s why I covered for her initially. She loves working here, and she’s wonderful at her job.”
    “I understand and appreciate that you’d cover a night for a friend and coworker, Zela,” Roarke told her.
    “Thank you. When she didn’t show Thursday, and I couldn’t reach her, well, I’m not sure if I was annoyed or worried. A combination of both, really, so I contacted her sister. Sari had her sister listed as contact person. I didn’t contact your office, sir. I didn’t want to get her in trouble.”
    Zela’s breath trembled as she drew it in. “But she is in trouble, isn’t she? You’re here because she’s in trouble.”
    It was going to be a kick in the face, Eve knew. It was always a kick in the face. “I’m sorry to tell you, but Sarifina is dead.”
    “She’s…what? What did you say?”
    “You should sit down, Zela.” Taking her arm, Roarke nudged her gently into a chair.
    “You said…she’s dead? There was an accident? How…” Those pale gold eyes gleamed with wet and shock.
    “She was murdered. I’m sorry. You were friends?”
    “Oh, God. Oh, God. When? How? I don’t understand.”
    “We’re looking into that, Ms. Wood.” Eve let her gaze drift briefly to Roarke as he walked to a wall panel, and opening it chose a bottle of brandy from the selection of liquors. “Can you tell me if anyone bothered her or seemed unusually interested in her?”
    “No. No. I mean, a lot of people were interested in her. She’s the sort of person who interests people. I don’t understand.”
    “Did she complain about anyone bothering her, or making her uncomfortable?”
    “No.”
    “Drink a bit of this.” Roarke pressed a glass of brandy into Zela’s hand.
    “Has anyone come in, asking questions about her?”
    “Just tonight, a few hours ago, a police detective. He said, he told me that Sari’s sister had reported her missing. And I thought…” Tears spilled now. “I honestly thought Sari’s sister was overreacting. I was a little worried, a little, because I thought she’d gone back to the ex, and he’d talked her into blowing off this job. That was the problem,” Zela continued as she rubbed a tear from her cheek. “He didn’t like her working here because it took up most of her nights.”
    Now those damp eyes widened. “Did he hurt her? Oh, my God.”
    “Did he strike you as the type who would?”
    “No. No, no. A whiner, that’s what I thought. Passive-aggressive, and kind of a jerk. I’d never have believed he’d hurt her. Not like this.”
    “We have no reason to believe he has, at this time. Can you give me his name, his address?”
    “Yes. All right.”
    “Would you still have your security discs from Monday?”
    “Yes. Yes, we keep them for a week.”
    “I’m going to need those. I’ll take the discs from last Saturday and Sunday as well. On Monday, did she leave alone?”
    “I didn’t see her leave. What I mean is, I came in here at about quarter to eight, and she was just putting on her coat. I said something like, ‘So you can’t get