In Death 26 - Strangers in Death

against you. Looks like Peabody and I are heading up to the Bronx in the morning. Computer, list Bebe Petrelli as a person of interest, copy all data to file. Send copy of same to Peabody, Detective Delia, home unit.”
    “You won’t be stopping there.”
    “No, but that sure gave me a boost. I think it’s time we took a break and had ourselves some pie.”
    “It’s always time for pie.” He glanced over as the house ’link beeped. “Yes, Summerset?”
    “Dr. Dimatto and Mr. Monroe are at the gate.”
    “Let them in. Oh, and we’ll have the pie the lieutenant brought home, with coffee for our guests. In the parlor.”
    “I’ll see to it.”
    “How come people can drop by out of the blue and get pie?” Eve wondered.
    “Because we’re such warm and welcoming hosts.”
    “No, that’s you. And it’s my pie. Technically.” She looked over at the work on her desk with the cat currently sprawled over it all. “Well, hell, I wanted to talk to Charles anyway. Computer, send a notification to Detective Peabody. Report, my home office eight hundred—no, strike, seven hundred thirty hours. Dallas, Lieutenant Eve.”
    Acknowledged.
    “Run next subject, store data.” Eve shrugged. “I’ll get a little jump on it while we’re being warm and welcoming hosts. Anyway, Petrelli was in this fashion show Ava sponsored, attended a number of the one-and two-day mom breaks, one of the five-day retreats just last summer, and both her kids have attended sports camps three years running.”
    “Solid connection,” Roarke agreed as they started out of the office.
    “Last year both of the kids were awarded Anders scholarships. They’re in private schools now—Anders pays the freight as long as they meet academic standards and stay out of trouble. That’s a lot of motive, a lot of reasons for Petrelli to keep Anders happy. A lot of reasons to be grateful.”
    “Use the children, particularly the children.” Such things always burned in his belly. “Here’s what I’ll give your boys, here’s how your boys can be educated, the opportunities they can have if you just do this little thing for me.”
    “It clicks pretty good.”
    “It clicks. And she would ask herself, wouldn’t she, how or why anyone would connect her to Anders’s murder. How would she ever be brought into it?” Roarke ran a hand down Eve’s back as they descended the stairs. “Because she couldn’t anticipate you. And neither, no matter how well she planned, could Ava.”
    Eve stopped at the parlor doorway, winced. Charles and Louise stood inside, wrapped together like pigs in a blanket, sharing a big, sloppy one in front of the parlor fire.
    She slipped her hands in her pockets. “You guys need a privacy room?”
    “And there’s the warm welcome,” Roarke murmured as the couple eased apart. And his eyebrows rose as they grinned at each other, then at their hosts like a couple of cats with bellies full of cream.
    “Sorry to drop by so late,” Charles began. “I got your message that you needed to speak to me, and since we were out—”
    “And that’s not the reason at all.” With her cheeks flushed and glowing, Louise laughed and leaned against Charles. “We wanted to share our news, and used the ’link message as an excuse.”
    “Congratulations.” Roarke crossed over to shake Charles’s hand, to kiss Louise’s cheek.
    “We haven’t told you the news yet,” Louise complained.
    “You don’t have to, not with that rock you’re wearing blinding us.” Eve stood where she was, studying them both. “When did all this happen?”
    “Tonight, a couple of hours ago.” Louise shot out her hand with the diamond sizzling. “Look, look, look.”
    The woman was a doctor, Eve thought. A tough-minded, strong-spined woman with a solid core of sense. And she was bouncing like a spring over a chunk of rock. But Eve walked over, let Louise hold the ring up to her face. “Shiny,” Eve said.
    “It’s exquisite.” Roarke poked a finger into Eve’s ribs. “I have all her taste in jewelry. Ah, Summerset, we’ll keep the pie,” he said as his man wheeled in a cart, “but we’ll want to switch out the coffee for champagne. We’re celebrating Charles and Louise’s engagement.”
    “Best wishes. I’ll see to it right away.”
    “I feel like I’ve already had a couple bottles. I’m so giddy!” Louise threw her arms around Eve, squeezed. “We’re thinking May, late May or early June. Something small, sweet. But I’m