Brotherhood in Death (In Death #42)

Eve turned, saw Peabody in the doorway.

“Sweepers are here, uniforms are canvassing. The morgue wagon’s on its way. I flagged him for Morris.”

“That covers it. The sweepers will go through the house, but there’s nothing relevant that’s not in the entranceway. For now, we’re finished here. Let’s go break it to the vic’s wife.”

“I hate that part.”

“We all do. You’re probably going to hate this time more than usual.”

She contacted Whitney before she left the crime scene.

“Tibble was right about the media, particularly given the sexual implications of the murder.”

“Yes, sir. I’m going to contact Nadine Furst. I’d rather have someone I know and trust, someone who knows the Miras, take the media lead on this. Whatever comes after, what goes out first will be fair.”

“Do it. I’ll speak with Tibble and with our media liaison. And dot those i’s, Dallas, right down the line.”

“Let’s move,” she told Peabody when Whitney clicked off. “I’ll contact Nadine on the way.”

The minute she slid behind the wheel, Eve used the in-dash to contact Nadine.

The reporter, looking on-camera ready as usual, greeted her with a brilliant smile. “Dallas. I happen to be with your delicious husband in what may be my new triplex penthouse. I was just wishing he came with it, then it would be a done deal.”

“Get your own, and put on your media hat.”

The humor dropped out of Nadine’s foxy green eyes, turning them sharp. “What do you have?”

“Less than an hour ago Peabody and I discovered the body of former Senator Edward Mira in the former residence of the senator’s grandparents.”

“Shit, damn, fuck. Let me get my recorder.”

“Just listen. The victim had been brutally beaten, then hanged. He’d also been sodomized.”

“Christ, this story’s going to burn.”

“Yesterday at approximately five-twenty-five P.M., according to the log of the Rapid Cab used for transportation, the senator’s cousin Dennis Mira—no, go with Professor Mira, he’s one of those—entered the residence, and was attacked and rendered unconscious after seeing the senator injured and trying to go to his assistance. Professor Mira contacted the NYPSD. Since that time, investigators have attempted to locate the senator, who they believe was held against his will in another location before being brought back to the residence. The chief medical examiner is working to determine the time and cause of death. The primary investigator has no comment at this time, but the department intends to issue a statement once details are confirmed.”

“God, when you drop one on me, you drop it big-time.”

“I’m on my way to notify next of kin. You can’t air that until Peabody gives you the green.”

“All right. How’s Dennis? Is he all right?”

Eve let out a breath. Friendships didn’t come easily to her, but when they did, they came solid.

“There are two reasons I’m giving you the jump. You’ll wait for the green, and you asked about Mr. Mira. He’s okay. He got banged up a little, but he’s okay.”

“And now it’s my job to ask if you have any leads, any suspects.”

“No, because I’m still doing my job. Since you’re with Roarke, tell him I okayed it for him to fill you in on the details of the grandfather’s estate, the brownstone. That’s going to come out anyway, and I’d rather you played it at the opening. What I don’t want is even a whiff that Mr. Mira is a suspect, even a person of interest. He’s a witness and a victim himself. That’s it.”

“You should know me better.”

“I do, that’s why I contacted you before I notified next of kin. Peabody will give you the green as soon as we do. I’ve got to go.”

“So do I now.”

They both clicked off, and Eve scowled at the traffic.

“How are you going to handle Mr. Mira?”

Eve’s scowl deepened. “What do you mean, ‘handle’?”

“Look, first off, I know he didn’t have anything to do with this. I’m talking about the whole dotting the i’s thing. He was the last person to see the vic alive, and he and the vic had a strained relationship at least partially due to the house the vic’s body was hanged in. So I know how we’d handle it if we didn’t know and love Mr. Mira. But . . .”

“We’ll dot the fucking i’s, Peabody.”

“I don’t want to throw off the rhythm.”

“You won’t.”

By the time she pulled up in front of the shiny spear of the building, Eve was primed for trouble. A different doorman wore the polar bear suit and instantly jogged her way. Eve slammed out of the car, shot up her badge.

“We’re the police, and here on police business. That’s a police vehicle and it stays just where it is. You give me any lip over that, my partner here is going to arrest you for obstruction of justice and interfering in a police investigation, and arrange to have you hauled down to Central.”

He had a deep brown face against the snow white of the livery, and that face went carefully blank. “I didn’t say a word.”

“That’s smart. You need to clear us up to Edward and Mandy Mira’s apartment.”

Now he winced. “It just would be. Look, I have to follow procedure. You’re doing your job, right? I’ve got to do mine. I need to clear it with the Miras’ personal security.”

“Then do that.”

He walked toward the building, and had the grace—or the training—to hold the door open for them. “If you’ll give me a minute.”

He went to the same system used the night before, tapped in a code. “Hank, it’s Jonah on the door. There are a couple of cops here who—”

Eve nudged Jonah aside. “Hank, Lieutenant Dallas. Don’t screw around. You need to clear me and my partner up there, asap.”

“It could be my ass this time. She put you on the banned list.”

“She needs to talk to me. If she won’t let me up, she’ll end up hearing what I have to tell her on a media bulletin. Clear me up, tell her that.”

“Hell, it’s a crap job anyway. You’re clear. Jonah, they’re clear.”

“Copy that.”

“I know the way,” Eve told him, and walked to the elevator she’d used before.

“Fancy,” Peabody said when they stepped on.

“Eyes and ears,” Eve said.

“Really?” Humming to herself, Peabody looked around the car, sniffed the roses. “You get to use the new dojo much?”

“I’ve managed a couple times a week. I’m learning to be a bear, a rooster, a crane, a tiger, a dragon. It’s like the animal kingdom. But somehow it ends up being frosty by the time I’m done.”

“I could like being a dragon,” Peabody speculated, and the doors opened.

Hank gave them a pained look.

“She’s going to have the senator give me the what for when he gets back. You get three minutes, then she’s contacting the governor again.”

“I think she’s not going to do either of those things. Open up, Hank.”

He shook his head, but opened the doors.

Mandy stood, arms crossed, chin up, eyes filled with contempt.

“This is harassment. I’ll be contacting the governor and our lawyers in precisely three minutes ten seconds.

“Mrs. Mira, I regret to inform you that your husband’s dead. We’re sorry for your loss.”

Color hoisted like red flags on her cheeks. “What are you talking about? How dare you come here and say such a thing to me!”

“His body was found hanging from the entrance chandelier in the house on Spring Street. Visible evidence of physical violence was obvious. His body has been transported to the chief medical examiner, who will determine cause of death.”

Mandy lost the red flags, and all of her color—every shade of it. But her voice remained full and furious. “You’re a liar.”

“I am the primary investigator into your husband’s death, and as such have come here to inform you thereof. We understand this is a difficult time for you, but we have some questions. The answers may help us find the person or persons who murdered your husband.”

“Get out, get out of my house. You’re lying. You’re lying to upset me.”

“You know I’m not.”