Page 120 of Devoted in Death

“Not just a pool,” Peabody told Banner. “An amazing pool, with a bubble lagoon.”

“That kicks the cow in the ass. I wouldn’t mind a dip, but I didn’t come with swimming gear.”

“Plenty of it down there. We can’t cover a cow’s ass,” McNab considered, “but we can cover yours. Let’s get wet.”

“I’m with you. Just one second. Lieutenant, I wanted you to know I contacted my chief, told him Little Mel had been murdered all along. I sent him the report on him and on Fastbinder. He’s gonna talk to Little Mel’s mama about it. He said... he said he was proud of me.”

Weariness covering him, Banner had to stop to clear his throat. “He’s a good man, a good boss, but that’s not the sort of thing you hear out of him every day. I’m back on the clock, but he says I’m with you here as long as I’m useful on this.”

“I’ll let you know when you stop being useful.”

His lips twitched into a smile. “All right, then. I’ll go take that dip.”

“Back in thirty,” Eve called out as the three of them got in the elevator. “That’s enough,” she said to Roarke when the doors closed, “because as I don’t see a threesome happening, there won’t be any pool sex.”

He shook his head at that. “You’ll eat, and catch me up so we don’t waste the thirty.”

When she sat with him, took the first spoonful of stew, it slid into her like ambrosia. She didn’t know what the hell ambrosia was, but she’d bet good money the chicken and dumplings beat it.

“Ella-Loo Parsens, Darryl Roy James.”

Roarke nodded toward the updated board. “I have that much.”

She smiled a little. “A man walks into a bar,” she began.

•••

She’d nearly finished, eating and briefing, when the trio came back, chattering like...

“What are those birds in Ireland?”

“We have more than one variety.”

“The ones in the saying.”

“Cuckoos?”

“No, but that would fit. The one is for something and another’s for something else.”

“I wonder how it is I know what you’re talking about. Magpies.”

“That’s it.”

“We peeked into the new dojo. We didn’t go in,” Peabody said quickly. “But just wanted to see. It’s mag.”

“It’s an amazing house,” Banner added. “It never stops.”

“Grab food. Roarke’s about up to date.”

“What you’ve got smells total.” McNab sniffed.

“Chicken stew with dumplings,” Roarke told him.

“Yum! Is there enough?” Peabody wondered.

“There is.”

“I’ll get it up. I remember how to work the AC in there. Least I can do,” Banner finished.

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