Page 158 of Passions in Death
“She would never think of it that way. People are going through her apartment. Friends and relatives of Erin. Who knows what they might take? I just wanted to keep them safe until she’s feeling better.”
“So, worried about thievery, you committed same.”
“Oh, for God’s sake.” He waved that away. “Contact Shauna. She’ll say it’s fine.”
“Yet, you hid this.” She tapped the box.
“I didn’t hide it. I placed it.”
“In the back of your sock drawer. Without mentioning it to your cohab—that’s Becca, isn’t it? Also a good, concerned friend of Shauna’s.”
“I may have mentioned it. I don’t recall.”
“Peabody, why don’t you step out and contact Becca DiNuzio, since Greg’s memory is sketchy on it?”
“I probably didn’t.” He waved that away again. “We’ve been busy, distracted. A friend was murdered. Our closest friend is grieving.”
“You took this, with its contents, from Shauna’s apartment the evening you were there, ostensibly to remove items from the AC and the friggie.”
“Nothing ostensibly about it. That’s what I did. I thought of the box while I was clearing out. Maybe I acted impulsively.” He shrugged at that. “But with what was best for Shauna in my heart and mind.”
“You decide what’s best for her?”
“She’s grieving,” he said with insulting patience. “She’s hardly in the state of mind to make logical choices. This is a waste of time. A five-second ’link call to Shauna will straighten this out. And then, I damn well expect those apologies.”
“Right. You didn’t much like Erin Albright, did you, Greg?”
He managed to look shocked and insulted at once. “Of course I did! She was Shauna’s fiancée. And I’m very grateful you, finally, caught her killer. But that doesn’t excuse—”
“Yeah, we caught her killer.” Eve tapped the box again, then, taking it out of the evidence bag, opened it. “What do you think, Peabody?”
“Sweet, pretty. Immature, but suitable for a high school girl.”
“They’re classic.” He spoke coldly. “Timeless. Simple, yes, but classic, so used to dress up or dress down.”
“Well, you’re the fashion guy. Still, she kept them separate from her other jewelry. She didn’t wear these anymore.”
“She could have. Her choice.”
“Yeah, hers. Like Erin was her choice. You were her choice once. Shaunbar.”
“In high school. Happy memories, yes, and a strong bond between us. But I’m in a committed relationship with someone else.”
“From high school.”
His jaw tensed, then jutted again. “It’s entirely different now, for all of us.”
“It really is. Shauna was also in a committed relationship.”
“I’m aware.”
“And now you’ll help her rebuild her life, move past the trauma.”
“I’ll certainly try.”
“Because you look out for her. Making her sandwiches, walking her home from work when you can manage it, giving advice, doing favors.”
His long sigh added a fresh layer to that insulting patience.
