Page 91 of Passions in Death
She shoved the bowl aside. “We’ve got theories, angles, speculation. And nothing solid. We need some heat.”
“Decker should be here soon. Maybe we’ll get some.”
Eve rose to pace. “The straight best friend, long-standing. Well-off enough to buy art, know its value. Dead artist value, but that angle’s soft, and it just gets softer. It’s not about money. Maybe money’s an added benefit, but it’s not the prime motive.”
She grabbed her warming tube of Pepsi, drank as she paced.
“She’s not in love with Erin, or Shauna. Was clearly seen in the club at the time of the attack. There’s no motive there, and though I still wonder why Erin didn’t ask her to help her out with the surprise, no opportunity. She’s fit enough, tall enough to have done it, but that’s not enough. She stays low on the list.”
“Like Becca, she might give us a couple things we don’t have, or confirm some of those speculations.”
“Gotta try it. Most probable she knew Erin better than anyone. Given the length of the friendship, probably better and in more detail than Shauna. They only had a year.”
“An intimate year,” Peabody pointed out.
“Yeah, but it takes time for the rules to kick in, for people to see just who they’re with, for the stories to come out.”
“I guess McNab and I are still finding stuff out about each other. Not like secrets, just stuff, little bits of history and like that.”
Still pacing, Eve rolled the empty tube.
“Yeah, it takes time, and they only had a year. Decker was there longer, and take out the sex, it removes a complication.”
And that motive, Eve thought.
“Plus, I’m curious what she’ll say about Barney and Lopez when it’s just us, in here, no friends to hear her thoughts or feelings.”
“She comes off a little more reserved in that area than Becca.”
“Yeah, she does. We’ll handle that. Let’s clean this place up and get ready.”
Chapter Fourteen
When Peabody escorted Angie into Interview, Eve noted not only signs of fatigue but recent weeping. Careful makeup did a good job disguising both, but still they showed.
“Thanks for coming in,” Eve began. “I know this is a difficult time. Please, have a seat.”
Like Becca, Angie looked warily around the room. She sat, and when she spoke, even her voice sounded exhausted. “Am I a suspect?”
“No, you’re not.”
“Can I get you something to drink?” Peabody offered.
“Water. Just some water, thanks. Shauna’s with Erin’s family, finalizing some arrangements for tomorrow. I realized I’d felt I had to hold up for her, and it was the first time I’d been really alone since… since. So I fell to pieces. She was my closest friend. She was my sister. She was the one person who knew me all the way through and loved me anyway. And she’s gone. She’s gone.”
Angie closed her eyes on tears that swirled in them. “So I was alone, and I fell to pieces.”
Peabody laid a hand on her shoulder. “You needed to. I’ll get your water. Lieutenant?”
“The same, thanks. Angie,” she continued when Peabody stepped out, “we’re doing everything we can to find the person responsible.”
“I have to believe you are. I don’t think I could stand it if I didn’t.”
“You can help us.”
“I don’t know how, but I’ll try. Becca tagged me after you talked to her. She said you had a lot of questions, and she tried to answer. But she didn’t think she helped.”
“Every answer to every question helps.”
