Page 160 of Passions in Death
“Oh, for God’s sake.”
“On several occasions you suggested Ms. Wilson should resign her part-time position and take professional parent status instead.”
“She had children at home.”
“I see. So in your opinion, women who choose to have a child or children shouldn’t also choose to work outside the home?”
“If I recall correctly, Sharlene’s professional mother stipend would have been more than her monthly pay from On Trend, where she worked, essentially, a handful of hours a week.”
“Especially after you hired another part-time—male—employee and cut her hours.”
“That was a managerial decision, and I don’t have to explain it to you.”
“No, you don’t, mostly because it explains itself. You like to manage people. You get to decide what they should do, how they should do it. How they should live. What’s best for them. Then you take the necessary steps to see they stay inside the lines you’ve drawn.”
Eve studied him, tapped her fingers on the table. “It makes me wonder, Greg. What do you do when they refuse to stay inside those lines? How far would you go? Obviously, stealing isn’t off the table.”
“I’ve explained that. I’m not going to keep repeating myself. Shauna will understand, and will back me a hundred percent, so your intimidation tactics are a waste of time. If you had any common sense or any respect for the position you somehow found yourself holding, you’d let me speak with her and clear this up.”
“I bet it pissed you off she put what you gave her in a box.” Peabody drew his attention back to her. “And stuck the box in a drawer with her gym and slop clothes. Never wore what you gave her.”
“You don’t know the first thing about it.”
“Tell us about it, Greg,” Peabody urged. “Tell us how it felt to have Shauna put Shaunbar away, and live her life the way she chose. How even after college, she wasn’t interested in taking Shaunbar out for another spin.”
“That was a mutual decision. We’d both moved on.”
“Speaking of moving,” Eve picked up, “after college, after a brief adjustment period back in the old neighborhood, she moved to Manhattan. And you followed right along soon after, like a puppy. Even moved into the same building.”
“For employment, and convenience to my employment.”
“So the fact you took employment near hers, moved into the same apartment building had nothing to do with good old Shaunbar.”
“Why shouldn’t I move into the same building as a good friend?” he demanded, but looked away. “When it’s convenient to my work.”
“Then, lo and behold, you start dating another old schoolmate. And one Shauna’s connected with, made good friends with. In fact, what they both consider best friends.”
“What’s strange about that? Becca and I began seeing each other, initially through Shauna. We fell in love.”
“Did you? Or was she just second choice because Shauna didn’t want you?”
“How dare you!” He slapped a fist on the table. “How dare you speak about the woman I’m going to marry that way.”
“Oh, you’re engaged.” Peabody clapped her hands together. “Congratulations.”
“Not yet. We will be.”
“When you decide?” Eve asked. “When you decide it’s the best time, it’s best for her?”
“That’s how it works!” As he had during the arrest, he sputtered. “When I feel it’s right, I buy the ring, I pick the time, the place, and I propose.”
“And naturally, she accepts. You decide when and where you’ll get married, then if and when to procreate. And if you do procreate, she’ll set aside her career until such time as you decide the offspring is old enough for her to pick it up again. If ever.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but when I take a wife, I will be head of the household. When we have children, I will provide for them, and she will mother them. This is how strong families are built.”
Take a wife, Eve thought. That was a good one.
“So parents who both opt to maintain a career aren’t building strong families?”
