Page 97 of Passions in Death
She stopped, teared up a little. “Oh, it’s so awful. I haven’t seen Shauna since it happened, but I just want to hug her. Becca’s been by—she told me what happened—to get some of her things. And the—God—their wedding dresses.”
“Yes. How about this one?”
Burger studied Lopez. “I think so, yes. Not like the other two. But I remember riding up on the elevator with her.” She shrugged. “A little snooty, which Erin and Shauna aren’t.”
Eve went through the photos, got positives, negatives, then brought up Barney’s.
“Sure, sure. Sometimes with the one with the pretty hair—Becca. I think they’re together. Sometimes by himself. Sharp dresser, that one. I remember. I rode up with him and Shauna just last week, I think.”
“The two of them?”
“Yes. I guess we all got off work at about the same time. Her work’s not far from here. I guess it was about twenty minutes later when they went out again. I rode down with them—she’d changed her clothes. It was my turn to do the laundry, so I ended up riding down with them after I changed mine. We laughed about it.
“I was heading down to the laundry, and they were heading out to meet their cohabs for dinner. I said I’d rather go to dinner with them, something like that. Seems to me he’d walk home with her now and then. I think Erin said they’d been friends since high school. That’s sweet.”
“Yeah, well, thanks. I’m sorry to interrupt your evening.”
“It’s no problem at all. I really liked her. Both of them. Just the kind of neighbors you want. I hope you find who did this.”
Eve waited until she’d gone in, then turned to look across the hall. She’d heard movement in there, and debated going in or just waiting.
She didn’t have to decide, as the door opened.
Greg Barney stepped out carrying a large, lidded box.
He jolted, blinked, then let out a breath. “Jesus, you startled me. Did you need to go inside again? We thought you were done, but I can let you in.”
“That’s all right, just a routine check on my way home. What’s in the box?”
“Oh, stuff from the friggie, the AC. Becca thought of it—she thinks of things. Since Shauna doesn’t want to come back, Becca said we should clear those out. Not that much in there, really.”
He glanced back. “It doesn’t even feel like their place anymore. It already feels empty, even though the furniture’s there, and dishes and all that. Becca’s been coming by to get things for Shauna. And Angie’s going to help Erin’s family get her things.”
He looked back at Eve. “The memorial’s tomorrow.”
“Yes, I know. Shauna’s lucky to have friends who’d do this sort of thing for her.”
“It’s nothing. A quick stop after work. She doesn’t even want this.” He shifted the box. “Becca said just take it to our place. We can do the food bank thing or something. It’s not that much.”
He shifted his feet, shifted the box.
“But, um, there’s some perishables from the friggie, so—”
“I’ll ride down with you.”
And wished she’d had a warrant or probable cause to look in the damn box.
“How’s Shauna doing?” she asked as they waited for the elevator.
“She’s fragile right now, maybe still in shock. Hardly eating, not really sleeping. But she’s stronger than people think.”
“People?”
“She’s little, you know. Petite.” He got in the elevator car, pressed for the lobby. “So people think she’s delicate. She’s going through a lot right now, but she’ll be okay.”
“You’re there to help her.”
“Absolutely. Are you making any progress? I know it hasn’t been very long.”
