Page 59 of Bonded in Death
“I could’ve fixed that when you took Summerset. I had enough skill for that even then.”
“Not worth the bother.”
“When he died,” Eve put in, “when Potter died, did you go there? To the prison?”
“For what purpose?”
“To see the body. To see the body of the man responsible for your wife’s death.”
“I had no desire to see him again, dead or alive, and had other duties.”
“Okay, I’m going to need to talk to the others, tonight.”
“Understood.”
“And you’ll stay in the house. You don’t leave the house.”
She all but heard his spine crack.
“That’s absurd. I have any number of errands to—”
“You’ll give me a list of them,” Roarke told him. “I’ll see they’re dealt with.”
Summerset’s frown could have called the thunder. “As if you have time for such things. Or the wit to know how to pick out a ripe melon.”
“I pay plenty of people who have time for such things, and know how to pick a bloody melon. I’m buggered if you’ll end up like Rossi, so you’ll stay here.”
“I’m as capable of handling myself as either of you, and have been at that a great deal longer.”
“Regardless.” Roarke’s tone, cool and final, drew a deep, hard line. “You’ll give me a list, and the errands will be seen to. The boy still needs you. If you love him, you’ll do as he asks.”
“That’s… conniving of you.”
“It is. And smart.” Eve gave Roarke an approving nod. “He’s good at pulling out stuff like that, and it works because he means it. Anyway, if you don’t do what the boy asks, the cop will put you in protective custody. You won’t like it.”
She pushed back, rose. “So go make your list. I’m heading into Central.”
Roarke rose, put his hands on her shoulders.
“An early start to a hell of a day. Take care of my cop. I need her, too.”
“Don’t worry. I’m armed and dangerous.”
“That you are.” He kissed her.
“I’m leaving early and plan to be back early. I want those interviews. Consider yourself under house arrest,” she said to Summerset, and left.
“She had to poke that in, I suppose.”
Roarke just smiled, sat again. “Have some more coffee,” he suggested. He poured. “You’ll want fresh flowers for the guest rooms.”
Summerset only sighed. “Yes.”
“And a ripe melon.”
Summerset laughed. “Actually, yes. Two. And more. It will be a long list.”
Eve texted Peabody on the way downtown. It was still shy of seven, but if her partner wasn’t up and moving, she’d just have to get up and moving.
