Page 93 of Bonded in Death

“A barber? Not a salon.”

“Yes. He told an asset about the barber. I was shadowing them, Potter was working the asset. He mentioned the barber, said not to cheap out, to ask for the full hot shave. Yes, buildings bombed or on fire, people weeping for loved ones, and he never missed a shave. Clothes always neatly pressed. Candy in his pocket, sugar in his tea.”

She could see him thinking, remembering.

“What else?”

“He used a bootmaker. Leroy admired his boots once. Potter said he had to find another bootmaker, as his had been bombed out a few weeks before. I believe he dyed his hair.”

As he spoke, Summerset tapped a long finger on the table. “There was some gray in it—just a few strands—then there wasn’t. He used face cream. Moisturizer. I saw a jar once, and thought it odd and amusing that a man who prided himself on his machismo would use what many still considered a female product.”

“So we include vanity. A desire to hold on to his looks, his youth.”

“He worked out rigorously and routinely. He was very fit, very strong, and very aware of his exceptional build.”

“Is that why you didn’t take him on?”

“Excuse me?”

“When he moved on your wife.” Because he had, Eve was sure of it.

Summerset gave Eve one long stare, and when she didn’t blink, inclined his head. “Alice had handled that situation, and I respected her ability to do so.”

“But?”

“I had a word with him.”

“Which word?”

“Lieutenant, you are relentless. It can hardly apply—”

“Details matter. And I bet it’s a detail Potter remembers.”

“Very well. I waited until he was in the shower, then I went in, took his cock in hand, twisted, and sent him to his knees. While he gasped, I told him if he put hands on her again, Alice would surely send him off limping. But there were ways to break what I twisted in my hand, and I’d add that broken cock to his bruised balls.

“Then I left him on his knees with the water running down his face. We never spoke of it again. I’m not proud of it.”

“I would be.” Peabody shot him double thumbs-up. “Mag move.”

“You humiliated him. Bested and humiliated him,” Eve added. “He’ll have something special planned for you.”

In his Summerset way, he looked down his nose. “I trust you’ll see he’s disappointed.”

“That’s the plan. If you leave this house before I say go, I won’t take your cock in hand. But I will kick every square inch of your bony ass.”

“How long?”

“I don’t know. An agent from Interpol should soon be scooping up the doctor who helped Potter escape. He may know something. I doubt it, but it’s another piece. I know him now, so we work from there. We work the details. One of those details not yet confirmed is the DNA. I know he’s alive, but that’s the proof.”

“You think he posed as the driver. That he’s the one who picked Gio up, who showed your card to the camera.”

“I know he was.”

“Lieutenant, could I see that image again?”

“Peabody.”

“Bringing it on-screen.”

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