Page 18 of Bonded in Death

“Under advisement,” Eve said, and they clanged down the metal steps to the garage.

“There are all kinds of frosty vids about spies during the Urbans.”

“Vids are vids, not real life.”

Peabody got into the car. “The Icove vid is pretty true to life. We lived it.”

“Don’t remind me. And you know what? You know what the hell? Maybe this arrogant fucker decided he wanted the cops who had a couple of damn bestsellers detailing their cases, and a vid about one of those cases, chasing his ass. So he can prove how goddamn smart he is.

“It wouldn’t surprise me a damn bit.”

“But that would be his mistake,” Peabody pointed out. “Because we’re the cops who busted the Icove case, and the cops who kicked Red Horse’s ass.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Eve zipped out of the garage. “You know Nadine’s working on another freaking book.”

“The Natural Order investigation. I know. I bet it rocks.”

“I worry about you, Peabody. I don’t want to, but I worry about you.”

“I want two minutes.”

“Oh God.”

“Two minutes, Dallas. We’re spending the weekend in the new house! We bought a new bed. McNab and I splurged, because bed. We’re putting the one from the apartment in one of the guest rooms. Mavis and fam are going to spend the weekend there, too. Roarke says three weeks and it’s done. But we get a whole weekend! Our office is done, and my craft room, and the main suite. We have a suite!”

Peabody pumped her fist in the air.

“The kitchen. Oh, it’s just everything. And we’ve started outfitting the living room. Oh, oh, Bella’s room! It’s a dream. And the nursery for Number Two is really taking shape. I’m building that toy box to match the chair you’re giving her. She doesn’t know. Leonardo knows because he designed the fabric for the chair. We’re going to have a party. A big, giant party as soon as it’s all done. Which is almost now!”

“That’s two minutes, plus.”

“I know. But I’m so happy. And you don’t mind, not so much.”

She didn’t really. Not so much. Especially since it was nearly done, and she wouldn’t have to hear regularly about tiles, paint colors, refurbished tables.

“And here we are at the house of the dead.”

Relieved, Eve pulled up.

“Let’s go see what Rossi told Morris.”

Chapter Three

Inside the morgue, the white tunnel always echoed. And always smelled of chemical lemons with an undertone of death.

Postponing the inevitable, Peabody paused by Vending.

“I could use a cold drink. I’ll buy you a Pepsi.”

“Peabody, Morris stocks them.”

“Oh, yeah, right.”

“You saw the body in the back of the limo.”

“Yeah, but it’s different on a slab. I don’t know why, but it is. I do know why,” she corrected as she walked down the tunnel with Eve. “It’s because I know Morris has been, you know, in there. Pulling out organs and all that. Cutting into the body and taking stuff out that shouldn’t be taken out.”

“Taking it out tells us why the victim’s a victim.”

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