Page 76 of Bonded in Death

Peabody strapped in as Eve pulled out of her slot.

“She decided on the Francis Bryce investigation.”

“Could’ve figured. Recent, relevant to her, as the victims were teenage girls. Add Jake and Nadine right there with the first victim.”

“Mavis said Avenue A’s working on Jenna Harbough’s music disc. Her parents gave them a lot of what she’d written and recorded in her room, some she’d written but hadn’t actually recorded yet.”

Bryce took Jenna’s life, Eve thought, but he hadn’t taken her dream. Avenue A was making sure of that.

“Mavis told me what she’d heard so far is seriously mag and heading for ult,” Peabody continued. “She’s going to do some vocals on a couple of them.”

She should’ve figured that, too, Eve realized. It was so very Mavis.

“They’re establishing a foundation thing in her name, for scholarships. I guess you know Roarke’s putting it on his label, and that cut’s going into the foundation, too.”

“He mentioned it.”

“It means a lot to her family. It doesn’t bring her back, nothing can. But it gives life to her music, and she wanted that so much. I’m glad Quilla wanted to bring that into her project.

“We got her justice, and they’re giving her the dream. When you’re a murder cop, it’s the best you can get.”

“Plus the murderous little shit’s doing a couple rounds of life in a cage,” Eve added, “and that’s the best we can get.”

“There is that.”

She looked over at Eve. “We’re going to get this one, too. Different motives, different methods, different backgrounds. But Potter and Bryce are, in some ways, the same.”

“Arrogant fuckers.”

“That’s the one. So.” Peabody butt-wiggled in her seat. “I’m kind of excited about meeting a bunch of spies. You have to be a little bit excited.”

“No, I don’t. For one thing, they’re potential victims. For another, they’re friends of Summerset’s.”

“Well, I am. I mean, imagine the things they’ve done and seen, and all that while maintaining a cover. Like being a vid star since you were like seventeen. I guess that’s not so much a cover as what she is.”

“If you fan-geek over Wright, I’ll hurt you. I’ll seriously hurt you.”

“I can maintain. But think about it, we’re going to be talking to a famous actress, to a woman who was born dripping rich then runs a global company that’s made her more dripping rich, an expert e-man, a former prima ballerina, a guy who invented a device that conquers time. Which we can’t really talk about, but he did that!”

“Don’t forget the thief.”

“Who’s a well-respected photographer. And Summerset. I actually know Summerset, and now I know covert agent Summerset.”

“Former.”

Peabody pulled her shoulders in like a self-hug. “It’s frosty. This part of it’s mega frosty supreme. You know the tea Mira drinks—you stock it for her in your office AC—it’s the dripping-rich woman’s tea.”

“Of course it is.”

Resigned, Eve drove through the gates.

And saw Ivanna Liski walking arm-in-arm with the woman she recognized from the photos as Marjorie Wright.

“Oh wow!”

“I’m warning you, Peabody. There will be pain.”

“Which is why I’m getting it out now. You know, since you pulled me into Homicide, I’ve met famous actors, I’m actually friends with rock stars, a fabulous designer, a bestselling writer and Oscar winner.

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