Page 99 of Bonded in Death

“Only briefly, Darlie, and I’m actually rather tied up while—”

“Oh, surely you can make just a little time for me? It’s dire. I was goingto contact Ivanna—she’s so clever. But you know her better, so if you could just ask if she might give some time?”

“Ivanna?”

Across the room, Ivanna arched her brows, nodded.

“I suppose I could.”

“Oh, that’s brilliant! I’m so grateful. You must plan to see her while you’re here. We could have lunch tomorrow. My treat! And I could pour out all my woes. Roger’s no help at all. He’s just ‘Why do you stick your oar in, Darlie, when you can’t paddle?’ Not helpful at all.

“Why are you here? Who are you meeting? Anyone else clever?”

Marjorie held up a hand, pointed to herself.

“As it happens, I’d planned to have a drink with Marjorie. Marjorie Wright.”

Darlena squealed. “Oh, good God, Iris, you must bring her. You simply must! If I could add her to the guest list! What a coup! They’ll coronate me. Please, please, it’s life-and-death for me. You must bring them both to lunch. Chez Robert. They do a superior martini. I’ll book a table. Twelve-thirty!”

“Darlie, I can’t confirm that. I need to check my schedule, then see if they’re available.”

“Yes, yes, of course. But I’ll book the table because I have absolute faith in you. You never let me down, Iris, no matter what tangle I get into. You’re a brick.”

“I’ll ring you back, one way or the other.”

“Pins and needles here. Kiss, kiss!”

Iris clicked off. “It sounded exactly like her, including getting over her head and begging for help.”

“A bit convenient, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Cyril, more than a bit. But Darlena… If he’s somehow compromised her.”

“We’ll take it to the lieutenant.” Summerset rose. “Right away.”

“Stings a bit.” Harry pushed himself up. “Not to work it ourselves, but here we are, old dogs not able to do our tricks.”

“Mind who you’re calling old,” Marjorie told him as they started upstairs.

Deep in the work, Eve lifted her head when she heard any number of footsteps, and thought: What the hell?

Summerset led the whole damn group into her office.

“I apologize for the interruption,” he said before she could snarl, “but we may have a problem.”

“What kind of problem?”

“My cousin Darlena Corning rang me up.” Iris stepped forward. “It certainly sounded like Darlena. I blocked video, and on her end she complained her ’link wasn’t working properly. That wouldn’t be unusual. She and her husband, Roger, live in New York. She said— Well, I made sure the conversation recorded, so.”

She handed the ’link to Eve as Roarke walked in from his office.

Eve hit replay, listened all the way through.

“And she just happens to contact your assistant, after hours, right? And he tells her you’re in the city?”

“Again, not unusual for Darlena. But…”

“Coincidence equals bollocks.”

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