Visions in Death (In Death, #19)

by J.D. Robb

Darling, not that jacket.” More resigned than appalled, he rose to take the one she’d yanked out of her closet, and after a quick study, drew out one with pale blue checks over cream. “Trust me.” “I don’t know what I did before you were my fashion consultant,” she told him. “I do, but I don’t like to think about it.”

This is what happened when you went and made friends. They had to go out and make friends, and then those friends somehow insinuated themselves into your life, or your work. Before you knew it you were hip-deep in people.

“People sue the clouds if it rains on their picnic.”

“If it was easy, everybody would be cops.”

They hit crafts stores, crisscrossing Manhattan on the way downtown. Eve had no idea there was so much involved in the making of so many things easily available ready-made. When she expressed the opinion, Peabody smiled and fingered some brightly colored thread sold in hanks. “There’s a lot of satisfaction in making something yourself. Picking the colors, the materials, the pattern. Individualizing it, and seeing it come to life.” “You say so.” “A lot of craftsmen and artisans in my family. Goes with the whole Free-Ager philosophy. I’m pretty handy myself, but I don’t have a lot of time for it. I still have the tea cozy my grandmother helped me crochet when I was ten.” “I don’t even know what that is.” “What, the tea cozy or crocheting?” “Either, and I find I have no interest in finding out.”

the cat streaked in just behind her. He bolted up the stairs of the platform, took a running leap, and landed, with considerable grace for a tub of lard, on the bed.

the rattrap she was currently stuck with driving vibrated like gelatin in the wake of the speeding wagon. “I want you to call Requisitions the minute we get back to Central. Beg, bribe, threaten, offer sexual favors of any nature, but get us a decent ride by the end of shift.” Peabody had her teeth clenched and did her best to speak through them. “Who’s going to perform the sexual favors, should it come to that?” “You, Detective. I outrank you.”

“I want to say first, that in just a few moments, you’re going to be overcome with a powerful urge to kiss me on the lips. I won’t think less of you for it.” “Peabody, why, even in your wild, perverted dreams—dreams I want no part in or of—would I ever have the least compunction to kiss you on the lips?”

Labor and delivery coach. You’d back up Leonardo when I have the baby.” Eve choked on the canapé and turned white.

“We want Roarke there, too.” Mavis sniffed into her cloth. “Me? There?” Eve turned her head and saw—with pleasure—the rare sight of utter panic on his face. “Not so damn funny now, is it, ace?”

“Listen, I’ll contact you when she comes in. Just to make sure it’s clear. If you get caught—” “Darling Eve.” There was a deliberate wealth of patience in his tone. “I love you more than life itself and have, I believe, demonstrated that regularly throughout our relationship. So I can’t understand why you persist in insulting me.”

“I spoke with the mayor, and have a meeting with him and Chief Tibble in about thirty. Your presence was requested.” “At the mayor’s office, sir, or The Tower?” “Mayor’s office. But I will inform His Honor and the Chief that you’re unable to attend as you are in the field.” She didn’t speak, but something must have run over her face. Something that made him smile. “Tell me what just went through your mind. And don’t clean it up. That’s an order.” “I wasn’t thinking anything, actually, sir. But I was mentally kissing your feet.”

I didn’t like her choice of fabrics, but the workmanship was first class.” “Gee, the things you learn,” Eve said. “That have absolutely no use.

My life used to be simple.” “Mmm.” “It did. Because it didn’t have all these people in it.” “If you need to shove somebody out, you know, to simplify? Could you give Roarke the push? See, McNab and I have this understanding. If Roarke’s clear, I get to take my shot at him. McNab gets one at you.” When Eve choked on the last swallow from the tube, Peabody gave her a helpful thump on the back. “Joking. Just sort of joking.”

“That’s a big relief to me, Jim. You got an office?” “Why?” “So we could go there and have a discussion instead of me cuffing you and hauling your disagreeable ass into Central to have the discussion there. I’m not interested in shutting you down. I don’t give a rat’s skinny ass if you block women from your membership list or if you haul them in by the bargeload to dance naked in the showers. Providing you have shower facilities, which from the smell of things, you don’t.”

“Turn that water temp up.” “Done. I adjusted when I heard the graceful patter of your delicate feet stomping about in the bedroom.”

“You can’t use logic and paranormal in the same sentence.” “Sure you can, oh stubbornly grounded one.”

You drive like one of those prissy ladies at lunch who won’t take the last cookie in case somebody else wants it. No, please, please,” Eve said in a high, satisfyingly prissy voice, “you go ahead. Hell with that. I want the cookie, I eat the cookie. Now, give me a for instance and stop sulking.” “I get thirty seconds of sulk time when my driving abilities have been so brutally and unjustly insulted. Besides, taking the last cookie is rude.”

“No more room at the Dallas Inn for another friend?” “Full up. Maybe if one of you moved off planet or met with a tragic accident I could juggle another one in.”

Eve rose, held her hand down. Peabody gripped it, held it a moment, then let Eve pull her to her feet.