Visions In Death

"You may want to check on that." "It's nearly four in the morning. Of course she's in bed.

Her suite is back here, off the kitchen." She swept away, through the spacious living area, furnished in what Eve recognized as antiques. A lot of gleaming wood and curved lines, deep colors, complex patterns and sparkling glassware. It flowed into a media room, with the wall screen recessed, and the game and communication center housed in some sort of cabinet. Armoire, she corrected. That's what Roarke called those big-ass cabinets.

A dining room angled off to the side, with the kitchen behind it.

"I'd like you to wait here, please."

Snippy now, Eve noted. Irritated and afraid.

Mrs Vanderlea opened a set of wide pocket doors and walked into what Eve assumed was Elisa Maplewood's personal area.

"This place is huge," Peabody whispered.

"Yeah, lots of space, lots of stuff." She looked around the kitchen. Everything was silver and black. Dramatic, efficient, and so clean she doubted even a team of sweepers would come up with a single mote of dust.

It wasn't that different a setup than the one in Roarke's house. She didn't think of the kitchen as hers. That was Summerset's province, and she was more than happy to let him rule there.

"I've met her before." Peabody glanced back from her ogling of the massive AutoChef. "You know Vanderlea?" "Met them, don't know them. One of the "dos" I got dragged to. Roarke knows them. I didn't place the name, who the hell can remember all those people! But her face clicked." She turned as Mrs Vanderlea hurried back into the room.

"She's not there. I don't understand. She's not in her room, or anywhere in her suite. Vo

"Who the hell is Mignon?" Eve muttered.

"Maybe Maplewood switched to girls. Might have a lover." "Mignon's not here." Dea

"Who is-" "Our dog." She spoke quickly, the words jumping out of her mouth. "Really Elisa's dog, emotionally. A little teacup poodle I bought a few months ago for company, for the girls, but Mignon bonded with Elisa. She she probably took her for a walk. She often does that the last thing at night. She took the dog for a walk. Oh, God. Oh, my God." "Mrs Vanderlea, why don't you sit down? Peabody, some water." "Was there an accident? Oh God, was there an accident?" There weren't tears, not yet, but Eve knew there would be.

"No, I'm sorry, it wasn't an accident. Mrs Maplewood was attacked, in the park." "Attacked?" She said it slowly, as if the word were foreign.

"Attacked?" "She was murdered." "No. No." "Drink a little water, ma'am." Peabody pressed the glass she'd poured into Dea

The kid, Eve remembered. This wasn't a conversation a child should hear, if she should wake.

When she did wake, Eve thought, her world would be changed, irrevocably.

CHAPTER 2

"How long has she worked for you?" Eve knew the answer, but it would be easier to guide Dea

"Two years. Two years. I we my husband travels a great deal, and I decided I wanted live-in help rather than just the day staff and droids. More for company, I suppose.

I hired Elisa because I liked her." She ran a hand over her face and made an obvious effort to settle. "She was qualified, of course, but we just hit it off right away. If I were to hire someone who'd live in my house, be a part of my household, I wanted it to be someone I was comfortable with, on a personal level. The other deciding factor was Vo

Oh God, Vo

"We're friends. Like Za

"She would have done it for me." When her voice broke, she pressed her lips together, bore down. "She would have taken care of my baby, and I'll take care of hers. She would have… Oh, God, how could this happen?" "Did she mention any problems to you? Speak of being concerned about someone who bothered her, or made threats?" "No. No. She would have. People liked Elisa." "Was she involved with anyone romantically, socially?" "No. She really wasn't dating at this point. She'd had a difficult divorce, and was interested in creating a stable home for her daughter, and just as she put it giving men a rest." "Was there someone she rebuffed or discouraged?" "Not that I… was she raped!" Dea

"The medical examiner has yet to determine-" Eve broke off when Dea

"You know, and I won't have you holding back. She was my friend."

"The indications are she was raped, yes." The hand tightened on Eve's, trembled once, violently, then released. "You'll find him. You'll find him and you'll make him pay." "That's my intention. If you want to help me do that, I need you to think. If there's anything, however insignificant it seems to you. If she said anything, however casually." "She would have fought," Dea