Survivor in Death

“For profit?”

“Very possibly, or because they were given orders, or simply because it had to be done. The motive?” She sipped her tea thoughtfully. “We'll need more on the victims to speculate on the why. But the who? They'll be experienced, and they'll trust each other. They're organized and confident.”

“It was an op. That's how it ran for me. An operation, pla

“You think they had access to the house before last night?” Mira asked.

“Maybe. In any case, they knew the layout, where everyone slept. If the housekeeper was primary, there was no reason to take the second floor and vice versa. So it was a clean sweep.”

Eve checked her wrist unit. “How long do you figure she'll be out? The kid?”

“I couldn't say.”

“I don't want to hold you up.”

“And you're anxious to get to work yourself.”

“I haven't talked to the ME, or finished my report, harassed the lab, or yelled at the sweepers. People are going to think I'm on vacation.”

With a smile, Mira rose. “Why don't you contact me when… Ah,” she added when Summerset stepped into the doorway.

“Lieutenant, your young charge is awake.”

“Oh. Right. Fine. You still got time to start this now?” she asked Mira.

“Yes. Where would you like to speak with her?”

“I figured my office.”

“Why don't you bring her down here? It's a nice, comfortable space, and might help put her at ease.”

“I'll bring her down.” Summerset faded out of the doorway, and left Eve frowning.

“Am I going to owe him for this?” she wondered. “For, you know, riding herd or whatever you'd call it. Because I'd really hate that.”

“I think you're fortunate to have someone on premises who's willing and able to tend to a young, traumatized girl.”

“Yeah, shit.” Eve sighed. “I was afraid of that.”

“It might help to remember the child's welfare and state of mind is priority.”

“Looking at him on a regular basis might send her back into shock.”

But when Nixie came in, the cat on her heels, she had her hand firmly in Summerset's bony one, releasing it only when she saw Eve. Nixie walked directly to her. “Did you find them?”

“Working on it. This is Dr. Mira. She's going to help-”

“I already saw a doctor. I don't want to see a doctor.” Nixie's voice began to rise. “I don't want-”

“Throttle back,” Eve ordered. “Mira's a friend of mine, and she's not only a doctor, she works with the cops.”

Nixie slid her eyes toward Mira. “She doesn't look like the police.”

“I work with the police,” Mira said in calm, quiet tones. “I try to help them understand the people who commit crimes. I've known Lieutenant Dallas quite a while. I want to help her, and you, find the people who hurt your family.”

“They didn't hurt them, they killed them. They're all dead.”

“Yes, I know. It's horrible.” Mira's gaze and her tone stayed level. “The worst thing that can happen.”

“I wish it didn't.”

“So do I. I think if we sit down and talk, we might be able to help.”

“They killed Li

“We all do things we're not really supposed to sometimes.”

“But Li

“Not so very bad,” Mira said gently, and taking Nixie's hand led her to a chair. “Why did you go downstairs?”

“I wanted an Orange Fizzy. I'm not supposed to have them without permission. I'm not supposed to snack at night. My mom-” she broke off, knuckled her eyes.

“Your mom would have said no, so yes, it was wrong of you to go behind her back. But she'd be very glad you weren't hurt, wouldn't she? She'd be happy that, this once, you broke the rules.”

“I guess.” Galahad leaped into her lap, and Nixie stroked his wide back. “But Li

“It wasn't your fault. Nothing that happened was your fault. You didn't cause it, and you couldn't have stopped it.”

Nixie looked up. “Maybe if I'd yelled really loud, I'd've woken everyone up. My dad could've fought the bad guys.”

“Did your father have a weapon?” Eve demanded before Mira could speak.

“No, but-”

“Two men with knives, and him unarmed. Maybe if you'd yelled he'd have woken up. And he'd still be dead. Only difference is they'd have known someone else was in the house, hunted you down, and killed you, too.”

Mira shot Eve a warning look and turned her attention back to Nixie. “Lieutenant Dallas told me you were very brave and very strong. Because she's both of those things, I know she's telling the truth.”

“She found me. I was hiding.”

“It was good that you hid. It was good that she found you. I know what Lieutenant Dallas just said is hard for you to hear, but she's right. There was nothing more you could have done last night to help your family. But there are things you can do now.” Mira glanced at Eve, signalling her.

“Listen, Nixie,” Eve said, “this is rough, but the more you can tell me, the more I know. This is my recorder.” She set it on the table, sat across from Mira and the child. “I'm going to ask you some questions. Dallas, Lieutenant Eve, in interview with Swisher, Nixie, minor female, with Mira, Dr. Charlotte, in attendance. Okay, Nixie?”

“Okay.”

“Do you know about what time it was that you got out of bed?”

“It was more than two o'clock. Like ten after, about. I had my Jelly-Roll on.”

“Wrist unit,” Mira translated.

“What did you do when you got up? Exactly.”

“I went downstairs-really quiet. I thought, for a minute, since Li

“What happened then?”

“I saw the shadow come in, but it didn't see me. I got down on the bench. It went into Inga's room.”

“What did the shadow look like?”

“It looked like a man, I guess. It was dark.”

“Was he tall or short?”

“As tall as the lieutenant?” Mira prompted and gestured for Eve to stand up.

“Taller, probably. I don't know.”

“What was he wearing?”

“Dark stuff.”

“What about his hair?” Eve tugged her own. “Short, long?”

On a short sigh, Nixie nuzzled the cat. “It must've been short, 'cause I couldn't really see it. It was… it was… covered. Like.” She made a gesture, as if pulling something over her head. “It covered him up. His whole face, and his eyes, they were all black and shiny.”

Protective gear, Eve surmised. Night goggles. “Did you hear him say anything?”

“No. He killed her, with the knife. He killed her, and there was blood. And he didn't say anything.”

“Where were you?”

“On the floor, at the door. I wanted to look inside and see…”

“It was dark. How could you see?”

Her eyebrows came together a moment. “From the window. The streetlight through the window. He had a light.”

“Like a flashlight?”

“No, a little dot, a little green light. It was blinking. On his hand. On his… here.” She closed her fingers around her wrist.

“Okay, what happened then?”

“I got against the wall. I think. I was so scared. He killed Inga, and he had a knife, and I was so scared.”

“You don't have to be scared now,” Mira said. “You're safe now.”

“He didn't see me, like I wasn't there. Like hide-and-seek, but he didn't look for me. I got the 'link and I called. Dad says if you see somebody getting hurt, you call Emergency and the police will come and help. You gotta call, you gotta be a good neighbor. My dad-” She broke off, bowed her head as tears dripped.

“He would be very proud of you.” Mira reached for her own bag, took a tissue from it. “Very proud that you did just what he taught you, even when you were scared.”