“We’re investigating. Tell me about him, tell me who he was involved with.”

  “He was a very exacting man. I respected that. He knew precisely how he wanted to appear, and was dedicated to maintaining his face, his body. Oh God.” He snagged the tall, slim glass from the server droid the minute it scooted in. “I’m sorry, dear heart. Give me just a moment.”

  He drank deeply, taking slow, even breaths between sips. Some of the color that had washed away from his face came back. “He never missed an appointment, and sent me many referrals. He appreciated my work.”

  “Did he hook up with anyone around here on a personal level? Stylists, consultants, other clients?”

  “Our staff isn’t permitted to date the clientele. As to other clients, I don’t recall him mentioning any. He enjoyed women. He had a varied and satisfying sexual life.”

  “He told you about that?”

  “What is discussed between consultant and client is absolutely sacred.” Simon sniffed once, then set his empty glass aside.

  “Did he go for men, too?”

  Simon’s mouth flattened. “He never mentioned an interest in same-sex relationships. I don’t feel comfortable with these questions, Lieutenant.”

  “Holloway’s not real comfortable now either.” She waited a beat, saw Simon pause, take it in, then nod.

  “You’re right. Of course you’re right. I apologize. It’s just such a shock.”

  “Did any of your male staff members show an interest in him, a romantic or sexual interest?”

  “No. At least…I honestly never noticed any signals or vibrations, if you will. Such behavior is soundly discouraged here. We’re professionals.”

  “Right. Who have you got on staff who does freehand tattoos?”

  He sighed long and loud. “We have several consultants who are excellent freehand body artists.”

  “Names, Simon.”

  “Ask Yvette at the desk. She’ll give you what you need. I must get back to my client.” He pressed his fingers to his eyes. “I can’t allow my personal feelings to interfere with my work. Lieutenant…” Simon dropped his hands back into his lap, and his eyes were dark and damp. “Brent had no family. What will happen to his…What will happen to him?”

  “The city will take care of it, if there’s no one.”

  “No, that wouldn’t be right.” He pressed his lips together, then pushed himself to his feet. “I’d like to make the arrangements if that’s allowed. It would be the last thing I could do for him.”

  “We can work it that way. You’ll have to come down to the morgue, fill out the paperwork.”

  “To the…” His mouth trembled, but he drew in a breath and nodded. “Yes, I will.”

  “I’ll let them know to expect you.” Because he looked so devastated, she added, “You won’t have to see him, Simon. We’ve done an ID already. You just make the application, and they’ll release the body to whatever mortuary or memorial center you choose.”

  “Oh.” His breath came out in a rush. “Thank you. My client’s waiting,” he said dully. “He hasn’t been caring for his skin. Fortunately, he’s young, so there’s a great deal I can do to help. It’s our obligation to present an attractive appearance. Beauty soothes the soul.”

  “Yeah. Go take care of your client, Simon. I’ll be in touch.”

  She headed back out and was just taking the printout of names from Yvette when Peabody came in. She looked flushed and hollow-eyed. But she gave Eve a quick nod before turning to the desk clerk.

  “I have a chit from Personally Yours,” she began. “For the Diamond Day Plan.”

  “Oh, that’s our very best.” Yvette beamed at her. “And, honey, you look exhausted. This is just what you need. We’ll fix you right up.”

  “Thanks.” She wandered off, ostensibly to study the glass cabinet full of colorful bottles that guaranteed beauty and vitality with regular use. In a fast whisper, she gave Eve her report.

  “They were both shaken, tried to cover it. Worked on convincing me I’d misinterpreted.” She bit back a snort. “Went into placate-the-client mode, like it was programmed. Promised to look into the matter right away, offered me a free second consult and this deal here. I saw the brochure. The Diamond Day goes for five thousand. I didn’t let them off the hook. Told them I was going to take the day to calm down before I spoke to my lawyer.”

  “Good work. Talk to as many of the consultants as you can while you’re getting slathered and rubbed. Bring up Holloway’s name. I want reactions, gossip, opinions. Make sure you get some male consultants in there.”

  “Anything for the job, sir.”

  “Ms. Peabody?”

  Peabody turned, and thought her mouth must have hit her shoes as she stared at the polished golden god. “I’m uh…Yes?”

  “I’m Anton. I’ll be assisting you with your herbal detox. If you’d like to come with me now?”

  “Oh yeah.” Peabody managed to shoot Eve one sidelong eyeroll before Anton took her hand and gently led her away.

  Hoping for the best, Eve tucked the printout in her bag and headed up to the office level of Personally Yours.

  “Rudy and Piper are unavailable,” the receptionist announced with just enough snip in her voice to put Eve’s back up.

  “Oh, they’re going to want to become available.” She slapped her badge on the counter. “Trust me.”

  “I’m aware of who you are, Lieutenant. Rudy and Piper aren’t available. If you’d care to make an appointment, I’d be happy to schedule one for you.”

  Eve leaned companionably on the counter. “Ever hear the term obstruction of justice?”

  The woman’s eyes flickered. “I’m just doing my job.”

  “Here’s what we’ve got. You clear me through to your bosses now, or I take you down to Cop Central and charge you with obstruction, for impeding an officer, and for being basically stupid. You got ten seconds to decide how you want to play it.”

  “Excuse me.” The woman turned, switched on her headset, and murmured into it quickly. Her face was stiff when she turned back. “You’re to go right in, Lieutenant.”

  “There, that wasn’t such a tough choice, was it?” Pocketing her badge, Eve strode back through the glass doors, and met Rudy and Piper at the doorway of their office.

  “Was it necessary to bully our receptionist?” Rudy demanded.

  “Yeah. You got a reason for wanting to dodge me this morning?”

  “We’re very busy.”

  “You’re about to get busier. You’ll have to come with me.”

  “Come with you?” Piper put a hand on Rudy’s arm. “Why? Where?”

  “To Cop Central. Brent Holloway was murdered last night, and we have a lot to talk about.”

  “Murdered?” Piper swayed and might have fallen if Rudy’s arm hadn’t whipped up to support her. “Oh God. Oh dear God. Like the others? Was it like the others? Rudy.”

  “Hush now.” He drew his sister closer while his eyes held Eve’s. “It isn’t necessary to go into Central.”

  “Well, that’s where we disagree. Your choice is to come voluntarily, or for me to call a few uniforms up here and have you escorted.”

  “You can’t possibly have cause to arrest either one of us.”

  “You’re not being arrested or charged at this time. But you’re required to come in, upon demand, for formal interview.”

  With Piper trembling against him, Rudy let out a careful breath. “I’m going to contact our attorneys.”

  “You can do that downtown.”

  • • •

  “Okay, we keep them separated,” Eve said to Feeney as they studied Piper through the glass. Piper sat at the little scarred table in Interview A, rocking herself as one of the attorneys murmured to her. “We could double team them, but I think we can get more done if we each take one. You want her or Rudy?”

  Feeney considered, lips pursed. “I’ll start with him. I say we switch off, toss them out of balance once they get used to the rhythm. If either of them shake enough, then we go in double.”

  “Good enough. Did McNab check in?”

  “Just did. He’s about finished at the salon. He’ll be in and have his report up before we’re done here.”

  “Tell him to stand by. If we get enough here, we may be able to juggle a warrant for their computer system. If he can work on their machine, he might dig something out.”

  Otherwise, she thought, she was going to have to ask Roarke to work his magic again.

  “Buzz when you want to switch,” she told Feeney.

  “Same goes.”

  Eve pulled open the door of the interview room and stepped inside. The lawyer immediately got to his feet, puffed out his chest, and went into the expected song and dance.

  “Lieutenant, this is an outrage. My client is overwrought, emotionally distressed. You have no cause to demand this interview at this time.”

  “You want to block it, get a court order. Record on. Dallas, Lieutenant Eve, ID 5347BQ, interviewer. Subject Piper Hoffman. Initial date and time. Interviewer has requested representation. Attorney is present. These proceedings are being recorded. Subject Hoffman has been read the revised Miranda. Do you understand your rights and obligations, Ms. Hoffman?”

  Piper looked at her lawyer, waited for him to nod.

  “Yes.”

  “You knew Brent Holloway?”

  She jerked her head into a nod.

  “Let the record show interviewee answered in the affirmative. He was a client of your service, Personally Yours.”

  “Yes.”

  “Through that service, you matched the deceased with female clients.”

  “That’s—that’s the purpose, to match couples with common interests and goals, to afford them an opportunity to meet and explore relationships.”

  “Romantic and/or sexual relationships?”

  “The tone of the relationships is up to each individual couple or client.”

  “And these clients are screened before their application is accepted, before they pay the fee, before they are put on any match lists.”

  “Carefully screened.” Piper seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at the avenue of questioning. She straightened a bit, skimmed back her silvery hair with long fingers. “It’s our responsibility to see that our clientele meets certain standards.”

  “Do those standards include sexual offenders? Convicted sexual offenders?”

  “Certainly not.” She went prim, head lifting, mouth firming.

  “That’s your company policy?”

  “A very firm policy.”

  “But you made an exception for Brent Holloway.”

  “I—” The hands Piper had folded neatly on the table clenched to whiten the knuckles. “I don’t know what…” Her voice trailed off, and she stared helplessly at her lawyer.

  “My client has explained her company’s policy in this area, Lieutenant. Please move on.”

  “Brent Holloway was convicted of sexual coercion, was charged more than once with sexual molestation, harassment, perversions.” Eve spoke briskly as every ounce of color in Piper’s cheeks drained. “You’ve established for the record that your clientele is screened carefully, you’ve explained your policy in this area. I’m asking you why you exempted Holloway from this policy.”

  “We—I—we didn’t.” Her hands began to twist, and something like fear moved into her eyes. “We have no record of that information on Brent Holloway.”

  “Maybe you recognize the name John B. Boyd.” Because her eyes were trained on Piper’s face, she saw it. The flicker of knowledge, the shadow of guilt. “Your system is top of the line. So you told me. It would be your responsibility to do a search for this kind of information on an applicant. Is your company irresponsible or inept, Ms. Hoffman?”

  “I don’t like the tone of that question,” the lawyer protested.

  “So noted for the record. Your answer, Piper?”

  “I don’t know what happened.” Her breath came quickly now, and both hands were crossed over her beautiful breasts. “I don’t know.”

  Oh yes, Eve thought. Yes, you do, and he scared the hell out of you.

  “Four clients of your service are dead. Four. Each one of them came to you, and each one of them was terrorized, raped, and strangled.”

  “It’s a terrible, terrible coincidence. Just a coincidence.” Piper began to shake, with her breath hitching out in little forced gasps. “Rudy said so.”

  “You don’t believe that.” Eve said it softly as she leaned closer. “You don’t believe that for a minute. They’re dead.” Brutally, she laid four photos on the table. The crime scene shots were vivid and cruel. “These don’t look coincidental, do they?”

  “Oh God. Oh God.” She covered her face with her hands. “Don’t, don’t, don’t. I’m going to be ill.”

  “That was uncalled for.” Red-cheeked with fury, the lawyer sprang up.

  “Murder’s uncalled for,” Eve tossed back and got to her feet. “I’ll give your client a few minutes to compose herself. Record, off.” She turned her back and walked out.

  As she watched through the glass, she buzzed Feeney’s communicator.

  “I’ve got her on the edge,” she said when he joined her. “You can push her over. I’d go in light, sympathetic, be her uncle.”

  “You always get to be the bad cop,” Feeney complained.

  “I’m better at it. Pat her hand, then ask her why they were paying Holloway off. I didn’t get there yet.”

  “Okay. Rudy’s holding tight. He’s got a snippy attitude you ask me. Arrogant little putz.”

  “Good. I’m in the mood to kick some putz.” Since it was there, she reached into Feeney’s bag of nuts and popped a handful. “She claims they didn’t know about Holloway’s record. She’s lying, but that might get us into their system. I’ll try for the warrant before I hit Rudy.”

  She took time for that and one quick jolt of coffee before going into Interview B. “Record on,” she ordered. “Interview continuing with Dallas, Lieutenant Eve. Initialize time and date.”

  She sat, smiled at Rudy and the lawyer at his side. “Well, boys, let’s get started.”

  She ran him through a pattern similar to what she’d used on Piper. Rather than paling and shaking, Rudy seemed to go stiffer, harder.

  “I’d like to see my sister,” he said abruptly, interrupting her rhythm.

  “Your sister is being interviewed.”

  “She’s delicate. Her emotions are very close to the surface. This entire ugly business will damage her.”

  “I’ve got four people a lot more damaged, ace. Are you worried what Piper has to say in there? I talked to her just a bit ago.” Instinct had her leaning back, shrugging a shoulder. “She’s not holding up real well. She’ll do better once you clear things up.”

  Eve watched his hands fist and wondered what Mira would conclude about his violence potential.

  “She should be allowed to rest.” He bit off the words, his exotic green eyes flat as a cat’s. “To have a soother and a meditation break.”

  “We’re not big on meditation breaks around here. And she’s got her lawyer in there, just like you’ve got yours. I guess you’re pretty close, being twins.”

  “Naturally.”

  “Holloway ever make a move on her?”

  Rudy’s mouth thinned. “Of course not.”

  “On you maybe?”

  “No.” He reached for his glass of water with a steady hand.

  “Why were you paying him off?”

  The water slopped toward the rim before he hastily set it down. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Regular payments, ten thousand each, over a two-year period. What did he have on you, Rudy?”

  His eyes stormy, he whirled to his lawyer. “They have no right to access financial records, do they?”

  “Certainly not.” The lawyer leveled his shoulders, hooking a hand pompously in his lapel, where trendy medallions dangled. “Lieutenant, if you’ve searched my client’s financials without probable cause and proper warrant—”

  “Did I say that?” Eve only smiled. “I don’t have to explain how I came by certain information that pertains to this homicide. You won’t find a departmental search of financials. But you paid him, didn’t you, Rudy?” She swung back, hitting low and fast. “You paid him time after time, let him blackmail you into putting him on match lists when you knew he was a sexual deviant. How many clients did you have to placate, or pay, or intimidate to keep the wraps on it?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But his hand wasn’t quite so steady now as he picked up the water in front of him. Dark red streaks of emotion began to burn along the milk-white skin.

  Eve knew if she’d had him on a truth tester, the graph would have cracked through the screen.

  “Yes, you do. And I bet it wouldn’t be too tough for me to dig out a couple of your clients who Holloway jumped during one of those nice, polite meets you recommend. Once I do, I can charge you and your sister for soliciting, for fraud, for accessory to several types of sex crimes.” She shot a look over. “And your lawyer knows I can make at least some of that stick, and it’ll stick long and hard enough to put your business in the sewer, to put your face, and Piper’s, on every screen in the city for newsflashes.”

  “We can’t be held responsible. She can’t be held responsible for what that…that deviant did.”

  “Rudy.” The lawyer held up a hand, then laid it on Rudy’s shoulder. “I’d like a moment to confer, Lieutenant.”

  “No problem. Record off. You got five,” she warned and left them alone.

  With her eyes on them through the glass, she pulled out her communicator. “McNab.”

  While she waited for response, she rocked back and forth on her heels, judging the body language inside the room. Rudy had his arms crossed, his fingers digging into his biceps. The lawyer was hunched over, talking fast.

  “McNab. I’m heading in, Dallas.”

  “Then head back. I’m getting a warrant to put you into the system at Personally Yours. Wait for it.”

  “Can I take a six-eight? Grab some lunch?”

  “Hit a glide-cart on the way back. I want you in place the minute the authorization comes in.” She heard his sigh and smiled thinly. “How was the facial, McNab?”