Page 55 of Fury In Death

“You knew him?”

“I—” She looked at Wyst, then answered after he nodded. “Yes. I worked as his administrative assistant for a year and a half before his retirement, or before he chose to consult on a part-time basis. I . . . can’t believe— Oh, his family!” Tears spilled now. “This is terrible, just terrible. I was very fond of him.”

“Who wasn’t?”

“I don’t know. I don’t understand. Dr. Dent was, he was revered.”

“Why did he retire?”

“Lieutenant,” Wyst interrupted. “Can’t you give Lorilee time to compose herself? This is a terrible shock.”

“Understood, but it’s a question I’d like answered.”

“He just—he talked about wanting to have more time, with his family, with Joleen, for himself. He—he wanted to find out what it felt like to do nothing, or nothing important.”

She swiped at tears. “He said consulting now and again would keep him from getting bored, but he was looking forward to being bored.”

“Okay. We may have more questions later.”

“Anything I can do. Anything. Mr. Wyst, I’m so sorry. I know how hard this is for you.”

“It’s all right, Lorilee. I’ll be in to speak with you shortly.”

She nodded, let out another choked sob as she went out and shut the adjoining door.

“Please sit,” Wyst said. “I need to. Ezra and I go back many years. He was a dear friend as well as a colleague. I’m the one who persuaded him to continue as a consultant. How was he killed?”

“In the same manner as Dr. Chu. On what projects was Dent consulting with Chu?”

“When—when did it happen? Joleen, is she—”

“She returned from a business trip to find his body at about noon today.” Eve sharpened her tone. “Projects, Mr. Wyst. The connection between these murders and your company are blatant.”

“They’re senseless and insane,” he snapped back. “These men, these dedicated men were brilliant. Their work saved lives, improved and enriched lives, helped to bring dead or dying land back to vibrant life.”

“They also helped enrich and expand this company.”

Everything about him hardened. “Really, Lieutenant, you’d insult this company, and me personally, at such a time?”

“Stating a fact, Mr. Wyst, which may also go to the motive of the individual who murdered two of your friends and colleagues. And who, whether senseless and insane, or—to this individual—logical and deserved, may also have others on a list. Including you.”

He paled slightly. “That’s not . . . It’s your job to find him, to stop him.”

“That’s right, and my partner and I are doing our job right now. What projects were they working on? Who else is involved with those projects? Who may have been taken off those projects or transferred, fired?”

“There are myriad reasons why disclosing that information is difficult if not impossible. Our work here is highly sensitive and confidential.”

“It’s doubtful their killer cares about sensitive and confidential when he’s beating them to death.”

“And your husband is a competitor who would greatly benefit from access to that sensitive and confidential data.”

Eve took a moment before she spoke. “Are you suggesting that Roarke had your colleagues killed, or are you suggesting I’d soil my badge and compromise murder investigations to give my husband a leg up?”

Coolly now, he folded his hands on the throne-like desk. “I’m simply pointing out the conflict of interest.”

“Lieutenant Dallas has no conflict of interest when standing for the victims.” Peabody spoke coldly, but her eyes had gone very hot. “And Roarke doesn’t need your company’s secrets. The more you stall, the closer we get to securing warrants, which your legal would stall. And all of that would end up in the media.

“How would it look if and when it comes out that Banner-Wyst blocked the police investigation into the brutal murder of two of its own?”