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Eve chose Mira’s recommendation of clams, then treated herself to some of the real yeast bread set in a silver basket on the table. As she ate, she gave Mira a profile of Fitzhugh and the details of his death.
“You’d like me to tell you if he was capable of taking his own life. Disposed to it, emotionally, psychologically.”
Eve cocked a brow. “That’s the plan.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t do that. I can tell you that everyone is capable of it, given the right circumstances and emotional state.”
“I don’t believe that,” Eve said so firmly, so decisively, that Mira smiled.
“You’re a strong woman, Eve. Now. You’ve made yourself strong, rational, tough-minded. You’re a survivor. But you remember despair. Helplessness. Hopelessness.”
Eve did; too well, too clearly. She shifted in her chair. “Fitzhugh wasn’t a helpless man.”
“The surface can hide a great deal of turmoil.” Dr. Mira held up a hand before Eve could interrupt again. “But I agree with you. Given your profile of him, his background, his lifestyle, I wouldn’t tag him as a likely candidate for suicide—certainly not one of such an abrupt and impulsive nature.”
“It was abrupt,” Eve agreed. “I dealt with him in court right before this happened. He was as smug and arrogant and full of his own sense of importance as ever.”
“I’m sure that’s true. I can only say that some of us—many of us—confronted with some crisis, some personal upheaval of the heart or mind, choose to end it rather than live through it or change it. You and I can’t know what Fitzhugh might have found himself confronted with on the night of his death.”
“That isn’t a hell of a lot of help,” Eve muttered. “Okay, let me give you two more.” Briskly, with a cop’s dispassion, she related the other suicides. “Pattern?”
“What did they have in common?” Mira tossed back. “The lawyer, the politician, and the tech.”
“A blip in the brain. Maybe.” Tapping her fingers on the cloth, Eve frowned. “I’ve got some chains to pull to get all the data, but it could be the motive. The reason behind it all might be physiological rather than psycholog
ical. If there’s a connection, I’ve got to find it.”
“You’re veering out of my field, but if you find data linking the three cases, I’d be happy to do a workup.”
Eve smiled. “I was counting on it. I don’t have a lot of time. The Fitzhugh case can’t stay a priority for much longer. If I can’t nail something down soon and use it to convince the commander to keep the file open, I’ll have to move on. But for now—”
“Eve?” Reeanna slipped up to the table, looking stunning in an ankle-skimming robe of bleeding rainbow colors. “Well, how nice. I was lunching with an associate and thought I recognized you.”
“Reeanna.” Eve worked up a smile. She didn’t mind looking like a street hawker next to the glamorous redhead, but she did mind having her consult lunch interrupted. “Dr. Mira, Reeanna Ott.”
“Dr. Ott.” Gracious, Mira offered a hand. “I’ve heard of your work and admired it.”
“Thank you, and I’ll say the same. It’s an honor to meet one of the top psychiatrists in the country. I’ve scanned a number of your papers and found them fascinating.”
“You flatter me. Won’t you sit down, join us for some dessert?”
“I’d love to.” Reeanna flicked a questioning glance at Eve. “If I’m not interrupting official business.”
“We seem to be finished with that part of the program.” Eve looked up at the waiter summoned by a discreet flick of Mira’s finger. “Just coffee. House brand. Black.”
“I’ll have the same,” Mira said. “And a dish of the Blueberry Trifle. I’m weak.”
“So am I.” Reeanna beamed at the waiter as though he would personally prepare her selection. “A double latte, and a slice of Chocolate Sin. I’m so tired of processed food,” she confided to Mira. “I intend to gorge myself while I’m in New York.”
“And how long will you be in town?”
“It depends a great deal on Roarke”—she smiled at Eve—“and how long he finds it useful to have me here. I have a feeling he’ll be shipping both William and me off to Olympus within a few weeks.”
“The Olympus Resort’s quite an undertaking,” Mira commented. “All the blips I’ve seen on the news and entertainment channels have been fascinating.”
“He’d like to have it up and fully operational by next spring.” Reeanna ran her hand up and down the trio of gold links she wore around her neck. “We’ll see. Roarke usually gets what he wants. Wouldn’t you agree, Eve?”
“He didn’t get where he is by taking no for an answer.”
