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Reeanna smiled a little as she opened her case. Eve took one glance inside, turned her head away. Christ but she hated medicine.
“This one’s free. We can consider it practice. I haven’t worked on a human in nearly two years.”
“That inspires confidence.” Eve closed her eyes as Reeanna took out a miniscanner and examined her knee. “Why haven’t you?”
“Hmm. Well, it’s not broken, so that’s something. Badly wrenched and inflamed. Why?” She dug into her case again. “Roarke’s part of the reason. He made William and me an offer impossible to refuse. The money was seductive, and Roarke knows which buttons to push.”
Eve hissed as something stingingly cold was pressed to her knee. “You’re telling me.”
“He was aware I had a long, personal interest in behavioral patterns and effects of stimulation. The opportunity to create new technology, working with virtually unlimited funds, was too tempting to miss. Vanity couldn’t resist the chance to be a part of something new, and with Roarke behind it, undoubtedly successful.”
Closing her eyes had been a mistake, Eve realized. She was starting to float. The throbbing in her hip slowed. She felt Reeanna’s gentle fingers smoothing something cool and slick over it. Her shoulder received the same treatment. The absence of pain was like a tranq and tugged her deeper.
“He never seems to miss.”
“No. Not since I’ve known him.”
“I’ve got a meeting in a couple hours,” Eve said thickly.
“Rest first.” Reeanna removed the poultice from Eve’s knee and was pleased to see the swelling had already gone down. “I’m going to put another deep healing poultice on this, then an ice bandage to finish it off. It’s still likely to be a bit stiff after prolonged use. I’d advise you to baby it for the next couple of days.”
“Sure. Baby it.”
“Did you get all this last night, rounding up your suspect?”
“No, before. He didn’t give me any trouble. Little bastard.” Her brows knit, digging a line between them. “Can’t nail him though. Just can’t nail it down.”
“I’m sure you will.” Reeanna’s voice was soothing as she continued the treatment. “You’re thorough and involved. I saw you on one of the news channels. Going out on the ledge with Cerise Devane. Risking your life.”
“Lost her.”
“Yes, I know.” Efficiently, Reeanna coated the treated bruises with numbing cream. “It was horrible. Visually shocking. More so for you, I’d imagine. You’d have seen her face, her eyes, up close, as she went off.”
“She was smiling.”
“Yes, I could see that.”
“She wanted to die.”
“Did she?”
“She said it was beautiful. The ultimate experience.”
Satisfied she’d done all she could, Reeanna picked up another towel, spread it over Eve. “There are some who believe that. Death as the ultimate human experience. No matter how advanced medicine and technology, none of us escape it. Since we’re destined for it in any case, why not see it as a goal rather than an obstacle?”
“It’s meant to be fought. Every bloody inch of the way.”
“Not everyone has the energy or the need to fight. Some go gently.” She picked up Eve’s limp hand, automatically checking the pulse. “Some go resistantly. But all go.”
“Somebody sent her. That makes it murder. That makes it mine.”
Reeanna tucked Eve’s arm under the towel. “Yes, I suppose it does. Get some sleep. I’ll tell Summerset to wake you in time to make your meeting.”
“Thanks. Really.”
“It’s nothing.” She touched Eve’s shoulder. “Between friends.”
She studied Eve a moment longer, then glanced at her diamond-studded watch. She was going to have to push to make her rescheduled salon date, but there was just one minor detail to see to yet.
