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“They killed my sister.”
“It hasn’t been determined that your sister was a victim of homicide.” Eve headed to the AutoChef, programmed coffee. “And you’re in enough trouble,” she added before he could speak, “without hassling me.”
“Be smart,” Roarke said when Jamie opened his mouth again. “Be quiet.”
Peabody stood in the humming silence. She studied the boy, felt a little tug
. She had a brother his age. With this in mind, she slapped on a smile. “Pizza for breakfast,” she said with determined cheer. “Got more?”
“Help yourself,” Roarke invited and patted the bench beside him in invitation. “Jamie, this is Officer Peabody.”
“My grandfather knew you.” Jamie studied her with cautious, appraising eyes.
“Did he?” Peabody picked up a slice. “I don’t think I ever met him. I knew about him, though. Everybody at Central was sorry when he died.”
“He knew about you. He told me Dallas was molding you.”
“Peabody’s a cop,” Eve broke in, “not a lump of clay.” Annoyed, she picked up the last slice of pizza, bit in. “This is cold.”
“It’s great cold.” Peabody winked at Jamie. “Nothing better than cold pizza for breakfast.”
“Eat while you can.” Respecting her own advice, Eve took another bite. “It’s going to be a long day.” She pinned Jamie with a glance. “Starting now. Until you have a guardian or representative present, I can’t record your statement or officially question you. Do you understand?”
“I’m not an idiot. And I’m not a child. I can—”
“You can be quiet,” Eve interrupted. “With or without representation, I can toss you into juvenile lockup for trespassing. If Roarke chooses to press charges—”
“Eve, really—”
“You be quiet, too.” She rounded on him, all frustration and fatigue. “This isn’t a game, it’s murder. And the media is already outside, sniffing blood. You’re not going to be able to step outside your own house without having them jump you.”
“Do you think that disturbs me?”
“It disturbs me. It damn well disturbs the hell out of me. My job doesn’t come here. It doesn’t come here.” She stopped herself, turned away.
This, she realized abruptly, was what ate at her insides, chewed at her control. There was blood on her home, and she had brought it there.
Steadier, she turned back. “That’s all beside the point for now. You have some explaining to do,” she said to Jamie. “Do you want to do it here or down at Central after I contact your mother?”
He didn’t speak for a moment, just watched her as if measuring. It was, she realized, the same look that had been in his eyes when she had told him his sister was dead. It was very adult, very controlled.
“I know who the dead guy is. His name is Lobar, and he’s one of the bastards who killed my sister. I saw him.”
chapter nine
Jamie’s eyes were fierce, furious. Eve kept hers on his as she laid her palms on the table and leaned forward. “Are you telling me that you saw Lobar kill your sister?”
Jamie’s mouth worked as if he was chewing the words, and the words were bitter. “No. But I know. I know he was one of them. I saw him with her. I saw all of them.” His chin wobbled and his voice cracked, reminding her he was only sixteen. But his eyes stayed ageless. “I got in one night. In that apartment downtown.”
“What apartment?”
“Spooky Selina and Asshole Alban.” He shrugged a shoulder, but the movement was more nervous than cocky. “I watched one of their devil shows.” His hand wasn’t quite steady as he picked up his drink and sucked down the last of the Pepsi.
“They let you observe a ceremony?”
“They didn’t let me do anything. They didn’t know I was there. You could say I let myself in.” He glanced at Roarke. “Their security isn’t nearly as jazzy as yours.”
“There’s good news.”
