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“Christ.” He got to his feet, was pacing as Peabody came back with a coffee tray. “Thanks, honey.” He took a cup, drank slowly. “It was already illegal by the time I started training,” he continued. “But I heard plenty about it. I took a seminar in my early days. Sexual Deviants: Dos and Don’ts. That kind of thing? Illegals of any kind were a big don’t. You can get your license pulled. Of course, that doesn’t mean that certain . . . aids aren’t employed by some LCs or clients. But not this one.”
“Why?”
“First, since it was once used to make trainees more malleable, we’ll say, it has a very bad rep in my business. The sex-slave gambit is fine as a role-playing game, but not in reality. We’re professional sexual companions, Dallas. We’re not whores or puppets.”
“You’ve never known anyone who used it?”
“Some of the older pros. You hear stories, and most of them involve abuse of one kind or another. Experimentation. Dose the LC trainee with it, then bang away. Like we were goddamn guinea pigs,” he said in disgust.
“Still, it’s an elitist substance. Any connoisseurs you know of?”
“No, but I can check around.”
“Carefully,” Eve warned. “What about Rabbit?”
He lifted one shoulder, rather elegantly. “Only amateurs and perverts use Rabbit, on themselves or a partner. In my circle it’s considered both tacky and insulting.”
“Dangerous?”
“If you’re stupid or careless, certainly. You don’t mix it with alcohol or any other stimulant. And you don’t want to overdose. ODs are extremely rare because the shit costs more than liquid gold.”
“You know dealers who handle it? Clients who use it?”
He stared, then looked pained. “Jesus, Dallas.”
“I won’t use your name.”
He shook his head, then walked to the window, lifted the privacy shade. Light washed in.
“Charles, it’s really important.” Peabody stepped up to him, touched his arm. “We wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t.”
“I don’t do illegals, Delia. You know that.”
“I know.”
“It’s not up to me to judge clients who do. I’m no one’s moral center.”
Eve leaned over, switched off the recorder. “Off the record, Charles. And my word no charges will be brought against your client for illegals use.”
“I’m not giving you her name.” He turned back. “I’m not violating that trust. But I will talk to her myself. I’ll get the name of her dealer. And that I’ll give you.”
“I appreciate it.” Her communicator beeped. “I’m going to take this in the kitchen.”
“Charles.” Peabody rubbed his arm when Eve left the room. “Thanks. I know we put you in a sensitive position.”
“Sensitive positions are my specialty.” He grinned. “You look tired, Delia.”
“Yeah. I’ve been hearing that.”
“Why don’t I fix you dinner one night this week? A nice, quiet evening. I’ll check my book.”
“That’d be great.”
When he leaned down to brush his lips over hers, she closed her eyes, waited for the thrill. And wanted to scream when it didn’t come. It was, she thought, like kissing her brother. If any of her brothers happened to be gorgeous as sin.
“What’s troubling you, sweetheart?”
“Bunch of stuff.” She grumbled. “Bunch of stupid stuff. I’m working it out.”
