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“Of course.” Mavis extended a hand.
“If you’ll just come with me, Ms. Gates is very anxious to see you.”
“I dig this to China,” Mavis said out of the corner of her mouth as they walked through another generous lobby.
In this one, clear cubes were set up for busy drones. Headsets and keyboards were fully manned by a troop that had obviously watched the fashion shows and tried to outdo them.
The space once again fanned out, and at the far curve were double doors in what Eve now assumed was Outre’s signature murder red.
Their escort hurried along in a skirt snug as a bandage, on heels sharp as scalpels. She pressed a button at the center of the left door. Seconds later, a brisk impatient voice snapped: “Yes.”
“Ms. Freestone is here to see you, Ms. Gates.”
Rather than a response, the doors slid back into the wall, revealing an enormous office, ribboned with privacy-screened windows.
The black-and-white theme continued here. Black carpet, white walls, a massive white workstation. Wide chairs were covered in thin black-and-white stripes.
The red came from the scarlet roses massed in a tall black vase, and from the sharp, powerful business suit that decked Julietta’s impressive body.
She was tall, curvy with a simple sweep of honey blonde hair that swung around a diamond-shaped face. Keen cheekbones, keen chin, keen nose, with a mouth just a shade too thin for beauty. But the eyes, a deep, deep brown, pulled the attention away from the minor flaw.
She was crossing the room as the doors opened, her hand extended, a delighted expression on her face. “Mavis Freestone, what a pleasure. I’m so glad you got in touch. I’ve been wanting to meet you for the longest time! Of course, I’ve known Leonardo forever. He’s such a sweetheart.”
“He’s certainly mine.”
“Please, sit down. What can I offer you? Iced coffee perhaps?”
“I’m dodging caffeine these days.” Mavis remained standing, patted her belly.
“Yes, of course. Congratulations. When are you due?”
“February.”
“What a nice Valentine’s present.” Ignoring Eve and Peabody, she drew Mavis toward a chair. “Get off your feet, and we’ll have a cold, sparkling juice.”
“We’d love one. Got time for a drink, Dallas?”
“I can make time, since Ms. Gates found an opening in her busy calendar.” Resting an arm on the back of Mavis’s chair, Eve cocked her hip. “My questions shouldn’t take long.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“Lieutenant Dallas, NYPSD.” Eve took out her badge. “My aide, Officer Peabody. Now that we all know each other, and we’re all cozy, maybe you could answer some questions.”
“I repeat”—Julietta walked around her desk to assume a position of command—“I don’t understand. I agreed to see Ms. Freestone. We’d very much like to do a major article on you, Mavis, with a photo layout.”
“Sure, we can talk about that. After Dallas is done. Dallas and I go way back,” she added with a wonderfully guileless smile. “When she mentioned she was having trouble getting an interview, I said I was sure it was just a communication glitz, a
nd you’d make time. Supporting our local police is a really important issue with me and Leonardo.”
“Cleverly done,” Julietta replied.
“I thought so.” Eve stayed on her feet as Julietta sat down. “If you’re not comfortable, I’m sure Mavis wouldn’t mind waiting outside the office until we’re finished.”
“No need for that.” Julietta leaned back, swiveled in her chair. “You’ve already spoken to Tom. I don’t know what I can possibly add. I don’t get involved in his work, and he doesn’t get involved in mine.”
“How about each other’s lives?”
Her tone remained perfectly pleasant. “Which area of our lives do you have in mind?”
