Chapter Seven #2
She wavered again, steadied again. “I won’t say he got along with everyone. He’s an exacting man, a perfectionist, and that could rub some the wrong way. But nothing major, nothing, I swear, that reaches this level.”
“He worked for Banner-Wyst.”
“Yes. Most of his career, yes. When he decided to retire, they offered him a raise, a larger annual bonus, other incentives, but he really wanted to take more time for, well, life. So he agreed to the consulting position. I think he’d have been bored if he hadn’t kept a hand in.”
“Do you know Lawrence Chu?”
She frowned a moment, closed her eyes again, but this time in thought.
“That name’s familiar. Ah . . . Oh, yes, sorry, of course.
Larry and Rae. Larry works for the company.
Ezra and I didn’t talk about our work very deeply—he wasn’t any more interested in mine than I was in his—but I know he considered Larry brilliant and steady. I know them casually.”
She took a long breath. “You don’t think Larry Chu did this. Why, Ezra could have mopped the floor with him in a physical fight. And I know they respected each other.”
“Lawrence Chu was killed yesterday.”
The red-rimmed eyes went wide, and now both of her hands clutched at her heart.
“Oh my God. Do you mean murdered? Do you mean murdered like Ezra?”
“Yes. What do you know about Dr. Dent’s work for the company?”
“I know he helped develop methods to help regenerate what he called dead soil—for farming, forests, natural resources. And, ah, water purification systems or techniques—I don’t understand the technology.
I know he was in the forefront of lessening climate change caused by human consumption and that sort of thing.
I think he worked with Larry in the past, and more recently, but I don’t know any details.
“God, God, did this happen because of the work? Some crazy activist who wants to kill the minds and hands that work to better the world? It makes no sense.”
“Did he travel? Banner-Wyst has interests and facilities planetwide, and off-planet as well. And enlists and employs medical teams, research teams, planetwide.”
“Yes. Not in the last several years, but before. He had stories about his travels. He sacrificed, Lieutenant, and he dedicated himself because he believed humanity needed guidance, it needed help to preserve and protect the land, the water, the air. Why would anyone kill a man for that?”
“Were you and Dr. Dent involved thirteen years ago?”
“Thirteen? No. Ezra and I met through a mutual acquaintance nearly eleven years ago. Eleven years ago this coming December. It was at a holiday party. Why?”
“Something we’re looking into. If you could give Detective Peabody your travel data, we’d appreciate it. Is there anyone we can contact for you?”
“I have to tell his daughter, and, God, his parents. His father isn’t very well, but I have to tell him. Them. I—I can’t stay here, can I?”
“It would be best if you didn’t,” Peabody told her. “Can we make some arrangements for you?”
“No, no, thank you. I’ll stay with Lila—Ezra’s daughter—and her family. This will hit them very hard. Ezra was always a family man, a very involved father, and marriage or not, well, he made me a family woman. I’ll stay with Lila as long as she needs me.
“Where will you take him? I’ll tell them they shouldn’t see him like this, but they won’t listen. I wouldn’t, either. They’ll want to see him.”
“I’ll give you that information. Dr. Morris, the chief medical examiner, will take care of him. He’s in very compassionate hands.”
“Should I . . . can I ask if I could or should contact Rae—Rachel, Larry’s wife? As I said, I know her casually, but since . . .”
“She’s with her family.”
“I’ll go to his memorial. Ezra would want me to. One of their sons is a doctor, I think.”
“Yes, Bradley Chu.”
“Could I have his contact?”
“Why don’t I give him yours?”
“Yes, better. Thank you. If that’s all for now, I need to . . . I want to . . . I don’t want to tell Lila over the ’link. I need to go see her, and help her tell the rest of the family. Can I do that?”
“Yes, of course. We can arrange transportation.”
“That’s all right. I have a service.”
“Can I help you pack a few things?” Peabody asked her.
“Oh, I . . . What’s in my weekender isn’t appropriate. I hadn’t thought of that. I need to bring it up, change things out.”
“Why don’t I bring it up for you?”
And give the morgue team time, Eve thought, to remove the body.
“Do that, Peabody. Ms. Everly, before you leave, just to cover the ground, did you notice anything missing?”
“Everything was thrown around and broken, and the blood . . . but nothing else in the house looked disturbed at all. I’m a little messy, but Ezra—well, perfectionist. So I keep my messiness confined to my closet, and my office space.
I haven’t looked around carefully, but nothing seemed touched or moved.
“He was wearing his ring, the ring I gave him for his birthday a couple years ago. He always wore it. It’s how I knew, for certain, it was Ezra, because he wore the ring I gave him.”
When Peabody brought up the luggage, Eve went down, and watched the morgue team take out the black bag that held the victim.
She talked to the head sweeper.
“Two in a row, Dallas. And yeah, before you ask, we’ll take samples from every blood area. It’ll take a while.”
“The victim’s cohab’s packing a few things. She’ll move out for now anyway.”
“Good. You know the saying about things happening in threes?”
Eve shook her head. “Things happen in whatever number they happen until you stop the son of a bitch.”
She hunted up Callendar, found her in a home office. A large workstation, boxy and clear, two wall screens, a cabinet, a sofa, two chairs, more weird art, and plenty of awards and plaques.
“How’s it going in here?”
“Got some stuff I think’s work-related. Seriously protected. We’ll need to take this in if you think it plays.”
“It could.”
“I’ll haul it back. Some personal stuff, legal stuff, easy enough to access.
Bills paid right on time, whatever needed renewing, renewed right on time.
Correspondence neatly categorized, memo book, contact lists, birthdays, anniversaries, and so on.
But there are other files I can’t get into from here without risking corrupting. ”
“I’m going to get you transpo to take whatever you need to take. Peabody and I are going back to Banner-Wyst.”
“Check it.”
“Thanks for the assist.”
“Double-check it. See you back at Central, or if not, at the party.”
The party, Eve thought. Coming right up. Why did people have parties she couldn’t get out of when she had dead bodies piling up?
As she started back, Peabody turned from the front door.
“She just left. Broke down a little in the bedroom. She’d bought him a T-shirt in Memphis, and broke down when she unpacked it. Otherwise, she’s holding on.”
“Have a cruiser take Callendar back to Central. They need to get into the comp there. Protected files. We’re going back to Banner-Wyst.”
“Figured. They can’t dodge the connection, Dallas. Maybe, they don’t know what it is, but they can’t dodge it now.”
“Somebody there knows what it is. We just have to find the right person, ask the right questions.”
“Such as.” Peabody glanced back at the house as they walked outside. “What project was Chu working on with Dent as a consultant?”
“That would be one. Meanwhile.”
She slid behind the wheel, engaged the in-dash ’link. Roarke’s face filled the screen.
Eve led with, “Sorry. I know Callendar already tapped you.”
“And caught on quickly. So now you have two. How can I help you, Lieutenant?”
“I figured . . . Are you on a shuttle?”
“I am. Quick trip to Virginia for a few in-person meetings.”
“Okay, well, probably a bad time, but I figured the Marriage Rules say I give you first shot.”
He smiled. “Who am I shooting?”
“Hah. Financials. Dent, Dr. Ezra. Longtime employee and current part-time consultant for Banner-Wyst.”
“And also currently deceased?”
“You got that.”
“Well now, it would entertain me for the bit of time before we land.”
“Entertain yourself especially with any bonuses or lump sums around the same time as Chu’s.”
He smiled again. “Not my first shower of rain, darling.”
“Right.” She pulled out. “Appreciate it.”
“I’ll let you know what I have when I have it. Is Peabody with you?”
Peabody leaned over so she could do a finger-wiggle at the screen.
“Hello, Peabody. The in-dash is stocked. Since I assume you’re on your way to Midtown and Banner-Wyst, there’s time to tap it. See that the lieutenant eats something, won’t you?”
“The lieutenant’s sitting right here,” Eve said as Peabody gave Roarke a thumbs-up. “Later,” she added, and cut him off.
“Does it make you go gooey when he calls you darling like that?” Peabody checked the menu on the AutoChef.
“Do I look gooey?”
“It would be inside where nobody can see. Sort of melty-gooey on the inside, like a good grilled cheese sandwich. We could split one of those.”
Eve breezed through a light as it turned yellow. “Who’s the boss around here?”