Chapter 7

Eve found Peabody in her office, at the moment drinking steamy coffee.
"Where's my coffee?"
Peabody startled up and went to her autochef, knowing, that her Lieutenant was addicted to coffee.
"I guess the hand was our victim's?" Peabody gave her a curious look.
"Yeah, it was her hand, amuptated post mortem. What said the husband?"
" Not much. He seems really shocked and he is grieving. But what do you expect? His wife is dead.
But back to the main topic. He said that he received a packat this morning. He opened it and there was a box and in the box.... her hand. He felt helpless and went straight to the police. God, he seems really upset. Maybe we could ask Dr Mira to help him..." Eve noticed the sympathy on Peabody's face. She could understand it. To lose you partner, you lover, has to be terrible. Her thoughts went to Roarke. She just couldn't imagine to live without him.
" So, you think he has nothing to do with the murder?"
Peabody was silent for a few seconds. " No, I can't figure him as her murderer. He loves her, really. Ok, he mentioned that they had some problems, but I don't think he would kill her because of her work."
"That's also my opinion." Eve agreed. " But he has to know something. Our victim wasn't an outgoing person. She had only her husband and one friend. And then, there is the project and Dean Wilson. I'm sure he has something to do with her death. And - " Just then her link beeped.

"Dallas" The screen showed the face of Berenski.
"Hey Dallas, I have the results from your letter and from the box. There was no DNA, no fingerprints, just nothing."
Eve sighed. But she had  it expected. "Ok, thanks anyway."
Peabody gave her a quirky look. "Why is he so friendly? Normally you have to  bribe him!"
" How should I know? You are the one interested in gossip." Eve went to her autochef and programmed a second cup of coffee. "Ok, back to murder. I want to talk again to Dr Robinson and I'll ask Mira for a profile but I suppuse  that will be tomoorow. I think we start with Dr Robinson."

They drove through the city and Peabody noticed some booths with soy dogs.
"Dallas, you know, we hadn't lunch today."
"And?"
"Ah, we could stop here and buy a soy dogs or some fries." Peabody smiled expressive and meaningful.
Eve snarled but stopped. " 10 minutes!" Peabody grinned and hurried to the booth.
Eve leaned back and closed her eyes. It was all about work. The victim was addicted to her job. Maybe that was the clue. So she was murdered because of her job? There was Dean Wilson, he was a part of her job. Was he in love with her? No, she couldn't imagine. There was something, he was attreacted to her. But she didn't saw love, no true love. She saw the love in the eyes of Jonathan Clark. He cared for Caroline, he loved her. Her thoughts went to her own marriage. There had been a time, when her life had circled around her job. That changed. But still, her work consumed her and Roarke always supported her. Maybe she should give him something back.
"Dallas!"
Eve winced and saw Peabody, beating at her window. She opened the car and let her in.
"Everything alright?"
"Yeah, just reflecting. So, you have your lunch? Can we move on?"  

They went to Samantha Robinsons apartment and rang. After a few seconds she opened, wearing a very short silken dress.
"Lieutenant, Detective. I didn't expect you today." There was impatience in her voice. Eve examined her with a dry look.
"So it seems. You're going out or is this you casual clothing?"
" I have a ...ah date, but I don't think that's your business. "
"We are just curious," Peabody tried to pour oil on troubled water. " We still have some questions, could we come in?"
"If  it's reallly necessary... Come in and have a seat." Eve and Peabody sat down and waited.
"So, what do you want to know?" The impatience was again in Samantha's voice.
"Dr Robinson, you mentioned the medical project. Do you know Dr Clark's assistant, Dean Wilson?"
"No. I mean, I think I met him from time to time, but I had nothing to do with him. Was he her project partner?" Eve observed her behaviour. Samantha seemed cool, but under the surface she was nervous.
"You know that Dr Clark's hands were cut off. Are you aware that one hand was sent to her husband?"
"Oh no, that's so... evil! He must be really upset." She was shocked but Eve could see that there was more. When she brought her husband up, Samantha's look was icy.  Well, that was interesting, Eve thought.  "He is so poor, " Samantha continued. "He loved Caro, but they had problems. To be honest, I think the biggest problem was her job. But of course, they loved each other!". She faked a pitiful face.
"I think we can finish the interview now. Thank you for your time." Eve stood up and smiled politely. Peabody gave her a puzzled look, but said nothing.
But back in the car she asked: " Dallas, what was that?"
"She lied. About Dean Wilson and about Jonathan Clark. She was nervous, when we questioned her about Dean und her look was icy when we mentioned her husband."
Peabody sighed. "You're right. And she has date, hasn't she? Her friend is dead and she goes out. That's... unusual." Eve nodded. Yeah, that was very unusual.
She sent Peabody home and headed home herself. She would work, but she had also another mission.

"Lieutenant, you have no blood on your clothes and you are on time.Are you ill? " Summerset expected her at the door.
" I was not, 'till I saw your scary face!" She went straight to her office, but for once she had no work in mind. Eve checked if Roarke was already home, but he wasn't. Good, she thought. Some time to think. She wanted to surprise him, but how? Ok, she could make dinner, wear a fancy dress and seduce him, but that was too easy. And, that was something, she would do anyway. She grinned.
She played with the diamond, he had given her. Yes! A present. She could present him with something. But what? He had everything. Hmm.... he liked literature. But he owned nearly everything. Eve went through her mental list of poets. He loved Yeats, but she bought him already an exemplar. But there was another pot, what was the name? Ah yes, Tennyson! But he had already a book with poems. Anyway, she searched the whole internet until she found something. It was a special edition of "The Lady of Shalott", illustrated and in one word, beautiful. She smiled pleased and bought it. The price was exorbitant, but she could manage to pay it.

"Hello darling." Eve winced, and turned. There he was, tall, lean, looking like an fallen angel. She quickly shut down her computer as he went to her to kiss her lightly. "Still working?"
She grinned. "So it seems. Look, I just want to make some researchs and then I finish, ok?"
"But you shut down you computer?"  He was right. "Yeah, but .... however, I have to check Samantha Robinson."
"The friend? Why?"
"She knows Dean Wilson and she dislikes Jonathan. I want to know everything about her."
Roarke chuckled. "My cop, thorough as ever.  But I make you an offer: I look after the research and all you have to do is to eat dinner with me."
Eve scowled at him. " I can make the research myself!"
"But we both know that I'm faster." He grinned and she couldn't resist. "Ok, ok, make the research. But stop looking at me like this!"
Roarke went to his office but turned and said: "Darling Eve, don't forget the charity event tomorrow."
Eve snarled. "Did I know about it?" Roarke laughed , went to her and pressed his mouth to hers. "Eve, I adore you. "
"Yeah, yeah. I'm going to prepare our dinner."
"Eve, you are surprisingly homely"
She scowled again, but couldn't hide the smile.