“No, don’t be.”
“I’m going to have sweepers come in, go over all this. I can contact Missing Persons, expedite there.”
“Could you . . .”
“Will you take lead on this?” Understanding, Mira took Dennis’s hand. “Both of us would feel easier if you remained in charge.”
“Sure, I can clear that. Why don’t you go back and sit down, let me get things rolling.”
Eve bagged the elephant, contacted Crime Scene, ordered up some uniforms to canvass. Someone had walked in the house, most likely invited in by Edward Mira. She’d check on this Realtor. And someone had walked back out again, either carrying Edward’s body or forcing him to leave with them.
They’d need transportation.
Not a burglary, she thought, and not a straight kidnapping, or why rough him up first? The chair in the middle of the room struck her as an interrogation.
Somebody wanted something from Edward Mira. Chances were he’d stay alive until they got it.
She went back to the living room. They’d turned on the fire, and sat together on a sofa, drinking tea.
Eve sat on the coffee table facing them, as it made a tighter connection.
“I need some information. The Realtor—name, contact?”
“I have no idea. I’m sorry. The assistant didn’t mention it, and I was too upset to ask.”
“Okay, I’ll get that from his office. Where’s his office?”
“He retired from Congress to create and head a political think tank,” Mira told her. “He has an office in their headquarters, in the Chrysler Building.”
“Prime real estate.”
“Status is very important to Edward,” Dennis said. “His organization, the Mira Institute, takes two floors, and owns a pied-à-terre in East Washington for Edward’s use or when one of the other executives needs to be there.”
“Need that address, too, and his home address. I’m going to talk to his wife when I leave here. How was their relationship?”
Dennis glanced at his wife, sighed.
“I’ll take this. Mandy is a realist who enjoys the life she leads. She excelled on the campaign trail, continues to excel at fund-raisers and committees. The fact that Edward cheated, often? She considers that part of the whole, and not particularly important, as he’s discreet. She’s discreet as well, and uses the services of a licensed companion. Both their children are grown, of course, and while each play the game in public, neither have much affection for their parents or the choices their parents have made.”
“The world’s made up of all manner of parts, Charlie,” Dennis murmured.
“I’m aware. My professional opinion is Mandy would do nothing to unbalance her world. She would never hurt Edward, and in her way, she’s fond of him. In his way, he’s both grateful for her contributions to his career, and proud of her standing socially.”
“He’d have enemies.”
“Oh, scores. Politically, as you’d expect.”
“And personally?”
“He can and does charm—it’s part of politics, again. He also believes himself right on whatever stand he takes, politically and personally, and that can cause friction. This house is an example,” Mira continued. “Edward decided it needed to be sold, so to him, it will be.”
“He’s wrong,” Dennis said quietly, “and it won’t be. But that’s not important right now. Someone hurt him, and there’s been no mention of ransom.” He looked at Eve now. “You haven’t mentioned ransom.”
“I’ll talk to his wife about that. Mr. Mira, I want you to know I believe everything you’ve told me. And I don’t believe, not for a second, you’d do anything to hurt your cousin. Or anyone.”
“Thank you.”
“But I have to ask what I’m going to ask, or I’m not doing my job. If I’m not doing my job, I’m not helping you.”
“I understand. You need to ask me when I saw Edward last, how things were between us. If keeping this house in the family is so important to me, I might hire someone to frighten him.”
He nodded, set his tea aside. “We saw each other over the holidays. For form, really, I’m sorry to say. Charlotte and I attended a cocktail party at his home. When was that, Charlie?”
“On the twenty-second of December. We only stayed about an hour, as Edward tried to corner Dennis about selling the house.”
“I didn’t want to argue, so we left early. He sent me an e-mail shortly after the first of the year, outlining his reasons, again, and his plan of action.”
“You didn’t tell me that, Dennis.”