Echoes in Death(85)

“Unless he brought a change of clothes, he’d have been covered with blood when he left.”

“He’d be prepared. He came here to kill, and messily. He circumvents the alarms, the locks. Did his research. They live alone. Daytime housekeeper.

“He walks upstairs. It’s exciting, walking in the dark, in a house where people are sleeping. It really adds something … fresh. He’d take out the male first.”

She walked back to the bed, to the far side. “Whap-slap with the sap—that’s what I’d do if I didn’t have a stunner. He’s out, no threat. Does she stir? Even if she does, he’s on her. He has the knife, the cord. Bind her up while she screams. Give her a couple of slaps to show her who’s in charge.”

She moved to the male victim, lifted one of his bare feet out of the congealed blood. “Drag marks on the heels. He doesn’t have enough muscle to carry the husband to the chair, but enough to drag him, haul him into it. Bind him up. Now he gets to play.”

“He wants the husband conscious before he works on the wife,” Peabody said.

“That’s right. Wants him awake and aware for that, and before he breaks his fingers. No fun causing pain if nobody feels it. But he’s got plenty of time.”

She could see it, could see all of it.

It played through her mind while she walked to the closet.

“Check the bathroom, Peabody. Big shared closet, and a safe, open and empty in here.”

“Bathroom’s clean, Dallas. It looks like somebody took a bath. There’s bath oil, a bottle of it, by the tub, and a towel, unfolded, draped over the rack.”

Curious, Eve moved to the bath, scanned. “He wouldn’t have done that.” Eve opened the bottle, sniffed. “Very girlie. Most likely the female vic took a bath, or possibly took one with the male vic, but only one towel, no drying tube, so likely just her. Morris may be able to confirm. Pull the sweepers in. They’ll check the drains anyway. And get the morgue team in.”

She stepped back out. “Why don’t you go through the rest of the rooms up here, see if there’s anything? Then take a look at the third floor. I’ll start with the housekeeper.”

“Back stairs down the hall probably lead to the kitchen.”

Peabody checked her ’link. “McNab. He and Feeney are on the way.”

With a nod, Eve took the back stairs.

The kitchen area had been modernized. The working kitchen itself spread bright and shining clean, a bowl of glossy red apples piled in a white bowl on the main counter. The majority of space flowed for entertaining. A long dining table painted a soft, faded blue was lined with chairs covered in a cheerful floral print. Another table, tall and narrow, served as a bar. Its deeper blue surface held fancy decanters and bottles. Shelves behind it displayed stemware.

A female officer sat at the table with a middle-aged woman. The woman’s eyes, swollen and red-rimmed, still leaked tears.

“I’m going to be close by, Nina,” the uniform said as she patted the woman’s hand and rose. “Lieutenant.”

“Thank you, Officer. If you and your partner would begin the canvass, I’ll speak to Ms. Washington.”

“Yes, sir.”

Eve sat. “Ms. Washington, I’m Lieutenant Dallas. I know this is difficult. Can you tell me how long you’ve been employed here?”

“In this house, five years. For my Miko? I worked for her mother since Miko was ten, and I came to work for Miko when she and Xavier moved into this house.”

“You were close.”

“I have two children. Miko was like my third. And Xavier. I loved him, too. Who would…” She shook her head, pressed her fingers to her eyes. “I know there’s evil, I know. But this? They were so young and so good, so happy. So happy. Miko was pregnant.”

Eve sat back, felt her stomach twist. “You’re sure?”

“Only a few weeks. She told her mother, and they told Xavier’s parents, and me. Only last week. Only last week, and we were so happy.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Washington. I’m very sorry for your loss. And I know it’s painful, but I need to ask you some questions.”

“I know. I told Officer Aaron some. She said I’d have to tell you, and more.”

“Did you work here yesterday?”

“No.”

Nina drew air through her nose, brushed both hands back over the hair she wore in a single thick braid. After knuckling a tear away, she clasped her hands together on the table.

“No, I didn’t come in yesterday. Miko said the snow was coming, and it was supposed to be very bad. She said I should stay home, and everything was fine. She was at her work. She helps at a homeless shelter. She does good work. She said she was leaving early, and Xavier was coming home early, too. She said they were going to come home and stay home.”