The tallest of the lawyers, the one with silvery hair that formed wings at his temples, leaned down toward her, murmured something.
Peabody watched Phoebe’s gaze shift, and as they zeroed in on her and Reo, deep, dark blue eyes like her son’s went hard.
The female lawyer guided her to a bench on the other side of the courtroom door. She sat, crossed her legs, folded her hands in her lap, and stared straight ahead.
The tall man walked to Reo, held out a hand. “Ms. Reo.”
“Mr. Kopeckne.”
“My co-counsels Alan Addison and Carleen Hammott. I don’t believe we’ve met before.”
“No, we haven’t.”
“I know you by reputation, of course.” He smiled, charmingly.
“I can say the same. You’ve traveled a long way in a short time.”
“The flight from California gave us time to begin to review the case against our client.”
He went into the courtroom, followed by his associates. Hammott accompanied Phoebe inside.
“Where the hell is Dallas?” Reo muttered. “I’ve got to get in there.”
“Look, I’ll tag her, get an ETA.”
As Peabody started to, she saw her partner exiting the elevator.
Reo strode straight to her. “What took you so long? We have to go in.”
“I had to make a stop. I’m here now. The lab’s putting a rush on the drugs, the wire, glue, all of it.”
“We’ve got to go in now. I want both of you seated right behind my table. Ebersole’s got three attorneys at his, and his mother will be right behind them.”
“His mother. Mira scores again.”
“They’ll point out his family support.”
“I don’t see that as a weight on his side.”
“And I’ll turn it around. They’ll also use the fact he has no record, no violence. I’ve got ammo, Dallas, but if the court springs him, I need him under watch.”
“Trust me, already set up.”
Reo nodded. “It just had to be McEnroy,” she mumbled, then went into court.
“You didn’t say anything about making a stop,” Peabody said.
“Some insurance, just in case. I’ll explain if we need to use it.”
They went inside, sat, and Eve took the opportunity to study Phoebe Harper.
Some resemblance, she thought, in the coloring, but where Jonathan’s face had a kind of bland softness to it, his mother’s was honed. Maybe from DNA, maybe from what money could buy, but either way, she had a sharp, striking look about her.
And when the woman turned her head, met Eve’s steady gaze, Eve saw the cold, hard steel under the striking.
Used to having her own way, too, Eve decided. And damn determined to have it regarding her son.
And damned if she didn’t see Phoebe’s glance flick to the earrings.
