Though he’d cut his blond hair into sharp, diagonal lines on the sides, the same face popped on her screen.
Round features, pale green eyes, powder-white skin with a sprinkle of blond stubble.
He stood about six feet, had well-cut arms and shoulders under his snug black tee. She considered he wouldn’t have trouble carrying a dead woman of Leesa’s weight.
When she got to the counter, he beamed her a smile. “What can I get you, Slim?”
“Lieutenant Slim.” She palmed her badge, and the smile dropped away.
“Okay. Same question.”
“My partner and I would like to speak with you regarding an investigation.”
“I’m working.”
“I can speak with your supervisor.”
“Come on, man. I don’t want to lose this job.”
“When’s your break?”
“In about twenty.”
She looked behind her and to where Peabody grabbed a two-top.
“See the brunette, red streaks? Come there on your break. We’ll try to make it quick.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Then it’ll be even quicker.”
She walked to the table.
“Got your Pepsi. I’m trying their lemonade.” She tapped the order box. “Salad and san in about five minutes.”
Eve sat so she could keep an eye on Standish. “He’s got a break coming up in twenty. He makes a move toward the door or toward the back, we go after him.”
“Hope he doesn’t.” Peabody picked up her lemonade, sampled. “Hey, it’s pretty good. Mavis has us spoiled though, since she learned how to make it from lemons. We’re grilling tonight. McNab and Leonardo are getting good at it.”
“He’s nervous,” Eve observed. “Keeps glancing over here. Nervous, but I’m not reading guilt. It’s more… dejection maybe. Oh crap, cops.”
“A lot of people feel that way about cops.”
The box signaled the order up. Peabody pulled the salad, then the sandwich out of the opening.
“I went with whole wheat and a combo of Munster and American.”
“Sure, that works.”
“Oh, change.” Peabody handed Eve the change—which still meant a stop to replenish cash.
Eve stuffed it away, then pulled out her ’link when it signaled a text.
“Mira’s read the file. She can give me a window around sixteen hundred. That works, too. We should be able to fit this one in, and the other two.”
“Maybe one of them will be working on a portrait of Leesa as the Girl, and—case closed!”
“Yeah, that’ll happen.” Eve bit into the sandwich.
