“I didn’t like him,” she added. “I don’t suppose that applies.”
“It does. Why didn’t you like him?”
“He was rude, arrogant right from the start, as if doing us a favor by offering his art. You will have this, but… I honestly can’t tell you exactly why, but if he’d said I should have my eyes gouged out, I would’ve reported it. I found him disturbing.”
“Can you describe him?”
“Oh my goodness, it’s been some time. I… I’d say he was in his late twenties, maybe early thirties. Very slim, very pale complexion. I remember his eyes were a very, very dark blue. I remember his eyes because I found them… I’ll say disturbing again. It’s what I remember most. I can’t quite see his face, if you understand me. But I remember his eyes.”
“Would you work with a police artist?”
“Oh, well…”
“It’s very important.”
“I do have a meeting in…” She checked her wrist unit. “Well, I’ll be a bit late for that. And an event this evening I can’t miss. I could make some time tomorrow, if you think it would help.”
“I think it could. I’ll have the police artist contact you, and you can work out the best time. Meanwhile, is there anything else you remember about him—or anyone like him?”
“I suppose he stands out or I wouldn’t have remembered him at all.And I’d say, like the watercolorist I mentioned, he struck me as someone used to getting whatever he wanted. I promise you I’ll think about it, try to jog my memory. But I really am going to be late.”
“We very much appreciate your time, Ms. Prince. You’ve been very helpful.”
“You want Yancy,” Peabody said when they walked outside.
“Yeah, I do. This guy fits several slots, so we push there.”
“I’ll contact him.”
“If anyone can pull more descriptive details from her memory, Yancy can. We’re going to hit a few more, see if anyone else remembers a well-dressed, very white male in the age range with dark blue eyes and a bad attitude.”
“There’s a glide-cart down there, and I’m empty. You may not feel it, but you’ve got to be empty, too.”
“Crap. Fine.”
When they got to the cart, Eve had to admit there was something about the smell of soy dogs, boiled up just right, that reminded the system food was a good thing.
And a cart dog on a warm afternoon was a very good thing.
“I’m going for the dog, too,” Peabody decided. “Veggie hash just won’t fill the hole.”
Eve dug in her pocket. “Shit. I need a cash machine.”
“Oh, I can cover it.”
“I’ve got it, but I borrowed most of what I’ve got from Roarke. I have to pay him back.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Eve heard the edge of surprise.
“It’s a thing we do. Avoids conflict.”
As they started back, eating dogs on the way, Eve shrugged.
“His money can be annoying.”
Obviously amused, Peabody licked some mustard off her finger. “I think I could live with it. Somehow.”
