Brotherhood in Death Read Free

leather-bound books on shelves.”
    â€œI’ll find it.”
    She could see where more art had been removed, more furniture—in fact, she found a room empty but for stacks of packing boxes. Yet she didn’t see a single mote of dust, and caught the light scent of lemon as if someone had crushed their blossoms with the air.
    She found the study, and at a glance decided nothing—or nothing much—had been taken out of this space.
    Organized, attractive with its heavy wood trim, its sturdy masculine furniture and deep tones.
    Burgundy and forest, she mused, taking a long look from the doorway. Family photos in black or silver frames, polished plaques from various charitable organizations.
    The desk itself still held a coffee-colored leather blotter, matching accessories, and a slick little data and communication center.
    Beside the fireplace with its thick mantel stood a bar—small, old, certainly valuable. On it sat two crystal decanters, half full of amber liquid, with silver labels. Whiskey. Brandy.
    She moved from the wood floor to the rug stretched on it. The softly faded pattern told her it was likely old and valuable like the bar, like the crystal, like the pocket watch on display under a glass dome.
    She saw no sign of struggle, no indication anything had been stolen. But when she crouched down, examined the space before the fringe of the rug brushed over wood, she saw a few drops of blood.
    She circled the room slowly, carefully, touching nothing as yet. But she began to see . . . maybe.
    She started back, paused at the doorway of the living room to see Mira competently applying ointment to her husband’s temple.
    â€œDon’t go in there yet,” Eve said. “I’m just going out for my field kit.”
    â€œOh, it’s nasty out. Let me get that for you.”
    â€œI’ve got it,” she said quickly when Dennis started to rise. “Just give me a minute.”
    She went back into the icy rain, got her field kit out of the trunk. As she went back she studied the neighboring houses, and pulled out her own ’link to send Roarke a quick text.
    Got hung up. Will explain when I get home.
    And considered she’d obeyed the Marriage Rules.
    When she came back in, she set the kit down to take off her coat, scarf, hat. “Okay, let’s take this by the numbers. Have you tried to contact your cousin?”
    â€œOh, yes. I did that right away. He didn’t answer his ’link. I did tryhim at home as well, and reached his wife. I didn’t want to alarm her,” Dennis added, “so I didn’t mention any of this. She told me he wasn’t home, and would probably be running late. She may not know about his appointment here, but if she did, she wouldn’t tell me.”
    â€œAppointment?”
    â€œOh, I am sorry. I haven’t explained any of this.” He gave Mira one of his absent smiles. “I tried to reach him earlier today, to see if the two of us could just . . . sit down and discuss our differences about the house. I got an assistant who seemed a little harried at the time. Otherwise she might not have mentioned he had an appointment here with a Realtor to assess the house for sale. It . . . Well, it set me right off. He shouldn’t have done that behind my back.”
    Eve nodded, opened her kit to take out a can of Seal-It. “Pissed you off.”
    â€œEve,” Mira began, but Dennis patted her hand.
    â€œTruth is best, Charlie. I was very upset. He wouldn’t answer his personal ’link, so when I finished my last class, I came here. Terrible traffic conditions. Something should be done.”
    â€œYeah, I think that all the time. When did you get here, Mr. Mira?”
    â€œOh, I’m not at all sure. Let me see. I finished my last class . . . it must have been about four-thirty. My TA and a couple of students had questions, so that took a bit of time. Then I