Witness in Death Read Free Page B

tagged, and on its way to the morgue.
    "What can I do for you?"
    "We've got a couple of dozen uniforms logging names and addresses of audience members." She didn't want to think about the man-hours, the mountains of paperwork that would go into interviewing over two thousand witnesses. "But I want to start the interview process on the main players before I kick them clear for the night. I don't want anybody lawyering on me until I get a better handle on the setup."
    Right out in the open, Eve thought as she studied the stage, the set, the tiers after tiers of plush velvet seats that had held a rapt audience.
    Someone was cool and cocky. And smart.
    "People are comfortable with you," she went on. "I want Areena Mansfield comfortable."
    "I'll do what I can."
    "Appreciate it. Peabody, you're with me."
    Eve crossed the stage, moved into the wings. There were uniforms scattered throughout the backstage area. Civilians were either tucked behind closed doors or huddled in miserable little groups.
    "What do you give our chances of keeping the media locked out of this until morning?"
    Peabody glanced over at Eve. "I'd say zero, but that's optimistic."
    "Yeah. Officer." Eve signaled a uniform. "I want guards posted at every entrance, every exit."
    "Already done, sir."
    "I want the guards inside. Nobody leaves the building, not even a cop. Nobody comes in, especially reporters. Clear?"
    "Yes, sir."
    A corridor bent off the wing, narrowed. Eve scanned the door, vaguely amused by the gold stars affixed to several of them. Name plaques were displayed as well. She stopped by the door marked for Areena Mansfield, knocked briefly, then walked in.
    She only lifted her eyebrows when she saw Roarke sitting on a royal blue daybed, holding Areena's hand.
    The actress had yet to remove her stage makeup, and though tears had ravaged it, she was still stunning. Her eyes darted to Eve and were instantly full of fear.
    "Oh God. Oh my God. Am I going to be arrested?"
    "I need to ask you some questions, Ms. Mansfield."
    "They wouldn't let me change. They said I couldn't. His blood." Her hands fluttered in front of her costume, fisted. "I can't stand it."
    "I'm sorry. Dr. Mira, would you help Miss Mansfield out of her costume? Peabody will bag it."
    "Of course."
    "Roarke, outside please." Eve stepped back to the door, opened it.
    "Don't worry, Areena. The lieutenant will sort this out." After giving Areena's hand a comforting squeeze, he rose and walked by Eve.
    "I asked you to keep your ears open, not to cozy up with one of my suspects."
    "Trying to keep a hysterical woman lucid isn't particularly cozy." He blew out a breath. "I could use a very large brandy."
    "Well, go home and have one. I don't know how long I'll be."
    "I believe I can find what I need here."
    "Just go home," she said again. "There's nothing for you to do here."
    "As I'm not one of your suspects," he added in a quiet voice, "and I own this theater, I believe I can come and go as I please."
    He ran a finger down her cheek and strolled off.
    "You always do," she muttered, then went back into the dressing room.
    It seemed to Eve that dressing room was a lowly term for a space so large, so lush. A long, cream-toned counter held a forest of pots, tubes, wands, bottles, all arranged with soldierly precision. Over it all gleamed a wide triple mirror ringed with slim white lights.
    There was the daybed, several cozy chairs, a full-sized AutoChef and friggie unit, a trim, mini-communication system. Wardrobe hung in a long closet area, open now so that Eve noted the costumes and street clothes were as precisely arranged as the makeup.
    On every table, in groupings on the floor, were flowers. The over-fragranced air made Eve think of weddings. And funerals.
    "Thank you. Thank you so much." Areena shivered slightly as Mira helped her into a long white robe. "I don't know how much longer I could have stood... I'd like to clean off my makeup." Her hand reached for her throat. "I'd like to feel like