Loyalty in Death by J. D. Robb Page B

to love.
    Eve found the atmosphere oddly soothing after her trip to EDD.
    As a professional courtesy, she stepped in and hauled one of the shrieking women up in a headlock while the detective in charge struggled with the other.
    “Thanks, Dallas.” Baxter grinned at her.
    She only sneered. “You were enjoying that, weren’t you?”
    “Hey, nothing like a catfight.” He cuffed his charge to a chair before she could slice at him. “If you’d have waited another minute, clothes might’ve gotten ripped off.”
    “You’re so sick, Baxter.” Eve bent close to the woman’s ear. “You hear that?” she murmured, tightening her grip just a little as the woman continued to squirm like a fish. “You go after her again, the guys in the squad are going to get off on it. Is that what you want?”
    “No.” She bit the word off, then sniffled. “I just want my Barry back!” she wailed.
    The sentiment set the other woman off, so that the room was filled with the wild sobbing of women. Seeing Baxter wince, Eve smiled thinly and pushed the woman to him. “There you go, pal.”
    “Thanks a lot, Dallas.”
    Satisfied with her part in the little drama, Eve went into her office, shut the door. In the relative peace, she sat down and contacted Suzanna Day, the late J. Clarence Branson’s attorney.
    After being passed from reception to assistant, Eve watched Suzanna’s face swim on-screen. She was a sharp-looking woman of perhaps forty. Black hair was cut short and sleek around an attractive face. Her complexion was dark and deep as onyx, her eyes like jet. Her unsmiling mouth was painted a rich crimson that matched the tiny bead pierced through the trailing tip of her left eyebrow.
    “Lieutenant Dallas. B. D. told me you’d be in touch.”
    “I appreciate you taking the time to speak to me, Ms. Day. You’re aware I’m primary in the matter of J. Clarence Branson’s death?”
    “Yes.” Her mouth thinned. “I’m also aware, through a contact at the PA’s office, that Lisbeth Cooke is being charged with man two.”
    “You’re not happy with that decision.”
    “J. C. was a friend, a good one. No, I’m not happy that the woman who killed him will do hardly more than turnaround time in a high-class cage.”
    PAs make the deals, Eve thought sourly. Cops take the heat. “It’s not my job to make that determination, but it is to gather all possible evidence. Mr. Branson’s will could shed a different light on matters.”
    “The will is to be read tonight, in the home of B. Donald Branson.”
    “You already have the information as to the beneficiaries.”
    “I do.” Suzanna paused, seemed to struggle with herself. “And I can’t reveal any of the terms before the official reading, as per my client’s instructions when the document was drawn up. My hands are tied here, Lieutenant.”
    “Your client didn’t expect to be murdered.”
    “Regardless. Believe me, Lieutenant, I’m already skimming corners by insisting the reading be held tonight.”
    Eve considered a moment. “What time tonight?”
    “Eight o’clock.”
    “Any legal reason why I can’t be there?”
    Suzanna lifted her ornamented eyebrow. “No, not if Mr. and Mrs. Branson clear it. I’ll speak to them about it, get back to you.”
    “Good. I’m going out in the field, but I’ll get the message. Just one more thing. Did you know Lisbeth Cooke?”
    “Very well. I often socialized with her and J. C.”
    “Opinion?”
    “She’s ambitious, determined, possessive. And hot-tempered.”
    Eve nodded. “You didn’t like her.”
    “On the contrary, I liked her very much. I admire a woman who knows what she wants, gets it, and hangs on to it. She made him happy,” she added and pressed her lips together as tears swam into her eyes. “I’ll get back to you,” she said and broke transmission.
    “Everybody loved J. C.,” Eve murmured, then, shaking her head, began to gather her things. Her communicator beeped before she got to the door. She