Page 114 of Fury In Death
Entrance to the courtyard required a security swipe. A few people sat out at tables, sipping wine, cocktails. A tiny snow-white dog drank delicately from a tiny silver bowl.
Eve rounded the corner to the main entrance and the liveried doorman.
Eve held up her badge.
“Nice meeting you, Lieutenant. What can I do for you?”
“John O’Brian.”
“Sure, Penthouse B. But he’s not here. On a business trip.”
“You saw him leave?”
“Sure did. In a hurry, too. Had luggage with him. Mick brought it down, as I remember.”
“Did you hail him a cab to the shuttle station?”
“No. Didn’t need to, as he had a car service waiting. Not his usual one.”
“Is that so? He left alone?”
“Sure did. Business.”
“Did you notice which car service?”
“That’s my job,” he said cheerfully. “E-Z—the letters—Ride.”
“And where was it taking him?”
“That I can’t tell you, as he didn’t say. I didn’t say much myself, as Mr. O’Brian looked upset and rushed. Mick said how they’d had a big problem at work—that’s Banner-Wyst—and Mr. O’Brian had to take off, take right off, to start fixing it. Said he could be gone a couple, three weeks.”
“How about his wife? Is she up there?”
“I held the door for her not a half hour ago when she came back home.”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime at all!”
“You’re going to keep your ass because I’m winning that bet.”
“Just check with the car service, Peabody.”
Eve crossed the mosaic tiles of the lobby with its floral displays, cushy seating, the small, discreet, and no doubt pricey shops, to the desk and the woman who sat in a dove-gray suit and sharp red heels.
“Good afternoon, welcome to Tribeca Towers. How may I assist you?”
Eve offered her badge. “Lieutenant Dallas, Detective Peabody, NYPSD. We need to speak with Ms. Ellyn Dossier, Penthouse B.”
“Of course, Lieutenant. I’ll let Ms. Dossier know you’re here.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.”
The woman blinked once. “I see. Penthouse B has a private elevator to its entrance. That requires my swipe. Before I do that, I apologize, but I need to ask to scan your badge and verify.”
“No problem.”
The woman took out a scanner, used it.
