Page 56 of Fury In Death

Impressed, pleased, Eve gave Peabody a nod. “Pretty bad. I think that would be a bad look.”

“Are you threatening my company?”

“Just pointing out the facts,” Peabody finished.

When Eve’s ’link signaled, she pulled it out. “Take a minute,” she told Wyst. “I need to take this.”

Rising, she walked to the other side of the office, put the tag from Roarke on text only.

More later when I have time, but Dent also has an account in the Caymans. Twenty-three years established under a shell company, Dent Unlimited. What you’re looking for, and I found, is a payment of two million flat, deposited the same day Chu opened his account.

I have more, and will have yet more, but I’m a bit pressed at the moment. Take care of my cop.

Eve responded with a simple thanks, then pocketed her ’link.

“Here’s something interesting,” she said as she walked back, sat. “That both Chu and Dent deposited very large amounts of money into offshore accounts—which if they weren’t dead would have landed them in a jam. And they made those deposits on the very same day, about thirteen years ago.”

“Well, gee, isn’t that when Chu got the promotion, the big bonus, and increased his annual bonus?”

“Yes, Peabody, it is.”

“What did they do, not do, cover up, to earn that big pot of money, Mr. Wyst?”

“That’s an unfounded and deplorable accusation. Banner-Wyst compensates dedication, rewards brilliance. And such an accusation forces me to end this conversation.”

“We can continue it downtown.”

He rose; he smiled. “You’d know, on a professional and personal level, that I can have ten lawyers in this room within five minutes.”

“Sure you could. And going there tells me you’ve got a lot to hide. How much do I like digging out what people like to hide, Peabody?”

“More than a caramel sundae with extra whipped cream.”

“Yeah, more than that.” Eve got to her feet. “And I’ll find it. You should call those lawyers, Mr. Wyst, because you’re really going to need them. Your partner will, too, before I’m done.”

Wyst pulled out his ’link. “Have security escort Lieutenant Dallas and Detective Peabody out of the building. They are not to be granted access again without a warrant.”

He pocketed the ’link. “I’ll also be speaking to your superiors.”

“Hey, me, too. I’m going to enjoy digging up what you’re trying to bury.”

“Hey,” Peabody said, “me, too.”

“Meanwhile, I’d watch my back. Seems to me someone’s working their way up the chain.”

There was a quick knock at the door before it opened. Two men in dark suits stepped in.

“You may be the next body we stand over. If it’s any consolation, we’ll work just as hard to find who put you, or whoever’s next, in the morgue.”

One of the men reached for Eve’s arm as she turned to leave.

“Put a hand on me or my partner, you’ll be on the ground, then in a cage.”

Eve said nothing as they rode down with security. Nothing when she noted the security officer in the garage limped some when he walked.

The DLE had given him more than a headache, and that didn’t hurt her feelings one bit.

She drove out under their watchful eyes.