Page 119 of Devoted in Death

“All right.”

“And we just had really terrific pool sex. It’s a high point.” She stepped up and out of the pool. “You and Mira were right. My head’s clearer, and I’m going to go back to work fresher for the break.”

“Did she suggest you have sex?”

“She wasn’t specific.” She grabbed a towel, tossed him one. “But she wanted me to take an hour. “Parsens—that’s the female killer—had a kid with James, her partner. I’ll fill you in on all of it, but he was doing a short stint in the Oklahoma State Pen, and she had a kid. She drove back to her mother’s, played a tune, then left with valuables, and left the kid behind. Walked out one night, never looked back.”

Saying nothing, he turned Eve toward him, folded her in.

“It’s not the same. The kid’s going to be okay. The kid’s better off.”

“But it brings back memories. It pokes at old wounds.”

“Some. But it helps me know Ella-Loo Parsens. It helps me think like she thinks. That’s a weapon on our side. But between that and a bunch of else, I needed the break.”

“I could study up on reflexology.”

Now she laughed, began to dress. “I’ll take the sex.”

“I bet the Miras do as well.”

“Crap, you just had to, didn’t you?”

“I did, yes. Now I’m after a glass of wine, and we’ll have some food, as I imagine you’ve had little to nothing since breakfast. Your cops can fend for themselves when they get here.”

He took her hand when she’d dressed. “Sleeting, you said?”

“Yeah.”

“I think it calls for some hearty stew.”

“That stuff with the things.”

“Of course, I was just thinking the same.”

She smirked at him when they stepped on the elevator. “The chicken stuff with the things, the dumpling things.”

“Ah, yes. We’ll see if we can manage that.”

They stopped by the bedroom first. She wanted footwear.

In the office she updated her board while he chose a white wine for the chicken and dumplings, and added a spinach salad.

She was paler than he liked, as happened too often when she pushed her own limits.

She’d started filling him in on the day when she heard the others coming.

Quiet time was over.

When they trooped in, she decided the three of them looked about as wiped as she’d been, reminding her they’d been at it nearly as long that day.

“We’re putting some food together. Take thirty. Go grab a swim.”

Peabody stopped, blinked. “Seriously?”

“Come back fresh.”

“Swim? You’re saying there’s really a swimming pool inside the house?”