Apprentice in Death Read Online Free PDF Page A

doing something you’ll hate.”
    â€œYou couldn’t nudge me into that with a stunner on full. But I don’t know if—”
    â€œComputer, Design One, on screen. As I said when we talked about updating your space, nothing you don’t want.”
    She started to argue, then saw the image. One of quiet colors, simple lines—and what had turned her tide in the first place—a big, kick-ass command center.
    â€œNot a trace of pink—not a single feather or flounce,” Roarke said. “Design Two, on screen.”
    Stronger colors, but rich rather than bright. Maybe a few more curves, maybe a little plush on the seating, but not embarrassing.
    â€œAnd Design Three, on screen.”
    She thought this one hit between. The colors muted, a little more streamlined on the furnishings.
    â€œBetter?”
    â€œAnything would be.”
    â€œYou’ll look at them later, when you’ve not so much on your mind.”
    â€œOkay. Take it down, will you? I hear somebody coming. It must be Lowenbaum.”
    His cop, Roarke knew, would be mortified if another cop discovered her considering interior design. He ordered the images off as she went to the door to greet.
    â€œLieutenant Lowenbaum,” Summerset said, then backed away.
    He came in grinning. She’d still term him frosty, but she got Peabody’s Cute-O-Meter scale.
    â€œLet me say wow, some place.” He glanced around, quiet gray eyes taking in every detail. “You ever get lost?”
    â€œSometimes.”
    â€œI bet. Hey, Roarke.”
    â€œLowenbaum.”
    â€œI just got here myself,” Eve said. “I haven’t set things up.”
    â€œNo rush. Who’s this?” He crouched down to scratch the cat who’d prowled over to check him out.
    â€œGalahad.”
    â€œOh, yeah, yeah, I heard the story. The cat tripped the asshole, saved your bacon. You took a hit.”
    â€œYou heard the story?”
    â€œYou take down a sitting U.S. senator, Dallas, the story goes around. Two different eye colors. Frosty.”
    â€œHe’s a pretty good cat,” Eve told him as Galahad preened under Lowenbaum’s stroking hand.
    â€œMore a dog man myself, but yeah, he’s a pretty good cat.” He straightened. “So.”
    â€œWould you like a beer, a glass of wine?”
    Eve frowned at Roarke’s invitation. “We’re working.”
    â€œWould a beer impair you, Lowenbaum?”
    A quick grin that came with a flash of dimples. “Not hardly, and I could go for one.”
    â€œAs it happens we have a special brew, just arrived. Deputy Banner’s family brew,” Roarke told Eve. “As promised.”
    â€œThe cop from Arkansas,” Eve explained. “Helped us bag those murdering lovebirds.”
    â€œHeard about that, too. Let’s have a home brew and see what you’ve got.”
    â€œGive me a sec.” Eve went to her desk as Roarke strolled into the adjoining kitchen. “Rink security disc. Peabody’s rounding up security from the rest of the park, but this shows all three strikes.”
    She plugged in the disc, gestured to the wall screen. “Run disc where cued, on screen. See the girl in red?”
    â€œCan’t miss her. She’s a beauty and she knows what she’s doing.”
    â€œWas, did.”
    Lowenbaum nodded at the screen as Ellissa took her last flight. Then his eyes flattened out at the next strike. And the third.
    â€œRun it again, cut the speed.”
    Roarke came back in, two brews hooked in one hand, a third in the other. He paused, watched the screen.
    â€œOkay, enhance the last strike, start a few seconds before, slow it more.”
    Eve ordered the enhancement, slowed the speed. Narrowed her eyes when she thought she caught the faintest flash.
    â€œYour shooter’s nest is east of the rink, and that kind of accuracy? He’s got serious training. That’s not luck. East