Eve Dallas 02 - Glory in Death Read Online Free PDF Page B

crazy about you."
    "I take that to mean you think it's a pretty good idea."
    "My late unlamented father taught me one valuable lesson. 'Boy,' he would say to me in the thick brogue of a champion drunk, 'the only way to fight is to fight dirty. The only place to hit is below the belt.' I have a feeling you'll have Morse nursing his balls before the day's out."
    "No, he won't be nursing them." Delighted with herself, Eve kissed him back. "Because I'll have sliced them right off."
    Roarke gave a mock shudder. "Vicious women are so attractive. Did you say you had a couple of hours?"
    "Not anymore."
    "I was afraid of that." He stepped back, took a disc from his pocket. "You might find this useful."
    "What is it?"
    "Some data I put together, on Towers's ex, on Hammett. Files on Mercury. "
    Her fingers chilled as they closed over the disc. "I didn't ask you to do this."
    "No, you didn't. You'd have gotten access to it, but it would have taken you longer. You know if you require my equipment, it's available to you. "
    She understood he was talking about the room he had, the unregistered equipment that the sensors of Compuguard couldn't detect. "I prefer going through proper channels for the moment."
    "As you like. If you change your mind while I'm gone, Summerset's aware you have access."
    "Summerset wishes I had access to hell," she muttered.
    "Excuse me?"
    "Nothing. I've got to get dressed." She turned away, then stopped. "Roarke, I'm working on it."
    "On what?"
    "On accepting what you seem to feel for me."
    He lifted a brow. "Work harder," he suggested.

CHAPTER THREE
    Eve didn't waste time. Her first order of business when she hit her office was to contact Nadine Furst. The 'link buzzed and crackled over the galactic channel. Sunspots, a satellite dink, or simply the aging equipment held up the transmission for several minutes. Finally, a picture wavered onto the screen, then popped into clear focus.
    Eve had the pleasure of seeing Nadine's pale, groggy face. She hadn't considered the time difference.
    "Dallas." Nadine's normally fluid voice was scratchy and weak. "Jesus, it's the middle of the night here."
    "Sorry. You awake, Nadine?"
    "Awake enough to hate you."
    "Have you been getting Earth news up there?"
    "I've been a little busy." Nadine pushed back her tumbled hair and reached for a cigarette.
    "When did you start that?"
    With a wince, Nadine drew in the first drag. "If you terrestrial cops ever came up here, you'd give tobacco a shot. Even this dog shit you can buy in this rat hole. And anything else you could get your hands on. It's a fucking disgrace." She hitched in more smoke. "Three people to a cage, most of them zoned on smuggled chemicals. The medical facilities are like something out of the twentieth century. They're still sewing people up with string."
    "And limited video privileges," Eve finished. "Imagine, treating murderers like criminals. My heart's breaking."
    "You can't get a decent meal anywhere in the entire colony," Nadine griped. "What the hell do you want?"
    "To make you smile, Nadine. How soon will you be finished up there and back on planet?"
    "Depends." As she began to waken fully, Nadine's senses sharpened. "You have something for me."
    "Prosecuting Attorney Cicely Towers was murdered about thirty hours ago. " Ignoring Nadine's yelp, Eve continued briskly, "Her throat was slashed, and her body was discovered on the sidewalk of Hundred and forty-fourth between Ninth and Tenth."
    "Towers. Jesus wept. I had a one-on-one with her two months ago after the DeBlass case. Hundred and forty-fourth?" The wheels were already turning. "Mugging?"
    "No. She still had her jewelry and credit tokens. A mugging in that neighborhood wouldn't have left her shoes behind."
    "No." Nadine closed her eyes a moment. "Damn. She was a hell of a woman. You're primary?"
    "Right the first time."
    "Okay." Nadine let out a long breath. "So, why is the primary on what has to be the top case in the country contacting me?"
    "The devil