“Yeah, but it won’t matter. He’ll get the ward for mentally defective, but in a supermax, and for three life terms—or at least two and a solid twenty for Covino. That’s what matters.”
Eve rose. “I’ll text Reo so she does her own lawyer thing in the morning. Good work, all around.”
She stepped out and walked up to Observation. It surprised her to find Roarke with Berenski, then realized it shouldn’t have.
They sat drinking what she knew from the scent was real coffee. And Berenski looked exhausted.
Roarke stood. “I’ll leave you two alone.” He brushed his hand over Eve’s arm as he left the room.
“Decent son of a bitch for a rich bastard.” Then Berenski waved a hand. “Sorry.”
“He is decent, he is rich. And he can be a son of a bitching bastard when he wants.”
Berenski let out a short laugh before he scrubbed a hand over his face. “Nearly half my life I’ve known Andy. I never saw what was in him, never saw what I saw in that room when you took him apart. I’d’ve sworn on a case of prime Kentucky bourbon Andy Dawber wouldn’t hurt a fricking fly.”
“He broke. Whatever chains or restraints or control he wrapped around what was in him broke. Maybe if his mother hadn’t tried to do what she thought was right in the end, they’d have stayed in place. He wasn’t right, he was never right. I don’t think he was right before she left him at that church. And he just couldn’t hold it back anymore.”
“What he did … He’s going to need a lawyer.”
“Don’t. Stop,” she said before he could speak. “You’re thinking he’s one of your people, and he’s not. Not anymore. You’re a fucking dick, Dick, more than half the time, but you’re a good boss from everything I’ve seen. More, you’re not responsible here. Harvo flirted with him the way somebody like her flirts with a guy old enough to be her grandfather. She’s not responsible, or any of the others who worked with him.”
“You could toss some of the blame on me.”
“Could I?” She angled her head. “Tempting. But no, no I couldn’t, because none of it belongs on you. It’s his. Go home. You’re going to have to talk to your people tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I am.” He set the mug aside, rose. “But I’m going in now. Likely we’ve got the analysis you need, but I want to double-check it.”
“Appreciate it.”
“Yeah, yeah. You know, next time you want priority treatment in my place, you should bring some of that coffee.”
“Get out of my house.”
He let out a bark of laughter. At the door he paused. “Thanks.” He didn’t look around. “Just thanks.” And went out.
In the bullpen she saw Peabody working and McNab sitting on the corner of her desk.
In her office, Roarke did the same on hers.
“Good work, Lieutenant. Very good work.”
“All around, including our expert consultant, civilian. Peabody’s writing it up, but I’ve still got some things to tie off.”
“So I understand.”
“Listen … I appreciate you hanging with Dickhead.”
“It seemed the thing to do. I saw about the last three-quarters of an hour of the interview. Dawber is a very twisted man.”
“Yep.” She sat. “But not, in Mira’s opinion, crazy enough to meet the legal threshold for insanity. So I’m closing this out in a damn good mood. I’d be in a better one if somebody got me coffee.”
“I can do that. In EDD it ended on fizzies. Many large fizzies.” He set a mug by her elbow. “And with tonight’s adventures I’ve come to accept I’ll never pry Jamie from EDD. The boy’s a bloody cop to the marrow.”
Eve didn’t bother to hide the smirk. “Could’ve told you.”
“Best I saw it for myself.” He kissed the top of her head. “My loss, your gain. I’ll find a place to wait for you.”
“Roarke?” She reached up and back to grab his hand before he left. “It’s late, I know, but are you still up for the wine, the walk, and the pond when we get home?”
“I am, if you’re included.”
“Good, I could use all three. And you.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
She turned to the work, but took a moment.
They had that coming, she thought. A good way to end a long day—or to begin the next, considering the time.