Reunion in Death

He glanced back toward the child's room where the little girl was singing tunelessly. «Look, we had a good sex life. One of the reasons we married so young was that we couldn't keep our hands off each other, and Marsha believed strongly in marriage. I'll tell you what I think.» He leaned forward. «I think someone was obsessed with her, fantasized or something. He must have sent her those letters. I'll never know why she didn't tell me. Maybe, I guess maybe, she didn't want to worry me. I think he came here when I was in Columbus, and he killed her because he couldn't have her.»

He was registering high on the sincere meter, Eve thought. Such things could be feigned, but where was the point here? Why insist the victim was pure when painting her with adultery served the purpose? «If that was the case, Mr. Stibbs, you still have no idea who that person might be?»

«None. I've thought about it. For the first year afterward, I hardly thought about anything else. I wanted to believe he'd be found and punished, that there'd be some kind of payment for what he did. We were happy, Lieutenant. We didn't have a goddamn care in the world. And then, it was over.» He pressed his lips together. «Just over.»

«I'm sorry, Mr. Stibbs.» Eve waited a beat. «That's a cute kid.»

«Trade?» He passed a hand over his face as if coming back to the present. «The light of my life.»

«So you remarried.»

«Almost three years ago.» He let out a sigh, gave his shoulders a little shake. «Maureen's great. She and Marsha were friends. She's one of the ones who helped me through that first year. I don't know what I'd've done without her.»

Even as he spoke, the front door opened. A pretty brunette with an armful of groceries kicked the door shut with her foot. «Hey, team! I'm home. You'll never guess what I…»

She trailed off when she saw Eve and Peabody. And as her gaze fastened on Peabody's uniform, Eve saw fear jolt over her face.

*** CHAPTER 2 ***

Boyd must have seen it, too, as he got up and crossed to her quickly. «Nothing's wrong.» He touched her arm, a light gesture of reassurance before he took the bags from her. «They're just here about Marsha. For a routine followup.»

«Oh, well… Trade?»

«In her room. She's-«

Even as he spoke, the child shot out like a little blonde bullet, launched herself at her mother's legs. «Mommy! We go swing!»

«We'll get out of your way as quickly as possible,» Eve said. «Would you mind if we talked to you for a moment, Mrs. Stibbs?»

«I'm sorry, I don't know what I can … The groceries.»

«Tracie and I'll put them away, won't we, partner?»

«I'd rather-«

«She doesn't think we know where anything goes.» Boyd interrupted his wife with a wink for their daughter. «We'll show her. Come on, cutie. Kitchen duty.»

The little girl raced ahead of him, chattering in the strange foreign tongue of toddlers.

«I'm sorry to inconvenience you,» Eve began. Her gaze, steady on Maureen's face, was cool, flat, and blank. «This won't take long. You were a friend of Marsha Stibbs?»

«Yes, of both her and Boyd. This is very upsetting for Boyd.»

«Yes, I'm sure it is. How long had you known Mrs. Stibbs before her death?»

«A year, a little longer.» She looked desperately toward the kitchen where there was rattling and laughter. «She's been gone almost six years now. We have to put it behind us.»

«Six days, six years, someone still took her life. Were you close?»

«We were friends. Marsha was very outgoing.»

«Did she ever confide in you that she was seeing someone else?»

Maureen opened her mouth, hesitated, then shook her head. «No. I don't know anything. I talked to the police when it happened, and told them everything I could. What happened was horrible, but there's no changing it. We've got a new life now. A good life, a quiet one. You coming here like this, it'll only make Boyd grieve again. I don't want my family upset. I'm sorry, but I'd like you to go now.»

Outside in the hall, Peabody glanced back as Eve strode to the elevator. «She knows something.»

«Oh yeah, she does.»

«I figured you'd push her a little.»

«Not on her turf.» Eve stepped into the elevator. She was already calculating, already resetting the pieces of the puzzle. «Not with her kid there, and Stibbs. Marsha's waited this long, a little more time won't matter to her.»

«You think he's clean though.»

«I think…» Eve pulled the file and disc out of her bag, held it out. «You should work it.»

«Sir?»

«Work the case, Peabody. Close the case.»

Jaw dropping, Peabody stared. «Me? Like the primary? On a homicide?»

«You'll have to work it mostly on your own time, especially if we get something active. Read the file, study the reports and statements. Re-interview. You know the drill.»

«You're giving me a case?»

«You got questions, you ask them. I'll consult if and when you need it. Copy me on all data and progress reports.»

Peabody felt the adrenaline surge through her blood, and the nerves flood her belly. «Yes, sir. Thank you. I won't let you down.»