Several people pushed their way off when the doors opened. Eve glanced up, noted she had three levels to go. “Why don’t we see if we can set up the interview later today?”
“At Central?”
“Yeah. Central Park. At last.” Eve all but leaped out of the doors when they hit the garage.
“Dallas, wait!” Peabody grabbed her arm, dug in her heels. “I have something to tell you.”
“Make it snappy.”
“I want to say first, that in just a few moments, you’re going to be overcome with a powerful urge to kiss me on the lips. I won’t think less of you for it.”
“Peabody, why, even in your wild, perverted dreams—dreams I want no part in or of—would I ever have the least compunction to kiss you on the lips?”
“Close your eyes.”
Eve spoke quietly, almost casually. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”
“Okay, okay.” Peabody pouted a little. “You’re no fun.” She crossed over to Eve’s parking slot, spread her arms with a flourish and said: “Voilà!”
“What the hell is that?”
“That, Lieutenant, is your replacement vehicle. Pucker up.”
Eve goggled. It was a rare thing to see the lieutenant goggle, and Peabody celebrated the moment with a snappy little tap dance.
Slowly, Eve walked around the sleek, navy blue sedan. It shone under the hard garage lights like a dignified jewel. The tires were big, black, and clean. The glass and chrome sparkled.
“This is not my vehicle.”
“Is too.”
“This is my vehicle?”
“Uh-huh.” Peabody bobbed her head like a puppet on a happy string.
“Get out.” Eve smacked her in the shoulder. “How’d you pull this off?”
“A little fast talk, some slight exaggeration, a lot of prevarication, and a little assistance from an e-fairy who knows how to hack.”
“You got it through unethical and possibly illegal means.”
“Damn straight.”
Eve set her hands on her hips, looked Peabody square in the eyes. “This is such a proud moment for me. A proud, proud moment.”
“Are you going to kiss me on the lips?”
“Not that proud.”
“How about a peck on the cheek?”
“Get in the car.”
“Your codes, Lieutenant.” She handed them over, strolled around to the passenger side. “And you know what, Dallas? This bitch is loaded.”
“Oh yeah?” Eve slid into a seat, grinned when she didn’t get the sensation of sitting on bumpy rock. “Well, let’s see what she can do.”
Chapter 8