Chapter Thirteen

When a case bogged down, backtrack and look for an area to shake something—anything—loose.

To Eve's mind, that began with the victim's tribe, who stood as witnesses and the suspect pool. Becca DiNuzio and Angie Decker, the brides' best friends, topped that list.

People knew things they didn't realize they knew, saw things they didn't register or remember without prompting.

Or, in her cop experience, did things only they truly understood, and hid those acts under the guise of innocence.

Becca DiNuzio spent her high school years outside the shiny circle of Shaunbar. Eve well understood standing outside that sort of circle as a teenager. While she hadn't wanted entrée—anything but, at that point in her life—she also understood many craved it.

Had there been envy, some resentment? Maybe some careless act or a few careless words that had rooted inside?

Now the one outside stood inside. Best friend of one, cohab of the other. But how did it feel to have the man she lived with "hover"—her own word—over his high school love? Had the close relationship of the two halves of Shaunbar stirred up that resentment?

Now Shauna's about to marry, and you're not. She's about to see a dream come true—and you're not.

Again, in her cop experience, people killed for less.

Opportunity? No. Other witness statements put Becca onstage at TOD. But connections crisscrossed. And there was Barney.

Albright asks DiNuzio to deliver the case. DiNuzio conspires with Barney to kill Albright.

In Interview A, Eve sat back.

"Bullshit. Smells like bullshit."

But she'd leave it open as a possibility.

More, she wanted Becca in the box to try to pry something—again, anything—she knew, had seen, sensed she didn't realize or understand.

She wanted a better handle of the group dynamics, the pecking order, the allegiances.

When the door opened, Eve closed the file, rose as Peabody escorted Becca in.

"Thanks for coming in," Eve began.

"No, it's fine. I want to help, and I was out and about anyway." With her strawberry blond hair pulled back in a tail, her blue eyes shadowed, Becca looked around the room. "Is this where you interrogate suspects?"

"Interview. It's an interview room. Please, have a seat. We'll try not to keep you long. We're going to record this."

"It helps keep the details straight," Peabody added. "Why don't I get you something to drink? I don't recommend the coffee."

"Oh, um, can I get a Coke? I could use the boost. None of us have been getting a lot of sleep."

"Sure. Pepsi, Lieutenant?"

"Yeah, thanks." Eve sat again as Peabody went out. "Record on. Dallas, Lieutenant Eve, in Interview with Becca DiNuzio in regards to the investigation of the murder of Erin Albright."

"It sounds really official."

"It is. We're focused on finding who killed Erin."

With the intimidation factor firmly in place, she switched tactics.

"How is Shauna doing?"

"Actually a little better, I think, because she's mad. The mad's getting her through right now. But I worry about tomorrow. We're having Erin's memorial tomorrow."

"That's quick."

"I know, but Erin's family, and Shauna, too, wanted it as soon as possible. Because the wedding was supposed to be this weekend, and that's… It's hard. Erin's mom actually knows someone who works for a memorial service company, so they were able to schedule it right away."

Lifting her hands, she pressed her fingers to her eyes. "It's a lot."

"I understand. Peabody, Detective Delia, entering Interview. Is Shauna still staying at Angie's?"

"Thanks." She took the tube from Peabody, cracked it. "Yes. In fact, she doesn't want to go back to the apartment at all. Ever. Doesn't want the furniture or most of their things. One of my errands was to talk to her landlord to explain she'd sublet the apartment, and furnished, until the lease is up. She's going to find another place."

Eyes full of worry, she turned the tube around and around in her hands.

"I don't know if that's the right thing, but it's what she wants. And she's doing all that, deciding all this, while she's so upset, while she's grieving. I don't know if it's right."

"You're worried about her," Peabody said. "That's natural."

"I—I went by their place and got their wedding dresses." Becca took a deep gulp from the tube. "Took them to a consignment shop."

"That was hard for you," Peabody murmured.

"Oh God, it was awful. We helped them pick out those dresses. Me, Angie, Donna, Jodi. We made a party of it. But I think that was the right thing. I think that was right. How could she bear to look at them again?"

"She's lucky to have a friend like you," Eve put in.

"We're lucky to have each other. She'd be there for me if anything happened to Greg. God, I can't even imagine it, but I know she'd be there for me."

"Longtime friends. But no, not really," Eve corrected. "You weren't friends in high school. Not part of Shauna's—or Greg's—social circle."

"Me?" She laughed a little. "Hard no on that. They were gold, and I was the awkward wheeze who aced every test while always wearing the wrong clothes."

"High school's tough. It's so easy to get wounded at that age, and carry the scars with you after."

"I think I was too oblivious to get any serious wounds." With the faintest smile, she sipped some Coke. "A few scratches maybe. I had a couple friends—fellow wheezes and/or nerds. One joined the navy right after graduation, and I haven't seen her since. The other moved to London for a job about four years ago. We keep in touch when we can."

"But you weren't friends with Shauna or Greg?"

"No. I knew them—everybody did—and Shauna knew me, sort of, because we had a few classes together. We were lab partners on a chemistry assignment once. When we ran into each other again, I have to admit, I was surprised she remembered that, or me."

Smiling, Becca sipped more Coke. "Still a wheeze at the core, I guess, but I dress better now."

"And she and Greg? No rekindling of Shaunbar?"

"No. They'd both moved on. Lucky for me."

She fingered a gold chain with its pair of interlocking hearts around her neck.

"Still, I followed the code."

"The code?"

"You know, about dating a friend's ex. Even though we're talking some years. When Greg asked me out, I mumbled something about checking my schedule and getting back to him, and tagged Shauna to make sure it was okay with her."

"I take it, it was."

"She said she'd hoped we'd give it a try because she'd seen a spark. She's my best friend for a reason, Lieutenant. She's loving, kind. She's no pushover, but I've never known her to deliberately hurt anyone. Even back when she was high school royalty, she never punched down.

"I hate this happened. I can't understand how it could have."

"You're helping us find out how and why and who by being here," Peabody told her. "Shauna was all good with your relationship with Greg. What did you think when you met Erin?"

"Surprised—my first reaction—because this time I saw a spark where I absolutely didn't expect to. I said something to Shauna like did she know Erin had a crush on her, and it looked like she was crushing back. She started to brush it off, you know, then she blushed. The redhead's curse," she said, tapping her own hair. "She said, ‘Well, maybe.' They just worked, fit together, made each other happy."

"How did your other mutual friends react, to Erin, to the relationship?" Eve asked.

"I guess there was some surprise, like my initial reaction. And I guess some figured it was just a phase, but that figuring didn't last long because it so clearly wasn't. Greg was a little weirded out."

"Weirded out," Eve prompted.

"Yeah, he's like WTF baffled. But he's a guy, and a guy she'd been with—her first been with—and reacted like a guy. I ran into Marcus—"

"Marcus Stillwater?"

"Yeah. We just ran into each other on the street, grabbed a drink, and he was a little bit baffled, too. Guys." She shrugged.

"Had she and Marcus ever been serious?"

"No, not on either side. Buds. Buds with bennies, but nothing more than that. And it didn't take long for him to make buds—no bennies, but good buds—with Erin. He tossed them a little engagement party at Tippler's. That's a bar some of us go to."

"It sounds like Shauna's circle absorbed Erin into it," Peabody commented.

"Yeah, you could say that. First, I guess, because Shauna loved her, but just as important because everyone just liked her. She was fun, talented, always up, you know? And it was so crystal how much she loved Shauna, how much she wanted to make Shauna happy, make a good life with her."

"You and Angie Decker seem like good friends," Eve said. "Did Erin's circle do the same, absorb Shauna?"

"I think so. I mean Angie, Donna, and Erin went back. I felt comfortable with them right out. I'd say we've gotten to be solid friends with helping plan the wedding, doing the shower, all of that. From what I know now, I'd say Angie and Donna, especially, had some worries Erin would get her heart broken. You know like some of Shauna's friends thinking Shauna was going through a phase. But it didn't last.

"And since you're talking circles, it's like the circle widened, or the circles interlinked. For me, the high school wheeze, having so many women friends is a personal miracle. And we sure as hell need each other right now."

"You're a diverse, interesting group," Eve commented, and opened the file as if referring to it. "We've talked to all of you now. Artists, managers, execs, businesswomen, professional mothers, medicals, chefs, a stripper with a family who owns restaurants and real estate."

She glanced up. "ChiChi Lopez and Erin were involved at one time."

"I'm not sure that's the word for it. Maybe buds with bennies again, at least on Erin's part. And like with Marcus and Shauna, the bennies stopped."

"And did ChiChi accept that as easily as Marcus did?"

Becca shifted, and hesitated for the first time. "I guess so. I don't know her as well as I do Marcus."

Eve offered an easy smile. "You're not as friendly."

"Not really. I mean, we get along fine. A bunch of us went to see her perform, and wow, that was an eye-opener." She popped her eyes wide to demonstrate. "I don't mean just the naked part, but she's got some moves."

Eve waited a beat. "But?"

"Okay, well, she's a little bit mean. Got a bite to her, and I try to avoid getting bitten, so we're not as friendly."

"Did she ever bite Shauna?" Peabody wondered.

"A few nips. Shauna let it go. I mean, she told me, and Shauna can bite back when she needs to. To tell the truth, I think ChiChi was a little jealous, and doesn't like Shauna very much. Or me, either."

She shrugged at that.

"I guess I don't know if she likes anybody much except Erin. Like Donna told me ChiChi said to her if she was going to transition, she should've paid for better boobs. That's just mean and—and ignorant. Donna said she said it like a joke, but it stung."

"But Erin trusted her."

"Sure. I don't think they were as tight as they were before, but I can't say for sure, since I didn't know them when they were, you know, buds with bennies. But friends were important to Erin—that's something else she and Shauna had in common. They kept their friends, they valued their friends."

"Becca, it's probable someone they considered a friend did this."

"I can't believe that. I guess I don't want to."

"When you were onstage with Shauna, when it was close to midnight and you were up there, did you notice anyone who wasn't in the club? See anyone slip out, like to use the bathroom?"

"I think about it and think about it. Every time I close my eyes I go right back there. I'd had a lot to drink, and believe me, I'd never pictured myself dancing half-naked in a sex club. It's just a blur."

"Did ChiChi get onstage?"

"No." Becca rolled her eyes. "A few people said she should. You know, like ‘Show us how it's done!' But she just said how she got paid for that. I don't know if she even danced much on the floor. Dressed and everything, but I didn't really pay attention or hang out with her."

"Who did? Hang out with her?"

"Erin, I guess. Angie some. Oh wait, she did dance some. With that guy—the one who came in. Tall, blond, built. Sexy dance, but that was earlier. I didn't see Erin leave. I just didn't see."

She glanced at her wrist unit. "I'm really sorry, but I need to go. I still have some things to get done."

"We appreciate you coming in, talking to us."

"I don't know how it helps, but I hope it does. I don't want to believe it was one of us, but if it was, I want you to take them down."

Peabody rose as she did. "I'll walk you out."

"Interview end," Eve said, and opened the file to make notes.

Moments later, Peabody came back, sat. "We're not thinking she had any part of this."

"No. I played with the idea she held some resentment from high school, it sparked up when Shauna's getting married, getting everything she wants. But it doesn't hold. Add physically, she couldn't have pulled it off, and I don't see her conspiring with her cohab on it. Or with Lopez. She clearly doesn't like Lopez. Tried to, but doesn't."

"That was my take. But we got a couple things we didn't have."

"Yeah, Barney's WTF reaction. A different tone from Stillwater's, whether she saw it that way or not. The way she said it, Barney got a little pissy, Stillwater was surprised. And she put it down to: Guys."

"Some people try to see the best in people."

"Yeah, what's wrong with them?" At Peabody's laugh, Eve shook her head. "She's one of them. But she doesn't like Lopez."

"Didn't want to dis her," Peabody observed. "But we're cops, it's murder, and she felt like she had to say what she knew or felt. Mean streak, doesn't like Shauna, jealous. Lopez took some shots there."

"Yeah. Also took at least that one at Donna, which shows pattern rather than focus. We'll run Decker through it, see what meshes, what doesn't."

"We've got some time before she gets here. I'm going to grab something from Vending."

"Fine."

"Or." Peabody stretched the word out. "We could both get something from your AutoChef and not risk ptomaine."

"Fine. Bring it in here."

"Great. What do you want?"

"Whatever."

Peabody let out a wistful sigh. "I wish I could think whatever about food. My pants wouldn't just get loose, they'd fall off."

"Then, as you tripped over them and bashed your face, I'd have to arrest you for indecent exposure. After I took a vid for the bullpen's entertainment."

"I now see the wisdom in my non-whatever attitude regarding food. We'll have some pasta salad."

"How do you know my AC stocks pasta salad?"

"Due to my wise attitude toward food."

"Okay, grab the candy bar while you're at it."

"You have candy in the AC? What kind?"

Eve gave her a long look. "Shouldn't you know that?"

"I regret I did not, but I'm being careful about candy because loose pants."

"Never mind the candy."

Eve went back to her notes, but paused when Peabody went out.

Her partner could be the dreaded Candy Thief, but… she was being careful about candy these days. Didn't mean she didn't steal the candy bar Eve hid, then reward herself for loose pants.

Right now, there was an empty candy wrapper taped behind the drawing Nixie had given her. A deliberate smack at said Candy Thief.

And the emergency chocolate bar resided at the back of her bottom desk drawer, which took a tool and some work to remove completely.

She should check on that, just in case.

By the time Peabody came back with two servings of pasta salad, Eve was again deep in her notes.

"Really pretty pasta salad. Colorful."

Eve noted the color came not only from varicolored pasta, but also from vegetables.

Well, she'd said whatever, and she got it.

"The motive's not money," she began, and picked up her fork. "It's not going to be some deep secret, previous crime. It's sex, passion, jealousy, maybe ego. Some combination of those. Maybe all of them."

"If that's right, you could say killing Erin made Shauna the prize."

"Or killing Erin because you couldn't have her, now no one can."

Peabody ate, nodded. "Mean streak. Lopez."

"Or," Eve continued, "kill Erin because she took away what you wanted."

"Torch burning? Barney. I'd lean more there if he wasn't living with Becca DiNuzio."

Eve stabbed some pasta. "People get away with affairs right under the noses of spouses, cohabs, lovers. All the damn time. And this isn't even that."

"Unless maybe Shauna slipped? Maybe had one more round with the high school hero. Regrets it, tells no one. ‘A terrible mistake,' she tells Barney. ‘Never going to happen again.'"

"‘I don't love you. I don't want you. I love Erin, and we've both betrayed Becca.' He agrees, at least on the surface, accepts. But he believes if Erin's out of the picture, he can have her again. Maybe all the way, maybe on the side."

"If she did it once"—Peabody waved her fork—"she'll do it again."

"You can play it with Lopez, too. She comes to the studio, Erin slips, and the same basic scenario, without the best friend added on."

"It doesn't sound like what we know of either one of them, but people slip, people cheat. And if it happened early in their relationship, it's easy to buy. Like for Shauna, is Erin really just a phase? With Erin, is Shauna really what I want?"

Sitting back, Eve thought it through.

"Mira thinks it's possible the Maui trip was the trigger. The resentment, jealousy, even the thought of eliminating Erin was there, but the trip pushed the last button."

"Why?"

"Honeymoon. Not just the big dream, but honeymoon. Sex again."

Peabody pointed. "Not just sex, but dream sex. Sex in Hawaii. Romance, blue water, moonlit walks on the beach."

Eve pointed back. "Dream sex. That's good. The killer knows they'll bang like hammers on their wedding night, but now? They'll do it in Maui. Dream sex, all romantic, passionate. Worse, Erin asks them to help make it happen, and in a big way. Asks close to the last minute because her first choice is stuck in Baltimore."

"She thinks she can take me for granted?" Peabody put on her mean face. "That bitch."

"It could play. Now, who has a garrote lying around, or the ability to put one together fast?"

"I'd go with the first. Already has it."

"Because they hope to find a way to use it, kill Erin, and not get caught for it."

"And she gives them the way."

Eve tolerated a small bit of broccoli with her pasta. "I come right back to the top two on the list, and it bugs the shit out of me they both work."

"What if they both work because they worked together?"

"I'm playing with that. She gets the case there, and gives him the swipe. That way, she's in the club at TOD, visible. And he waits inside the room."

"Hitch."

"Yeah, I know the hitches, but lay them out."

"Why would they trust each other? They're in separate circles, interlinking but separate. If you're going to conspire to kill, you need more than motivation. You have to trust each other not to screw it up, or roll."

"True, but why do we so often catch people who conspire to murder?"

"Because they screw up or roll. But Becca's hooked with Barney, and doesn't have much to do with Lopez. They'd have to know each other enough to know they want the same thing. Different reasons maybe, but the same thing."

"Another hitch, unless we find he's spent some time in her club."

"And she could've vamped him. Hey." Inspired, Peabody waved her fork. "She could've vamped him because, first, good-looking guy, and because she knows his history with Shauna. Maybe they hatch it all together, or she says if you don't do this—and you know you want to—I'll tell Becca you're having an affair with me."

"That's not bad. But the hatching had to happen fast, and be well timed and executed. That's where it stops me."

"Erin already had backup—that's what she told Donna. So that means more time."

"And that's where it opens for me, a little. Together or separately, they top the list. Rierdon's the only other one who comes close, and not close enough. No reason for Erin to have trusted him, or asked him to help her out. No reason for him to hook up with Barney on it, or Lopez if Erin tapped either of them."

"Plus, he's not as connected, and hasn't been since Shauna broke things off. Erin's not the reason she did. And he just didn't strike me, Dallas."

"They don't always," Eve muttered. "But he's not striking me, either. It's too personal for someone she dated for a few months a few years ago. He'd have pushed on her before, and she said he didn't."

She shoved the bowl aside. "We've got theories, angles, speculation. And nothing solid. We need some heat."

"Decker should be here soon. Maybe we'll get some."

Eve rose to pace. "The straight best friend, long-standing. Well-off enough to buy art, know its value. Dead artist value, but that angle's soft, and it just gets softer. It's not about money. Maybe money's an added benefit, but it's not the prime motive."

She grabbed her warming tube of Pepsi, drank as she paced.

"She's not in love with Erin, or Shauna. Was clearly seen in the club at the time of the attack. There's no motive there, and though I still wonder why Erin didn't ask her to help her out with the surprise, no opportunity. She's fit enough, tall enough to have done it, but that's not enough. She stays low on the list."

"Like Becca, she might give us a couple things we don't have, or confirm some of those speculations."

"Gotta try it. Most probable she knew Erin better than anyone. Given the length of the friendship, probably better and in more detail than Shauna. They only had a year."

"An intimate year," Peabody pointed out.

"Yeah, but it takes time for the rules to kick in, for people to see just who they're with, for the stories to come out."

"I guess McNab and I are still finding stuff out about each other. Not like secrets, just stuff, little bits of history and like that."

Still pacing, Eve rolled the empty tube.

"Yeah, it takes time, and they only had a year. Decker was there longer, and take out the sex, it removes a complication."

And that motive, Eve thought.

"Plus, I'm curious what she'll say about Barney and Lopez when it's just us, in here, no friends to hear her thoughts or feelings."

"She comes off a little more reserved in that area than Becca."

"Yeah, she does. We'll handle that. Let's clean this place up and get ready."