Eve.
âThatâs right.â
âAnyway, honey, you know you were at work until nearly four. He works so hard,â she confided to Eve. âAnd then you came right home and we had our little lie-down before we got dressed for the dinner party at Rob and Sashaâs. It was a really nice party.â
âTaija, itâs a matter of principle.â
âThere, there,â she said, stroking. âNow, now.â
DuVaugne took a slow, audible breath. âTaija, I think Iâd like my evening martini.â
âSure, honey, Iâll go tell Derby to mix you one right up. âScuze ... I mean, please excuse me a minute.â
After sheâd clicked out, DuVaugne turned to Eve. âMy wife is naive in certain areas.â
Maybe, Eve thought, but she also came off as sincere, and absurdly likeable.
âNaive enough not to understand âworking hardâ includes you paying a con man for confidential information on the workings and projects of U-Play? We have Dubrosky in custody,â Eve said before he could speak. âHe rolled on you.â
âI have no idea what or who youâre talking about. Now, Iâm going to ask you to leave.â
âPeabody, read Mr. DuVaugne his rights.â
While he blustered, Peabody recited the Revised Miranda. âDo you understand your rights and obligations in this matter?â Peabody finished.
âThis is beyond belief!â His face burned bright red as he shoved to his feet. âIâm calling my lawyer.â
âFine. Tell him to meet us down at Cop Central.â Cool and calm in contrast, Eve rose. âWhere you can chill in Holding until he arrives, at which time weâll filter our questions through your representative on both mattersâyour involvement in corporate espionage and your connection to Bart Minnockâs murder.â
âJust a minute, just one damn minute. I was nowhere near Minnockâs apartment yesterday. Iâve never been to his apartment.â
âYouâve requested a lawyer, Mr. DuVaugne,â Eve reminded him. âWeâre obliged to wait until your representative meets with you before we take any statements or continue this interview. Weâll hold you at Central prior to that, and prior to booking you on the pending charges.â
âArresting me? Youâre arresting me? Wait. Just wait.â He didnât sweat like Roland, but his hand trembled as he pushed it through his glossy mane of hair. âWeâll hold on the lawyer; weâll keep this here.â
âThatâs your choice.â
âMartinis!â Taija announced in a bright singsong as she preceded Derby into the room. âLetâs all sit down and have a nice drink. Oh, honey, look at you! All red in the face.â She walked over, patted his cheeks. âDerby pour the drinks. Mr. DuVaugne needs a little pick-me-up.â
âGive me that.â DuVaugne grabbed the oversized shaker, dumped the contents into a glass to the rim. Then downed it.
âOops! You forgot the olives. Derby, pour our guests drinks.â
âWeâre not allowed to drink on duty, Mrs. DuVaugne, but thanks.â Taijaâs mouth turned down in a sympathetic frown. âGeezy, that doesnât seem fair.â
âTaija, go upstairs. I have business to discuss here.â
âOh.â After shooting her husband a hurt glance, she turned to Eve and Peabody. âIt was nice meeting you.â
âNice meeting you, too.â
âDerby, leave us alone.â DuVaugne sat, rubbed his fingers over his eyes. âI didnât have anything to do with Minnockâs murder. I was at my office until four. My driver brought me home. I didnât leave the house again until seven. You can check all this.â
âCan and will. But when a man pays someone to steal for him, itâs a short step up to paying someone to kill for him.â
DuVaugne dropped his hands.
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