Read The In Death Collection: Books 26-29 for Free Online

business,” Eve said as she wound through the garage. “Not for now.”
    â€œOne influences the other. Lived fairly quietly, I believe. Sports mad—both him and Ben—which fits with the fact they sell and develop sports equipment. He enjoyed golf, particularly, I believe, and various other games that feature whacking or hurling a ball about. I gather he preferred, when possible, to conduct his business on some court or green rather than in the office. My impression would be he enjoyed his work, and was good at it.”
    Eve streamed through traffic, cutting around a maxibus, then began to hack her way across town. “How about the spouse?”
    â€œAttractive, well-spoken. Ah, involved in some charity work, it seems to me. Anders sponsors sports camps for underprivileged children. I believe she beats the drum for funding. I can’t say I’ve seen them out and about together more than a handful of times, but he had a reputation for avoiding the social scene…as some do.”
    She slid her eyes in his direction. “I go to stuff. Impressions of their relationship?”
    â€œHard to say, as we weren’t chummy. They struck me as a team, appeared affectionate. In synch, I suppose I’d say.”
    â€œAny mumbles about him screwing around on her?”
    Roarke’s brows lifted. “None I’ve heard, though I don’t know as I would, either way. Is that basic cop cynicism, or is there reason for you to believe he cheated on his wife?”
    â€œAt the time of death, the wife was out of town. That’s verified. Anders’s housekeeper—house manager ,” Eve corrected, “found him this morning just after six. Naked, hands and feet bound with black velvet rope. The kind the bondage shops sell by the yard. Another length was wrapped around his neck in what would appear to be an erotic scarfing session gone bad. There were numerous sex aids and toys on the nightstand, and the corpse still sported an impressive hard-on when the primary began her investigation. There was no sign of forced entry, no sign of struggle, no additional visible signs of trauma or violence on the body.”
    Roarke was silent a moment. “People have their secrets, and the appetites they hide from the rest. Still, I wouldn’t have thought him the sort for sport of that nature. It’s the kind of salacious details the media will salivate over. Difficult for the family he leaves.”
    â€œAnybody you can think of who might want to do him, and set it up so the media salivates?”
    â€œFor what point? If you’re thinking a competitor, killing Anders doesn’t kill, or damage, the company. And a scandal like this? It wouldn’t hurt stock or sales—not appreciably. In fact, it might give them a temporary boost. People are odd creatures. I need a new pair of track shoes, one might say. I think I’ll buy some by that guy who died with a boner.”
    â€œIf he lasted, so will they.”
    â€œExactly. They could use it as a bloody slogan.”
    â€œForrest’s alibi checks,” Peabody said from the backseat. “I tagged EDD, and they’ve got a geek squad on scene. Another will be transporting Anders’s office electronics. First report verifies my findings. Security shut down at two twenty-eight, rebooted at three thirty-six. Security was dark for nearly an hour.”
    â€œHad to be remote.” Eve glanced at Roarke. “Have to have the passcode or system specs to avoid the auto alarm.”
    â€œThere are ways. There are always ways.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t need ways unless it was premeditated. Randy Tom’s going to entertain, he doesn’t need to shut down his security. His wife’s out of the country, and for several days yet. So he lets them in, or he gives them the passcode. This way? It’s too elaborate, it’s too fucking careful .”
    â€œWith a side of mean,” Roarke added.