Eve. “Our clients aren’t interested in our offices—and rarely come here in any case—but are concerned about their own offices and homes.”
“I can see why,” Eve observed, and Tesky’s nostrils pinched. It was sort of interesting to watch.
“Our employees are the product, and all are strictly and comprehensively interviewed, tested, screened, trained and must meet the highest of standards in personal appearance, demeanor and skill. Our clients are also screened, to ensure our employees’ safety.”
“I just bet they are.”
“We provide residential and business housekeeping services, in teams, pairs or individually. We use human and droid personnel. We service all of greater New York and New Jersey and will, upon request, arrange for maids to travel with a client who requires or desires approved out-of-town, out-of-country and even off-planet services.”
“Right.” She wondered how many of the maids were also licensed companions, but it didn’t really apply. “I’m interested in the employee or employees who handled Samantha Gannon’s residence.”
“I see. Do you have a warrant? I consider our personnel and client files confidential.”
“I bet you do. I could get a warrant. A little time, a little trouble, but I could get a warrant. But because you made me take that time and that trouble when I’m investigating a murder—a really nasty, messy murder, by the way, that’s going to take a whole slew of your mighty maids to tidy up—I’m going to wonder why you slowed me down. I’m going to ask myself, Hey, I wonder what Ms. Testy—”
“Tes- ky. ”
“Right. What she has to hide. I have a suspicious mind, that’s why I got to be a lieutenant. So when I get that warrant, and I start wondering those things, I’m going to dig, and I’m going to keep digging, getting my suspicious little finger smears all over your nice tidy files. We’ll just have to give INS a heads-up so they can breeze in here and make another big mess, making sure you didn’t miss any illegals in all that testing and screening.”
The nostrils pinched again, even as a thin breath hooted up them. “Your implication is insulting.”
“People keep saying that to me. The fact that I’m innately suspicious and insulting means I’ll probably make a bigger mess than those anal-retentives in INS. Won’t I, Detective Peabody?”
“As someone who’s cleaned up after you before, sir, I can verify that you will, absolutely, make a bigger mess than anyone. You’ll also find something—you always do—that will certainly inconvenience Ms. Tesky and her employer.”
“What do they call that? Tit for tat?”
Throughout Eve’s recital, Ms. Tesky had turned several interesting colors. She appeared to have settled on fuchsia. “You can’t threaten me.”
“Threaten? Golly, Peabody, insult, sure, but did I threaten anyone?”
“No, Lieutenant. You’re just making conversation, in your own unique style.”
“That’s what I thought. Just making conversation. So, let’s arrange for that warrant, shall we? And since we’re taking the time and trouble, let’s make it for the financials, and civil and criminal cases or suits brought, as well as those personnel files.”
“I find you very disagreeable.”
“There you go,” Eve said with an easy smile. “Tit for tat one more time.”
Tesky spun her chair around to her desk unit, coded in.
“Ms. Gannon’s residence is on a twice-monthly schedule, with quarterly extended services, and priority for emergency calls and entertainment requests. She was due for her regular service yesterday.”
Several more frown lines dug into Tesky’s forehead. “Her maid failed to confirm completed service. That’s simply unacceptable.”
“Who’s the maid?”
“Tina Cobb. She’s seen to the Gannon residence for the last eight months.”
“Can you check on there if she’s missed any other jobs recently?”
“One moment.” She called up another program.
“I can see why,” Eve observed, and Tesky’s nostrils pinched. It was sort of interesting to watch.
“Our employees are the product, and all are strictly and comprehensively interviewed, tested, screened, trained and must meet the highest of standards in personal appearance, demeanor and skill. Our clients are also screened, to ensure our employees’ safety.”
“I just bet they are.”
“We provide residential and business housekeeping services, in teams, pairs or individually. We use human and droid personnel. We service all of greater New York and New Jersey and will, upon request, arrange for maids to travel with a client who requires or desires approved out-of-town, out-of-country and even off-planet services.”
“Right.” She wondered how many of the maids were also licensed companions, but it didn’t really apply. “I’m interested in the employee or employees who handled Samantha Gannon’s residence.”
“I see. Do you have a warrant? I consider our personnel and client files confidential.”
“I bet you do. I could get a warrant. A little time, a little trouble, but I could get a warrant. But because you made me take that time and that trouble when I’m investigating a murder—a really nasty, messy murder, by the way, that’s going to take a whole slew of your mighty maids to tidy up—I’m going to wonder why you slowed me down. I’m going to ask myself, Hey, I wonder what Ms. Testy—”
“Tes- ky. ”
“Right. What she has to hide. I have a suspicious mind, that’s why I got to be a lieutenant. So when I get that warrant, and I start wondering those things, I’m going to dig, and I’m going to keep digging, getting my suspicious little finger smears all over your nice tidy files. We’ll just have to give INS a heads-up so they can breeze in here and make another big mess, making sure you didn’t miss any illegals in all that testing and screening.”
The nostrils pinched again, even as a thin breath hooted up them. “Your implication is insulting.”
“People keep saying that to me. The fact that I’m innately suspicious and insulting means I’ll probably make a bigger mess than those anal-retentives in INS. Won’t I, Detective Peabody?”
“As someone who’s cleaned up after you before, sir, I can verify that you will, absolutely, make a bigger mess than anyone. You’ll also find something—you always do—that will certainly inconvenience Ms. Tesky and her employer.”
“What do they call that? Tit for tat?”
Throughout Eve’s recital, Ms. Tesky had turned several interesting colors. She appeared to have settled on fuchsia. “You can’t threaten me.”
“Threaten? Golly, Peabody, insult, sure, but did I threaten anyone?”
“No, Lieutenant. You’re just making conversation, in your own unique style.”
“That’s what I thought. Just making conversation. So, let’s arrange for that warrant, shall we? And since we’re taking the time and trouble, let’s make it for the financials, and civil and criminal cases or suits brought, as well as those personnel files.”
“I find you very disagreeable.”
“There you go,” Eve said with an easy smile. “Tit for tat one more time.”
Tesky spun her chair around to her desk unit, coded in.
“Ms. Gannon’s residence is on a twice-monthly schedule, with quarterly extended services, and priority for emergency calls and entertainment requests. She was due for her regular service yesterday.”
Several more frown lines dug into Tesky’s forehead. “Her maid failed to confirm completed service. That’s simply unacceptable.”
“Who’s the maid?”
“Tina Cobb. She’s seen to the Gannon residence for the last eight months.”
“Can you check on there if she’s missed any other jobs recently?”
“One moment.” She called up another program.
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