Read Online In Death Collection: Books 30-32 by J.D. Robb - Free Book Online Page B

breathless thank-you to her partner.
    Satisfied with Part A, she headed to the next interview room for Part B.
    Milt Dubrosky had the buffed and polished looks of a spa rat. She imagined he devoted a good part of his day to the gym, and a good part of his week to treatments. His hair—too perfectly streaked to be nature’s gift—lay in subtle waves around a smooth, fine-boned face. His eyes, a soft, shimmering blue flashed out of long, dark lashes as he beamed out a high-wattage smile.
    â€œOfficer, I don’t know why I’m here, but at least the view just got a whole lot better.”
    â€œLieutenant.”
    His smile flashed along with his eyes as he executed a snappy salute. “Sir, yes, sir.”
    â€œRecord on. Dallas, Lieutenant Eve, in Interview with Dubrosky, Milton, on the matter of the murder of Minnock, Bart.”
    â€œWhat?” Those bold eyes widened as he sucked in a breath. “Bart’s been murdered? When? What happened?”
    â€œYou’ve been in Interview before, Dubrosky.” She tapped the file that held his record. “So you know I’m the one who asks questions, and you’re the one who answers them. Have you been read your rights?”
    â€œYeah, the cops who brought me in. But they didn’t tell me anything.”
    â€œCan you verify your whereabouts from between three P.M. and eight P.M. yesterday?”
    â€œSure. Sure. I was at my salon—that’s Urban Meadows—from about one to three-thirty, then I met a friend for coffee. I did some shopping and went to another friend’s place about five-thirty. Roland, Roland Chadwick. He works for Bart at U-Play. He got in shortly after I did, and we stayed in the rest of the night. He can vouch.”
    â€œThe name and contact information for your coffee date.”
    â€œNo problem. Britt Casey.” He rattled off a ’link number and an Upper West Side address. “We’re in a workshop together. Acting workshop. So we get together now and then to discuss craft.”
    He was good, Eve decided, but not that good. Poor Roland, she thought, just how many ways can you be duped? “And what time did you leave your acting pal and head out on your own?”
    â€œSometime around five, I guess.”
    â€œCoffee and shopping date. Where did you have coffee? Where did you shop? Do you have receipts?”
    â€œI don’t actually remember the name of the coffee shop. And I didn’t actually buy anything. It was more window-shopping.”
    Eve said nothing, just stared at him.
    â€œOkay, look. I was at the salon like I said. My consultant’s name is Nanette. You can ask her. And I met Britt after, but it wasn’t for coffee, if you get me.” He tried the smile again, one that said I’m a scamp, but you gotta love me. “We went to the Oaks Hotel for a couple hours. See, the thing is, she’s married and I’m sort of living with someone.”
    â€œChadwick?”
    â€œAh, no. But my roommate and Britt? They don’t know about each other. I’d really appreciate it if they could keep not knowing about each other.”
    â€œName of the roommate?”
    â€œChelsea Saxton.”
    Eve lifted her brows. “And where, exactly, does Roland Chadwick fit in?”
    Dubrosky lifted his shoulders, let them fall in an oops gesture. “You could say I’m sort of semi-living with him, too.”
    â€œWith him also unaware of the other two, and they of him?”
    â€œWhat can I say? I’m a people person.”
    â€œThat’s a lot of juggling. A man that adept at juggling would be able to juggle enough time in for a stopover at Bart’s apartment.”
    â€œNever been there.” He added an easy, cheerful wave. “No reason to.
    I knew him a little, sure, because Roland works for him at U-Play. Seemed like a nice guy. Ro sure thought the world of him. I don’t know why anyone would kill the poor