Page 139 of Random in Death
He continued to pant and wheeze, but his color faded down to pink so she figured she wouldn’t have to send for MTs.
The waitress brought the water in a fancy glass with ice. Thinking what a world, Eve took it, then crouched down.
“You did me a favor. I needed some stress relief and the run did it. I’m going to forget the swing.”
He gulped water. “Appreciate that.” He sighed. “I mean, did you see the mark? A walking ad for Pinch My Purse Please.”
While she couldn’t disagree, Eve thought better than to vocalize it.
“Let’s have it.”
He drained the water, handed the empty glass to Eve, who handed it back to the hovering waitress.
He took the polka-dot bag and a gold bracelet studded with pink and green stones out of the right interior pocket of the vest.
She’d missed the bracelet.
Yeah, he still had some moves.
“Is that it?”
He spread his vest open. “I already passed on today’s take. You know, I was just stretching my legs before I headed home, thinking maybe I’d stop for an Italian ice. Frigging hot one. Then I spotted Polka Dot Queen. I mean, she was like a frigging billboard. Bad luck. But at least I got bagged by a serious cop. Lloyd Mesner.”
He offered a hand. Amused, Eve took it, then hauled him to his feet as a pair of beat cops hustled their way.
She dealt with it, had them log the bag and the bracelet as returned to owner. Then walked the block and a half back to the apartment building.
Peabody stood at the door with the doorman.
“She’s waiting in the lobby,” Peabody told her.
No longer cranky, the doorman grinned at Eve. “You got some legs on you, sister.”
“That’s Lieutenant Sister,” she said, and went inside.
The redhead sat with the rat dog in her lap and shopping bags at her feet. She sipped pale, straw-colored wine out of a fancy glass.
“Ma’am,” Eve began.
“Oh my God, my purse! The strap! The strap’s broken.”
Snipped, Eve thought. Quick and slick.
“I just bought that purse last week! Do you know how much that purse cost?”
“No, ma’am, but I need you to identify same, and the contents and this bracelet, as—”
“My bracelet!” The screech hit a register that made Eve’s ears ring. “Is it damaged?”
“I don’t believe so. If you’d note down the property, as yours, returned to you, and sign.” Eve held out her PPC.
“I can’t be bothered with that. I’m far too upset. I have to have my purse repaired now, and it’s brand-new!”
She rose with the wine, the dog, clutching the purse under her arm. “Have my bags sent up,” she snapped at the desk clerk. “I’m very upset.”
Eve watched her mince her way to the elevator. “You’re welcome,” she called out.
She pulled out her communicator as she walked back to the doors. “Let him go. That’s right, the mark won’t take the time to file a report. I’m not wasting mine. Put him on a minute. Yeah, I said put him on. Lloyd? Learn a lesson. You’re too old for this. Dallas out.”