Reunion in Death

Boney and Bambi, Eve thought. What was wrong with people? «I know this is a difficult time.» Eve glanced around, decided she had no choice but to sit on something fluffy and pink. «But I need to ask you some questions.»

«I just wanted to give him a birthday party. Everyone came. We were having such a good time. He never even got to open his presents.»

She wailed the last of it, and the little puff ball on her lap produced a pink tongue and licked her face.

«Mrs. Pettibone … could I have your legal name for the record?»

«I'm Bambi.»

«For real? Never mind. You were standing next to your husband when he collapsed.»

«He was saying such nice things about everybody. He really liked the party.» She sniffled, looked imploringly at Eve. «That's something, isn't it? He was happy when it happened.»

«Did you give him the champagne for his toast, Mrs. Pettibone?»

«Boney loved champagne.» There was a sentimental and soggy sigh. «It was his very, very favorite. We had caterers. I wanted everything just so. I told Mr. Markie to be sure his servers passed champagne the whole time. And canapйs, too. I worked really hard to make it perfect for my sweet Boney. Then he got so sick, and it happened so fast. If I'd known he was sick, we wouldn't have had a party. But he was fine when he left this morning. He was just fine.»

«Do you understand what happened to your husband?»

She hugged the puffball dog, buried her face in its fluff. «He got sick. Peter couldn't make him better.»

«Mrs. Pettibone, we think it's most likely the champagne was responsible for your husband's death. Where did he get the glass of champagne he drank right before he collapsed?»

«From the girl, I guess.» She sniffed, stared at Eve with a puzzled expression. «Why would champagne make him sick? It never did before.»

«What girl?»

«What girl?» Bambi repeated, her face a baffled blank.

Patience, Eve reminded herself. «You said 'the girl' gave Mr. Pettibone the champagne for his toast.»

«Oh, that girl. One of the servers.» Bambi lifted a shoulder, nuzzled the little dog. «She brought Boney a new glass so he could make his toast.»

«Did he take it off her tray?»

«No.» She pursed her lips, sniffled softly. «No, I remember she handed it to him and wished him a happy birthday. She said, 'Happy birthday, Mr. Pettibone.' Very politely, too.»

«Did you know her? Have you employed her before?»

«I use Mr. Markie, and he brings the servers. You can leave everything up to Mr. Markie. He's just mag.»

«What did she look like?»

«Who?»

God, give me the strength not to bitch-slap this moron. «The server, Bambi. The server who gave Boney the glass of champagne for his toast.»

«Oh. I don't know. Nobody really looks at servers, do they?» She said it with a fluttering confusion as Eve stared at her. «Tidy,» she said after a moment. «Mr. Markie insists on his staff presenting a neat appearance.»

«Was she old, young, tall, short?»

«I don't know. She looked like one of the servers, that's all. And they all look the same, really.»

«Did your husband speak to her?»

«He said thank you. Boney's very polite, too.»

«He didn't appear to recognize her? The server,» Eve added quickly as Bambi's mouth began to purse on what surely would have been another «Who?»

«Why would he?»

No one, Eve decided, could pretend to be this level of idiot. It had to be sincere. «All right. Do you know anyone who'd wish your husband harm?»

«Everyone loved Boney. You just had to.»

«Did you love Boney while he was married to his first wife?»

Her eyes went bigger, rounder. «We never, ever cheated. Boney didn't even kiss me until after he was divorced. He was a gentleman.»

«How did you meet him?»

«I worked at one of his flower shops. The one on Madison. He used to come in sometimes and look at the stock, and talk to us. To me,» she added with a trembling smile. «Then one day he came by just as I was getting off and offered to walk me home. He took my arm while we walked. He told me how he was getting a divorce and wondered if I'd have lunch with him sometime. I wondered if it was just a line guys say stuff like that, you know, how they're leaving their wife, or how she doesn't make him happy, and all sorts of things just to get you to go to bed with them. I'm not stupid.»

No, Eve thought, you redefine the word.

«But Boney wasn't like that. He never tried anything funny.»

She sighed and began to rub her cheek against the dog's fur. «He was romantic. After he was divorced we dated and he took me to really nice places and never tried anything funny then either. Finally I had to try something funny because he was just so cute and cuddly and handsome. And after that, he asked me to marry him.»

«Did his first wife resent that?»

«Probably. Who wouldn't resent not having Boney for their own sweetie? But she was always very nice, and Boney never said anything bad about her.»

«And his children.»