Obsession in Death(100)



Eve rose. “Which arm did she catch with the stream?”

Nadine rubbed her left arm. “It’s better.”

Eve punched Nadine’s right biceps – she pulled it, considerably, but she punched it.

“Ow!”

“Does ‘don’t open the goddamn, motherf*cking door’ mean open the goddamn, motherf*cking door with the stupid, nearly worthless chain on?”

Nadine narrowed her eyes, took a long, slow drink of bourbon. “Bitch.” Then another long, slow drink. “I’m sorry. You’re a bitch, but you’re right, and I’m sorry and stupid. And I’m moving. You could find me a new place,” she said to Roarke.

“I could give you some options. I’d be happy to give you some options if you give me the idea what you’d like.”

Eve bared her teeth at both of them. “Do you think we could wait until whenever is not now for a real estate discussion?”

Eve paced away.

“Maybe you should get her a soother,” Nadine murmured – very quietly. “Or a stiff double of bourbon.”

Roarke only patted Nadine’s shoulder.

“She changed her look, her approach. So she’s adaptable. And she didn’t run at the first sign it wasn’t going as planned. A little more aggressive, and desperate. I think desperate,” Eve decided. “Pissed, too. Seriously pissed. She’s had two strikeouts now. She’s going to be running on rage. And she’s hurt. You not only aren’t dead, you hurt her.”

“Yay me.”

“Bollocks to that. Pack up what you need. You’ll stay at our place until we have her. I’ll have a uniform transport you. Roarke, you’d better let Summerset know she’s coming.”

“Do you think she’d come back?”

“Low probability on that,” Eve told her. “But I think she needs a kill tonight, and I’d rather you’re not here in case she tries for a second shot at you.”

“I’d rather not be here, too. Thanks. But if you hit me again, I’m calling a cop.”

“Funny. Get moving. I want you out of here while I —” She yanked out her ’link. “It’s the alarm McNab set up. She just tried the master.”

She pulled out her communicator.

“Dispatch, Dallas, Lieutenant Eve.

“All available units, 963 Ludlow. Attempted break-in. Female suspect is wearing a dark peacoat, dark hat with bill and earflaps. She is armed and dangerous.”

“Who lives there?” Nadine demanded. “Do you know who lives there?”

Even as Eve started to shake her head, Roarke spoke. “Jamie. His mother’s place.”

“Wait.” She grabbed his arm as he turned toward the door. “We’re too far out. Cops’ll be there, in minutes, and she can’t get in with that master. Tag him, tag him now. Tell him to stay wherever he is, locked in. I’ll tag his mother.”

Jamie, she’d never thought of Jamie. He was a kid – no more than twenty. Not even twenty, she corrected, as she called up the contact. Feeney’s godson, a kind of Roarke protégé. A kid who wanted to be a cop. And his mother… not a friend, not an enemy. Just Jamie’s mother.

“Ms. Wojinski.” Eve felt a small flick of relief when the sleepy voice answered. “This is Eve Dallas. Listen to me carefully.”

She looked at Roarke, nodded as she spoke and Jamie’s mother responded. “Wait for the police,” she said again. “When they get there, have them contact me so I can verify before you open the door. Do you understand me, don’t open the door. The police are on the way.”

“I can hear sirens. I hear them.”

“Good. Stay on, okay? Stay on until they get there and I verify. Just hold a minute.

“They’re safe,” she said to Roarke.

“I have Jamie on the ’link. He’s with her, spending a couple days with her on his winter break.”

“Tell him if he opens a door, tries anything before I clear it, I’ll make sure he never gets a badge.”

Roarke’s eyebrows lifted. “He heard you. See to your mother, Jamie. That’s your job.”

Satisfied, Eve switched to her communicator to speak with the responding officers and clear them.

Three strikes, she thought, and you’re out.





20

Eve contacted Peabody, argued with her.

“There’s no need or point in you coming in for this. Nadine’s handled. Jamie and his mother have cops in the house.”

“Handled, my butt. I handled myself.”

“Shut up, Nadine, and get your famous butt moving. Your transport’s waiting.”

“I have things I need,” Nadine began, and continued to gather discs and notes into a bag that could hold a baby elephant.

She already had a suitcase the size of Montana packed and ready.

“If you have witnesses to interview,” Peabody complained from the ’link, “I should be there.”

“I’ve got it covered. If you want to be up half the night, work on the new parameters. Have your e-genius run a search and match using the refinements Roarke made. If anything else comes through, I’ll let you know.”

“But —”

J.D. Robb's Books