Vendetta in Death (In Death #49)(100)

“Bite me,” she suggested, “and contact your head of security.”

“Cop or no cop, you can’t talk to me like that. I oughta—”

She grabbed his shirtfront in a fist, jerked him to her. “If you don’t get your head of security in the next five fucking seconds, I’m arresting your dumb ass for impeding a police officer in the course of her duties, for obstruction, and if I don’t get that feed in time, I’m going to kick in accessory to murder.”

“You oughta get a grip.”

She got a grip, on her restraints, and had him holding up his hands, backing off. “Throttle back, just throttle back. I’m just doing my job here.”

“Five, four, three—”

“Okay, okay.” He tapped the mic on his lapel. “I need Darren out here. Some cop’s going nutso.”

It took under a minute for six-foot, four-inch Darren to stride out. He had a tough-looking body in a black suit—with just a hint of bulge where his sidearm rested. He had dark skin, hard, dark eyes, a shaved head, and a kick-ass look about him Eve could respect.

“Let’s see the badge.”

Eve held it up. “NYPSD. I’m investigating a series of homicides, and believe one of your passengers was abducted from this center this afternoon. He’d be the next.”

“Abducted? That seems far-fetched.”

“Linus Brinkman. He would have arrived on a Lodestar private shuttle, coming from Las Vegas, at approximately fifteen-thirty this afternoon. Someone not Brinkman canceled his car service and set up a replacement. I need to see the feed, at the gate, out here at pickup. Check the manifest, for God’s sake.”

“There are privacy laws that require a warrant for—”

Fury flashed and poured out of her hot enough to have Darren breaking off.

“Three men, abducted, tortured, castrated. You keep up with current fucking events in New York, Darren?”

His eyes changed. “Yeah, I heard about it.”

“Check the manifest. If Brinkman got off the shuttle, he’s right now hanging naked by the wrists.”

“That sounds like bullshit, Darren. This one’s nutso.”

“Quiet, Len. Come on with me, Lieutenant. We’ll start with the manifest.”

As they turned to go in, another car pulled up. Roarke got out; the car drove on.

“Sir,” Darren said. “I didn’t know you were scheduled today.”

“I’m not. Lieutenant.”

“Do you own this place?” Eve demanded.

“Not entirely. Darren, I hope you’re assisting the lieutenant in every way.”

“Yes, sir. We’re just going in to check the manifest. Didn’t put it together,” he muttered as he walked them in. “Saw the vid last year, but didn’t put it together.”

“What the hell does that have to do with anything?” Eve snarled out.

“Just saying.” He walked straight to the check-in counter. “Monika, check for the arrival of Linus Brinkman.”

“Lodestar. Company shuttle,” Eve added.

“I don’t have to check. I know Mr. Brinkman. He arrived right on time. I even waved to him as he walked through to meet his driver.”

“Security feed. Now.”

“What gate, Monika?”

“One. Gate One.”

“Come with me.”

He crossed the terminal lobby, swiped through a door, and kept going at a quick pace. He swiped through another door in what was basically a tunnel, and they entered the security hub.

He brushed aside one of the two men monitoring the various gates and exits, dropped into the chair, got to work himself.

“You said fifteen-thirty?”

“That’s right.”

“Monika said on time, so …” He swiped, tapped, shifted feeds.

Eve watched Brinkman, casual pants, light jacket, rolly bag and briefcase, march through the gate. After a quick wave toward the counter, he kept walking.

“Follow him,” Eve ordered.

“Let me switch cams. You can see he walked out on his own, and … here we go, that must be his driver.”

“Not his driver. Enhance, zoom. Zoom on the driver—and I want a printout of him, full body, close-up face.” As Darren zoomed in, Eve swore under her breath. “It’s a droid.”

“Doesn’t look like a droid.”

“Closer. Go in closer.”

“Fine, but … son of a bitch, you’re right.” Darren let out a low whistle. “That’s one damn top-grade droid.”

“That’s how she does it. That’s how,” Eve muttered. “Droids. Brinkman’s asking questions. Probably where’s my usual guy. This one’s programmed to give some reasonable answer. And he’s going with the droid. Outside, move outside.”

“They’re heading to pickup—at the island. At least that’s where a car service would wait. Give me a … Yeah, moving out. Droid’s opening the back door.”

“Zoom. Get as much of the interior as you can.”

“I’m not going to be able to get you much.”

It was enough for Eve to see a pair of crossed female legs as Brinkman hesitated. Then a hand reach out to shake his as he slid inside.