Faithless in Death (In Death, #52)(41)

“Better than scaring the piss out of people?”

“Even better than that.” He tipped her face up, kissed her. “I thought you’d sleep longer.”

“Me, too. But I woke up, started thinking, and that was that. Gives me a jump.”

“Which you’ve made use of already.” After running a hand down her hair, he turned to the table to pour them both coffee. “What did you find in the search?”

“That there are ten thousand—and change—people who are bat-shit crazy in the geographical area.”

“Well now, I expect there are more than that, but I wouldn’t say everyone who joined Natural Order is bat-shit. People seek tribes,” he said as they sat. “Justifications for their own worldview. Others are deceived or naive or simply weak in some way. And you don’t have to be crazy to be bigoted.”

“I’ll give you that one.” She uncovered her pancakes with considerable pleasure and immediately drowned them in butter and syrup.

She dumped the mixed berries she’d ordered over that.

“Anyway, the numbers narrow some with the other filters, and narrow more with the ones I tried this morning. I’m looking at about six hundred names with multiple violent offenses in New York who are current members.”

“Still a considerable number.”

“I’m sending it all to Feeney. They can cross it with contacts on Gwen’s comp and address books and all that. If we get any matches, it won’t be hundreds.”

“You’ve considered this murder is a first offense—or the killer has never been caught before.”

“Yeah, but this is an angle with high probability, so we’ll test it out. Plus, I’m hoping I can make her piss herself today and give me a name.”

“If anyone can. And you’re going to talk to Merit.”

“First on the list.”

As she shoveled in a bite of syrup-soaked pancake, she saw Roarke’s gaze track over. She didn’t have to turn around to know that cool, steady stare stopped Galahad’s pancake advance.

“I’m having Peabody pick up the bank-box key from Evidence while I go by Caine’s. Then she’ll meet me at the bank. Once we see what Gwen’s tucked away in it, we’ll hit her.”

“Why don’t I go with you to Merit’s? I do know him, and he might be more forthcoming with a friend—even a casual one.”

“Don’t you have other people to intimidate?”

“Scores.” He topped off her coffee, then his own. “But I’ve time for this.”

“It couldn’t hurt. You’d be sympathetic.”

“I am sympathetic.”

“So am I, at this point. But he’s still a lawyer, and lawyers tend to shut the doors on cops. So, yeah, it couldn’t hurt to have you there. If we get anything from Caine, Gwen, the bank box, Peabody and I will follow it up. If not, I think it may be time to have a chat with Stanton Wilkey.”

“Mind your six there, Lieutenant,” he warned her. “While he seems to be one who knows how to stay above the fray, he’s surrounded by—”

“Bat-shit crazies?” She smiled, very much as he had earlier. “I eat them for breakfast.”

“No doubt drowning in syrup. Still, let me know if you’re heading to Connecticut.”

She shrugged. “It won’t be until later. I’ve got a lot to cover this morning.”

“At least you’re fueled for it,” he commented as she finished off the pancakes.

“I’ve just got to finish up one thing before we go.”

He glanced at his wrist unit. “Very early.”

“That’s tactics.”

“I’ll tactically deal with the dishes then before the cat tries to reach his goal of licking the pool of syrup on your plate.”

When they did head out, Eve let Roarke take the wheel while she consulted her ’link.

“Peabody’s set to get the key, and McNab will get started on Gwen’s ’link when they get to Central.” She blew out a breath. “She’s going to be full of that house today.”

“It’s a big step for all of them.”

“Yeah, I know it. But she’ll probably talk me into a brain bleed by the end of shift. I can be happy for her and not want my brain to bleed.”

He gave her hand a bolstering pat. “I believe your brain’s tougher than that.”

“We’re going to find out.”

He drove across town, with traffic so light it seemed like the city slept after all. At this hour, dog walkers and joggers outnumbered vehicles.

Merit Caine’s home had a pretty front courtyard already in lavish bloom. The three-story brownstone whispered elegance.

Eve took a good look at it from the sidewalk.

“She’d have lived here in a couple months. My first take is she’d go for something more modern, more sleek, but I can see this. It looks like old money, and old money says status and prestige.”

She started up the short walkway. “Top-drawer security,” she noted. “That’s one of yours.”

“It is, yes.”

“Tough for thieves.” She glanced at Roarke. “Except you.”

“Former,” he reminded her. “He’s well secured his home.”