Faithless in Death (In Death, #52)(85)

With a fierce smile, Gina shot up a middle finger.

“God, that felt good. Let’s go please. Let’s go.” She jumped in with her kids.

“I’ll tag you as soon as I get her there,” Eve began.

“I’ve got this here, just go.”

As Eve got behind the wheel, he strolled a few feet in the running woman’s direction.

She turned on her heel and ran back into her house.

Yeah, he had it.

“Okay, Gina, you’re safe now. And I’ve got some questions.”

“Just let me—It’s okay, Westley, we’re going to see Gabe.” She cuddled both kids, closed her eyes. “We’re going away from here to see Gabe and Zoe. I didn’t think she really had it in her. Thank God for her. Thank God.”

Since Eve hadn’t yet done a run on Gina, she went directly to the source.

“How long have you been married to …”

“Steven. His name’s Steven, and is it married if you were drugged and forced to say I-fricking-do?”

“No.” Tougher every second, Eve noted, and fury had replaced any fear. “How long, and how did they get to you?”

“We’re in a car, driving away with a cop. I didn’t recognize you, but I recognized the name because Zoe told me about you. She’d seen you on-screen. Steven doesn’t believe women and children should be contaminated by watching screen. Four years ago. I was seventeen, in some trouble. Street kid, foster kid. I was working my way up to straightening my ass out, living in a halfway house, and this recruiter interviewed me for a job.”

“Hold on, you were in the system? You had a caseworker?”

“Yeah, Jane Po.”

“Hold that thought.” Son of a bitch, Eve thought, and tagged Peabody. “Meet me at Dochas, asap.”

“Feeney just tagged McNab and said Roarke—”

“Developments. Get to Dochas. I’m on my way there now.”

She broke off, contacted Officer Carmichael. “Officer, contact Officer Shelby. I want the two of you to sit on the woman at this address.” She relayed it quickly. “Jane Po. Just sit on the address, and when and if she leaves, tail her. I’m sending you her photo and data now.”

“Yes, sir.”

Since he wore a T-shirt instead of his uniform, she realized she’d gotten him out of bed. “As soon as you can, Carmichael.

“One more,” she told Gina, and sent a text to Whitney, Mira, and Jenkinson.

Rapid developments on Natural Order matter, including cooperating wits. Will brief at Central in ninety minutes. Request FBI inclusion in same, Commander. Request your presence, Dr. Mira. Require all available officers and detectives in my division be present. Jenkinson, coordinate same.



When Eve finished, Gina simply stared. “This is really happening.”

“Count on it. We’re nearly there. I’m going to have a lot more questions.”

“Lieutenant Dallas, I’ve never considered cops friends of mine, but if you can get my kids somewhere those very-bad-word-to-say-in-front-of-children can’t touch them, I’ll kiss you on the mouth.”

Eve flicked a half smile in the rearview mirror. “Answering the questions will handle it fine.”





18


At Dochas, the children were lured away with toys and breakfast, and promises to see Gabe and Zoe as soon as they woke up.

To ensure privacy as the house began to stir, Eve sat with Gina in an office where Gina gulped coffee.

“I haven’t had coffee in four years. Four years. God, I missed it. Nothing caffeinated, nothing carbonated—house rules from the asshole. I don’t have to say his name anymore. He is now and forever The Asshole.”

“Jane Po. Did she set you up with the recruiter?”

“Yeah. She talked about my progress, and this opportunity to work, entry level and all that, but I’d get training and the potential for advancement. I was really grateful she’d arranged this interview.”

“Where did you meet the recruiter?”

“At Stone Tree, the halfway house. She talked about training for marketing and public relations for this global organization. It all sounded so frosty. I was going to turn eighteen and figured I had to make a choice between getting my ass in gear or living on the streets. I thought I was getting my ass in gear.”

“What happened?”

“She said I’d passed the initial interview, and with Po’s recommendation, she could take me to the next phase. She said it turned out there had been an opening, and if I wanted to fill it, she’d take me to her supervisor for the next phase. I jumped on it.”

She broke off at the soft knock on the door. Natalie poked in.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I thought you’d both like a little breakfast. The kids are eating like horses,” she assured Gina. “Lollie is a firecracker, Gina.”

“They couldn’t smother that personality, and they tried. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Eat some breakfast. As soon as your partner arrives, Lieutenant, we’ll send her in.”

“Thanks. Appreciate the food and coffee.

“What happened next?” Eve asked when Gina dived into the scrambled eggs.

“She had transpo. I got right in. You know, I was a street kid, but I never sensed anything off. I thought I was so damn good at that. She had coffee in the car—dosed. It had to be dosed because the next thing I knew I was waking up in this room. No windows, one door, and this other woman sitting on a stool. She said she was Mother Catherine, and I was now a member of Natural Order. She would teach me to be faithful. I was groggy, scared, pissed, and when I tried to get out …