Ceremony in Death (In Death #5)(72)

Eve was prepared for the questions. She knew Nadine’s style well, too well to allow herself to be rattled by the information that had been dumped on her seconds before air time. As, she imagined, Nadine had hoped. She answered briefly, carefully, and knew she was bumping up Channel 75’s and Nadine’s rating points with every on-the-air second.

“The department is proceeding with the belief that the cases are connected as evidence indicates. Though different weapons were left at the scene of each murder, they are of similar style.”

“Can you describe the weapons?”

“I can’t comment on that.”

“But they were knives.”

“They were sharp instruments. I’m not at liberty to go into any more detail. Doing so would jeopardize our investigation at this point.”

“The second victim. You were pursuing him at the time of his death. Why?”

She was ready for this, had already decided to exploit the question for her own benefit. “Thomas Wineburg had indicated he had information which would be useful to my investigation.”

“What information?”

Zip, Eve thought, but kept her eyes level. “I’m not at liberty to divulge that. I can only say we spoke, and he became agitated and ran. I pursued.”

“And he was killed.”

“That’s correct. Running didn’t help him.”

Annoyed that her director indicated her time was up through her earpiece, Nadine wound the interview to a close. “And we’re clear. Suzanna?” Nadine simply gestured to the door and sent her operator out. “Off the record,” she began.

“Nope. Gimme.”

“All right then.” Nadine sat back, crossed her pretty legs. “Charles Forte took his mother’s maiden name legally twelve years ago after his father was convicted of the ritual slayings of five people. It’s believed he killed countless others, but it’s never been proved. The bodies have never been found.”

“I know the story behind Conroy. I didn’t know he had a kid.”

“That was kept locked. Privacy Act. The family was already out of it. The mother had divorced and relocated a few years before Baines was caught. The kid was sixteen when she took him and left. Twenty-one when his father was tried and convicted. My sources claim the son attended court every day.”

Eve thought of the small, unassuming man she’d met at Alice’s viewing. Son of a monster. How much of that came through the blood? She thought of her own father, nearly shuddered. “I appreciate it. If it comes to anything, I’ll owe you.”

“Yeah, you will. I’ve got lots of data on cults in the city. Nothing as dramatic as this, but it may lead somewhere. Meanwhile, if you were in Interview with someone pissed off enough to try to slice your jugular, should I assume you have a suspect?”

Eve studied her nails. She supposed some would have said she was overdo for a manicure. “I can’t comment on that. You know, Nadine, cameras aren’t allowed down in Booking.”

“Damn shame. Thanks for the spot, Dallas. I’ll be in touch.”

“Do that.” Eve watched her stroll out, had no doubt Nadine was making tracks to Booking. And that Selina Cross was going to have her name broadcast by the end of the noon report.

All in all, she decided, not a bad morning.

Wincing, she dragged through her drawers hoping for a first aid kit.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“I won’t make it home.” Eve juggled the call to Roarke while her computer searched for all data on David Baines Conroy. “Can you swing by here about six? We can drive upstate for the witch party.”

Roarke lifted an elegant brow. “As long as it’s not in your vehicle.” He frowned, gestured. “Come a little closer to the screen. What now?” he asked.

“What do you mean, ‘What now’? I’m busy.”

“No, your neck.”

“Oh, that.” She touched her fingers to the still-raw scratches. She’d never found that first aid kit. “A difference of opinion. I won.”

“Naturally. Put something on it, Lieutenant. I should be able to make it there by six thirty. We can eat on the way.”

“Fine.” Eat on the way? “Wait a minute. Don’t bring the limo.”

He only smiled. “Six thirty.”

“I mean it, Roarke, don’t — ” She hissed when the screen blanked. “Damn.” With a sigh, she swiveled back to the computer.

The IRCCA was a fount of data on this one, she thought, she skimmed through, pausing over pertinent facts on David Baines Conroy.

Divorced, one child, male, Charles, born January 22, 2025, custody awarded to mother, Ellen Forte.

Big surprise, Eve thought. Mass murderers weren’t generally given custody of minor children. “Let’s get down to it,” she murmured. “Charges and convictions.”

Charged and convicted, Murder in the first, torture killing, posthumous rape, and dismemberment of Doreen Harden, mixed race female, age 23. Sentenced to life, maximum facility, no parole option.

Charged and convicted, Murder in the first, rape, torture killing, and dismemberment of Emma Tangent, black female, age 25. Sentenced to life, maximum facility, no parole option.

Charged and convicted, Murder in the first, sodomy, rape, torture killing, and dismemberment of Lowell McBride, white male, age 18. Sentenced to life, maximum facility, no parole option.