Devoted in Death (In Death #41)(101)

“Of that sort that gets McNab and Banner out of bed. When Morris gets back to me, we’re going to be ready.”

21

Eve stuffed waffles in her mouth – good choice, Peabody – while she briefed a rumpled-looking McNab and Banner. Less than thirty minutes after Peabody filled her in on John Doe, she had an outline of an op working through her mind.

Maybe John Doe had lived with his wife and three kids in an uptown penthouse apartment, and nobody noticed he’d been gone for a week.

But if her hunch hit, she’d be ready.

“McNab, contact Feeney. I want eyes, ears, heat sensors ready to roll when we get an address. Peabody, you’re on Carmichael and Santiago. They deserve to be in on this if it plays out the way we hope. I want them in body armor under soft clothes. We’ll place them once we have a location.”

She carted her plate, polishing off the waffle as she paced around her board, studied the map on screen.

“Banner, work me some probabilities on location. Factor the van, the John Doe, and the sector I’ve narrowed it to. No one’s approached the van since we found it, so they haven’t needed it. They didn’t hit any of the takeout places last night. Maybe they risked delivery due to weather, or maybe they had enough in stock, but they’ll go out soon.”

“We can figure Campbell and Mulligan are still alive,” Banner put in. “They didn’t need the van to dump bodies.”

“That’s exactly right. When we move, we move on the assumption there are two civilians in distress inside. We’ll have medicals standing by.”

She set her empty plate on the table. “Anybody without magic coats uses body armor.”

“The FBI?” Peabody said.

“Will be informed – when and if we’re on our way. I’ll go through Zweck after I talk to Whitney.” She checked the time, again, then glanced at Roarke. “You want in?”

“I believe that goes without saying.”

She grabbed her ’link at the first beep. “Morris.”

“Zed, Samuel, age twenty-eight, 251 Downing, apartment 1-A.”

“Bam. Roarke.”

“I’ll see to it.”

“Data being sent now,” Morris told her.

“Have you had a chance to look at him?”

“Not thoroughly, but there are similarities in some of the wounds, particularly, the COD. And here, take a look.”

“We all will. Computer, transfer ’link image on screen.”

“The water, and the fish, compromised the body. You see the damage here.”

“That’ll put you off breakfast,” Banner muttered as a close-up of pale, mottled, torn and bloodless flesh came on screen.

“I see the damage,” Eve said, stepping closer. “And I see what looks like the side of a heart. That curve there. A fish didn’t do that.”

“Agreed. I won’t slap at Porter for missing it – overmuch. I might not have found it myself if I hadn’t been looking for it, specifically.”

Yeah, you would, Eve thought. “It’s enough. It’s what we need.”

“For what you have to do, yes. But Samuel deserves more from me. You’ll have a complete, amended report before noon. I hope you have those who did this to him before that.”

“Count on it. Thanks.”

She turned. “Roarke?”

“I’ve got it.” He continued to work his PPC. “It’s a twelve-unit building.”

“Tell me it has a basement unit.”

“It does. Give me a moment. Your gut remains reliable, Lieutenant. 1-A is a basement, one-bedroom unit, currently rented by Samuel Zed.”

“Suit up,” she ordered. “Move out.”

She had Roarke drive, the bigger version of the A-T while she read the rest of Zed’s data.

“Peabody, Zed was employed as a line cook at the Fish House. Find out why nobody noticed he hasn’t been on the line for the past several days. Mother and one sib live in Indiana, and likely don’t know he’s been missing. McNab?”

“On with Feeney now, Dallas. We’ll have it covered.”

She turned in her seat, gave Banner a straight look. “You warm enough, Deputy?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“That’s not going to last. Roarke’s going to drive by the target, and you’re going to get out. I’ve got uniforms keeping an eye out. You’ll do the same. I don’t want them taking a look outside, spotting cops. So you’re going to find a spot. Maybe you get something from a glide-cart or café – as long as you can keep the target in sight. You’re going to look like a tourist.”

“I can do that.”

“If they come out, or one does, you follow. Don’t get made, don’t get close, just keep me updated.”

“I can do that, too.”

“Peabody, tell Banner what happens if you screw up.”

Peabody smiled a cheery smile. “You find her boot up your ass.”

“You don’t want to find my boot up your ass, Banner. Keep your eyes open, and that’s it, until Santiago and Carmichael are in place. When they are, I’ll tell you where to go.”

“I’ve got enough boots of my own, and I appreciate the chance to be a part of this. I’ve got good eyes, Lieutenant.”