Divided in Death (In Death #18)(40)

"Then it's at yours," Roarke said and had Feeney beaming in anticipation.

"I can have a retrieval team here in an hour, with the units. We'll set up a network and-"

"That's not going to be possible," Eve interrupted. "I need to ask you to personally transport a sampling of the units here. Those that remain at Central will require top-level security. They have to be moved from the pen, Feeney. ASAP."

"Dallas, electronics isn't your area, but even you should be able to figure out how long it's going to take me to work this magic on more'n a dozen units. I can't be hauling them over here a couple at a time, and without a retrieval team, six-man minimum, we're looking at days, if not weeks before we pull out anything readable."

"It can't be helped. The nature of the investigation has changed. Information has come into my hands that confirms involvement and possible participation in these murders by the Homeland Security Organization."

There was a moment of absolute silence, then McNab's excited response. "Spooks? Oh baby, ultimately iced."

"This isn't a vid, Detective, or some comp game where you play secret agent. Two people are dead."

"With all respect, Lieutenant, they're dead anyway."

Since she couldn't think of an argument for that, she ignored it. "I can't reveal how this information came to me." But she saw Feeney's glance at Roarke, the speculation and the pride in it. "If it comes down to a court order demanding my source-as it very well may-I'll lie. You need to know that up front. I'll perjure myself without hesitation, not only to protect the source, but to maintain the integrity of this investigation, and to protect Reva Ewing, who I'm convinced is innocent."

"I like the anonymous tip myself," Feeney said easily. "Untraceable transmission of data. There's a couple of ways to set that up on your unit right here so it'll look like you got one. Should hold up against most tests."

"That's illegal," Eve pointed out, and he smiled.

"Just talking out loud."

"When each of you took this case, it was on the belief it was a standard homicide investigation. It's not. You have a choice of stepping out of the investigation before I reveal the data in my possession. Once I relay it, you're stuck. And it could get pretty f**king sticky. We can't bring anyone else into this. It can't be discussed outside of secured locations. Each of us will have to be swept daily for possible bugs and that includes home, workplace, vehicles, and person. You'll be at risk, and certainly under observation."

"Lieutenant." Peabody waited until Eve's gaze shifted to her. "If you don't know we're in, you should."

"This isn't business as usual."

"No, because it's ultimately iced." Peabody grinned when she said it and earned a snicker from McNab.

Shaking her head, Eve sat on the corner of her desk. She'd known they were in, but she had to give them the out. "Blair Bissel was a level-two operative for the HSO, recruited and trained by Felicity Kade."

"It was an HSO hit?"

She glanced at McNab. "I haven't quite tied it all up in a bow for you, Detective. No notes," she said when he got out his book. "Nothing logged or recorded except on cleared units. Here's what I know. Bissel was in Homeland for nine years. At level two he functioned primarily as a liaison. Passing data from point to point, accessing data or accumulating intel, which he passed along to a contact. Kade generally, but not exclusively. Three years ago, Kade was assigned to Reva Ewing for the purposes of developing a relationship, a friendship."

"Why Ewing?" Peabody asked. "Particularly."

"They've had her under observation for a number of years, including her time with the Secret Service. This observation was beefed up after her injury, line of duty, and subsequent retirement. She was approached by a recruiter for the HSO during her recuperation, and-according to the file-was less than gracious in her refusal. As she was offered a substantial incentive package, her refusal and her subsequent employment were suspect.

"Roarke... Industries," Eve continued, "is a hot button for the HSO. They've spent considerable time and manpower trying to tie it to espionage, without success. Reva Ewing was considered a strong candidate for information due to her personal and professional relationship with the industry's head, and her mother's position as Roarke's admin. The hope was Reva would chat about her work, her boss, her projects, and so on, and the HSO would be one up."

"But she didn't," Feeney prompted.

"She didn't give them what they were after, but they had a lot invested. And Felicity was committed. She brought in Bissel and set up for the long haul."

"He married her for intel?" Peabody queried. "Sucks wide."

"For intel," Eve agreed. "And for a stronger cover, for the additional contacts that came from her. She's still friendly with some of her associates from the Secret Service, and she has former President Foster's ear, among others. Neither Foster nor the current administration has maintained very friendly relations with the HSO, or vice versa. There's a lot of resentment, one-upmanship, a lot of secrets and backbiting."

"I'm following all this well enough, kid," Feeney put in. "But it doesn't explain why Bissel and Kade were hit, and Ewing set up."