Divided in Death (In Death #18)(84)

They were a perfect place to strategize his moves. And to congratulate himself on yet another job well done.

The blue-haired freak had been child's play. Absolute child's play. He took a minute hit of Zeus to keep his energies up, keep his mind alert as he had business, very personal business, to conduct shortly.

He was protecting himself, step by stage by layer. And that, self-preservation, was paramount. The quick thrill of the kill, of outwitting those who would have erased him, was a nice benefit, but it wasn't the point.

The point was to cover his ass, which he had done-and beautifully, if he did say so himself. The cops were up the creek now, without a body to work with.

The next was funding. And he couldn't quite figure out, yet, how to get his hands on the money due him.

He paused to study his reflection in a mirror. He was going to have to change that face, and it pained him. He liked the face that looked back at him. Still, sacrifices would have to be made for the good of the whole.

Once he finished his work, tied up some more loose ends, he'd find a surgeon who wouldn't ask too many questions. He had enough to pay for that, sure he did. And he'd find a way to get the rest, all the rest, when he could just think without all these complications springing up on him.

So that was level one and two. But the third level was payback, and he knew exactly how to collect that debt.

He wasn't going to be used and betrayed, and played for a fool.

What he was going to do was take care of business.

***

Eve blanked everything out of her mind but the moment. She kept her sights on the goal, striding briskly toward the waiting area outside the vaulted office of Chief Tibble. And had to check that stride when Don Webster cut across her path.

"Move it. I've got business."

"So do I. Same place, same business."

Her heart tripped. Webster was Internal Affairs. "I wasn't informed IAB was part of this. That's a serious breach, Webster. I'm entitled to a departmental rep."

"You don't need one."

"Don't tell me what I need," she hissed. "Somebody sics the rat squad on me, I get a rep."

"The rat squad's on your side." He took her arm, then released it quickly when her eyes went to hot slits. "I'm not hitting on you, for God's sake, Dallas. Give me a minute. One minute." He gestured her around the corner.

"Make it fast."

"First, let me say this isn't personal. Or let me say this isn't intimate. I don't want Roarke trying to beat my brains into veggie hash again."

"I don't need him to do that."

"Acknowledged. I'm here to help you."

"Help me what?"

"Kick a little Homeboy ass."

They had a history, Eve reminded herself as she studied his face. That history included a single night between the sheets, years before. For some reason she never quite understood, that night had gotten under Webster's skin. He had a... thing for her, which she was fairly sure Roarke had tramped out of him before she could do so herself.

She supposed they were, in some strange way, friends by this point. He was a good cop-wasted, in her opinion, in IAB, but a good cop. And an honest one.

"Why?"

"Because, Lieutenant, IAB doesn't like outside organizations trying to mess with what's ours."

"No, you like to mess with us yourselves."

"Ease back, would you? We're informed the HSO is looking at one of our cops, we're obliged to take a look at that cop. That cops comes up whistle clean-and you do-we take exception to the waste of our time and resources. Somebody outside tries to target a good cop, IAB offers a shield. Consider me your knight in shining f**king armor."

"Get out." She turned away.

"Don't ditch a shield, Dallas. IAB's required to be in on this meet. I just want you to know going in where I'm standing."

"Okay, okay." It wasn't easy, but she buried her temper and her resentment. She was probably going to need all the help she could get. "It's appreciated."

She kept her head up as she approached Tibble's office. "Dallas, Lieutenant Eve," she said to the uniformed admin stationed outside. "Reporting as requested."

"Lieutenant Webster, IAB, as directed."

"One moment."

It didn't take long. Eve stepped into Tibble's office just ahead of Webster.

Tibble was at the window, hands loosely held at the back of his waist, watching the city below. He was a good cop, in Eve's opinion. Smart, strong, and steady. It had helped put him in the Tower, but it was his political dexterity, she knew, that kept him there.

He spoke without turning, and his voice carried authority. "You're late, Lieutenant Dallas."

"Yes, sir. I apologize. It was unavoidable."

"You know Agent Sparrow."

She glanced at Sparrow, who was already seated. "We've met."

"Have a seat. And you, Lieutenant Webster. Webster is here representing Internal Affairs. Commander Whitney is present per my request." He turned, swooped his hawk's gaze over the room, then moved to his desk.

"Lieutenant Dallas, it seems the HSO has some concerns about the nature of your current investigation, the direction thereof, and your techniques. They have requested, through me, that you halt the investigation and turn over all notes, data, and evidence to AD Sparrow, thereby passing this case into HSO aegis."