Indulgence in Death (In Death #31)(23)

“Okay,” she said for a third time, at a loss. “Good work.”

“That’s what we do around here,” he said so cheerfully her stomach threatened to curdle. “You go catch the bad guy.”

“Right.” Eve slid a glance at Peabody as they left. “What the f**k was that? Is it like that vid, with the people and the pods and the dupes?”

“Oh, that’s a scary one. It’s sort of like that. He’s in love.”

“What with?”

“Who,” Peabody said with a laugh. “Apparently he met somebody a few weeks ago, and he’s in love. He’s happy.”

“He’s f**king creepy, that’s what he is. I think I like him better when he’s a dick. He kept smiling.”

“Happy makes you smile.”

“It’s unnatural.”

Still, she had a constructive chunk of data to work with. Back at Central she closed herself in her office to open her murder book, set up her murder board, and write up her initial report while Peabody contacted the two outlets to try to track down the bolt.

She tagged Cher Reo in the PA’s office.

“How was your vacation?”

Eve resigned herself to answering the question all day. “Good. Listen, I caught a case this morning.”

“Already?”

“Crime marches on. The vic’s got a sealed juvie. I need to unseal it.”

Reo sat back, pushed a hand through her fluffy blond hair. “You believe the juvie’s pertinent to the case?”

“I don’t know, that’s why I need to see it. Guy’s a successful business owner, husband, father, big fancy house in the burbs. No trouble on the surface, so far. The scan in autopsy shows multiple old wounds, mostly breaks. Might be abuse, might be from fighting. The past can come back to haunt you, right?”

“So they say. It shouldn’t be a problem for the primary on a homicide to view the records of the victim. I’ll make the request.”

“Appreciate it.”

“How’d he die?”

“Crossbow.”

Reo widened bright blue eyes. “Never a dull moment. I’ll get back to you.”

Eve programmed coffee, put her boots on her desk, and studied the board.

Moments later, Peabody gave a cursory knock and stepped in. “I’ve got a customer list for that particular batch of bolts. It’s a couple of dozen worldwide, with a handful off planet. There’s only one with a New York residence. I ran her, and she’s clean, but you have to be to get the license and permit.”

“We’ll look at her. Why Gold Star?” she wondered. “Small, exclusive company, small fleet, small staff, and if their hype’s to be believed, premium class, personal service. Top of the line,” she murmured, “like the weapon. Expensive. Connect to Sweet, high-level exec for a high-level company. If there’s no connection between Houston or his company and Sweet and his, then the only common denominator is they’re both successful men with specialized skills.”

“Maybe it’s totally random.”

“If it is, Houston may or may not be the first, but he won’t be the last. Listen to Houston’s transmissions.” She ordered the computer to play it.

“Hey, Michael. I’m pulling up to the pickup now. Traffic’s not too bad, considering. I’ll check back when I’ve got the Person on Board.”

“I’ll be here.”

“How’s Kimmy doing?”

“She’s beat. She’s gone on to bed. I’m going to carry the portable with me when I check on her and our boy.”

“Couple more weeks, you’ll be a daddy again. You get some rest, too. I think I see the client. I’ll come back.”

“Time lapse to next trans,” Eve said, “three minutes, ten.”

“POB,” Jamal said, his voice quieter now, brisker. “En route to LaGuardia, commercial transpo area for pickup, Supreme Airlines, Flight six-two-four out of Atlanta. ETA, ten-twenty.”

“Copy that.”

“Go to bed, Michael.” Jamal’s voice was barely a whisper now. “Take the portable with you if you’re going to be a stickler. I’ll come back to you if I need to. It’s a long run, no point in both of us getting a short night. I’ve got a book. I’ll entertain myself when the clients have their late supper.”

“Come back when you get to the airport, then I’ll go to bed.”

“Deal. The client’s excited about this surprise for his wife,” Jamal added. “He’s sitting back there grinning. Just keeps grinning. I have a feeling I’ll be using the privacy window before the night’s over.”

Michael chuckled. “Client’s king.”

“Last transmission,” Eve said.

Jamal relayed his arrival, said good night to Michael.

“Within five minutes, he’s dead. There’s no worry, no tension in his voice. Just the opposite. No sense of threat from the passenger, no worries. The killer’s not nervous, not if Houston’s read him right, and somebody who does what he did for a living should have a good sense. His passenger’s excited, happy, he’s anticipating the kill.”

“He—which lets out Iris Quill—the bolt buyer.”