Obsession in Death (In Death #40)(114)

“We should talk,” Eve agreed. “Let’s get everybody out of here so we can talk in private.”

A flash of anger sparked in her eyes. “Do you think I’m stupid? Nobody leaves. Secure the doors. Now. Right now, or we all go.”

“Everybody, lower your weapons. Secure the hallway doors, Jenkinson.”

They were never closed, Eve thought, so that alone would set off an alert. But if the crazy woman in the room released the switch, it would, at least, contain the explosion. Nobody outside Homicide had to die.

Slowly, Eve slid her own weapon back in its harness. “Do you want to talk here?”

“I want everybody’s ’links and comms out, on the floor. Weapons, ’links, comms, on the floor. Nobody uses any communication.”

“No problem.” Eve turned. She wanted her people to see her face, to make sure no one tried to be a hero.

“’Links and comms,” she ordered, noted Reineke wasn’t at his desk, or in the room. She caught Jenkinson’s eye, understood when he glanced briefly at the break room. “Nobody in this room will use any sort of communication device.” She held up her hands when her pocket ’link signaled. “How do you want me to handle that? You’re in charge here.”

“Who is it? I want to know who it is.”

Eve look at the ’link. “It’s Roarke. I was supposed to contact him about ten minutes ago. I forgot.”

“Answer it. Keep it short. Tell him you’re busy. Try to signal him, I let it go.”

Eve answered. “Hey, baby. Sorry I forgot to tag you – you must’ve been worried. But sweetheart, I’ve been busy. Still am.”

His eyes, blue and vivid, held hers. She could see him rethink whatever he’d been about to say. “Understood. It wouldn’t be the first time. As it happens, I’m heading down your way. I thought I’d stop in, see if I can be of any help.”

“Appreciate the thought, but I’m really swamped here. I’d like to stick with it, get what I can done. You know how much I’m looking forward to the ball drop tonight.”

“As am I. I’ll let you get back to it. Take care of my cop.”

“That’s the plan. Later, honey.”

She clicked off, set her ’link on the floor. “Okay?”

“I want everybody on the floor! Facedown. Except you,” she said to Eve. “On the floor, everybody else.”

“On the floor, facedown. You’re in charge here.”

“I know how that works! You can’t play me like some civilian.”

“I’m just stating the facts. Why would I play you? You’re one of us.”

“You don’t even know who I am.”

“But I do. Lottie Roebuck, crime scene unit. Field tech. We’ve worked countless cases together.”

Surprise, maybe happiness, glimmered for an instant, then died again. “You never even talked to me. All I wanted was a conversation.”

“We’re talking now. Why don’t we go in my office? It’s got a door, it’s got a lock. Just you and me, Lottie.”

“You care more about them than about me.”

She thought about her cops. Smart cops. If one of them saw a move, they’d take it. She didn’t want to risk it.

“I’m all about you, Lottie. I’ve never had a friend like you. I’m just getting used to it. I needed time to get used to it.”

“I did what you wanted. Bastwick, Ledo. It’s what you wanted, but you didn’t appreciate it. You said I was a coward. Does this look like I’m a coward?”

“Come on, Lottie, you said you knew how it worked. I’ve got to say things like that. I didn’t want them to take me off the case, right? Now we’ve got to figure out a way to get you out of here, get you somewhere safe.”

“It’s too late for that.”

“It doesn’t have to be. We can figure it out together. I mean, Jesus, look at us. Who’s smarter than us?”

“I’m the smart one.”

“That’s right.”

“Not pretty enough, not sweet enough, not happy enough. Just not enough, ever, for anybody. I’m enough now. Why wasn’t it enough for you?”

Eve wished to God she had Mira in her ear, telling her what to say, how to play it. But she only had herself.

“You didn’t give me a chance. I didn’t know about you, Lottie. I knew you were the best at the work, sure. Really smart. I depended on you, your work, your smarts. But I didn’t know you felt the way you did. I didn’t know you wanted to be my friend the way I wanted to be yours.”

“You’re lying.”

“What’s the point in lying? We’re past all that. You need to tell me what you want, let me try to get it for you, like you got me what I wanted.”

“I thought I could wait until midnight. It’s symbolic. But it’s too long. I need to show you who we are. Not just how we look now. That’s symbolic, too. I thought, if I did what you wanted, what you needed, you’d see, you’d know. But you didn’t. You treated me like I was just one of the faces on the board, one of the names in the murder book.”

“I had to find you.” Six feet, Eve gauged. Just six feet between her and the switch. “We couldn’t talk until I found you.”