Survivor In Death (In Death #20)(78)

“So I see. You didn't even ask if she'd been hurt.”

“I don't care.” Anger, or perhaps just a hint of embarrassment colored her cheeks. “I have my life, I have my career. If I wanted children, I'd have my own. I have no intention of fostering someone else's.”

“Then I've made a mistake.” He got to his feet. “I've taken up too much of your time, and wasted my own.”

“Grant's mother booted my father out when I was ten, and she was just one of many. What possible reason would I have to take responsibility for his daughter?”

“Apparently none at all.”

He walked out, more angry with himself than with her.

Eve stepped out of the dojo, surveyed the street, eyes tracking over parked vehicles, pedestrians, street traffic.

“Odds are low they'd have been able to trail us here,” Peabody said from behind her. “Even if they had the equipment, and the man power, to keep round-the-clock surveillance on Central, they'd have to be really good or really lucky to make our unit.”

“So far they've been really good and really lucky. We don't play the odds on this one.” She drew the scanner out of her pocket. “That's not standard issue.”

“No, it's Roarke issue. Cop issue would be what they'd expect, and they could have planted any number of devices with that in mind.”

“Dallas, you make me feel all safe and snuggled. And hungry. There's a deli right next door.”

“I'm off delis for a while. I'll always wonder if somebody's getting a blow job in the back room, with the extra veggie hash.”

“Oh, well, thanks. Now I'm off delis, and I didn't have waffles this morning. Chinese place across the street. How about an egg roll?”

“Fine, just make it fast.”

She ran the scan for explosives, homing devices, while Peabody hotfooted it. She gave a shoulder roll--the light body armor irritated her--then slid into the car as Peabody dashed back across.

“Didn't have Pepsi.”

“What?” Eve stared at the take-out bag. “Is this America? Have I crossed over into some dark continent, some alternate universe?”

“Sorry. Got you a lemon fizz.”

“It's just not right.” Eve pulled away from the curb. “It should be illegal to run a food-service operation and not offer Pepsi.”

“Speaking of food-service operations, you know what Ophelia told me she's going to do with the reward?”

“If she gets it.”

“If. Anyway, she and the deli guy talked about going in together if she ever got enough scratch. So, with the reward, she'd be solid. They want to open a sex club.”

“Oh, like New York doesn't have enough of those.”

“Yeah, but a sex club deli. It's pretty innovative. Get your salami hard, get your hard salami, all in one venue.”

“Christ, I'm never eating in a deli again.”

“I think it might be interesting. Anyway.” Peabody popped a mini eggroll. “You want me to tag Feeney, have him start trying to trace the transmissions?”

“No. I'll take that. Tag Baxter, tell him to prioritize the Brenegan case. And contact the commander, see if he's had any luck cutting through the red tape. Let him know Kirkendall is now prime, and we've got Baxter looking into a closed case that may connect. No, not the 'link,” she added. “Let's mix up the communication devices. Use your personal for this. Then do a check with the rest of the team, using your communicator.”

“You think they might try to triangulate our location through communication?”

“I think we'll be careful.” Eve used the dash unit for Sade Tully's home address. Her next stop.

It was a modest building, easy walking distance to the law firm. No doorman, Eve noted. Average security. A scan of her badge got them through--and she imagined a couple of buzzes on various apartment intercoms would have done the same. In the narrow lobby, she pushed the button for Sade's floor and studied the setup.

Dual security cams--that may or may not have been working. Fire door leading to stair access. There was another cam in the single elevator, and the standard set of them on opposite sides of Sade's floor.

The apartment door was fitted with an electronic peep and a sturdy police lock. Eve buzzed, saw the peep engage a few moments later. Locks snicked, and Sade opened the door.

“Has something happened? Oh, Jesus, did something happen to Dave?”

“No. Sorry to alarm you. Can we come in?”

“Yeah, yeah.” She pushed a hand through her hair. “I guess I'm on edge. Getting myself together for Linnie's funeral. I've never been to one for a kid. You should never have to go to one for a kid. We closed the office for the day. Dave's going to pick me up soon.”

The apartment was pretty and bright, the trendy gel sofa done in shimmering shades of blue and green with a small eating area set up in front of a pair of windows framed with fabric. Inexpensive posters of some of the city's highlights decorated the walls.

“Dave says you've got a good memory for names, for details.”

“That's why they pay me the big bucks. You want to sit? Do you want. . . God, I don't know what I have. I haven't been to the market since . . .”