Thankless in Death (In Death #37)(91)

“Okay, I know it looks bad.” He took a sip of coffee from an oversized black-and-white-striped cup. “God, that’s good! Are you sure you don’t want a hit?”

“Positive.”

“Okay. The thing is,” he continued as he skirted the bar, gestured to the long, low sofa, “I’ve known Jerry for years.” He took a seat in the chair without women’s clothing, slid down, kicked out his legs. A man at his ease. “It’s really hard to process he might have tripped out and killed somebody.”

“His parents, his ex-girlfriend, and his former Computer Science teacher would disagree with you, if they weren’t dead.”

“Harsh.” He drank more coffee, crossed his ankles. “I’m just holding out that there’s been a mistake.”

“Have you had contact with Jerry since last Thursday night?”

He shifted in his chair. “No. And—full disclosure—I did try to tag him, just to hear his side of things, you know? Maybe he’s just freaked—who wouldn’t be—and keeping it real down-low.”

“Are you just that stupid?” Eve wondered.

“Come on, no call for that.” Irritation flicked briefly over his face. Here then gone. “Maybe somebody framed him. Maybe tried to kill him, too, so he’s hiding out. He could be dead himself. Or, okay, maybe he went totally whack and did all this. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

“He’s working his way down a list, Joe. You could be next.”

He laughed, shooting his legs out again, tossing his head back. “Please. NPW—no possible way. Lady—”

“Lieutenant,” Eve corrected with a whiplash in her voice. “The homicide lieutenant who waded through Jerry Reinhold’s parents’ blood two days ago, who stood over the body of Lori Nuccio that same night, and over the tortured body of Edie Farnsworth the day after.”

“Well, sure, I’m really sorry about all that, but—”

“There’s nothing to laugh at here. He beat, stabbed, bludgeoned, strangled, smothered human beings. You should start wondering what he’s got in store for you.”

The smile had vanished, but he waved a casually dismissive hand. “He’s got no reason to hurt me. We’re bros.”

“You won in Vegas; he lost. And you rubbed his face in it. That’s more than enough for him.”

“Hell, Jerry’s not like that, he knows I was just yanking. Plus I bought everybody a round of drinks.”

“Joe.” Peabody tried a voice of reason. “Why don’t you let us put you under protection, just for a few days.”

“No can do. How am I supposed to score with cops looking over my shoulder? It’s one thing for Mal and Dave to weenie out on it, they don’t see the kind of action I do. And hell.” He made a dismissive pfft sound. “I can handle Jerry. Been doing it for years.”

“Not this Jerry,” Eve said, but saw they hadn’t made a dent.

Joe just waved a hand again. “Listen, I’m going to tap my latest, then we’re going to have some breakfast. I’m putting in a couple hours’ work later, then I’ve got another frosty lady to entertain tonight, and that’s before I put in some time at the old homestead tomorrow for T-Day. Schedule’s tight, and I’m covered. But hey, if I hear from Jerry, I’ll let you know.”

Done, Eve pushed to her feet. “Your choice. Does he now or has he ever had the code and keys for this apartment?”

“No way. Nobody but me has them. I like my privacy.”

“Watch your back today, Joe. That comes from the person who’ll be standing over your corpse if you don’t.”

Eve caught his smirk just as she turned to walk out, and just kept going.

“Do you think he’ll contact us if he hears from Reinhold?” Peabody wondered.

“Fifty-fifty. I’d say it depends on his mood at the time. He really is Asshole Joe.”

“Yeah.” As they rode down in the elevator, Peabody considered. “Reinhold wouldn’t be able to access the apartment unless Joe lets him in. Even getting into the building’s a little tougher than what he’s done before. He could do that, but the apartment’s secure. If Joe goes into work, he’ll be in an office, with other people, then he’ll be with some woman stupid enough to give him the time of day. He’s about as safe as we can make him without forcing protection on him.”

“I’ve stretched it to put officers on people who want it. I can’t stretch it for someone who doesn’t.”

She stepped outside, took a breath of cool, damp air. No rain yet, damn it.

“We’re going into Central. You work the angles I gave you. I’m working the map and real estate. He’d want better than this.” She turned to study Joe’s building. “If for no more reason than his bro can afford this. He’s got that shitpile of money now, and he’s looking for the shine.”

“He’d need to snag a shiny place, and furnish it,” Peabody pointed out.

“Yeah.” Eve mulled it over as they walked back to the car. “High-end there, too. He’d go for the trend, like Asshole Joe. Nothing classic, nothing antique. Shine, shine. We’ll check that out. He’d need a few key pieces fast. Swank hotel suite’s still possible, so we keep hitting that. But the f**ker’s nearby.”