Part 22 (1/2)

”The pattern comes through,” she continued. ”The victims represent wealth, position, indulgence, the weapons unusual and showy, the kill sites public and risky. In both cases false ID was utilized, and sprang from one of the companies run by these men. An outside hack is, of course, possible, but it feels like an inside job. I t plays as one.”

”And Mira's profile?”

”They both fit. The interviews, sir? I t felt like theater, in both cases. Rehea.r.s.ed, with each taking a specific type of role. They're arrogant andsmug, and enjoying the fact that they're in the middle of this. We have an additional piece of evidence from a partial image EDD was able to enhance from the Coney Island security. From it, we can estimate the height of the killer, and we were able to identify the designer and model of his shoes, and the approximate size. I t's made by Emilio Stefani-”

As he bandaged, Carver let out a low whistle. ”Those'll cost ya.”

”They retail for three thousand, to confirm Carver's statement. Dudley bought a pair of that shoe, in the color and the size we have, in March. Only one other pair was purchased in the city, in that color and the size Detective McNab ascertained from the security image. That individual is currently in New Zealand, and at the time of the murder was on a location shoot for a major vid. That leaves Dudley.”

”That's good, but it won't get you an arrest warrant much less a conviction. I f you're set on this line of investigation, get more.”

”I intend to, sir.”

”You're all set.” Carver rose. ”Want a pain pop?”

”No, I don't want a pain pop.”

”Your choice, but it's gonna ache for a while. I can take a look at it for you tomorrow, change the dressing. You should only need me to slap some NuSkin on it by then.”

”I 'm fine. I t's fine.” Relieved it was done, Eve got to her feet.

”Thank you, Carver.” Whitney sat back as the medic tapped a finger to his temple as salute and left.

”I f the bayonet was military, and you've got the era, check to see if either of your suspects had an ancestor who served, and would have been issued the weapon, and push on the crossbow. One or both of them could be licensed.”

”I f Moriarity used the bow, as I believe, he's practiced. Even at that distance, he had to be confident in his shot, first time. The second killing runs the same. I t was dead in the heart, which kept the bleeding light, reduced the spatter. They took time to work on their skills, or already had those skills.”

”Get more,” Whitney repeated. ”And take care of that arm.”

”Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” Recognizing the dismissal, Eve walked out.

As she made her way back to her office, she started the search on her PPC for the military connection. That was a line she'd missed, she admitted, and shouldn't have. I t might have something to do with being up for around forty hours, but reasons weren't excuses.

Once again, the s.h.i.+ft was changing as she pa.s.sed through the bullpen. She spotted Baxter just pus.h.i.+ng back from his desk.

”Here early, here late. What have you done with Baxter?”

”Ha ha. Just finished the case from this morning. PA dealt it down to Man One, but it's closed. Report's on its way to you.”

”Good enough.”

”Sent the boy home. He's still dating the cutie in Records. But we're clear if you need more hands on your double.”

”I 'll let you know.”

”Heard you took a little slice,” he said with a nod toward her arm.

”Word travels.”

”Oh, and I sent you the monthly eval on Trueheart. He's going to make a good detective. Needs a little more time, but if you give me the green light, I 'm going to tell him to start boning up for the exam.”

”That's a pretty fast track, Baxter.”

”He's quick, unless you're talking about with women.” He grinned at that. ”He's got good instincts, and he thinks things through. Plus, the kid's got me for a trainer. How can he lose?”

”I 'll look over the eval, think about it.”

”He's made for Homicide,” Baxter added as Eve turned away.

She stopped. ”Because?”

”He looks at a DB and sees a person. We can forget that, just see the case. You know how it is. But he doesn't, and not just because he's still a little green. He's wired that way. This is his place, that's what I 'm saying, even if you figure he needs more time in uniform.”

”I 'll think it over.”

She got what she needed from her office and joined the end-of-s.h.i.+fters on the exodus.

She set her vehicle on auto so she could let her mind drift.

Baxter and Trueheart, she thought. Some would have seen it as an odd pairing, the slick, often bra.s.s detective and the shy, sweet-natured rookie.

She hadn't, and that was why she'd a.s.signed Trueheart as Baxter's aide. She'd believed they'd complement each other, and that Baxter's style would ripen and toughen the rook.

I t had, but the partners.h.i.+p had also ... softened wasn't the word, she thought. Maybe opened was better. I t had opened Baxter. He'd always been a solid cop-smart, smart-mouthed, compet.i.tive. And, in her opinion, mostly out for number one.

Trueheart had changed that so that now they were much more partners than trainer and aide.

They understood each other, communicated with and without words. They trusted each other. A cop couldn't go through the door with a partner unless there was absolute trust.

A man didn't kill with a partner unless there was absolute trust. Trust, knowledge, understanding, and a common goal.

What was the common goal?

How had they developed the trust and understanding? How and when had they decided to kill?

Friends.h.i.+ps, she thought, took all kinds of forms, and formed for all kinds of reasons. But they stuck, didn't they, out of genuine affection, genuine need, or the solid base of common ground?

Considering, she used the dash 'link to contact Mavis Freestone.

”Dallas! Belle and I were just talking about you!”

Since Belle was about six months old and mostly said ”ga!,” Eve figured it had been a short conversation. ”Yeah? Listen, I-”

”I was just telling her all the things she could be when she grows up. You know like president or G.o.ddess of all she surveys, or a vid star like Mommy, a designer like Daddy. How she could be the total of totality like Roarke or a kick-a.s.s supercop like you.”