The in Death Collection Books 11-15 - J. D. Robb [217]
“That’s four blocks away. Four fucking blocks.”
“Yes. Obviously you and I don’t stroll through the neighborhood often enough.”
“We never stroll through the neighborhood. How sure are you?”
“Ninety percent.”
“Sure enough. Okay, I need a description of that building, the layout, the tenant list, security setup.”
“That should be simple enough. Actually, I think I own that building.”
“Think?”
“One does lose track occasionally. Computer, who owns the property currently displayed on screen two?”
WORKING . . . PROPERTY IS OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY ROARKE INDUSTRIES.
“Ah, there we are. Just let me take a look at my real estate files. I’ll have the data for you in a moment.”
“Lose track occasionally?” she repeated, staring at him. “Of an entire building?”
“I do a bit of buying and selling of property, particularly in my own backyard.” He smiled at her. “Everyone needs a hobby.”
He sat down, settled in, and brought up the tenant list first. “That’s lovely, isn’t it? Fully occupied. I do hate seeing nice apartments vacant.”
“Cut out the families, the couples, those with roommates, and all single women.”
The computer acknowledged her directive, making her jolt a bit before she realized Roarke had it programmed to accept her voice commands.
The list narrowed to ten.
“Bring up application for rent data.”
She skimmed down the new information, mentally discarding men over sixty or under forty. And now there were two.
“Jacob Hawthorne, computer analyst, age fifty-three. Single. Estimated annual income two point six million. He has the penthouse, right? Yost would want the best digs.”
“Agreed.”
“Several years shaved off the age, but I like Hawthorne. Do a run on both these single males. Let’s be sure. Damn sure. I’m calling it in.”
Within two hours, Eve had her team assembled in her home office. Added to the investigative team were twenty Special Tactics officers and ten hand-selected uniforms. Some might call it overkill, but she wasn’t going to risk Yost slipping through a hole.
While she waited for the warrant for search and seize to come through, she ran over the plan yet again.
“There are fifty-six units in the building. They are all occupied. Civilian safety remains a priority.”
The building’s blueprints were up on-screen. Eve used a laser pointer to highlight each section as she spoke. “Our information indicates that the subject occupies the top floor. There are no other units on that floor. All elevators and glides will be inoperable. Stair access will be blocked off. We don’t want him getting off that floor and taking any hostages. This unit has four exits. Two men from Team B will be stationed at each exit. Team A will handle building exits. On command, black-and-whites will move in here, and here, closing off the street to all outgoing and incoming traffic. Subject is not to be terminated. All weapons on stun, medium setting.”
She glanced away from the screen to scan faces, to judge and measure. “This is a professional assassin, and he’s managed to elude and evade authorities for more than forty years. Confirmed and suspected kills top forty during that time period. He’s smart, and he’s fast, and he’s dangerous. Containing and capturing him within the building is our top objective. If those efforts fail, the second line will take him down. Full-body armor is required for all team members.”
She turned back, used a remote to split the screen and bring up Yost’s face. “This is our man. You all have print-outs of this image. Be aware that he uses disguises. Captain Feeney will explain EDD’s function in this operation.”
Feeney sniffed, pulled on his nose, got to his feet. “Security cams on that floor will be adjusted to relay direct to Base One. We have verified the subject is in target area as of thirty minutes ago. We will reverify before moving in.
“All the subject will see if he checks his monitor is an empty hallway. We can’t stop him from scratching