The in Death Collection Books 11-15 - J. D. Robb [52]
“You think there’s honor among thieves, McNab?”
“No . . . well, sort of. I mean what would be the point?”
“Self-protection, covering your ass. Guilt, remorse.” She lifted a shoulder. “Or it could be as simple as Ricker paying one more to cut down the field. Thirty pieces of silver,” she mused. “Ricker’s really fond of silver. You may not find the killer on this list. But you may find the next target. Thirty pieces of silver,” she said again. “A symbol of betrayal. Maybe whoever killed these men wanted us to know they were wrong cops. We need to find out why. You start by finding out how many more are wrong.”
“Shit’s going to hit the fan when this comes out,” Feeney told her. “Some aren’t going to be happy you tossed mud on the badge.”
“There’s already blood on it. I’ve got to get to Central, then over to court. We’d better work out of here today. I’ll get another computer brought in so you can network.”
The lock light was still on the adjoining door. She wasn’t about to humiliate herself by knocking on it in front of her associates. Instead, she went out, walked down the hall and, swallowing pride, knocked from there.
Roarke opened it himself, briefcase in hand. “Lieutenant. I was just heading out.”
“Yeah, well, me, too. My team’s going to set up here today. It’d be helpful if they had another computer unit or two.”
“Summerset will get them whatever they need.”
“Yeah, good. Well . . .”
He touched her arm, turning her so that they walked toward the steps together. “Was there something else?”
“It’s really distracting trying to work and knowing you’re still torqued at me.”
“I imagine so. What would you like me to do about it?”
It was said so pleasantly, she wanted to kick him. “I said I was sorry. Damn it.”
“So you did. How rude of me to still be . . . what was it? Torqued.”
“You’re better at this than I am,” she said grimly. “We’re not on even ground.”
“Life has very little even ground.” But he couldn’t hold out against her misery and stopped halfway down the stairs. “I love you, Eve. Nothing changes that, nothing could. But Christ, you piss me off.”
The wash of relief at hearing him say he loved her warred with irritation that she should be slapped, again, for doing what she’d thought best. “Look, I just didn’t want you involved in—”
“Ah.” He tapped a finger on her lips to silence her. “There it is. There’s quite a world of trouble with that single statement. As I doubt you have time, and know I don’t, to explore that world right at the moment, why don’t you, between your quests for justice today, give it some thought.”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m a moron.”
He kissed her, which was something, but did so lightly before continuing down the steps. “Go to work, Eve. We’ll talk about this later.”
“How come he’s in charge?” she muttered. She heard him say something to Summerset, something quick and careless before the door opened. Closed.
She started down, replaying the scene in her head, with all the sharp, pithy, and clever things she would have said if she’d had a few minutes to think about it.
“Lieutenant.” Summerset stood at the base of the stairs, holding out her jacket. It was something he never did. “I’ll see to it that your associates have the equipment they require.”
“Yeah, great. Fine.”
“Lieutenant.”
She shoved her arms into the jacket, snarled at him. “What, goddamn it?”
He didn’t so much as blink. “Regarding your actions of last evening—”
“Don’t you start on me, hatchet-face.” She shoved by him, wrenched open the doors.
“I believe,” he continued in the same mild tone, “those actions were quite correct.”
He might as well have stunned her with her own weapon. Her mouth fell open as she looked back at him. “What did you say?”
“I also believe your hearing is unimpaired, and I dislike repeating myself.” That said, he walked down the hall and left her staring at him.
chapter nine
Nadine Furst was precisely on time, and ready to roll live. Eve hadn’t agreed to a live feed, but she didn’t object. It was a minor point, but one that Nadine noted.
They were