The In Death Collection Books 21-25 - J. D. Robb [104]
“Out of the school? They used the schools to disburse funds? Forget kiss, kiss. This plays out, I’ll screw you blind and deaf, first op.”
“That sounds lovely, I’ll check my schedule. Meanwhile, yes, they’ve used the school to wash the funds, then funnel it out to various accounts, under various nonprofit organizations—including Unilab—set up—”
“Nonprofit?” She did a little victory dance. “I’ll wear costumes, your choice.”
“Well now, that is interesting. I’ve always had a little yen for—”
“We’ll talk about it later. Document it, get me every little detail you can manage. If I can show they used the school for laundering unreported income, channeling it into nonprofits, I can use RICO, tax fraud, all manner of juicy stuff, and have those schools shut down whether or not we find anything wonky on premises.”
“You’ll have to hand it to Federal.”
“I won’t give a rat’s ass. You know how long it would take to ferret out every facility where they might be doing this work, aspects of this work, moving girls out? But you cut off the funding, you cut off the work. I gotta go, somebody’s coming to the door. Might be Avril’s rep. I’ll get back to you.”
She started toward the door with a little spring in her step. She could see how it could work, nearly all the way through.
Then she heard the security green light go on. She drew her weapon as the front door opened.
And held it steady even as her heart gave a little thud.
Two women stood just beyond the threshold. They were identical—face, hair, body. Even down to clothes and jewelry.
Both gave her a slow, sober smile. “Lieutenant Dallas, we’re Avril Icove,” they said together.
“Hands behind your heads, turn and face the wall.”
“We’re unarmed,” they said.
“Hands behind your heads,” Eve repeated levelly. “Turn and face the wall.”
They obeyed, their movements in synch. Eve took out her communicator. “Peabody, secure the witness. Bring her down now.”
“On our way.”
Eve patted each of them down. Weird, she thought, to feel exactly the same shape, the same textures.
“We’ve come to answer your questions,” the one on the right told her.
“We’ll waive the right to an attorney at this time.” Both glanced over their shoulders. “We’ll give you full cooperation.”
“That’ll be peachy.”
They glanced up, toward the stairs, and each smiled.
“Oh wow.” Peabody’s voice had a kick that was both shock and excitement. “Surreal Town.”
Eve waited while the woman with Peabody took her place with the others. “Which one of you is Avril Icove of this address?”
“We are Avril Icove. We’re the same.”
“Yeah.” Eve cocked her head. “This is going to be some party. In.” She gestured to the living area. “Sit. Quiet.”
They moved the same, she noted. She couldn’t detect the slightest difference in rhythm or stride.
“What do we do now?” Peabody spoke in undertones, her eyes locked on the three women.
“Change of venue, for one. We can’t take them into Central, not on Code Blue. We take them out quickly, discreetly, to my place. We’ll set up there. Contact Whitney. He’s going to want to be in on this.” She pulled out her ’link, called home.
“Moving to Plan B here,” she told Roarke.
“Which is?”
“Working on that. I’m going to need a contained interview area, and a secondary area for observation. I’m bringing in . . . Better just show you.”
She turned her ’link, panned the three women who sat together on the sofa.
“Ah. That’s interesting.”
“Yeah, I’m riveted. We’re coming now.”
She pocketed her ’link, holstered her weapon. “Here’s how it’s going to work. The three of you are going out, getting directly into the rear of my vehicle. Any one of you tries to resist or run, you’re all going to spend the night in a cage. You’ll be taken to a secure location where the interview will be conducted. You’re not under arrest at this point, but you are under obligation to attend this interview. You each have the right to remain silent.”
They did so as she recited the Revised Miranda.
“Do you understand your rights and obligations?”
“We do.” Their voices blended like one.