The In Death Collection Books 26-29 - J.D. Robb [564]
Whitney lifted his eyebrows. “You’re confident of that, Detective?” Eve was pretty sure she heard Peabody gulp, but her partner continued in what passed for confidence. “Yes, sir. Detective Baxter made him, just as the lieutenant did. His communication to me was delayed due to the chaos Cunningham and Harrison created, the same chaos that injured Dallas and damaged her coms. Instead of entering the room where we could and would have boxed him, he slipped away rather than engage in the confusion, and risk being interviewed as we are now interviewing a number of participants. That’s his caution, sir, just as profiled. He behaved exactly as anticipated. He will behave as we anticipate tomorrow.”
“And you’re willing to risk lives on that?”
“Commander—”
“No,” Peabody interrupted Eve. “He asked me. I would risk mine on the lieutenant’s judgment. It’s easier to say so since, in this case, mine runs the same path. I wouldn’t risk lives, even my own, to save the department’s face. That’s what we’d be doing to publicize Pauley’s face now. Risking lives to save face. That’s my judgment, sir.”
“Jack, again if it matters, that’s my judgment as well.”
Whitney glanced at MacMasters. “And mine, but it still has to be sold. I’ll be speaking, very shortly, with Officers Harrison and Cunningham. They are your men, Jonah, but the fact remains the operation and the results are Dallas’s responsibility.”
“Yes, sir, they are,” Eve agreed.
“You have thirty hours. I can hold the information for thirty hours. If the suspect isn’t in custody at that time, we go public. Damn the leak, Lieutenant, and get it done.”
“Yes, sir. Captain, my sincere regrets.”
“I want in.” MacMasters pushed to his feet. “The leak will cost you at least one man. I want to take his place.”
There were times, Eve thought, you had to go with the gut. “With the commander’s permission, we could use you.”
“Your call. I’ll have Anna take Carol and your family home.”
I’ll drive,” Roarke said when they prepared to head to Central. With a shrug Eve slid in, and gave herself the luxury of closing her eyes.
She opened them again when something landed in her lap. She lifted her eyes at the candy bar. “First cake, now candy.”
“You look like you could use a lift.”
“It could’ve been worse.” Her head ached, her face throbbed, and her suspect was probably having a cold brew and a good laugh. “I don’t know how at this very minute, but it could’ve been worse. There could have been locusts,” she decided, and tore the wrapping off the chocolate. “That would’ve been worse.”
“On a happier note, I don’t believe the department will be troubled by a lawsuit from the bereavement company.”
She bit in, savored. “What did you do, buy the place?”
“An interesting solution, but no. It was simply pointed out that the company held the lion’s share of liability as it was their security who allowed an intruder, which I assumed was a wiser term than suspect.”
She took another bite, sneered a little. “You got that.”
“That they allowed the intruder access to their facilities, into a memorial for a murdered minor where several people, including police officers were injured. I believe those in charge now understand the ramifications, and the possible consequences—and publicity—of a countersuit.”
“That’s why you wheel the deals.”
“It is, yes. How’s my favorite face?”
She turned to study him. “You look okay.”
“And as fond as I am of what I see in the mirror, I like your face even more.”
“It hurts.” She allowed herself a momentary sulk. “I’m glad it hurts because it reminds me I fucked up.”
“Oh well, it’s pity party time. Go on then, you’re among friends.”
“I should’ve anticipated him infiltrating the staff.”
“Why?” Roarke glanced at her, tried not to smile when he watched her scowl over the next bite of candy. “From where I’m sitting it’s more trouble than it was worth—or should’ve been.”
“Because he’s careful. It gave him better cover. Who looks at all those black suits and sees anything but another black suit? It gave him more access, let him choose his time, which was at peak.”
“And