The In Death Collection Books 6-10 - J. D. Robb [110]
Eve strode over to the chart, scanned quickly. “Son of a bitch, the Luxury Towers is in that grid. The fucker’s in there. He’s working out of the building were he did the first murder.”
“Do we move on him there?” Peabody demanded.
Eve held up a hand to halt the questions until she could think it through. “He said I had less than two hours. He doesn’t rush through his work, so he’ll want at least one of those hours in here. He’ll be contacting this room any minute. Did Jackison get in?”
“He’s in the next room.”
“All right, let’s give our boy a little time. He’s already got his tools packed. He doesn’t leave anything to the last minute. He’ll get his transpo, and he won’t break any traffic laws getting here. He’s on a timetable. We need a second team over at the Luxury Towers, but I don’t want them moving in. If he’s working with anyone and they stay behind, they could tip him off.”
She pulled out her communicator, contacting Whitney to report and outline strategy for the next stage. Her blood was cool, her mind clear as she began snapping out orders.
She broke off when the room fax beeped. “He’s made contact, Commander. I’m reading it now. He’s giving instructions for the mark to expect a uniformed driver within fifteen minutes. He wants the mark to wait in the room. This indicates the hit is meant to go down here, as anticipated. Mark is requested to release the elevator when signaled by ’link from the lobby. Three beeps. Transmission’s ended. He’ll be moving now.”
“A second team will stake out the Luxury Towers. I can give you two detectives from the Homicide Division and three officers.”
“In civilian attire, Commander. And I need at least one man from EDD to run a trace sweep.”
“You already have three there, Dallas. You’re straining the resources.”
She set her teeth, wishing desperately to be in two places at once. “I’ll send McNab to coordinate with the second team.”
“I’ll squeeze out a van with the necessary equipment. Keep this frequency open.”
“Yes, sir. McNab.”
Insult radiated from him. “You’re kicking me now, when it’s going down?”
“I need you to find his hole.”
“He’s coming here. We can scoop him up.”
“I need you to find his hole,” she repeated, “because God help us if he gets past us and crawls back in it. You find it, McNab, and you block it off. That’s an order, Detective.”
Steaming, he grabbed his coat. “Homicide figures all EDD’s good for is ghost work. Fine when you don’t have the answers, but when you do it’s back to the recorders.”
“I haven’t got time for temper tantrums. See that the other e-men here are fully briefed, then turn it over.” She brushed by him and into the parlor. “Everybody out of this room but Jackison. Take your positions. Weapons on low stun. We want him coherent.”
She lifted her eyebrows at Roarke. “Civilians, in the spare room.” She picked up one of the remote monitors. “You can watch.”
“I’m sure it would be entertaining. Lieutenant, you’ve just shorted yourself one e-man. I’ll take his position. Bend the rules a little,” he said before she could object. “It’ll do you more good than having me twiddle my thumbs.”
She had reason to know he was better with the equipment than the two men she had left. “First bedroom,” she decided. “You’re better off where I can keep an eye on you anyway. Jackison, stay clear of the door. When he rings in, wait for my signal to answer. Peabody, I want you at the door of the second bedroom. Use the security peep. Keep alert.”
She spoke into her communicator as she walked back into the control room. “Team A, in position. Team B. Team C. It’s going down here. Observe but do not approach or delay any uniformed drivers. Suspect will employ house or palm ’link on arrival and use penthouse elevator. Repeat, observe only. No one moves on him. We want him up here. When he’s boxed, you’ll get my signal and close in on this sector.”
“I love it when you talk cop,” Roarke murmured in her ear.
“No civilian chatter.” Eve planted herself in front of the monitors, scanning each to satisfy herself that all her troops