Dead Ringer

“Technically.”

“Technically matters. It’s the difference between the right guy and the wrong guy.”

“He’s the doer, Rosato.” Needleman’s mouth set in a firm little line that Be

“When will the tests come back?”

“Some of them, day or so.”

Be

“Nothing. He’s not talking until his lawyer gets here. But I’ll tell you what you’re go

“So you got a tip.”

“Yes.”

Be

“No, he wanted a lawyer from the jump.”

Be

“Yes.”

“The MO is the same?”

“Identical.”

“Why don’t you fill me in? Convince me.” Be

Needleman stepped closer. “Okay, I’ll bite. Here’s the MO. Victim is taken from behind, at the mouth of an alley. Same time of night, same type of vic. Older man, well dressed, foreign, speaks with an accent. Stabbed in the back with a common knife, dragged into an alley, turned over and knifed until subdued. Ten to twelve stab wounds, indicative of rage. Robbed and left for dead.”

Poor Robert. Be

“Also, Johnson lives a few blocks from both scenes, in Center City. Twice divorced. Lives with mom, she works at night. You know the profile, the skinhead type. Impulsive, angry, underachiever. Badly socialized, a loner. Can’t hold a job or a marriage. Blames his problems on everybody else. A victim.”

Be

“Not that well organized a plan. Opportunistic.”

“So he’s a pla

Needleman laughed again. “Okay, tell me what you know, Nancy.”

“Brace yourself,” Be

“I’m trying to believe, but it just doesn’t work for me,” Detective Needleman answered, with a hint of sarcasm.

“Why not? We know my twin is trying to get me.”

“Rosato, if your twin is out to get you, why wouldn’t she just get you? Why kill your client?”

“She’s toying with me, Detective. She’s closing in. By killing someone I care about, who is important to my business, she hurts me. She’s saying, I can take you anytime. Then she makes her move.”

Needleman frowned with genuine concern. “If you think this, you should have security.”

“I do. Thanks. And I’m getting a TRO against her, for what that’s worth. Look, even if it’s not Alice, there are suspects far more likely than some skinhead.” Be

“I have to tell you, I listened to you, I really did, but I just think we got the bad guy, right in there.” The detective nodded at the door behind him. “I been in this business too long, and I like this guy. I really like him.” Be

“Why do you dismiss the others so easily?”

“I don’t dismiss them, and I didn’t. But right now I got the doer in Chiamel, and when the tests come back, we’ll see what they tell us on St. Amien. If it doesn’t pan out, it doesn’t pan out.” Needleman touched her shoulder, in a comforting way. “I know you care about your client, and I know you’ve been under a lot of strain. Why don’t you just do your thing, and let us do ours, with Johnson.”

“So you’re not go

“Sorry.”

“Me, too.”

Needleman inclined his head. “You go

“Me?” Be

Be

Relax, you just don’t see him.

Be

“Get out of my way!” Be

She broke into a jog out of the parking lot, then accelerated to a run even in her pumps, ignoring the shock each time her foot hit the pavement. She didn’t know where David was and she didn’t care anymore. Her cell phone began ringing but she didn’t answer it. She kept ru