Strangers In Death

Eve gave him a minute to stew. “You want me to tell you you screwed up? You missed it? You didn’t see what you should’ve seen? Nothing I’d like better because it makes my day to ream out a smart-ass pig-eater like you. But I can’t do it. You didn’t screw up. You can’t miss what’s not in play, and can’t see what isn’t there.”

“You saw Ava Anders.”

“I didn’t like her goddamn face-and yeah, some of it was personal. I wouldn’t have seen the how if you hadn’t nagged my ass off about Custer. So reschedule your pity party, Baxter. We don’t have time for it now.”

“Assuming we’re playing to our strengths, you’ll be taking bad cop.”

“And you’d be the cop with the soft spot for the tragic, little widow.”

“Yeah.” He hissed out a breath. “Fucking A. I feel played, so I’ll be picking up the hats and balloons for the pity party later.”

“Don’t forget the cake.” She scouted out a parking spot as she neared Suza

“I know how to play good cop.” He got out, waited for Eve on the sidewalk. “I need to take the lead with her, initially, keep her steady, make her think I’m a little ticked that you’re insisting on the official routine.”

“I know how to play bad cop,” Eve countered.

It was a miserable post-Urban War building. One of the structures tossed up from the rubble and never intended to last. Its concrete gray walls were blackened with age and weather, scored with graceless graffiti and misspelled obscenities.

They walked into a narrow, frigid entryway and took the rusted metal stairs up to the third floor. Everything echoed, Eve noted. Their feet on the treads, the sounds leaking out of doors and walls as they passed by, the noises from the street outside.

But none of the early spring warmth pushed in to boost the chilly air.

Baxter positioned himself at the door, knocked. The over-bright sound of kids and Saturday morning screen whooped on the other side. One of those odd and somehow creepy morning cartoon deals that had the kids yammering and squealing, Eve imagined.

Who made those things?

A high-pitched girly voice called out for mommy so clearly, the door itself might’ve been made of paper.

The locks thunked, and the door scraped and groaned as it opened.

She’d been pretty once, Eve thought at her first in-person study of Suza

She looked exhausted, pale, too thin, as if the meat under her skin had been gnawed away. Her dull, listless hair had been pulled back, leaving her tired face defenseless. A small, round-eyed kid of the male variety (probably) stood at her side.

“Detective Baxter.”

“Mrs. Custer. Hey there, Todd!” Baxter flashed a grin, shot the boy with his finger.

“We’re watching ’toons.”

“So I hear. Hi, Maizie.”

The little girl had a year or two on her brother, and the soft prettiness that had once been her mother’s. She sent Baxter a big, beaming smile.

“I’m sorry.” Suza

“I’m afraid it can’t, Mrs. Custer.” Eve edged Baxter aside, and all but felt his a

“At Central? But-”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Custer.” Baxter’s voice poured warm cream over quiet apology. “This is my lieutenant. As we’ve been unable to close your husband’s case in a timely ma

“At Central,” Eve said, clipping the words.

“But, my kids.”

“I don’t-”

“Lieutenant, please.” Baxter interrupted Eve, then eased forward toward Suza

“I don’t know. I-”

“I can’t miss practice.” Cartoons forgotten, Maizie jumped up. “I just can’t. Mom, please!”

“Why don’t I take care of their transportation?” Baxter suggested. “And have a couple of officers stay with them. Then when we’re done, we’ll make sure you get to the field. Okay, LT?”

Eve only shrugged, as if she didn’t give a damn. “Make it fast. You’ve put enough time and department resources into this. I’ll wait outside.”

“Sorry about that,” Eve heard Baxter say as she walked away. “The lieutenant’s a stickler for procedure. I’ll try to fast-walk all this through.”

On the street, Eve checked in with Peabody. “Status?”

“Wallowing in smut. I had no idea there were so many devices designed to be inserted in orifices. Many are sold in variety and party packs. You can select one of forty-dollar value with any body piercing.”

“That’s a deal.”

“Well, it’s kind of tempting. McNab would wig in a completely excellent way. But seeing as I’m on duty…”

“Seeing as. But keep jabbering, Peabody, and I’ll give you a completely free piercing back at Central.”

“We have a clerk who recognized Suza

“Trueheart’s flirting with a smut shop clerk? What has Baxter done to that kid?”

“No, no, she’s doing the flirt thing. He’s turned all shades of red, but that’s worked for us.” Peabody gri

“Check the shops closest to your current location. And if you come back with any piercings, they better not be visible.”

“Ouch,” Peabody said as Eve clicked off.

Once she had Suza

“She’s terrified,” Baxter said.

“Good. It probably won’t take very long to break her down. You go in first, make your apologies for the mean old LT.” She glanced over as Mira stepped in.

“She looks worn down. Eaten up.” Her face impassive, Mira stepped closer to the glass. “Guilt would be a viable weapon on her. And her children, they’d be a vulnerable area. She’ll fear you the most,” she said to Eve. “The capable, powerful female-everything she’s not. The authority figure. As, I suspect, Ava Anders is to her. She’s accustomed to violence. It won’t frighten her overmuch. Nor will threats to her person, as she’s accustomed to those as well. She’s also used to being isolated, cut off from any support. So offers of friendship, understanding, support draw her in. Her children are her one accomplishment. She would sacrifice a great deal for them.”

“I need to make her flip on Ava.”

“She’ll need to believe you’re more powerful, and more dangerous than Ava.”

“I am, so she will. Go,” Eve told Baxter.

“The friendship offered by Ava,” Mira continued as Baxter stepped out, “the support, the bargain struck-if indeed one was-weigh heavily on Ava’s side. The power Ava has over her now is tremendous.”

“I know how to play her.” When Mira said nothing, Eve watched Baxter enter Interview, listened to him speak reassuringly to Suza