Survivor in Death

Her face was streaked with tears.

“I knew them,” she said before Eve could speak. “I knew them.”

“Okay.” The anger retracted, scraping those keen tips over her own gut on the way. “Okay.”

“Knight… We used to flirt. Nothing serious, nothing that either of us meant to go anywhere, but we did the dance.” Her voice broke. “Prestonused to show off pictures of his kid. He's got a little boy.”

“I know. You ought to take some time off, Nadine. A couple of days.”

“After you get them.” She swiped her fingers over her cheeks. “I don't know why it's hit me this way. It's not the first time somebody I know…”

“Prestonmay have hit one of them. I'm telling you that friend to friend, not cop to reporter. Because you knew them. Because I knew them, and thinking he might've hit one of them helps me.”

“Thanks.”

“I've got to go finish up here, seal the scene, then go in,” Eve said to Roarke. “I don't know when I'll be home.”

“Call, will you, when you do?”

“Sure.” She thought of what he'd said earlier about the risks she had to take. And what it might be like for him to see other cops, bloody and dead.

So despite Nadine, despite the other cops, the techs, the few gawkers who'd yet to be nudged on their way, she stepped to him, stepped into him. Laid her hands on his face, laid her lips on his.

“I can get you a ride in one of the black-and-whites.”

He smiled at her. “There is nothing I'd like less. I'll take care of my own transpo. Nadine, I'll give you a lift.”

“If I could have a kiss like that, I'd be lifted into orbit. But I'll settle for a ride to the station. Dallas, if you need some research on the side, another pair of hands or eyes, mine are yours. No strings on this one.”

“I'll keep it in mind. Later.” She strode back up the sidewalk, and back into the narrow box that smelled of death.

11

WORD SPREAD QUICKLY WHEN COPS WENT down. By the time Eve reached Central, that word had streamed through the maze, slid into cubes and offices, and had the air thick with fury.

She stepped into the bull pen, paused. She wasn't much for speeches. She preferred briefings or orders. But she was rank here, and the men deserved to hear from her.

They were at desks, in cubes, answering 'links, writing reports. A couple were taking statements from civilians who'd either been victimized or had victimized someone else.

There was the smell of bad fake coffee, sickly sugar substitute, sweat, and someone's greasy di

Most of the noise stopped when she came in, but one of the civilians continued to weep in soft, liquid sobs. 'Links beeped, and for the moment were ignored.

She knew she had blood on her, and she knew every cop in the room saw it and thought of where it had come from.

“Detectives Owen Knight and James Preston went down in the line at approximately twenty-fifteen this evening. They were murdered while doing the job. Detective Knight leaves a mother, father, and sister. DetectivePreston leaves a wife, a three-year-old son, his parents, grandparents. Donations to the Survivors' Fund can be made in their names. Detective Ja

The woman nodded. “Yes, sir. Can you give us the status, Lieutenant?”

“We believe tonight's events are co

She waited a beat, and there was only silence. “Until such time any and all requests for personal time, vacation time, sick leave must be cleared by me or the ranking officer on shift. You'll be working this case in addition to your currents, reports to be filed daily. No exceptions. At change of shift, report to the ready room for a full briefing and assignments. We're going to hunt them down, and we're going to take them out. That's it.”

She heard no complaints at the additional load as she walked into her office, shut the door.

She got coffee, then just sat.

A police representative and department counselor would have delivered the news by now to the families of the dead. So she was spared that. She would have to speak to them at the memorials, offer some words.

She wanted the words to include: We got the sons of bitches who did this. Who left you a widow, who killed your son, your brother. Who left you without a father.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, then rose to pin the stills from the scene onto her board.

Then she sat to write her report.

None of the other safe houses had been hit. Didn't hit them, she thought, because you knew the target wasn't there. Knew that when you found two armed cops guarding an empty house.

Killing them was a flourish, she decided. A message. No need to finish them off when they were down. Already decided to do that, though. Part of the mission. Take out everybody inside, another clean sweep.

And what's the message? Why add cop killing to the mix when it brings down the full force of the NYPSD? Because you think you're better-smarter, slicker, better equipped. And you know we've made the co

Newman would have told you the kid can't ID you. But she's a detail, she's a miss, and you can't risk it.

I wouldn't, Eve thought. No, I wouldn't chance leaving that thread dangling when I'd been so careful. It's not squared away, and it's a little bit insulting. Some snot-nosed kid slips out from under you?

Pride in the work. She tipped back just a bit, rolled her shoulders. Got to have pride in the work to be that damn good at it. And the mission wasn't accomplished, is not complete until Nixie Swisher is dead.

“So what will you do next?” Eve asked aloud. “What will you do?”

There was a sharp knock on her door, thenPeabody shoved it open. “You didn't call me in. I heard it on the goddamn screen.”

“I need you tomorrow. I need you fresh.”

“Bullshit.”

Eve sat where she was, though a low vibration had begun to hum in her blood. “Crossing a line, Detective.”

“I'm your partner. This case is mine, too. I knew those guys.”

“I'm also your lieutenant, and you're going to want to be careful before you end up with an insubordinate in your file.”

“Fuck my file. And fuck you, too, if you think I give a rat's ass about it.”

Slowly, Eve rose out of her chair. Peabody 's chin jutted out, her jaw clenched-and so did her fists. “Going to take a shot at me, Detective? You'll be on your ass and bloody before you finish the swing.”

“Maybe.”

In all the time they'd worked together, Eve had seenPeabody pissed, hurt, sad, and ready to rumble. But she'd never seen her boiling with all of it. A choice had to be made, and quickly. Plow in, step back.

And just as quickly, Eve decided to do neither. Her eyes stayed steady, her stance at the ready. “You're beautiful when you're angry.”

There was a blink, then two. “Dallas-”

“All hot and steamy. If I went for girls, I'd jump you right now.”

There was a tremble along the jaw that rippled into a reluctant smile. And just like that, the crisis passed.

“I didn't call you in for the reasons I just told you. Plus this one.” Her hand snapped out, fast as a flicked whip and co

Peabody's breath sucked in, and her face lost all color-until it came back with a faint tinge of green. “That was just mean. Even for you.”