The In Death Collection, Books 11-15

by J. D. Robb

  “It may tie to a case here.”

  “If it does, I hope you catch the murdering bastard who did them.” He rose. “I don’t know what sort of work they might have been up to at the end of it, but I can do some asking. On the quiet.”

  “I’d appreciate any information you can give me.”

  “Well, we’ll see what we see.” He bent down and picked up the cat, who was rubbing against his legs. “I’m for bed. Oh, Roarke,” he said when he reached the door, “if you’ve time later I’d like to discuss the business I mentioned to you before.”

  “I’ll have my admin work it in.”

  “God, listen to the man. Admin working it in,” he said to Galahad as he carried cat and coffee away. “Did you ever hear the like of it?”

  “Other business?”

  “Perfume,” Roarke said. “And legal. Whatever else he might be up to, I’ve told him I’m not interested as it would displease my cop. I’ll make those calls for you.”

  “Why is your unit beeping in there?”

  “Is it?” He shifted his thoughts, heard the signal. Grinned. “I think I’m about to land you on Yost’s doorstep.”

  She was on his heels as he walked into his office, then leaning over his shoulder as he studied the data, skimming over the monitor.

  “Hmmm. On wall screen,” he ordered, and shifting his stance studied the run of numbers and slashing lines.

  “What are they? Coordinates?”

  “Yes, exactly. This is very interesting. Computer, display New York City street map, screen two. He did a bit of bouncing right here in the city as well. A good cloak, a smart move because it tends to skew the directional search when it becomes that finite.”

  “What do you mean, East Side to West Side, that kind of thing?” She tried to decipher the numbers, and ended up frustrated.

  “More or less. But he shoots back and forth, up and down, a little side trip to Long Island and back. It gives us a couple of possibilities, but the most likely . . . Computer, enhance grid, Upper West Side. Ah, yes. Now decode directional formula to street location, and match. Do you see?” Roarke asked Eve, laying a hand on her neck as the computer screens flashed and changed. “It appears Yost is a neighbor.”

  “That’s four blocks away. Four fucking blocks.”

  “Yes. Obviously you and I don’t stroll through the neighborhood often enough.”

  “We never stroll through the neighborhood. How sure are you?”

  “Ninety percent.”

  “Sure enough. Okay, I need a description of that building, the layout, the tenant list, security setup.”

  “That should be simple enough. Actually, I think I own that building.”

  “Think?”

  “One does lose track occasionally. Computer, who owns the property currently displayed on screen two?”

  WORKING . . . PROPERTY IS OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY ROARKE INDUSTRIES.

  “Ah, there we are. Just let me take a look at my real estate files. I’ll have the data for you in a moment.”

  “Lose track occasionally?” she repeated, staring at him. “Of an entire building?”

  “I do a bit of buying and selling of property, particularly in my own backyard.” He smiled at her. “Everyone needs a hobby.”

  He sat down, settled in, and brought up the tenant list first. “That’s lovely, isn’t it? Fully occupied. I do hate seeing nice apartments vacant.”

  “Cut out the families, the couples, those with roommates, and all single women.”

  The computer acknowledged her directive, making her jolt a bit before she realized Roarke had it programmed to accept her voice commands.

  The list narrowed to ten.

  “Bring up application for rent data.”

  She skimmed down the new information, mentally discarding men over sixty or under forty. And now there were two.

  “Jacob Hawthorne, computer analyst, age fifty-three. Single. Estimated annual income two point six million. He has the penthouse, right? Yost would want the best digs.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Several years shaved off the age, but I like Hawthorne. Do a run on both these single males. Let’s be sure. Damn sure. I’m calling it in.”

  Within two hours, Eve had her team assembled in her home office. Added to the investigative team were twenty Special Tactics officers and ten hand-selected uniforms. Some might call it overkill, but she wasn’t going to risk Yost slipping through a hole.

  While she waited for the warrant for search and seize to come through, she ran over the plan yet again.

  “There are fifty-six units in the building. They are all occupied. Civilian safety remains a priority.”

  The building’s blueprints were up on-screen. Eve used a laser pointer to highlight each section as she spoke. “Our information indicates that the subject occupies the top floor. There are no other units on that floor. All elevators and glides will be inoperable. Stair access will be blocked off. We don’t want him getting off that floor and taking any hostages. This unit has four exits. Two men from Team B will be stationed at each exit. Team A will handle building exits. On command, black-and-whites will move in here, and here, closing off the street to all outgoing and incoming traffic. Subject is not to be terminated. All weapons on stun, medium setting.”

  She glanced away from the screen to scan faces, to judge and measure. “This is a professional assassin, and he’s managed to elude and evade authorities for more than forty years. Confirmed and suspected kills top forty during that time period. He’s smart, and he’s fast, and he’s dangerous. Containing and capturing him within the building is our top objective. If those efforts fail, the second line will take him down. Full-body armor is required for all team members.”

  She turned back, used a remote to split the screen and bring up Yost’s face. “This is our man. You all have print-outs of this image. Be aware that he uses disguises. Captain Feeney will explain EDD’s function in this operation.”

  Feeney sniffed, pulled on his nose, got to his feet. “Security cams on that floor will be adjusted to relay direct to Base One. We have verified the subject is in target area as of thirty minutes ago. We will reverify before moving in.

  “All the subject will see if he checks his monitor is an empty hallway. We can’t stop him from scratching his ass and looking out his windows, so all team members and uniformed backups will keep to their stations until ordered otherwise. I’ll run Base One, and with Lieutenant Dallas will coordinate all movements. Communicators are to be set on Channel Three for straight interteam communications. There’s to be no chatter and bullshit during the operation. Let’s get it done and put this guy away.”

  Eve nodded. “Detective McNab and Officer Peabody, along with Lieutenant Marks and myself, will move in on the subject, using this entrance. All movements will be transmitted to Base One, and to each team leader. Any questions?”

  She waited, again watching faces. These were hard men and hard women. They knew their job.

  “Go down to your units and suit up. We’ll begin the op as soon as the warrant comes through.”

  And what the hell was taking it so long? she wondered as the room emptied. She’d called in the data and request nearly two hours before. She’d need to tag the judge again, give him a goose.

  Then she looked at Feeney. He outranked her, and had considerably more tact. It was likely the judge would respond to him more quickly.

  “Feeney, they’re dicking with this warrant. Want to see what you can do to expedite?”

  “Politics.” He might have grumbled, but he walked to her desk ’link to make the call. While he worked, she moved over to Roarke.

  “We appreciate your help with the security cams and the layout. This should go off fast and smooth.”

  Should, he thought, was a disturbing word. “As owner of the building, I can insist on accompanying you to the penthouse.”

  “That’s bullshit, and you know it. Keep it up, and I’ll change my mind about letting you ha
ng with Feeney at Base One. I know how to apprehend a suspect, Roarke, so don’t distract me.”

  “Where’s your body armor?”

  “Peabody’s got it. It’s hot and it’s heavy, so I’m not suiting up until I have to.” She glanced back, her brow creasing as she heard Feeney’s squawk. “Something’s up,” she muttered, and had just started across the room when Commander Whitney walked in.

  “Lieutenant. Your operation is aborted.”

  “Aborted? What the hell is this? We’ve got his hole. We can have him in custody within the hour.”

  Feeney was on his feet now, cursing at the ’link. “Goddamn double cross. Fucking political double fucking cross.”

  “That’s right.” Whitney’s voice was clipped and cold, but his dark eyes burned with fury. “That’s exactly right.” His own outrage and frustration were why he was there in person instead of informing Eve of the abort order over communications. “The feds got wind of the operation.”

  “I don’t care if they got wind of the Second Coming,” Eve began, then with a vicious effort yanked herself back. “This operation is a result of my investigation, Commander, of data I accessed. The suspect killed two people on my turf. I’m primary.”

  “Do you think I didn’t argue those very points, Lieutenant? I’ve just spent the last half hour exchanging insults with Assistant Director Sooner, FBI, bitching to two judges, and threatening anyone I could tag. The Feebs managed to get your warrant delayed and slip one of their own through ahead of it. When I find out who leaked your request to them, I’ll happily kick someone’s ass. But the fact is we’re out, they’re in.”

  Eve’s hands were fisted at her sides. Deliberately, she relaxed them. Later, she promised herself. Later, she’d beat the hell out of something. “They didn’t pull this off by sticking with chain of command or going through channels. When this is over, I want to file an official protest.”

  “Get in line,” Whitney told her. “Politics is a dirty business, Dallas, but it’s my turf. Believe me, I’ll deal with this. Agents Jacoby and Stowe might think this bust will make their careers. They’re in for a hell of a surprise.”

  “Respectfully, sir, I don’t give a rat’s red ass about Jacoby and Stowe. As long as they bring Yost in. I want to interview him on the French and Talbot homicides. I want to talk to him before the feds make him any deals.”

  “I’m already working on that. I have some powerful connections, and Chief Tibble has even more. You’ll get your interview, Dallas.”

  She didn’t quite trust herself to speak, at least not reasonably, so only nodded, then walked to the window. There were cops down there waiting to do their job. Now they had no job to do.

  “I’ll tell the team,” Feeney said.

  “No. It was my command. I’ll tell them.”

  “Feeney,” Whitney said when Eve strode from the room. “I want you to put the best man you can spare to work on plugging that leak. Someone in Communications on our end, or on Judge Beesley’s end, notified Jacoby of the warrant request. I want to know who it is.”

  “I’ll get started on it.” He slid his eyes to Roarke, lifted his eyebrow in question. Roarke inclined his head.

  Oh yes, he thought, I’d be delighted to assist EDD in plugging this particular leak.

  “Roarke.” If he’d seen the exchange, Whitney pretended not to. “Regardless of how this particular event has panned out, the NYPSD would like to offer its official appreciation for your help and cooperation in this investigation.”

  “Then you’re officially welcome. May I ask how much you know about these two agents?”

  “Not as much as I will know, very shortly. They have no idea, no possible idea who they’ve pissed off.”

  “I recall you can get down and dirty when you’re riled, Jack.”

  Whitney turned to give Roarke a thin and fierce smile. “That’s true, and I will. But I was talking about Dallas. She’ll skin them, and I intend to do whatever I can to provide her with the room to do so.”

  When his communicator signaled, he stepped out of the room before slipping it out of his pocket.

  “This was her collar.” Feeney paced around the room, a wiry-haired rooster defending his favorite chick. “The feds knew it. She got within blocks of Yost inside a week. One goddamn week and she’s on top of him. They had years and never got close. I bet that burns their spongy federal butts. I bet that’s why they pulled this stinking stunt.”

  “Undoubtedly. Feeney, would certain classified data on Agents Stowe and Jacoby be of any use to you, should it fall into your hands unexpectedly and from an anonymous source?”

  Feeney stopped pacing to eye Roarke speculatively. “Might be useful. Of course, doing an unofficial run on federal agents is a dicey business. Federal offense.”

  “Really? As a law-abiding citizen I’m glad to know such matters are treated seriously.”

  Now he walked to the window, looked down. “This is hard for her,” Roarke murmured. “Facing her team, telling them, basically, that all her work, all theirs gets them nothing. That cops have just been kicked aside and told to stand down so the federals can have the glory.”

  “She’s never worn a badge for the glory.”

  Roarke looked back over his shoulder. This is the man who’d taught her, he thought. The one who had helped mold her into the kind of cop she was. “You’re right, of course. The satisfaction then, of knowing you’ve done your job, seen it through, and made what justice you can for the dead. You know how difficult sexual homicides of this nature are for her.”

  “Yeah.” Feeney looked down at his shoes. “Yeah, I guess I know that.”

  “I woke her from a nightmare last night, brought on by this. A vicious and violent nightmare,” he said as Feeney lifted his head again. “Yet we both watched her stand here this morning, in command of herself and her team. Prepared to do what needed to be done. You understand what that takes, and I’ve come to. There’s one thing those two fucking federals will never understand. Her courage.”

  He looked back out the window again, watching her walk back toward the house. “Her absolute and unwavering courage. The dead don’t matter a damn to them. They’re names and data, statistics on discs. For her, they’re faces. They’re people. No, they’ll never understand the guts, and the heart, in her that make her what she is.”

  “You’re right.” Feeney blew out a breath. “You’re right and that’s something to think about. There’s something else that can be said, and will be, because I’ll say it to her myself, and to everyone else who’ll listen. The feds may bring him in, but she’s the one who brought him down.”

  “Nobody’s bringing him in.” His face set like rock, Whitney stepped back into the room. “He’s gone.”

  chapter thirteen

  Feeney erupted. It was a vicious, feral, and inventive tirade that was peculiarly Irish in tone. It was that brilliant and blue rant Eve heard as she walked back up the stairs, down the hall, and into the room.

  And she knew they were screwed.

  “Not bad enough they’re bastards,” Feeney continued. “But they’re fucking stupid turnip-brained bastards with it. Tipped him. Tipped the bloody murdering son of a bitch off with their greedy, glory-hunting federal maneuvering so now he’s gone rabbit and none of us have a flaming thing to show for it.”

  “We can’t be certain he got wind of the bust,” Whitney began, and Feeney, forgetting rank, seared his commander with one violent look.

  “Bullocks. That’s bullocks, Jack, and you know it. They’ve a leak, and screwing with our op gave it time to spring. We’d have him now, we’d by Christ have him now if they hadn’t wagged their government-issue cocks around.”

  “He’s gone.” Eve didn’t feel rage. Oddly, Feeney’s ripe temper kept her own in check. She simply felt hollow.

  “The government bust was a wash.” Whatever bitter rage bubbled inside Whitney didn’t show. “They moved on Yost minutes ago. He wasn’t there.”

  “Did they
check the security cams? Confirm with the doorman or building guards if he was in residence?”

  “I don’t have the details. The word is the suspect has fled. The apprehension operation failed.”

  She only nodded. “I would like to confirm, personally, sir.”

  “So would I.” Whitney scanned her face, then Feeney’s. “Let’s move.”

  The federals weren’t particularly friendly. There was an air of gloom and resentment that spilled through the elegant lobby and glossy hallways of the target building. The looks shot toward local badges dripped with both.

  Eve imagined she’d have engaged in a few pissing contests, but Whitney’s rank, his bulk, and his cold control cleared the way.

  Knowing Feeney was still simmering, she gestured to McNab. “See if you can use some boyish charm to pry some information from the federal E-guys. They’ll have checked or will be checking the security discs. I want to know when Yost left the premises, which exit he used, and what he had with him.”

  “You got it.” He sauntered off, hands in the pockets of his strawberry-colored slacks.

  “Peabody, see if you can knock on some doors without alerting any federals. Let’s see what his neighbors have to say. If you can manage to dig up a maintenance or guard droid, all the better.”

  Eve stepped into the elevator with Whitney and Feeney, and rode up in silence. She wanted to think. The timing had been close and slick. Yost had solid connections. Through the FBI? Through the NYPSD? Probably both.

  He moved fast, and he moved well. But he wasn’t finished in New York. Fast and well, but not far then. A hotel? Possibly. She was more inclined to believe he, or his current employer, had a private hole for him to burrow in. Until the job was done.

  With this much heat, how long would he wait to make the next target?

  Because she was focused on Yost and his pattern, she stepped off the elevator ahead of her commander. And found herself face-to-face with Jacoby.

  His eyes went instantly hot, and he shifted to the balls of his feet like a boxer prepping for the next round.