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pair this investigation. I got around them, and they don’t like it.”
“You sniffing at any cops?” When she said nothing, merely sat and turned toward her computer, he kicked her desk. It was a gesture she understood, and had some respect for. “Is it so hard to believe I’m on your side in this?”
“No. But I don’t toss cops to IAB. At least not until I’m sure. If I find any who’re part of this, I’ll carry them to you on my back. But not until I know, without a shadow, they’re dirty.”
He sipped coffee. She could literally see him using it to calm himself down, smooth out the edges. “If you’ve got names, I could look into it unofficially.”
She studied his profile. He would, she decided. “I believe you, and I appreciate it. But I’ve got some angles to work first. If I hit a wall and think you can help, I’ll tag you. Are you done with Trueheart?”
“Yeah, he’s cleared for duty. Kid didn’t deserve to take this spin through the wringer.”
“As long as he came out the other side. I’ve got work, Webster.”
He started for the door. “If there are cops in this, I want them.”
“Get in line,” she answered, then made her first call.
While she waited for a response, she drafted out her report, referring back to her own record to be sure she didn’t leave out even the smallest detail.
She refined it, logged it, and transmitted the appropriate copies. When she got clearance, she contacted Trueheart.
“I need a uniform,” she said briskly. “Grunt and drone work. Report to Detective Baxter, my home office.”
“Sir, I’m assigned to dispatch duty until further notice.”
“This is your further notice. I’ve cleared it. My home office, Officer, ASAP.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
“See if you thank me after you put in a few hours with Baxter.”
She broke transmission then went out to scoop up Peabody.
“Peabody, you’re with me.”
“Sir.” It was all Peabody said until they were in Eve’s vehicle. “I didn’t want to mention anything inside the building, just in case. Baxter passed some info to me for you. About Detective Sergeant Dwier.”
“What he get?”
“He struck up some conversations at the memorial. Place was full of cops, and some of them were from the One-Six. He worked it around to Dwier, and it turned out one of the guys there is in his squad. Seems that Dwier went through a rough patch a few years back. Divorce. Wife moved to Atlanta with his kid, so he doesn’t get to see his boy as much as he’d like. He was pretty flattened by it according to this source. But not long after, he met somebody—met her through the job. He’s been seeing her regularly, and the last year or so, it seems to be heating up. She works in Child Services.”
“Some days, it falls right in your lap.”
It was time to visit Clarissa Price.
She’d barely cleared the garage when she got the call.
Absolute Purity had been achieved.
The new homicide delayed her so that she arrived at Child Services minutes before the doors shut for the day. She bullied her way past the receptionist and strode straight into Clarissa Price’s office.
There was blood on Eve’s trousers. It barely showed against the black, but she could still smell it.
“I’m sorry, Lieutenant, I can’t make time for you.” Neat and pretty, Price sat at her desk. Deliberately, she shielded the data on her screen, glanced at her wrist unit. “I have to finish this report, then I have a late appointment.”
“You’ll make time.”
Price’s lips firmed, and she folded her hands. “Lieutenant, you’ve already broken faith by intruding on the Dukes family this morning, and setting a cycle in motion that will bring more grief, and almost certainly litigation, which may involve this facility and me. The very last thing I’m inclined to do is make time for you, or to tolerate you bursting into my office at the end of a very trying day.”
