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Eve stepped into the glide. “I don’t need you for this, Peabody.”
“Sir, I’m your faithful aide. I feel obliged to stay close to your side.”
“If you think you’re coming up to EDD with me so you can play grab-ass with McNab, you’re very much mistaken, faithful aide.”
“The thought never crossed my mind.”
“Is that so? Why are your pants on fire?”
Peabody grinned. “They’re not because I’m not lying. I was thinking of pat-ass, not grab-ass. His is so skinny it’s kind of tough to grab a good handful.”
She hopped off beside Eve, and since she thought she saw her lieutenant’s mouth twitch in what might have been a smile rather than the usual muscle tic during such conversations, she pushed.
“And I can get a firsthand on the status of Cogburn’s unit, write that area of the report for you. As your faithful and hardworking aide.”
“That’s a good bribe, Peabody. You make me proud.”
“I’ve learned from the master.”
They finished the hike across the breezeway that connected EDD, turned toward the detectives’ sector. And all hell broke loose.
Shouts, the distinctive hum of a fired weapon, the scramble of feet. Eve’s weapon was in her hand, and she was running before she heard the first crash.
A cop rolled out of the doorway as others came rushing down corridors.
“He zapped him! Jesus Christ, he zapped him. Call for medical.”
“Who’s down? Detective, give me the situation.”
“I—God. McNab’s down.”
Eve grabbed Peabody’s arm as her aide started to spring forward. “Hold!” she ordered as the muscles trembled under her hand. “Officer down, officer down!” she snapped into her communicator. “EDD, Detectives’ level. Give me the goddamn situation.”
“I don’t know! Halloway, he just walked up to McNab’s cube. Zapped him, then everybody’s running and Halloway’s screaming, firing streams. He’s got the captain. I saw him take the captain.”
“Keep out!” Eve strode to the door, ordered the cops who poured out of doors and hallways to stay clear. “We’ve got a potential hostage situation, at least one wounded. I need this area secured. I need a negotiator. Peabody, inform the commander of this situation.”
“Yes, sir.” Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. “McNab.”
“We’re going in. Draw your weapon.” She eased closer, lowering her voice for Peabody alone. “If you can’t handle this, say so now. You won’t help them if you can’t maintain.”
“I can. I will.” Fear had already blown through her, and out again. “We have to get in there.”
“Hold fire,” Eve called out. “Hold fire.”
She went in slow, sweeping first. Cops were scattered, cubes blasted, some of them still smoking. She saw a clutch of them huddled on the floor—McNab’s cube—she noted, and felt a gathering of ice in her belly. More were outside of Feeney’s office, shouting through the door.
“I’m Lieutenant Dallas!” she had to shout to be heard. “I’m in charge here until Commander Whitney takes over this situation. You men, get away from that door.”
“He’s got the captain! He’s got the captain in there.”
“Get the hell away from the door. Now! What’s McNab’s status?”
She could see him now, lying unconscious, his face white as bone. She said nothing when Peabody dropped down beside him, checked his pulse.
“He’s alive.” Peabody responded shakily. “Pulse is thready.”
“Didn’t take a full stun. Detective Gates.” A woman with zebra-striped hair stepped forward. “I saw Halloway walk up to the cube. Something off about it, then I saw the weapon. I yelled something. McNab looked around, saw, he shoved off his chair and Halloway’s stream took him down. It was bad. It was bad, but I don’t think it was a full stun.”
