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That was something Eve could respect.
The fact Peachtree had sent her in his stead said he respected her as well.
With her was Lee Chang, the media liaison. He was short, slim, perfectly groomed in a gray pinstriped suit with his straight black hair slicked back.
He had Asian blood, an Oxford education, and an ability to juggle and spin the facts with expediency until it sounded true.
Eve had never liked him, and the feeling was completely mutual.
“Lieutenant,” Tibble began, “we have a problem.”
“Yes, sir.”
“First, I understand Detective McNab is recuperating from his injuries at your home.”
“Yes, sir. We have a medical supervising him—” Though she wasn’t sure how she’d explain Summerset if pressed. “We felt he’d be more comfortable in familiar surroundings rather than the hospital.”
“And his status this afternoon?”
“There’s been no change at this time.”
“I see.” Tibble remained seated at his desk. “You’ll keep this office informed in that area.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And the status of your investigation.”
“I’m pursuing possible connections to the victims that may lead to the identity of members of the group calling themselves The Purity Seekers. Captain Feeney and his e-team are working on devising a shield so that the infected units can be examined and analyzed with reasonable safety. Medical and laboratory tests continue to be run on the victims in an attempt to ascertain the nature and cause of the brain damage that resulted in their deaths.”
“ ‘Reasonable safety.’ ” Jenna Franco lifted a hand—not like someone asking permission to speak, but as one accustomed to being heard. “What, precisely, does that mean?”
“I’m not an e-man, Ms. Franco. That leg of this investigation is in Captain Feeney’s hands. All efforts are concentrated on devising a shield for maximum safety to the operator.”
“Lieutenant, we can’t have another New York City police officer implode, and potentially kill or injure fellow officers or civilians. I can’t go back to the mayor or the media with the term ‘reasonable safety.’ ”
“Ms. Franco, police officers go on shift every morning with no more than reasonable safety.”
“They don’t usually fire on their squad room and take their commanding officer hostage.”
“No, ma’am, and Detective Halloway’s commanding officer is in charge of the team who is working with all possible speed to ensure that doesn’t reoccur.”
“If I may.” Chang’s hands remained neatly folded; his face continued to hold a warm and pleasant expression. “It could be said that the police are utilizing all resources in this investigation to identify the source of the alleged electronic infection. The media will, of course, consult electronic experts to help them formulate their questions and to generate discussion and debate on-screen. We will, naturally, do the same.”
“And when we discuss and debate on-screen,” Eve said tightly, “we give this terrorist group exactly what they want. Attention, screen time. Legitimacy.”
“The discussion and debate and questions will take place regardless,” Chang told her. “It’s essential that we control the tone.”
“What’s essential is that Purity be stopped.”
“That, Lieutenant, we can happily agree is your job, not mine.”
“Lieutenant.” Whitney didn’t raise his voice, but the steel tone of command in it stopped whatever comment Eve was about to make. “The media machine is already rolling. We get on board, or it runs us down.”
“Understood, Commander. My team and I will follow the departmental directives for media contact. We’ll adhere to the official statement.”
“That’s not going to be enough,” Franco put in. “You’re a high-profile cop, Lieutenant, on a high-profile case. The head of EDD and another of your team members were directly involved in the debacle at Central yesterday.”
“Deputy Mayor Franco, my lieutenant put her life on the line to defuse that situation.”
