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The MT ran a wand over the bruise on the boy’s jaw.
Eve spared a glance toward the two cops slumped on a sofa of the same blinding white, flicked one to Baxter who rolled his eyes heavenward.
Yeah, she thought, call on that higher power. We’re going to need it.
“I’m Lieutenant Dallas,” she told the boy.
“Ah, yeah, hi. I’m Zach. Can I just get out of here now? I need to find Kelly. I came with Kelly. She went to school with the dead girl. I just came with Kelly because she was freaked about seeing the dead girl.”
“What’s Kelly’s full name?”
“Kelly Nims. Everything went whacked in there, and I don’t know if she’s okay.”
“Detective Baxter, have someone find Ms. Nims.”
“Yes, sir, right away.”
“Thanks. I’ll feel better once I know she’s frosted. We’re tight, and like I said, she was already freaked.”
He bore a surface resemblance to Pauley, she noted. The basic build, coloring, the shaggy hair. She noted the ball cap in his lap.
“Zach, I’d like to apologize for the unfortunate occurrences, and any inconvenience you’ve experienced. And also to assure you, I’ll look into this thoroughly and personally.”
“I was just standing there, then it’s like I got hit by a maxibus and I’m chewing carpet, and everybody’s yelling and running. I think somebody stepped on me. These guys, they put cuffs on me, and I could hear Kelly screaming. But the air’s knocked out of me, you know? I couldn’t do anything. It was weird, but . . .” He smiled a little. “Kind of iced, too. They said stuff about my rights and all. Am I supposed to call a lawyer?”
She hoped to hell he didn’t. Any lawyer worth a single billable hour would snatch him for a client and sue the department up the ass and out again.
“You’re not in any trouble, Zach. It was a mistake, a very regrettable one. Again, I hope you’ll accept my personal apology.”
“Sure. No big really.”
Baxter slipped back in. “Kelly’s fine, Zach. She’s waiting for you right outside.”
“Straight. So, can I go?”
“Is he clear?” Eve asked the MT.
“Got a couple knocks, that’s all.” The MT turned his gimlet eye on Eve. “You got worse.”
“If you’d give Detective Baxter your full name and contact information,” Eve told Zach, “the officer on the door will take you down to Kelly. If you have any questions, or any problems, you can reach me at Cop Central.”
“That’s a major.” He put his cap back on, rose. “It’s all been totally Dali.”
“At least. Baxter, lend me your recorder. Mine was damaged.” She took his, pinned it on.
“Want me to take a look at that face?” the MT asked.
“Not now.”
“Well.” He pulled a cold wrap out of his case, tossed it to her. “Get that on there anyway.”
She waited until both Zach and the MT left, then turned to the two cops.
“Engage recorder. Dallas, Lieutenant Eve, in interview with tw
o hotheaded fuckups who have managed to completely undermine a precisely organized operation and allow a murder suspect to stroll away.”
“Lieutenant—”
