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She broke transmission before Peabody went into chat mode.
“Very good,” Roarke commented as he turned into the station garage. “Giving them the somewhat clichéd version of the New York cop.”
“Who do you want heading an operation like this? You want the hard-ass, the one with all the data, the players, the contingencies at hand—the one who puts it together with no room for bullshit.”
“And that would be you.”
“You’re damn fucking skippy.”
He watched her move, through the building, the halls—laser sharp, eyes flat. When she strode into the briefing room, she projected a woman already in charge, one who wore her authority as she did her weapon.
She walked straight to Ricchio—smart. She’d do better in the business world than she thought. Assume command before the subject came up. And when you were off your own turf, hit the home team first.
“Lieutenant, my partner will join the briefing through communications when I reach the point in the briefing where her data is relevant. I’ll need to speak with your SWAT commander, and the EDD team assigned. Detective Jones informs me you have men on the UNSUB, watching her current location.”
“That’s correct. At last communication, no movement reported.”
“Maybe she’s sleeping in. Have you run a heat source to confirm she’s in there?”
“Just setting that up.”
“Let me know as soon as you do. She may be out on foot. Can you get me a visual of the area, a ten-block radius? Shops, restaurants, businesses?”
“Of course. The men at the duplex have photos and descriptions of all known IDs. I take it you want to head the briefing?”
“Simpler and faster. We don’t know when she’s going to move. It’s imperative for the safety of the abductees, and for a quick containment of the two subjects that the operation be set in place fast. Fast and clean, Lieutenant. I need you to select your best for this, and to brief me and the feds regarding the area around the duplex. Subsequently, on the area around McQueen’s location. Once she leads us there, we’ll want to know what we’re dealing with as far as civilians, escape routes, best points for SWAT op, if necessary.
“I don’t know your city, Lieutenant, but I know McQueen. And over the last couple days, I’ve gotten to know his partner.”
“If you’ve got operation strategy worked out, I’d like to hear it. I’ve got my own.”
“Absolutely. If we could get started. I don’t want the men you assigned forced to tail before we’re set.” She paused a moment. “If time wasn’t so crucial, I’d go over everything with you first, work this out with you, then step back. I don’t want the collar, Lieutenant. I want to be in on the interviews when we’ve got the fuckers, but I don’t care about the rest.”
“Understood. It is understood, Lieutenant,” he said. “You’ve got the room.”
“I appreciate it.”
She turned then, scanned the faces of the men and women standing, sitting, moving.
“Everybody sit. Knock off the chatter. Here’s the situation.”
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Nikos start to rise, and Laurence put his hand on her arm, shake his head.
First problem solved.
“You.” She pointed to a Texas version of McNab—gaudy colors, a dozen pockets in baggy red pants. “EDD?”
“You bet. Detective Arilio.”
“Run the screen, Arilio, and keep up. Get the surveilled location on screen one.”
He scrambled to obey the order. “We found the UNSUB’s hole,” she began, rattling off the address as Arilio fed the video. “We have eyes on it now. We’ve identified and found the vehicle purchased by the partner for McQueen. Images of UNSUB’s last two aliases—on screen two. Sandra Millford is the persona used to troll for McQueen’s vics, and used in the abduction of Darlie Morgansten. Sylvia Prentiss, we believe, is the UNSUB as she looks when not using a disguise. This is her preferred appearance in what we’ll say is her own time. She lives at this location under one, more likely both, of these IDs. We have another ID to add.”
She tagged Peabody.
“Put this on screen, Arilio.
“Detective Peabody, send ID image of the UNSUB identified by Civet during Interview.”
