Collateral Damage (Stone Barrington 25)

“Have you picked him up yet?”

“He wasn’t at his office or his home, but his secretary said that wasn’t unusual. He’s apparently out and about most days.”

“Track his cell phone.”

“We tried—no dice.”

“I haven’t said this in years,” the commissioner said, “but put out an APB on the son of a bitch, and I want to watch the interrogation.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And, Dan, circulate to all officers that Jasmine may be a blonde now, but don’t release that to the public. I don’t want her to know we know.”

“Yes, sir.”

The commissioner’s phone buzzed again. “What?” He listened for a moment. “Thank you.” He hung up again. “The FBI has finally done something right,” he said.

“You’re kidding me.”

“Nope. They’ve offered a five-million-dollar reward for information leading to the capture—with no mention of conviction—of Jasmine Shazaz.”

“That’s unusual,” the chief said.

“It certainly is,” the commissioner replied. “They might as well have said ‘Dead or alive.’”

Holly was meeting with a restaurant designer, who was showing her drawings of the way the new station dining room would look, when Scotty buzzed her. “The police commissioner for you.”

Holly handed the drawings back to the designer. “It looks great. How soon?”

“All the fixtures are available ready-made. Three days?”

“Go. Now I have to take a call.” The man left, and Holly pressed the button. “Commissioner?”

“Holly, I have interesting news.”

Holly listened with growing excitement to the story of the dead hairdresser. “Any luck finding Habib?”

“Not yet,” the commissioner said.

“Will you keep me posted?”

“Certainly.”

“Oh, and, Commissioner, please remember that this woman has a history of booby-trapping a premises when abandoning it.”

“I remember the report from London.”

“And MI-6 tells us that she probably detonated the bomb from within sight of the house.”

“That’s scary—makes it more difficult for us to get inside. A booby trap would be easier.”

“When you find her hiding place, you have to pour officers into the block and check every single person before sending men in.”

“I’ll do that.” The commissioner said good-bye and hung up.

Scotty appeared before her. “The chef that was recommended is here for his interview.”

“Scotty, will you interview him? I’m in over my head here. Take him downstairs and show him the dining room and the kitchen. Show him the drawings the designer brought, too. Tell him we want high-end comfort food on the menu and small portions. I don’t want everybody to start gaining weight, especially me.”