“I intended to obtain that information after bringing you up to date.”
“Do it now. Run the names. I want the data and your written report within thirty.”
Eve let the steam of temper carry her out of her office, through the bull pen, into the elevator, where for once she didn’t have to use her elbows to maintain a little personal space.
Good thing, she decided. She might’ve broken some asshole’s ribs.
Then she shut it down, turned it off. She would show Whitney nothing but control and professionalism. She’d use them, and whatever else she needed, to keep the case.
He was waiting, sitting back in his chair behind his desk. His wide, dark face showed no more than hers what was inside his head. His hair was salt and pepper, with the salt liberally dashed. There were lines carved in his face, around the eyes, around the mouth, etched there by time and, she was sure, the burden of command.
“Lieutenant, you’ve named yourself as primary in a homicide investigation that is now in its second day, and this office has not been so informed by you.”
“Sir, the investigation came into my hands yesterday morning. Sunday morning, sir, when both of us were off duty.”
He acknowledged that with a slight dip of his head. “Yet you took charge of this matter while off duty, utilizing departmental personnel, and equipment, neglecting to inform your superior.”
No point in bullshit, she decided. “Yes, sir, I did. I believed the circumstances warranted my actions, and am fully prepared to report said circumstances and actions at this time.”
He lifted a hand. “In the ‘better-late-than-never’ category?”
“No, sir. In the ‘immediate-need-to-secure-the-scene-and-gather-evidence’ category. Respectfully, Commander.”
“The victim was known to you.”
“She was. I haven’t seen or had contact with the victim for over twenty years until two days before her death, when she came to my office.”
“You’re entering a boggy area, Dallas.”
“I don’t believe so, sir. I knew the victim briefly when I was a child. Therefore—”
“You were under her care for several months when you were a child,” he corrected.
Okay, she thought, screw it. “The term ‘care’ is inaccurate, as she gave none. I would have passed her on the street without recognizing her. There would have been no further contact between us after her visit to me this past Thursday if she had not gone to my husband’s office the following day and attempted to shake him down for two million dollars.”
His eyebrows winged up. “And this is not boggy territory?”
“He showed her the door. Captain Feeney has the security discs from Roarke’s office, was requested to retrieve them by Roarke in order to aid this investigation. She left the same way she came in.”
“Sit down, Dallas.”
“Sir, I’d do better standing. I went to her hotel room Sunday morning as I felt it necessary to speak with her, to make it clear that she would not blackmail or extort funds from Roarke or myself. That neither of us were concerned regarding her threat to go to the media or the authorities with copies she claimed to have of my sealed files. At that time—”
“Did she have copies?”
“Very likely. None were found at the scene, though a disc holder was recovered. The probability is high that whoever killed her now has possession of them.”
“Dr. Mira has spoken to me. She came to see me this morning, as you should have done.”
“Yes, sir.”
“She believes that you’re capable of handling this investigation, and further that it’s in your best interest to do so.” His chair creaked as he shifted his weight. “I’ve also just spoken with the ME, so I’m not completely in the dark regarding this case. Before you give me your report, I want to know why you didn’t come to me. I want it straight, Dallas.”
“I felt I would be in a better position to continue as primary if the investigation was ongoing. My objectivity on the matter would be less likely called into question.”
He said nothing for a long moment. “You could have come to me. Report.”
He’d shaken her, and she had to struggle not to fumble, to take him through clearly from her first contact with the victim to the data Peabody had just given her.