“Yeah, we got that. You got plenty there to clear. We’ll run them for you, give you names and locations. Nothing on the body, as per your first. But what we got on your male vic was blood and saliva—not his. Cord used to strangle second vic was cut from binding on scene.”
“Took his fun where he found it, too.”
“You could say. Here’s a little something. Outside locks on female’s building were complete shit. Broke ’em in with a smooth, round object. Little hammer maybe. Whack, whack, you’re in. Better locks upstairs. Used locksmith tools on those.”
She’d seen that for herself, but Eve nodded. “Came prepared. Knew about the fresh lock.”
“So, anyways, we’ll get your ID on the prints, second scene, so you can run ’em.”
“Appreciate it.”
Kept an eye on her, Eve thought as she battled her way home through the cranky wall of traffic. Bribed her first—probably going to kill her anyway. Copperfield thought the bribe bought her time, but it bought her killer time, too. Planning and prep time.
Something hot enough to kill for twice was too hot to take chances with a payoff.
Back to the accounting firm—just had to be. She needed those damn files. Using the dash ’link, she contacted Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Cher Reo.
“I’m on my w
ay out,” Reo said. “I have an actual date. Don’t screw with me.”
“I have two bodies in the morgue. I want my warrant. Don’t screw with me.”
“Do you know how much paper a lawyer can generate in a few hours?”
“Is that one of those questions like how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”
Reno smiled sourly. “Runs down the same channel.”
“Why would angels dance on a pin? Wouldn’t they rather boogie in the clouds?”
“I would.” Reo’s lips curved slyly. “But I’m not an angel.”
“Me either. Now, enough of this philosophizing. About those lawyers, about my warrant.”
“I’m going to get it, Dallas, but I’m not going to get it before morning. We’re not just talking lawyers, we’re talking really rich lawyers with big, fat retainers and hordes of legal drones who can find a precedent in a haystack.”
“A haystack? What does that mean?”
“Never mind.” Reo sighed, long and deep. “It’s been a day, that’s the best I can say about it. I’ve got a judge reviewing their last block right now. If he’s not too big on having, say, an actual meal or a life, he may rule on it within a couple hours. I hear, you hear.”
“The minute,” Eve said, then cut off.
Too much time, she thought. Too much time screwing around the system. Whoever killed Natalie and Bick—or ordered them killed—had probably started deleting or adjusting the files immediately.
She hoped McNab was right about the EDD hounds digging up the scent she had a feeling was being covered up even as the lawyers dug through their haystack.
But if EDD let her down, she had a very sleek, very smart hound of her own.
So thinking, she drove through the gates of home.
5
BECAUSE HER MIND WAS ON OTHER THINGS, Summerset caught Eve off guard as she came in the door.
“Do you require change-of-address forms?”
“Huh? What?” She yanked herself back to the moment, then immediately regretted it. He was in her moment, the bony, black-suited pain in her ass. “Can’t you find another place to haunt? I hear there’s one available down on East Twelfth.”