Survivor in Death (In Death 20)

Nadine settled back, crossed her exceptional legs. “Name the terms.”

Eve stretched out, flipping the door shut, then turned around in her chair so that she and Nadine were face-to-face. “You know how to slant reports, how to spin stories to influence the public who you love to claim has a right to know.”

“Excuse me, objective reporter.”

“Bullshit. The media’s no more objective than the last ratings term. You want details, you want the inside track, one-on-ones, and your other items on your reporter’s checklist? I’ll feed you. And when this goes down and I get them—and I will get them—I want you to bloody them in the media. I want you to skew the stories so these fuckers are the monsters the villagers go after with axes and torches.”

“You want them tried in the press.”

“No.” It wasn’t a smile that moved over Eve’s face. Nothing that feral could be called a smile. “I want them hanged by it. You’re my secondary line, if the system gives them a loophole even an anorectic bloodworm has trouble wiggling through. Yes or no.”

“Yes. Was there sexual assault on any or all of the victims?”

“None.”

“Torture? Mutilation?”

“No. Straight kills. Clean.”

“Professional?”

“Possibly. Two killers.”

“Two?” The excitement of the hunt flushed onto Nadine’s cheek. “How do you know?”

“I get paid to know. Two,” Eve repeated. “No vandalism, destruction of property, no burglary that can be determined at this time. And at this time, it is the opinion of the primary investigator that the family in question was target specific. I’ve got a report to write, and I have to speak to my commander. I’m cooking on three hours’ sleep. Go away, Nadine.”

“Suspects, leads?”

“At this time we are pursuing any and all blah, blah, blah. You know the drill. Disappear now.”

Nadine rose. “Watch my evening report. I’ll start bloodying them now.”

“Good. And Nadine?” Eve said as Nadine opened the office door. “Thanks for the cookie.”

She set up her office case board, wrote her report, read those submitted by EDD and Crime Scene. She drank more coffee, then closed her eyes and went through the scene, yet again, in her mind.

“Computer. Probability run, multiple homicides, case file H-226989- SD,” Eve ordered.

Acknowledged.

“Probability, given known data, that the killers were known by one or more of the victims.”

Working . . . Probability is 88.32 percent that one or more of the victims knew one or more of the killers.

“Probability that the killers were professional assassins.”

Working . . . Probability is 96.93 percent that the killers were professional and/or trained.

“Yeah, I’m with you there. Probability that killers were hired or assigned to assassinate victims by another source.”

Working . . . Wholly speculative inquiry with insufficient data to project.

“Let’s try this. Given current known data on all victims, what is the probability any or all would be marked for professional assassination?”

Working . . . 100 percent probability as victims have been assassinated.

“Work with me here, you moron. Speculation. Victims have not yet been assassinated. Given current known data—deleting any data after midnight—what is the probability any or all members of the Swisher household would be marked for professional assassination?”