Survivor in Death (In Death 20)

“Civilians first. And I ain’t no lady.”

He laughed, and kissed her solidly on the mouth. “You’re mine. But we’ll suffer through the first-aid together.”

It seemed fair enough, and she could bitch at the MTs, threaten them with violence if they so much as thought of tranqing her. She could coordinate the various teams, get her report on record, and watch three killers—two live, one dead—hauled away.

She’d take her shot at the live ones in the morning.

“I’ll go in, take care of the paperwork,” Peabody told her. “There are too many cops volunteering to handle it. One of them’s bound to try to get in some kicks for Knight and Preston.”

“We’ll take them in separate interviews tomorrow.”

“You might want to send a team over to secure this address tonight. One on West Seventy-third.” Roarke handed her a memo. “I believe you’ll find their headquarters.”

She took the memo, and standing in her bloody shirtsleeves now, grinned. “I knew it. Peabody, find uniforms you can trust and have them sit over Kirkendall and Clinton. Call in the team and screw the OT. We’re moving on this tonight.”

“Hot damn!”

“E-men first,” she added. “And I want, let me think, I want Jules and Brinkman from Bombs and Explosives. We don’t know how they may have that place wired, or what booby traps they might’ve set inside. I want body armor on everyone, full riot gear. These three may not be it. I’ll contact the commander and clear it.”

She turned to Roarke. “You’re in if you want it.”

“I can’t think of a more entertaining way to spend the evening.”

“Give me five.” She walked away, yanking out her communicator. “That’s my weapon, you putz,” she snapped at one of the Crime Scene techs as he bagged it. “Give it back.”

“Sorry, sir, it has to go in.”

“Goddamn it, do you know how long it takes to get—Commander, we have two suspects in custody and one suspect DOS.”

“I’m on my way to the scene now. I’m told four officers, including yourself, are injured.”

“MTs treated on-scene, three are being transported to the hospital. The suspects are secured. We have what we believe is the location for their base of operations. I’ve called in my team, as well as two members of B and E. As it’s more efficiently located to both this scene and the

suspected base, I’ll be coordinating the maneuver from my home office. With permission, sir.”

“I’ll meet you there. How extensive are your injuries, Lieutenant?”

“I’ll do, sir.”

“Yes, you will.”

“Okay then,” she muttered when he clicked off. “I want the evidence from this scene so clean I could eat off it,” she told anyone from CSU within hearing. “I want this scene secured so tight a fucking flea couldn’t squeeze under a doorway. Any screwups, I’ll be eating asses for breakfast.”

She nodded to Roarke, who fell into step beside her. “I love when you snarl. Stirs me up.”

“You’ll be plenty stirred before the night’s over.” She stepped out, amused when he draped her ruined jacket over her shoulders.

And the smile fell away when she saw Summerset sitting in one of Roarke’s vehicles with Nixie in his arms. The window rolled down as she approached.

“I had to promise we wouldn’t leave until she’d spoken to you.”

“I don’t have time to—” She broke off when Nixie lifted her head. “What?”

“Can I talk to you, just you, for a minute? Please.”

“Sixty seconds and counting. Come on then.”

When Nixie climbed out, Eve started to walk down the sidewalk. Gave a snarl Roarke would’ve enjoyed as she stared down the gawkers already pressed against the barricades. She detoured to her vehicle, gestured Nixie in.