Brotherhood in Death (In Death 42)

“Agreed. Now that we know we’re looking for secrets, and possibly the horrific, it should be easier to find. He’s going to run about the same,” Eve said, glancing at Wymann. “His injuries, COD, the works. But if you come up with any surprises, let me know.”

“I will, of course, but that reminds me. I thought little of it at the time, but the senator has a small tattoo.”

“Lots do.”

“Including myself. His was barely visible, again, due to the bruising. Groin area.”

“He has a tat there?” Eve said as Peabody went, “Ouch!”

“Just to the left of the root, we’ll say, of the penis.” He offered Eve microgoggles, took a pair for himself.

“Check the new guy,” she told Morris as she put on the goggles, bent down, searched. “Yeah, yeah, I see it now. Barely. It . . . it looks Celtic, right? Like one of those Celtic symbols. Mira’s not Irish or Scots, though. Is it?”

“Arabic, perhap

s, or American Indian. But . . . yes, your second victim has the same. Same tat, same area.”

“Can you tell me when? How long ago they got the ink?”

“I’ll work on that. I’ll excise the dermis, test it myself, and send it to the lab.”

“What the hell does it mean? Peabody, get a picture of it. Let’s run it, see if it has a specific meaning.”

“You’re already there, ah, with the goggles.”

Eve only rolled her eyes, dragged out her ’link. She called up the camera function, took three shots. “It’s going to need to be enhanced, cleaned up.”

“I can do that,” Peabody began, but Eve was already tagging her expert.

“Hey.”

“And a hey back to you,” Roarke said.

“Quick one, just in case you know. What’s this symbolize or mean? Wait a sec.”

She fumbled a little, but managed to send him the image.

“Can you see the tat? There’s a lot of bruising and discoloration, but—”

“I see it, yes. And it happens I do know its meaning, as my mates and I nearly had the same done one memorably drunken evening. It’s a Celtic symbol for brotherhood.”

“‘Brotherhood.’ Yeah, that fits. Why didn’t you get the ink if you were drunk enough to think about it?”

Amusement sparked in his eyes. “Not quite drunk enough to forget identifying marks aren’t wise for some of us in certain areas of business. I’ve a meeting in a moment, unless you need more.”

“No, that’s great. Thanks. Buy that solar system.”

She clicked off, looked back at both victims. “Brotherhood,” she repeated.

—

Back in the car, she headed for Central. “Tag Harvo at the lab. See if the Queen of Hair and Fiber found anything on the rope fibers. Odds are low, but we’ll check. And whatever other hair or fibers the sweepers managed to get to her.”

As Peabody contacted the lab, Eve tried Mira’s personal ’link.

“Eve.”

“Sorry it’s so early.”