Echoes in Death (In Death 44)

“Both actually. But I think the sidepiece is also a partner. A lot of travel for her, a lot of suspicious deposits—smallish, that added together aren’t smallish. Sixty to eighty large every six weeks, when she travels to Argentina—no relatives or business there on record. The deposits disappear, except for an exact ten percent.”

“Or end up in another account,” Roarke said. “Money laundering, and the ten’s her fee.”

“I get that. I don’t have time for that.” But she earmarked the name to send to those who would, and should. Caught Roarke’s grin.

“What?”

“The poor bastard has no idea of the good news/bad news heading his way. ‘Sir, you’re clear of any suspicion of murder, and are now under investigation for money laundering, probable fraud, and so on’.”

“He should’ve thought of that before he got so greedy.”

She moved on, frowned when her ’link signaled.

“Dallas.”

“Hey.” McNab’s pretty face came on screen.

“You’re still at it?”

“Got sucked into the puzzle, you know? She-Body’s up here in the lab working on her stuff, so it’s all smooth. Got pizza and fizzies. But we’re calling it pretty soon, so I wanted to let you know I’ve got some pieces. Man, you would not believe what people throw in a recycler, and in that ritz neighborhood.”

“Pieces of the ’link?”

“Yeah. Only some of it got shredded—we lucked out. It’s crushed to shit, so it’s going to take a while. I can’t say a hundred percent, but what I’m putting together, I’m going to say it looks homemade. It looks like somebody made it out of spare parts. It’s not all from one manufacturer or from the same model—that I can say for a hundred.”

“That’s good. That’s good work. Put Peabody on.”

“Hang a mo. She-Body, Dallas wants a jaw.”

“I don’t want a jaw,” she muttered. Roarke shook his head, made a talking gesture with his hand. “Why doesn’t he say talk?”

The screen bobbled as McNab passed the ’link. Peabody came on.

“We’re making some progress—McNab told you his. I’ve got one good possible out of

the first eight.”

“Good. Send it. We’ve got…” Roarke held up a finger, signaling he had another. “Nine out of the first twenty-nine. I’ll copy you.”

“How’d you get through twenty-nine? I’ve been at this since—”

“Roarke’s working some.”

“Oh. Okay, that’s better. He’s really fast with comp work.”

“I’m beating his total,” Eve said before she could stop herself. “Doesn’t matter. Stop at ten, go home. Both of you.”

“Twenty,” Peabody said. “I’ve got twenty in me.”

“Twenty. Send me all potentials before you leave. We’ll pick this up tomorrow.”

Eve clicked off, pressed her fingers to her eyes.

“You can take a break,” Roarke pointed out.

“No, not yet.”

“A pick-me-up then. Milk and cookies.”