“Christ, Peabody.” Realization and twangs of guilt hit at once. “I see where you’re going, and you’re going to want to do a fast U.”
“Just hear me out first, okay?” Peabody waved her hands in the air as if to ward off any boot aimed at her nose. “If you put him up, he’d be right there. Anything breaks anywhere on this, he’d be right there. And I was thinking, McNab and I could bunk over – same reason,” she said quickly. “And we could keep him occupied so you wouldn’t have to, if necessary. Carmichael and Santiago are already on their way west. Something could break tonight.”
“Fuck me.” Eve resisted just dropping her head to the desk, maybe banging it there a few times, because, like DeWinter, Peabody had a point.
“Set it up. You deal with Summerset.” That torture would be spared her, Eve decided. “I don’t want to hear him griping about running a halfway house for cops.”
“I’ll take care of it. Ah, we’re going to have to go home, get some stuff. We could haul Banner with us, but…”
“Oh, for – I’ll take him. When I’m damn good and ready. He can catch some sleep in the crib if he needs it. Go the hell away before you have me taking in half the damn department for the night.”
Eve put her head in her hands a moment. Coffee first, she decided. Then she’d contact Roarke – text him – that’s the way to let him know she was bringing cops home – one of them a complete stranger. Update Whitney, review the run on missings, then —
Her ’link signaled, and, grinding her teeth, she answered DeWinter again.
“What the fuck?”
“And hello to you, too. Both remains will be exhumed within the hour. I should have them by eighteen hundred.”
All pissiness vanished. “That’s fast. Maybe I owe you a drink for that, too.”
“I’ll take it. I’ve arranged to start the exam this evening with Morris. Dr. Mira will consult via holo, if necessary, and come into my house in the morning.”
“Okay. How about I just buy you a bottle?”
“Drinks,” DeWinter said, “and conversation, Lieutenant. It’s time. I’ll keep you updated.”
“I’ll do the same. It’s appreciated. Hell, I’ve got another incoming. Later.”
She clicked off, took the next. “Commander, I’m about to send you an update.”
“Before you do, Banner is fully cleared by his chief. This is not officially part of the federal investigation, however, I want every inch of all asses covered. Make that update in full detail, Lieutenant, and copy Tibble.”
Eve nodded. Asses covered completely with their own chief in the mix. “Yes, sir. Briefly? We may have caught a break.” She ran through quickly what she’d write in more detail on Jansen.
“To expedite I requested the transpo from Roarke. The detectives are already en route.”
“Include the request for compensation in the report.”
“He won’t take it, Commander.”
“Put it in. Roarke is free to donate said transportation, but through channels. I want all appropriate paperwork.”
“Yes, sir.”
She clicked off, figured she’d have to see to the bulk of said paperwork as, in Roarke’s place, it would bug the shit out of her.
She thought, yet again: Coffee, text Roarke. This time she nearly made it to the AutoChef before footsteps headed her way.
“Sorry, LT.”
She might’ve snarled at Baxter, but he looked pale, heavy-eyed.
“What?”
“Wanted you to know we’re back, can take some of the grunt work.”
“Okay, there’s plenty of it. Sit.” She got two coffees. “What did you catch?”