“I’m heading out shortly.”
“I’ve got some angles for Baxter on the opens.”
“Work them,” Eve said. “Take one, you’re primary.”
“But —”
Eve cut off the protest with a look. “We’re short here, Peabody. I need you to take one, work it. Send me updates and notes, and I’ll work with you. If something else pops loose on this, I’ll pull you in, but right now it’s steps and stages, calculations and incoming data. I’ll be tagging the agent in charge soon.”
“You gotta?”
“I gotta. If I’m not here when Banner gets back, you haul him to my place. We can work there tonight if we don’t have this locked.”
“Okay.” Peabody let out a breath. “Okay, I’ll take one of the opens, pass the other to Baxter when he comes in. How do I know which one?”
“You can’t know, you just pick and do what you do. It’s not your first round as primary.”
“Yeah, but you’re always right there.”
“I’m still there, keep me in the loop, but do what you do. You’ve got a shield for a reason.”
Her ’link signaled. Eve glanced at it. “That’s Mira. I’m going to take this. Go, keep the balls in the air.”
“But I can tag you.”
“When you need to. Beat it.” She grabbed the ’link. “Dallas.”
“I’m just coming in to Central. I wanted you to know that we’ve concluded both the victims were tortured and murdered, and it’s our opinion they are two more victims of the spree killers.”
“Ella-Loo Parsens and Darryl Roy James.”
“You have them.”
“Not yet, but we have names, faces – and we have more data. I can come to you.”
“I’ll come to you. Five minutes.”
She was prompt. In five minutes Eve heard the skinny-heeled boots clicking toward her office. When Mira stepped in, Eve held out a mug of the flowery tea Mira preferred.
“Oh, thank you! I can really use this.”
“Don’t sit in that chair. You know what it’s like.”
“Considering I’ve spent most of today on my feet, I’ll take yours. Thanks.” She sat, took a long, slow sip. “While not altogether careless, the conclusions reached previously on both victims are incorrect. Injuries were misinterpreted. Given the more limited experience and equipment in these cases, it’s not unreasonable to understand how those conclusions were arrived at.”
“In both cases, there were people – Banner and the second vic’s wife – pushing for further investigation. Those people were dismissed by the local authorities and the federal authorities.”
“Agreed, however, assessed from one angle, the victims appeared to have had accidental deaths. Regardless, they were murdered. DeWinter is writing the reports, on both, in minute detail.”
“I just bet.”
“She’s also requested the exhumation of Noah Paston’s remains, and their transfer to her.”
“I’m going to owe her that drink.”
Mira smiled. “And you’re busy and distracted by what’s happening now, so this doesn’t matter.”
Eve shook her head. “It does matter. Victims always matter, and I’m grateful you took the time to throw your weight on the pile. I’ll inform Agent Zweck of your conclusions, and tell him DeWinter’s report is forthcoming.”