Dark in Death (In Death 46)

“Hitting around forty? A couple of times.”

Eve went on alert. “Outside the studio?”

“Across the street. I nearly ran into her—I think the same day as Loxie. I was coming back from a meeting, to lay those tracks, and she must’ve been camped out, like, I’d seen her a couple times. She sort of bumped into me, then freaked. I started to say something, but she jerked back and took off running. Didn’t think much of it. We get the type.”

“You—”

Eve jabbed a finger at Nadine to silence her. “How good a look did you get?”

“Face-to-face is a pretty good look.”

“Off the record,” Eve snapped at Nadine. “I need you to work with our police artist.”

Jake lifted his eyebrows. “You think that strange, spooky woman’s involved?”

“You were face-to-face with a strange, spooky woman who’s killed three people. Nadine, none of this goes out.”

“I know the damn drill, Dallas. I need a one-on-one update.”

“Can’t do it. Listen, if you get two from me in as many days, it’ll rub too many feathers. I’m giving you an according to an NYPSD source, name withheld, as the source doesn’t have authorization to discuss the investigation.”

Nadine sulked a moment, then nodded. “That works.”

“That source indicates investigators conclude the murder of Loxie Flash is connected to two other open cases. Multiple eyewitnesses have identified a person of interest, and investigators are pursuing new leads.”

“That’s a runaround,” Nadine complained.

“Those are facts. And we’re going to have a likeness of that person of interest this morning. Wait—add the hair, and a mink hoodie.”

“A mink hoodie?”

“She grabbed it on the run last night. No point letting her enjoy it. Jake, I need you to come with me. Nadine, out of my office.”

“I need to feed this to the station.”

“Not from my office.”

“Fine. Are you using Yancy?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll be there in a few minutes.” She patted Jake’s arm when he rose. “I won’t be long.”

“It’s okay. Weird, but okay.” Then he dipped down, kissed her. “Do what you do, Lois.”

19

Eve led Jake out of the bullpen and toward a glide.

“There’s a guy back there wearing a tie designed to fry corneas, and another guy in a cowboy hat,” Jake noted.

Eve said, “Yes.”

“But they’re cops?”

“Yes.”

“This is a really weird day.”