Vendetta in Death (In Death 49)

She got a grip, on her restraints, and had him holding up his hands, backing off. “Throttle back, just throttle back. I’m just doing my job here.”

“Five, four, three—”

“Okay, okay.” He tapped the mic on his lapel. “I need Darren out here. Some cop’s going nutso.”

It took under a minute for six-foot, four-inch Darren to stride out. He had a tough-looking body in a black suit—with just a hint of bulge where his sidearm rested. He had dark skin, hard, dark eyes, a shaved head, and a kick-ass look about him Eve could respect.

“Let’s see the badge.”

Eve held it up. “NYPSD. I’m investigating a series of homicides, and believe one of your passengers was abducted from this center this afternoon. He’d be the next.”

“Abducted? That seems far-fetched.”

“Linus Brinkman. He would have arrived on a Lodestar private shuttle, coming from Las Vegas, at approximately fifteen-thirty this afternoon. Someone not Brinkman canceled his car service and set up a replacement. I need to see the feed, at the gate, out here at pickup. Check the manifest, for God’s sake.”

“There are privacy laws that require a warrant for—”

Fury flashed and poured out of her hot enough to have Darren breaking off.

“Three men, abducted, tortured, castrated. You keep up with current fucking events in New York, Darren?”

His eyes changed. “Yeah, I heard about it.”

“Check the manifest. If Brinkman got off the shuttle,

he’s right now hanging naked by the wrists.”

“That sounds like bullshit, Darren. This one’s nutso.”

“Quiet, Len. Come on with me, Lieutenant. We’ll start with the manifest.”

As they turned to go in, another car pulled up. Roarke got out; the car drove on.

“Sir,” Darren said. “I didn’t know you were scheduled today.”

“I’m not. Lieutenant.”

“Do you own this place?” Eve demanded.

“Not entirely. Darren, I hope you’re assisting the lieutenant in every way.”

“Yes, sir. We’re just going in to check the manifest. Didn’t put it together,” he muttered as he walked them in. “Saw the vid last year, but didn’t put it together.”

“What the hell does that have to do with anything?” Eve snarled out.

“Just saying.” He walked straight to the check-in counter. “Monika, check for the arrival of Linus Brinkman.”

“Lodestar. Company shuttle,” Eve added.

“I don’t have to check. I know Mr. Brinkman. He arrived right on time. I even waved to him as he walked through to meet his driver.”

“Security feed. Now.”

“What gate, Monika?”

“One. Gate One.”

“Come with me.”