"She's home, and no, she's far from all right. What the hell have they done to her?"
"I'm at the Drake. Feeney's running the interviews we'd set up, but they're running late. I've only got a minute. Bowers was murdered last night. Dallas is a suspect."
"What kind of insanity is that?"
"It's bogus—everybody knows it—but it's procedure."
"Fuck procedure."
"Yeah." The image of his face on her screen, the cold, predatory look in those amazing eyes, had her fighting back a shudder. "Look, I don't have a lot of details. They're keeping the lid on Baxter—he's primary—but I got that Bowers had all this stuff about Dallas written down. Weird stuff. Sex and corruption, bribery, false reports."
He glanced back at Eve when she stirred restlessly. "Is no one considering the source?"
"The source is a dead cop." She ran a hand over her face. "We'll do whatever it takes to get her back and get her back fast. Feeney's going to do a deep-level search on Bowers," she said, lowering her voice.
"Tell him that won't be necessary. He can contact me. I already have that data."
"But how—"
"Tell him to contact me, Peabody. What's Baxter's full name and rank?"
"Baxter? Detective, David. He won't talk to you, Roarke. He can't."
"I'm not interested in talking to him. Where's McNab?"
"He's back at Central, running data."
"I'll be in touch."
"Roarke wait. Tell Dallas…tell her whatever you think she needs to hear."
"She'll need you, Peabody." He broke transmission.
He left Eve sleeping. Information was power, he thought. He intended for her to have all the power he could gather.
• • • •
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Detective…"
"Captain," Feeney said, sizing up the slickly groomed man in the Italian suit. "Captain Feeney, filling in temporarily for Lieutenant Dallas as primary. I'll be conducting the interview."
"Oh." Waverly's expression showed mild puzzlement. "I hope the lieutenant isn't unwell."
"Dallas knows how to take care of herself. Peabody, on record."
"On record, sir."
"So official." After a slight shrug, Waverly smiled and sat behind his massive oak desk.
"That's right." Feeney read off the revised Miranda, cocked a brow. "You get that?"
"Of course. I understand my rights and obligations. I didn't think I required a lawyer for this procedure. I'm more than willing to cooperate with the police."
"Then tell me your whereabouts on the following dates and times." Referring to his notebook, Feeney read off the dates of the three murders in New York.
"I'll need to check my calendar to be sure." Waverly swiveled a sleek black box, laid his palm on top to activate it, then requested his schedule for the times in question.
Off duty and clear during first period. Off duty and clear during second period. On call and at Drake Center monitoring patient Clifford during third period.