“I’ve never had a picnic in the park.”
He skimmed a finger down her chin, just where the dent would be. “We’ll have to fix that. Soon.”
She rode to the north end of the park in the surveillance vehicle, leaning over Feeney’s shoulder as he did the checks.
“Running sweeps. Baxter.”
The first of Feeney’s screens showed a fountain fed by a leaping dolphin. She could hear the tinkle of water against water, snatches of conversations as people strolled, and Baxter’s whiny plea for contributions. The screen jumped slightly as he circled.
“Doing your gimp routine, Baxter?” Eve demanded.
“Roger that,” he replied.
“Just remember, whatever you take in from the suckers goes in the Greenpeace fund.”
As Feeney moved from man to man, she gauged the situation. As she’d predicted, the park was a popular place on a bright June afternoon. She watched a trio of teachers herding a school group like woolly sheep through the botanical gardens.
“Possible sighting.” Peabody’s voice came over the speakers. “Male, Caucasian, shoulder-length black hair, wearing tan trousers, light blue shirt. Carrying wicker picnic basket and black leather bag. Heading east on path, Endangered Species section.”
“I see him.” Eve studied the man on-screen. Now that was sauntering, she decided, watching the way he swung the basket gently at his side. And on his hand was a bicolored gold ring set with a ruby. “Go in on the ring,” she told Feeney.
He blocked, magnified. And she saw the dragon’s head carved into the stone.
“That’s a positive ID. We got our man. Keep him in sight. Baxter, he’ll be moving into your sector.”
“Copy that. I’m on him.”
“Peabody, you and Roarke maintain your distance. He’s thirty minutes early,” she said. “Needs time to get set up. Let’s give it to him.”
“Trueheart’s got a visual,” McNab said from his bank of screens. “Possible suspect moving south now. He’s heading toward the arranged area. Looks like we’ve got him.”
“Maintain distance,” Eve warned. “Trueheart, angle a little to your left. Perfect. Let’s watch the show.”
He moved off the path onto the grassy area designated for picnics. Two other couples were there before him, as well as a trio of women, obviously taking a long lunch break from work. One lone male lay flat on his back, sunbathing. At Eve’s order, he rolled lazily to his side, propped an e-book by his elbow and gave her a new angle on Kevin Morano.
Kevin paused, turning his head right and left as he studied the area. He opted for shade, turning for the largest tree where sun dappled softly on the grass. There he set down basket and bag.
“I want all available eyes on him,” Eve announced. Then she hissed as she saw the visual from Peabody’s recorder. “Peabody, Roarke, not too close.”
> “Lovely spot for a picnic.” Roarke’s voice was warm and cheerful. “Just let me spread this blanket, darling. I wouldn’t want you to get grass stains on that lovely outfit.”
“Blanket? I didn’t clear that,” Eve began.
“This sure is a surprise.” Peabody gave what Eve recognized as an uneasy laugh. “I wasn’t expecting a picnic.”
“What’s life without some surprise?”
She saw Roarke’s face and the amused look on it as he spread a blanket on the ground.
Several feet away, Kevin mirrored the move.
“Such a pretty spot,” Roarke continued, then lowered his voice as he sat. “We can enjoy the view without getting in anyone’s way.”
“I want no interference from any location. No one, repeat no one, moves in without my signal.”
“Naturally. Champagne, sweetheart?”
“Peabody, you take one sip and you’re busted to Traffic.”