The Steel Kiss (Lincoln Rhyme 12)

"Jesus."

Von grimaced and started off along the dark sidewalk.

"I'm going to the bay, get rid of this." Freddy tapped his pocket.

"Thanks, man... You're the best."

"The list look good?"

"It's something. A good start. I'll just have to do a little more detective work."

"Hell, you were a detective. Piece of cake."

"Thanks, Freddy. Man, I owe you. Big." A faint smile.

Freddy touched his forehead, a half salute, then headed west, to the shore, where he'd pitch the gun into the Narrows. A few minutes later Nick found a gypsy cab; they were more plentiful in the outer boroughs since medallion cabs were harder to find. He settled into the seat and inhaled deeply. Then his phone hummed and he panicked, thinking the detective from the restaurant was following up and wanted him to come downtown. But he looked at caller ID.

Felt a thud in his gut all right. Though a different sort than the kind he'd just experienced.

He answered.

"Amelia. Hi."

CHAPTER 36

Rhyme and Archer sat in their chairs before the evidence boards. They were alone.

The speculation, the guesswork, the suppositions had gone on for several hours--several extremely unproductive hours--before the team called it quits for the night. Pulaski and Cooper were gone. Sachs was in the hallway making a phone call. Her voice was low and he wondered whom she was speaking to. Her face looked grave. The shooting incident at the mall seemed resolved largely in her favor. What else could it be?

She ended her call and walked back into the parlor, offering nothing about the conversation. She didn't remove her Glock--again she'd be staying in Brooklyn. Sachs pulled her jacket off a hook.

"Better go."

She glanced at Archer then back to Rhyme and seemed about to say something.

Rhyme cocked an eyebrow. The equivalent of a taciturn man, which he was, saying, "Talk to me. What is it?"

A moment of debate within Sachs. Then she balked, snagged her purse, slung it over her shoulder and nodded farewell. "I'll be back early."

"See you then."

"'Night, Amelia," Archer said.

"'Night."

Sachs strode into the hallway and Rhyme heard the front door as it opened and closed.

He turned back toward Archer. Had she fallen asleep? Her eyes were closed. Then they opened.

She said, "Frustrating."

Looking at the board. "Yes. Loose ends. Too many of them. This riddle's not that easy."

"You figured it out? Ours?"

"The letter 'e.'"

"You didn't cheat? No, you wouldn't. You're a scientist. The process is the most important part of solving a problem. The answer's almost secondary."