The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme 1)

They streaked past the Big Building and she thought, achingly, That's where I oughta be right now. Meeting fellow information officers, sitting through the training session, soaking up the air-conditioning.

She steered expertly around a taxi that was oozing through a red light.

Jesus, this is hot. Dust hot, stink hot, gas hot. The ugly hours of the city. Tempers spurted like gray water shooting from hydrants up in Harlem. Two Christmases ago, she and her boyfriend had an abbreviated holiday celebration--from 11:00 p.m. to midnight, the only mutual free time their watches allowed--in the four-degree night. She and Nick, sitting at Rockefeller Center, outside, near the skating rink, drinking coffee and brandy. They'd agreed they'd rather have a week of cold than a single hot August day.

Finally, streaking down Pearl she spotted Haumann's command post. Leaving eight-foot skid marks, Sachs put the RRV into a slot between his car and an EMS bus.

"Damn, you drive good." Sellitto climbed out. For some reason Sachs was delighted to notice Jerry Banks's sweaty fingerprints remained prominently on the window when he pushed the rear door open.

EMS officers and Patrol uniforms were everywhere, fifty or sixty of them. And more were on their way. It seemed as if the entire attention of Police Plaza was focused on downtown New York. Sachs found herself thinking idly that if anybody wanted to try an assassination or to take over Gracie Mansion or a consulate, this'd be the time to do it.

Haumann trotted up to the station wagon. He said to Sellitto, "We're doing door-to-door, seeing about construction along Pearl. Nobody knows anything about asbestos work and nobody's heard any calls for help."

Sachs started to climb out but Haumann said, "No, officer. Your orders're to stay here with the CS ve

hicle."

She got out anyway.

"Yessir. Who exactly said that?"

"Detective Rhyme. I just talked to him. You're supposed to call in to Central when you're at the CP."

Haumann was walking away. Sellitto and Banks hurried toward the command post.

"Detective Sellitto," Sachs called.

He turned. She said, "Excuse me, detective. The thing is, who's my watch commander? Who'm I reporting to?"

He said shortly, "You're reporting to Rhyme."

She laughed. "But I can't be reporting to him."

Sellitto gazed at her blankly.

"I mean, aren't there liability issues or something? Jurisdiction? He's a civilian. I need somebody, a shield, to report to."

Sellitto said evenly, "Officer, listen up. We're all reporting to Lincoln Rhyme. I don't care whether he's a civilian or he's the chief or he's the fucking Caped Crusader. Got that?"

"But--"

"You wanna complain, do it in writing and do it tomorrow."

And he was gone. Sachs stared after him for a moment then returned to the front seat of the wagon and called in to Central that she was 10-84 at the scene. Awaiting instructions.

She laughed grimly as the woman reported, "Ten-four, Portable 5885. Be advised. Detective Rhyme will be in touch shortly, K."

Detective Rhyme.

"Ten-four, K," Sachs responded and looked in the back of the wagon, wondering idly what was in the black suitcases.

Two-forty p.m.

The phone rang in Rhyme's townhouse. Thom answered. "It's a dispatcher from headquarters."

"Put 'em through."

The speakerphone burst to life. "Detective Rhyme, you don't remember me but I worked at IRD when you were there. Civilian. Did phone detail then. Emma Rollins."