Free Survivor in Death by J. D. Robb Page B

press.”
    “No.” It wasn’t a smile that moved over Eve’s face. Nothing that feral could be called a smile. “I want them hanged by it. You’re my secondary line, if the system gives them a loophole even an anorectic bloodworm has trouble wiggling through. Yes or no.”
    “Yes. Was there sexual assault on any or all of the victims?”
    “None.”
    “Torture? Mutilation?”
    “No. Straight kills. Clean.”
    “Professional?”
    “Possibly. Two killers.”
    “Two?” The excitement of the hunt flushed onto Nadine’s cheek. “How do you know?”
    “I get paid to know. Two,” Eve repeated. “No vandalism, destruction of property, no burglary that can be determined at this time. And at this time, it is the opinion of the primary investigator that the family in question was target specific. I’ve got a report to write, and I have to speak to my commander. I’m cooking on three hours’ sleep. Go away, Nadine.”
    “Suspects, leads?”
    “At this time we are pursuing any and all blah, blah, blah. You know the drill. Disappear now.”
    Nadine rose. “Watch my evening report. I’ll start bloodying them now.”
    “Good. And Nadine?” Eve said as Nadine opened the office door. “Thanks for the cookie.”
    She set up her office case board, wrote her report, read those submitted by EDD and Crime Scene. She drank more coffee, then closed her eyes and went through the scene, yet again, in her mind.
    “Computer. Probability run, multiple homicides, case file H-226989SD,” Eve ordered.
    Acknowledged.
    “Probability, given known data, that the killers were known by one or more of the victims.”
    Working . . . Probability is 88.32 percent that one or more of the victims knew one or more of the killers.
    “Probability that the killers were professional assassins.”
    Working . . . Probability is 96.93 percent that the killers were professional and/or trained.
    “Yeah, I’m with you there. Probability that killers were hired or assigned to assassinate victims by another source.”
    Working . . . Wholly speculative inquiry with insufficient data to project.
    “Let’s try this. Given current known data on all victims, what is the probability any or all would be marked for professional assassination?”
    Working . . . 100 percent probability as victims have been assassinated.
    “Work with me here, you moron. Speculation. Victims have not yet been assassinated. Given current known data—deleting any data after midnight—what is the probability any or all members of the Swisher household would be marked for professional assassination?”
    Working . . . Probability is less than five percent, and therefore these subjects would not be so marked.
    “Yeah, my take, too. So what don’t we know about this nice family?” She swiveled around to the board. “Because you’re dead, aren’t you?” She shoved another disc in the data slot. “Computer, do a sort and run on subsequent data pertaining to Swisher, Grant, client list. Follow with sort and run on Swisher, Keelie, client list. Highlight any and all subjects with criminal or psych evals, highlight all with military or paramilitary training. Copy results to my home unit when complete.”
    Acknowledged. Working . . .
    “Yeah, you keep doing that.” She rose, walked out.
    “Peabody.” She gave a come-ahead that had Peabody pushing back from her desk in the bull pen.
    “I’ve got a complaint. How come Baxter and most of the other guys always get the good bribes? How come being your partner means I get shafted on the goodies?”
    “Price you pay. We’re heading to Whitney. Do you have anything new I should know about before we report?”
    “I talked with McNab. Purely professional,” Peabody added quickly. “We hardly made any kissy noises. Feeney put him on the household ’links and d and c’s, and Grant Swisher’s units from his office. He’s running all transmissions from the last thirty days. So far, nothing pops. Did you see the sweepers’