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

it’s a good thing. I worry about you, Morris.”
    Fairly serious about that, she left him with the dead. She was nearlyat the exit when Peabody came in, pink-cheeked from the cold and wearing her fussy-topped pink winter boots.
    â€œI’m not late, you’re early.”
    â€œI wanted a jump on it.”
    As Eve walked straight out, Peabody did a quick turnaround and followed. “Did Morris have anything?”
    â€œHe was working on the first victim. We need to corroborate with Berenski, but it looks like a military-grade weapon.”
    â€œMcNab started researching those last night.” Peabody hustled to the car, let out an audible “
Ahhh
” when she settled into the seat. “He was totally all about it. What is it with men and weapons?”
    â€œI’m not a man. I like weapons.”
    â€œRight. Anyway. He was researching the weapon, or possible weapon, and started doing the math. The math I get, because geek, then you sent over that program Roarke wrote up. It was like Christmas and hot sex and chocolate pudding for him all together. Like having hot sex covered with chocolate pudding on Christmas. Hmm.”
    â€œDon’t go there.”
    â€œAlready did, but saving it for later. So he’s playing with that, and I started on the wit list. Like I said in my report, the poor little guy with the broken leg and his parents didn’t see a thing until they hit the ice. Then all they really saw was the kid, and the girl. It happened so fast. They were about to exit the rink when it happened, were looking the other way, and
bam!
”
    â€œWe’ll finish the list, but it’s not going to come down to wits at the rink on this. The strike came from too far away. I haven’t found any connection between the victims, and I don’t think there’s going to be any.”
    â€œIf this was completely random . . .” Peabody glanced out at the people on the street, at the buildings and all the windows rising up.
    â€œI didn’t say I’m convinced it was random. I want Morris’s full results,and we’re going to start checking the buildings on the short list Roarke worked out. The first victim, middle of the back, high-powered strike with echoes.”
    â€œI know what that means! McNab ran it for me last night.
Echoes
means the strike’s designed to spread once it hits the target.”
    â€œShe wouldn’t have survived it—at least low odds—anyway. Nearly severed her spine. So that tells me the kill was imperative, not just the strike. And maybe that’s why he stopped at three. Panic’s starting, people heading for cover, or bunching up, ducking down. You’re going to get some solid strikes, but maybe not solid enough for a kill. This way, he’s three for three.”
    â€œDon’t take chances, lower your percentage.” Peabody blew out a breath as Eve turned toward the lab. “How many buildings on the short list?”
    â€œEnough that I’m pulling in whoever’s not working a hot to help check them out.”
    Inside, in the warren of the lab, Eve headed straight for Dickhead.
    While most of the techs wore white lab coats, the slick of dark hair on his egg-shaped head made him easy to spot as he huddled over his long work counter.
    She imagined his spidery fingers working over a keyboard or on a screen. The man was a creepy pain in the ass, but he had skills. And she needed them.
    He glanced up as she approached, and nearly knocked her off her stride. The poor excuse for facial hair he’d been trying to grow now resembled an anemic caterpillar over his mouth, and a tattered spiderweb on his chin.
    If he’d developed the new look to lure women—and luring women was his greatest wish—Eve predicted brutal disappointment.
    â€œLDSK,” he said, with what might have been pleasure.
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œWe don’t get those every day.