Free In Death 23 - Born in Death by authors_sort

hat.”
    “Fun where you find it.” Harvo snapped gum the color of healthy lungs. “You looking for Dickhead, he’s gone. Got leave, a few days south—probably half-juiced by now and hitting on some unfortunate woman who just wants to drink her piña colada in peace.”
    “Who’s running the asylum?”
    “Yon’s got this tour, but he’s in the field. Pulled up a floater from the East River. Being that’s his favorite variety, he went out to the scene. You want, I can run you through what we’ve got on your double murder.”
    “Appreciate it.”
    “Live to serve.”
    Instead of taking Eve to Berenski’s domain, Harvo wound her way through the maze to her own workstation. “You looking to do field work, Harvo?”
    “Nah. I like my hive.” She boosted onto her stool, hooked her thick-soled, high-topped black and green sneakers on the rung. “And the whole dead body thing isn’t big on my list of appeals. I just cruise onthe evidence, you know?” Wiggling her butt on the stool, she played her long, varnished nails over a keyboard.
    “I didn’t process your tape. Tech who did just left for the day. Prob’ly shot you the report before, but since you’re here…”
    “Since I’m here.”
    “Tape on both murders came from the same roll. See here? You got your end from female vic’s ankles, dead match with the end from the male vic’s hands. Took hours to straighten those suckers out, but you got your match. Garden variety duct tape.”
    “Don’t suppose we got a miracle and found prints.”
    “Not a one. Some DNA though. None on the female DB, nothing under her nails. Prints on the scene—murder one—vic’s, second vic, sister of first vic. Blood spatter, all vic’s. She didn’t do any damage. But your male DB got some licks in.”
    “You got DNA from scene two.”
    “Not all the blood at the second scene was your vic’s. Got nice samples off the second vic’s knuckles. He popped the bastard. You get him, we can match him. Prints up the waz, second scene.”
    “Doing reno there.”
    “Yeah, we got that. You got plenty there to clear. We’ll run them for you, give you names and locations. Nothing on the body, as per your first. But what we got on your male vic was blood and saliva—not his. Cord used to strangle second vic was cut from binding on scene.”
    “Took his fun where he found it, too.”
    “You could say. Here’s a little something. Outside locks on female’s building were complete shit. Broke ’em in with a smooth, round object. Little hammer maybe. Whack, whack, you’re in. Better locks upstairs. Used locksmith tools on those.”
    She’d seen that for herself, but Eve nodded. “Came prepared. Knew about the fresh lock.”
    “So, anyways, we’ll get your ID on the prints, second scene, so you can run ’em.”
    “Appreciate it.”
    Kept an eye on her, Eve thought as she battled her way home through the cranky wall of traffic. Bribed her first—probably going to kill her anyway. Copperfield thought the bribe bought her time, but it bought her killer time, too. Planning and prep time.
    Something hot enough to kill for twice was too hot to take chances with a payoff.
    Back to the accounting firm—just had to be. She needed those damn files. Using the dash ’link, she contacted Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Cher Reo.
    “I’m on my way out,” Reo said. “I have an actual date. Don’t screw with me.”
    “I have two bodies in the morgue. I want my warrant. Don’t screw with me.”
    “Do you know how much paper a lawyer can generate in a few hours?”
    “Is that one of those questions like how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”
    Reno smiled sourly. “Runs down the same channel.”
    “Why would angels dance on a pin? Wouldn’t they rather boogie in the clouds?”
    “I would.” Reo’s lips curved slyly. “But I’m not an angel.”
    “Me either. Now, enough of this philosophizing. About those lawyers, about my warrant.”
    “I’m going to get