Celebrity in Death

circle.”
    “And those he killed with extreme violence.”
    “He could let that violent nature out with them. I believe when you interview his ex-wives and any former or current lovers they’ll tell you—if they’re honest—he preferred rough sex, likely with rape role-playing.The violence is there, always. Ending lives gives him a sense of control, and at the same time, the need to end them when threatened controls him.”
    “He’s going to be real unhappy when we take away his control and put him in a concrete cage. Get me a warrant,” Eve told Reo. “Whatever you can get.”
    After a quick knock, Kyung stepped in. “Do you need me to wait?”
    “No.” Eve angled her head. “It’s good timing. If everyone could stay a few minutes more. I’ve got a way I think we can get something on that EDD trace sooner rather than later.”
    She jerked a thumb at the box on the conference table. “Have a doughnut,” she invited Kyung.

 
    “ YOU NEED TO SET UP ANOTHER MEDIA CONFERENCE ,” Eve said to Kyung.
    “I’m afraid so.” After a brief perusal, he selected a conservative glazed, broke it tidily in half. “It’s necessary.”
    “Okay, but it has to wait until APA Reo finesses a warrant, and EDD is set on a tap and trace.”
    “Well.” Kyung spread his hands in surprise. “You’re very agreeable.”
    “I hope to say the same about you. We’re going to announce there’s been a break in the case, and I feel an arrest is imminent.”
    “Excellent news.” Kyung continued to study her face. “If it’s true.”
    “The break part’s true. In my opinion. The arrest depends on how the killer reacts to the true part.” Eve turned toward Whitney. “With your permission, of course, Commander.”
    “I follow you,” Whitney told her. “You expect the suspect to make some sort of contact after this announcement. That he’ll be compelled, through panic or curiosity.”
    “He’ll want to know what we’ve got, and if any of it casts a shadowon him. His alibi for Asner is another person, a person and an alibi I believe he bought. Price could go up. His alibi may contact him to renegotiate terms.”
    “They could deal with that face-to-face.” Feeney lifted his shoulders. “May not use a ’link or comp to work it out.”
    “True. But I’ve got someone else who’ll engage the suspect face-to-face. Nadine’s good at getting people to say things they don’t expect or intend to say. Every and any little slip he makes adds weight. I want to bring her in, Commander. Not only does she have a vested interest, but I know she won’t go public with any information I give her until I give her the go. Especially when I agree—reluctantly and with some annoyance—to giving her an exclusive on
Now
in exchange for her assistance and discretion.”
    “He manipulates,” Mira commented. “No one can live as he’s lived, do what he’s done for four decades and not have a mastery of manipulation. Nadine also manipulates expertly. And so,” she said to Eve, “do you. You know he’ll lie to her.”
    “Yeah. But about who? Because at a point where he believes we’re nearly ready to make an arrest, he has to throw some dirt on someone else. There’s a limited number of suspects. He’s going to have to toss one of his own into the fire to feel safe. He’ll have to lie, or shave the truth into another shape. The more he does that, the better chance he’ll slip up.”
    “He may kill one of his own,” Mira pointed out. “And, as he did with his partner, stage it as a self-termination, one executed out of guilt.”
    “Yeah, so we’ll have to take steps there. I’m working it out.”
    “Excuse me.” Kyung held up a hand. “I’m not a detective, but am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?”
    Eve glanced at the board when he gestured. “That information stays in this room.”
    “Understood. Of course. But … have you actually connected nine murders to Joel Steinburger? One of the most respected, revered, successful, and celebrated producers in the industry?”
    “Just because he makes a good vid doesn’t mean he’s not a stone killer. And I’m about to end his streak and his celebrated status.”
    “This is going to be huge. The media will explode over this, and the NYPSD—and you, Lieutenant, will be at ground zero.”
    “You sound happy about that.”
    He only smiled, took a neat bite of his doughnut. “We all do what we do.”
    “You got that right.”
    Eve went straight to her