In Death 07 - Holiday in Death

reach, snagged both purses, and skimmed away through the crowd.
    "Sir?"
    "Yeah, I've got him." Eve noted his grin of triumph as he weaved through the crowds of people, gaining speed as they leaped out of his path.
    He ducked, swiveled, dodged, then veered around toward Eve's right. Their eyes met for one brief second, his bright with excitement, hers flat and level. She pivoted and took him out with one short-armed, back-fisted punch. Had there been less of a crowd, she thought he would have sailed nicely for ten feet or so. Instead he barreled back into a group of people, upended with his skates still humming and facing the sky.
    Blood gushed out of his nose. His eyes rolled back white.
    "See if you can get a beat cop in here to take care of this jerk." Eve flexed her fingers, rolled her shoulder, then absently put one booted foot on the thief's midriff as he began to moan and squirm. "You know what, Peabody? I feel a lot better now."
    Later, Eve thought busting the thief had been the high point of her day. She didn't learn squat from the jeweler. Neither he nor his sour-faced clerk remembered anything about the customer who'd paid cash for the partridge pin. It was Christmas, the jeweler had complained, even while his clerk rang up sales with the speed and precision of an accounting droid. How was he supposed to remember one transaction?
    Eve suggested he think harder, and contact her when his memory cleared. Then ended up buying a copper ear chain for Mavis's lover, Leonardo -- much to Peabody's disgust.
    "You catch some transpo, go back to the house, and work with McNab."
    "Why don't you just punch me in the face with a bare fist?"
    "Handle it, Peabody. I'm going into Central. I'll need to give Whitney an update, and I want to see Mira, start her working on a profile."
    "Maybe you'll pick up a few more Christmas presents on the way."
    Eve stopped by her car. "Was that sarcasm?"
    "I don't think so. It was too direct for sarcasm."
    "Find me a match on those lists, Peabody, or we start interviewing lonely hearts."
    Eve left Peabody elbowing her way toward Sixth to catch a maxibus uptown. She engaged her 'link as she headed in the opposite direction, and set up the two meetings.
    She scanned the incoming, listened to Nadine's harried voice, and decided to give the reporter a break. "Stop whining, Nadine."
    "Dallas, Christ, where have you been?"
    "Keeping the city safe for you and yours."
    "Look, there's just enough time to plug something into my noon report. Give me a line here."
    "I just busted a mugger on Fifth."
    "Don't be droll, I'm up against the wall. What's the connection between the two murders?"
    "Which two murders? We got a lot of bodies this time of year. Christmas brings out that wacky holiday spirit."
    Nadine snarled audibly. "Hawley and Greenbalm. Come on, Dallas. Two women strangled. I've got that much. You're primary on both. I hear there was sexual molestation. Will you confirm?"
    "The department will not confirm or deny at this time."
    "Rape and sodomy."
    "No comment."
    "Damn it, why the hardball?"
    "I don't have any breathing room right now. I'm trying to stop a killer, Nadine, and I just can't be too worried about the ratings for Channel 75."
    "I thought we were friends."
    "I guess we are, and because of that when I've got something to give, you'll get it."
    Nadine's eyes brightened. "First, exclusive?"
    "Don't keep tying up my 'link."
    "A one-on-one, Dallas. Let me set it up. I can be at Cop Central by one."
    "No. I'll let you know when and where, but I don't have time for you today." And time, Eve thought, was the biggest factor. No one she knew researched as fast or as deep as Nadine Furst. "You're not seeing anybody in particular these days, are you, Nadine?"
    "Seeing anyone -- as in dating or sleeping with? No, not in particular."
    "Ever try one of those dating services?"
    "Please." Nadine's eyelashes fluttered as she lifted her hand to examine her manicure. "I think I can find my own men."
    "Just a thought. I hear they're popular." Eve paused and watched Nadine's eyes narrow and glitter. "You might want to give it a try."
    "Yeah, I might do that. Thanks. Gotta run. I'm on in five."
    "One thing. Do I have to buy you a Christmas present?"
    Nadine's brows went up, her lips curved in a wide smile. "Absolutely."
    "Damn, I was afraid of that." Frowning, Eve broke transmission and steered into the garage at Cop Central.
    On the way to Whitney's office, she snagged an energy bar and a tube of