In Death 08 - Conspiracy in Death

Samuel Petrinsky, street name Snooks, who was murdered some time during the early-morning hours of January twelfth. The investigation is open and ongoing."
    "There were, however, unusual circumstances in the matter of this death."
    Eve looked steadily at Nadine. "There are unusual circumstances in the matter of any murder."
    "That may be true. In this case, however, the victim's heart had been removed. It was not found at the scene. Will you confirm that?"
    "I will confirm that the victim was found in his usual crib, and that his death occurred during what appeared to be a skilled surgical operation during which an organ was removed."
    "Do you suspect a cult?"
    "That avenue of investigation is not prime, but will not be dismissed until the facts warrant it."
    "Is your investigation centering on the black market?"
    "Again, that avenue will not be dismissed."
    For emphasis, Nadine leaned forward just a little, her forearm resting on her thigh. "Your investigation has been, according to my sources, expanded to include the similar death of one Erin Spindler, who was found murdered several weeks ago in her apartment. You were not primary on that investigation. Why have you assumed that position now?"
    "The possible connection between the cases is cause for both cases to be assigned one primary. This streamlines the investigation. It's simply procedure."
    "Have you, as yet, established a profile of the killer or killers?"
    Here, Eve thought was the point where she would walk the shaky line between departmental policy and her own needs. "The profile is being constructed. At this time it is believed that the perpetrator has well-trained medical skills."
    "A doctor?"
    "Not all well-trained medical personnel are doctors," she said briefly. "But that, too, is an avenue of our investigation. The department, and this investigator, will put all efforts into finding the killer or killers of Petrinsky and Spindler. It's my priority at this time."
    "You have leads?"
    Eve waited a beat, just one beat. "We are following any and all leads."
    Eve gave her another ten minutes, circling around and back to the information she wanted aired. There was a connection, there was medical skill, and she was focused on finding the killer.
    "Good, great." Nadine shook her hair back, rolled her shoulders. "I think I'll snip and edit and work that into a two-parter. I need something to compete with this damn snow." She sent her operator a warm smile. "Be a sweetheart, would you, and go on down to the van? Shoot that feed to the station. I'll be right along."
    She waited until he was gone, then turned her sharp eyes to Eve. "Off the record?"
    "On or off, I can't give you much more."
    "You think it's a doctor, a surgeon. A very skilled one."
    "What I think isn't what I know. Until I know, the case is open."
    "But we're not talking cult or black market."
    "Off record, no, I don't think so. No sacrifice to some bloody god, no quick profit. If money's part of it, it's a long-term investment. Do your job, Nadine, and if you find anything interesting, run it by me. I'll confirm or deny, if I can."
    Fair was fair, Nadine thought. And Eve Dallas could be counted on to deal them straight. "And if I dig up something you don't have, and pass it along? What will you trade?"
    Eve smiled. "You'll get the exclusive when the case breaks."
    "Nice doing business with you, Dallas." She rose, tossed one look toward the blind white curtain out the window. "I hate winter," she muttered and strode out.
    Eve took the next hour at Central to refine her report and transmit a copy to Whitney. Even as the transmission ended, an incoming sounded. Marie Dubois had come through.
    Preferring to read through the data without distractions, she delayed her trip back home. It was after noon when she filed and saved and copied, tucking the disc into her bag.
    The snow was falling faster, heavier, when she drove into it again. As a precaution, she engaged the vehicle's sensors. She sure as hell didn't want to run into a stalled vehicle because she was snow blind.
    As it was, the sensors kept her from running over the man stretched out facedown in the street and rapidly being buried in snow.
    "Shit." She stopped bare inches before her wheels met his head, and shoving the door open, stumbled out to check his condition.
    She was reaching for her communicator to summon a med-tech unit when he sprang up like a rocket and with one rapid backhand to the face, sent her sprawling.
    Irritation came