In Death 08 - Conspiracy in Death

Planted, by my guess. But it would appear, on the surface, that taking her uniform and identification was a ploy to slow or prevent her identification."
    "You're too smart to have done that if you'd whiffed her," Peabody put in, then flushed when Eve gave her a hard stare. "I just meant Detective Baxter would cop to that conclusion quick enough."
    "Right. Just more staging," Eve went on. "Virtually every bone in her body was broken, her fingers crushed, her face battered beyond visual recognition. While it was structured to appear that it was a vicious, mindless attack, it was precise. Programmed," she said turning back.
    "A droid." Feeney nodded. "Fits."
    "There was no other human element. The sweepers and crime scene team didn't find any blood but hers, no skin cells, no hair, nothing. You can't use your fists like that and not split or bruise your own skin. Whoever ordered this missed that step -- or knew they wouldn't need it to get me out on a technical. They're not cops, but it's likely they own some."
    Peabody's eyes popped wide. "Rosswell."
    "It's a good leap." Eve nodded in approval. "He knew Bowers, worked out of the same house. He's connected to the other investigation, and he either bungled it or he's covering. Either way, he's earned a closer look. He's got a gambling problem," she added. "Let's find out how he stands financially just now."
    "That would be a pleasure. Funny," Feeney considered. "He was at Central this morning. I hear Webster had him in for a chat about Bowers. He made himself pretty vocal around the Homicide bullpen from what I hear. Had some stuff to say about you. Cartright knocked him on his ass."
    "Did she?" Eve beamed. "I always liked Cartright."
    "Yeah, she's a right one. Caught him full in his fat gut with her elbow, knocked him flat, and then she gives him a big smile and says, 'Oops'."
    "Darling, we really must send her some flowers."
    Eve slanted Roarke a glance. "That's inappropriate. Peabody, you're on Rosswell. McNab, find me some connection between East Washington and the Drake to explain the droid. Feeney, you'll contact Louise, see if she can find anything off in the organ records."
    "There are likely other records."
    This time Eve turned fully to Roarke. "What do you mean?"
    "I mean that if, indeed, there are illegal activities of a medical nature going on at the Drake, it's highly likely there are careful records of it somewhere. They wouldn't be on the facility's mainframe but buried on another unit."
    "How the hell do we find it?"
    "I believe I can help you there. But, unless you have a specific target, it will take some time to go through this entire list of suspects."
    "I'm not going to ask how you'll do it," Feeney decided. "But start with Tia Wo and Hans Vanderhaven. Wo was supposed to meet me today with her gold pin, and she never showed. Vanderhaven's taken an unscheduled leave. All we can get at this point is he's in Europe. Peabody and I were about to track both of them down when you called, Dallas."
    "If the pin found on-scene belongs to either of them, they'll try to replace it."
    "Got that covered," McNab assured her. "I'm linked into all the sources in the city for that particular piece. Already doing a search on other sources in Europe if that's where the other doc flew. We'll have a record of every sale made."
    "Good coverage."
    "We'd better get started." Feeney rose, looked at Eve. "What're you going to be doing while we're busting our butts?"
    "Taking a quick trip. I'll be back tomorrow. Baxter's setting up a truth testing and evaluation with Mira."
    "You could put that off. We get a break, you could be clear without it in a few days."
    The faint smile she'd worked up faded. "I'll never be clear without it."
    "You stick with level one. They can't make you go higher."
    She kept her eyes on his. "I'll never be clear unless I go the route. You know that, Feeney."
    "Goddamn it."
    "I can handle it." Aware that Roarke had gotten to his feet, she sent Feeney a warning look. "It's just routine, and Mira's the best handler there is."
    "Yeah." But there was a sick feeling in his gut as he turned to grab up his coat. "Let's ride, people. We'll be in touch, Dallas. You can tag any of us, any time, on our personals."
    "As soon as I know something."
    "Sir." Peabody stopped in front of Eve, shifted her feet. "Hell," she muttered and grabbed Eve into a fierce hug.
    "Peabody, this isn't the time to get sloppy. You're embarrassing yourself."
    "If Rosswell's connected,