In Death 11 - Judgment in Death

back."
    "I don't have that much. Keep this part to yourself," she said, lowering her voice and peeking through the narrow opening of her work space. "I don't know what Dallas is up to. She went out in the field and didn't take me with her. Didn't tell me where she was going, either. Then a few minutes ago, I get a call from her. She's got uniforms bringing in four mopes, booking them on various charges, including carrying concealeds, and she wants me to run the names quick, fast, and now. She's on her way in."
    "What'd you find?"
    "All four of them have been guests of various government facilities, mostly violent crimes. Assaults, assaults with deadlies. Spine-crackers and persuaders, from the sheets. But get this."
    She lowered her voice even more, so that McNab had to lean in, catch a teasing whiff of her shampoo. "They're connected to Max Ricker."
    McNab opened his mouth, then sucked in the exclamation when Peabody hissed at him. "You think Ricker's behind the Kohli deal?"
    "I don't know, but I know Kohli was part of the team that busted him last fall, because Dallas had me get the case file and the trial transcript. I took a quick look, and Kohli was low level, didn't testify, either. Of course, the case was tossed out of court within three days. But Dallas has some reason for hauling in four of his goon squad."
    "This is good stuff."
    "You can pass on the mopes she's bringing in, but keep quiet about the Ricker connection until we've got more."
    "I could do that, but I want some incentive. How about you come by tonight?"
    "I don't know what Dallas has planned." He was grinning at her. For reasons Peabody couldn't figure, she was finding it harder and harder to resist that dopey grin. "But I could probably swing by."
    "Speaking of swinging, when you get there, we could..." He started to lean closer, make a suggestion he thought would keep her revved through shift. Then he shot off the desk like a pebble from a sling. "Jesus, it's the commander."
    "Chill down." But Peabody came to attention herself.
    It wasn't unprecedented for Whitney to make an appearance in the squad room. But he didn't make a habit of it, either.
    "Oh man, he's coming over here."
    She saw it and had to resist the impulse to tug at her uniform jacket to make certain it was straight.
    "Detective." Whitney stopped, filled the entrance to the cubicle, and pinned McNab with dark, steely eyes. "Have you transferred out of the Electronic Detective Division?"
    "No, sir, Commander. EDD is working in conjunction with Homicide on the matter of Detective Taj Kohli. We're confident that this interdepartmental cooperation and effort will result in closing the case quickly."
    He was good, Peabody thought with annoyed admiration. Slick as cat spit.
    "Then perhaps you should get back to your division and continue that cooperation, Detective, instead of disrupting this officer's work."
    But not, she thought, quite slick enough.
    McNab nearly saluted but managed to restrain himself. Then vanished like smoke.
    "Officer, do you have the data your lieutenant requested on the four individuals currently in booking?"
    In booking? Already? Jeez. "Yes, sir."
    "Hard copy," he said and held out a hand.
    Peabody ordered the printout. "As ordered, Commander, I've sent copies of the data to Lieutenant Dallas's vehicle and office units."
    He merely grunted, then turned away already reading the data. He paused, glanced over as Eve walked in. "Lieutenant, your office."
    Peabody winced at the tone. It was hard as granite. And courageously, she stepped out of her cubicle. She couldn't say she was disappointed when Eve signaled her back, then swung toward her office.
    There was a fire being lighted, Peabody thought, but wasn't sure who was going to get burned.
    "Sir." Eve held the door open, waited for Whitney to pass through, then closed it behind them.
    "Explain, Lieutenant, why you left the state, and your jurisdiction, interrogated Max Ricker without discussing your intentions or going through the chain of command?"
    "Commander, as primary, I am not required to clear investigative interviews through any chain of command. And I am authorized to leave my jurisdiction to do so if the interview is pertinent to the case."
    "And to harass a civilian in another state?"
    She felt the first sting of temper, ignored it. "Harass, sir?"
    "I received a call from Ricker's attorney, who has also contacted the Chief of Police, and who is threatening to sue you, this department, and the city