In Death 11 - Judgment in Death

angles I want to play, and it takes a load off knowing I have the full support of the chief of police. It did my heart good to watch him skewer Bayliss. Bloodlessly. You have to admire that."
    "Eve."
    She met his eyes, cold as winter, blue as an iced ocean. Odd, she thought, how facing down four armed men only hours before had merely kicked her adrenaline into gear. One look from Roarke was a great deal more potent.
    "He's gone after you three times. However much you dislike it, disapprove of it, I will deal with him."
    "Two times," she corrected. "The third was just my car, and the score's been in my favor every time. But," she continued, "I anticipated your reaction. It's not going to do any good, but I'm going to point out that given my job, I've been gone after before and will be again. This personal thing between the two of you shouldn't enter into it."
    "You're mistaken." And his voice was terrifyingly mild.
    "But since it does, I want you to work with me on this."
    She could sense his underlying fury.
    "Do you think you can placate me, Eve?"
    "No. Hell, no. Stop staring at me that way. You're spoiling my appetite." She tossed down her fork. "I could use your help. I asked for it before this happened today, didn't I? All that's changed is he sent another goon squad after me, and I took them down. He's got to be royally burnt by that. If we go at this from the same angle, work together, we can both get what we want.
    "Well, you won't get exactly what you want, which is, at my guess, eating Ricker's liver after you've roasted it on a spit over a slow fire. But we can get as close to that as the law allows."
    "The law's your yardstick, not mine."
    "Roarke." She put a hand over his. "I can get him without you, but it wouldn't be as quick and it sure as hell wouldn't be as satisfying. You could get him without me. Maybe quicker, and maybe more satisfying to you. But think about this: Wouldn't you rather picture him living a long, miserable life in a cage than just throwing the switch on him?"
    He considered it. "No."
    "You're a scary guy, Roarke. A very scary guy."
    "But I'll work with you on this, Lieutenant. And I'll contemplate, depending on how that work goes, settling for that image. I'll do that for you. I promise you, it costs me more than I can tell you."
    "I know that. So, thanks."
    "Don't thank me until it's done. Because if it doesn't work your way, it will work mine. What do you need?"
    She let out a breath. "First I need to know why IAB sent Kohli into Purgatory. What is there in the club or who is there they wanted? Bayliss said something today about Ricker's connection to it, but you told me you severed business with him over ten years ago."
    "That's right, I did, taking some of his more lucrative accounts with me. I've sold them off since, or adjusted them. As for Purgatory, he has no connection to it. But he did. I bought it from him five years ago. Or I should say," he added when she gaped. "My representatives acquired it from his representatives."
    "He owned the place? And you didn't tell me?"
    "Lieutenant, I have to point out, you didn't ask."
    "For God's sake," she grumbled and got to her feet to pace, to think.
    "And at the time your Kohli was murdered, I didn't think of it, see a connection, or consider it relevant. It's been mine for a number of years and has been completely overhauled, remodeled, and re-staffed."
    "If he used it for a front, it could be some of his people still come in. Do business."
    "None that's ever been reported to me. If that's the case, it's very minor business."
    "A cop died there. That's not minor."
    "Point taken."
    "Why did he sell it?"
    "My research at the time indicated that it was becoming a little too warm. He often dispenses of businesses and property when they've outlived their usefulness to him. It's basic business practice."
    "If he's got this hard-on for you, why did he sell it to you?"
    "He didn't know until after the fact. I assume he was displeased, but the deal was done." He sat back, doing some thinking himself. "Possibly he put out word that there was outside business being done there, or had some of his people come in to do some. He may have hoped to take a swipe at me that way. I can see that. He'd have waited until the club was well established, until it was running smoothly, then tried to disrupt it. He's a patient man. A few years wouldn't have been any time to wait."
    "And with his connections in the department, he'd have had a funnel for the