In Death 12 - Betrayal in Death

the coffee, thank you very much. I'm touched and grateful you'd take care of me. And pissing you off by calling you wifely is one of my small pleasures."
    "Great. Now that we've got all that settled, get your ass up so we can do some work."

CHAPTER TWELVE
    She made the first calls and reached the detective sergeant working the homicides in Cornwall. During their fifteen-minute conversation, she was given the facts of the case in a broad North Country accent, the names of the two victims who had been identified by fingerprint, and DNA matches through Feeney's love child, IRCCA.
    DS Fortique was cheerful and forthcoming and told her that after considerable tracking and backtracking they had finally tagged the identity of the hiker who had allegedly found the bodies and made the emergency call.
    Fortique was perfectly willing to save Eve time and trouble by hauling the witness in and grilling him over a pair of two-foot silver wires.
    Eve decided the British police were a great deal more cooperative than her own federal agents. She gave him back in kind by passing along the data on Yost's shopping adventures in London. They ended transmission on good terms.
    Her call to the silver shop netted her a full description of Sylvester Yost, who was fondly remembered for his discriminating taste, impeccable manners, and extensive cash purchases.
    Another knot tied off, Eve thought, and shifted her search to hotels.
    The New Savoy wasn't quite as cooperative as the police or the merchants in London. She was passed from desk clerk to supervisor, from supervisor to hotel manager. And it seemed there she would stall.
    The manager was a woman in her mid- to late fifties with hair the color of polished steel pulled ruthlessly away from a scrawny face that ended on a pointed chin. Her eyes were a surprising baby blue, and her voice, while remaining scrupulously polite, droned on and on over the same notes.
    "I'm afraid I can't accommodate you, Lieutenant Dallas. It is the policy, the firm policy of The New Savoy, to ensure its guests' privacy as well as their comfort."
    "When your guests start raping and murdering they lose some of that privacy, don't you think?"
    "Be that as it may, I'm unable to give you any information on a guest. It's entirely possible you're mistaken, and I would have breached the code of The New Savoy and insulted a guest. Until you have the proper documentation, as well as international authorization that requires I make information available to you, my hands are tied."
    I'd like to tie your hands, Eve thought, then kick your skinny butt out the window of the top floor of your stupid hotel.
    "Ms. Clydesboro, if I'm forced to wake up my commanding officer and an international liaison advocate at five-fifty in the morning they're going to be very displeased."
    "I'm afraid that's a difficulty you'll have to surmount. Please feel free to contact me if you -- "
    "Now, listen, sister -- "
    "One moment." Roarke, who'd stood in the adjoining doorway and had listened to the last thirty seconds of the exchange, crossed the room and took over the 'link. "Ms. Clydesboro."
    At least Eve had the satisfaction of watching the woman's pruney face go pale and those milky blue eyes bulge. "Sir!"
    "Give Lieutenant Dallas any and all data she requires."
    "Yes, sir. Of course, sir. I beg your pardon. I had no idea that you had authorized the release of this information."
    "How could you?" he said pleasantly. "But now that you do, get it done."
    "I'll see to it personally. Lieutenant Dallas, if you would forward the description of the man you believe stayed at our hotel, I will instruct the staff to confirm or deny."
    "I'm sending you a visual image, the dates we believe the individual was in London, and a written description. Instruct the staff that this man may have been wearing a disguise. Hair and eye color and some facial features may vary. He would have booked one of your best suites, would have been traveling alone, and would likely have had private transportation."
    "I'll have an answer for you within an hour of receiving your transmission."
    "Good."
    She cut transmission, scowled. "Tight-assed bat."
    "She's only doing her job. You'll find the same policy will hold true for any of the top hotels in London. Would you like me to smooth the way?"
    She gave a bad-tempered shrug and got up. "Why the hell not? Getting anywhere on the location search?"
    "Yes, I believe I am. I believe we're going to find they were sent and received