In Death 14 - Reunion in Death

of this investigation, I have the right to refuse employing tactics I feel generate unacceptable risk to my men, or to civilians."
    "And as your commander, I have the right to overrule your refusal, to order you to employ those tactics or remove you as primary."
    This time it was Feeney who grabbed Eve's arm. But Roarke was already getting to his feet. "Jack." His voice wasn't quite as soft now when he addressed Whitney. Deliberately, he stepped between him and Eve, turned so she had no choice but to look him in the face.
    "You'll have control. She's had the upper hand till this. You'll draw her in where and how you choose. That's the first point. The second being I won't sit back and wait until she picks the time and place to have at me. I'm asking you for help, and offering you mine."
    It was easy to see why he was so good at what he did. At winning whatever he wanted. Bending wills to his own with reason-at first anyway. Then by whatever method worked best.
    But she wasn't a company to be absorbed, or a suit to be intimidated. "You're not asking or offering anything. And you're not giving me control, you're taking it."
    "That would depend on how you look at it."
    "I see just fine. Step back, Roarke, you're not in charge here yet."
    Something flashed in his eyes, something deadly. It only served to add punch to a temper that was already fuming to peak. When she moved toward Roarke, Feeney grabbed her arm a second time, and Whitney came to his feet.
    "Ease down, kid," Feeney muttered.
    "Lieutenant Dallas." Whitney's voice cracked like a whip. "This office is not the place for your marital disagreements."
    "You made it the place. This is an ambush, and one that circumvents my authority, that puts that authority on the block in front of my team."
    Whitney opened his mouth, then closed it again in a tight line. "Point taken. Your team is dismissed."
    "I'd prefer they remain at this point, sir. Completing this meeting privately now is a useless gesture."
    "You're a hardass, Lieutenant, and you're skirting very close to the line."
    "Yes, sir, I am. But you already crossed over it. I respect both your authority and your office, Commander."
    He had to take a calming breath. "And you imply I show none for yours."
    "That would depend..." She glared at Roarke. "On how you look at it."
    "And if you were looking at this situation objectively rather than through what is arguably justified anger at the way this particular avenue was presented to you?"
    "I strongly believe Julianna Dunne may be out of the country, or that she has plans to leave New York for a short period of time. If I'm allowed to pursue that avenue, I believe I can confirm her location, or planned destination in a few hours."
    "And this belief is based on?"
    "My instincts and my considerable understanding of the subject." Pitch it now, Eve ordered herself, and pitch it hard.
    "She's a girl. She has a deep-seated need to indulge her femininity, in the most luxurious and exclusive manner available. She's been hard at work for some time now, planning and executing her agenda. She'll want a break. In the past, she took a short vacation between every hit. Resorts primarily, with top-flight treatment centers. It's pattern. She's moved on her victims in rapid succession this time out, and this after being incarcerated for a number of years. She'll need to renew herself, recharge, and her most likely method would be a spa facility where she can be pampered and can relax before she..."
    She trailed off, then dug back in. "... before she moves on what I believe is and has been the central target. She'll want to groom, prepare, relax, before she comes at him. I've run a probability on this theory and got just over ninety percent. She doesn't change, Commander. At the core, she doesn't change."
    "Assuming your theory is correct, there are countless facilities of this nature-numerous in this city alone."
    "It wouldn't be here. She'd want to get away, that's indulgence, and she wouldn't risk having a consultant who might have seen her on the media, get up close and personal with her face. That's brains. It's most likely she'd go out of the country where the media attention on murders in New York City isn't as intense."
    She watched his expression, saw him consider that. Agree with that. "I've already narrowed down the field, and intend to start checking with the most likely locations and working my way down the list."
    "Then do so. However, that angle doesn't preclude