In Death 17 - Imitation in Death

as a best guess."
     
     
"Congratulations, Mrs. Parksy," Trueheart said and she smiled at him.
     
     
"You're a very nice young man. This other, he had a cap on, uniform cap, -and sunglasses. Dark ones. Had mine on, myself. Sun was blazing even though it was early. He saw me. Couldn't see his eyes, of course, but he saw me, as he sent me a big as life grin and gave me this little bow. Sassy's what.1 call it, and I just sniffed and looked the other way, as I don't hold with sass. Sorry about that now. Wish I'd watched after him more."
     
     
"Which direction did he go?
     
     
"Oh, he headed east. Spring in his step, like a man pleased with his morning's work. Bad business, bad business when a man can all but skip out the door and onto the sidewalk when he's killed a woman. Lois went to the market for me more than once when I was feeling poorly, and she brought me flowers to cheer me up. Always had a minute to chat. I wish I'd known what he'd done when 'I saw him. My grandson drove up just a minute or two later. He's always prompt. I' d've told him to run that murdering bastard down on the street. As God is my witness, I would've."
     
     
She worked Mrs. Parksy until she was sure she had everything the woman could give her, then passed her to Trueheart, asking him to escort her to a uniform fortransport home..
     
     
"Baxter, another minute-here." She dug in her-pocket and discovered she'd given Peabody all her credits earlier. "Got enough on you for a Pepsi?" -
     
     
"What's wrong with using your badge number? You over your limit?"
     
     
She gave him a disgusted look, with a sulk right on the edges. "I plug in my badge number, the machine will give me grief. The one up by our squad hates me, has a personal vendetta. -And they talk to each other,-Baxter, Don't think they don't communicate."
     
     
He studied her for one long minute. "You need a vacation."
     
     
"I need a friggin' Pepsi. You want an IOU?"
     
     
He walked to the machine, keyed- in his badge number, ordered the tube.
     
     
GOOD AFTERNOON. YOU HAVE ORDERED ONE EIGHT OUNCE TUBE OF PEPSI. IT'S ICED HAVE A SAFE. AND PRODUCTIVE DAY, AND DON'T FORGET TO RECYCLE.
     
     
He tugged it out of the slot, walked back, and handed it to her. "My treat."
     
     
"Thanks. Listen I know you've got backlog. I appreciate you taking the time for the canvass"
     
     
"Just put it in your report. I could use the shine."
     
     
She gave a head nod toward the doer, so they'd walk and talk. "Trueheart looks good. He steady enough?"
     
     
"Doc cleared' him physically. Kid's healthy as a horse. Shrink gave him thumbs-up,-too. " I
     
     
"I read the evals, Baxter. I'm asking you."
     
     
"Truth is, I think what- happened to 'him--nearly happened-a couple weeks ago shook me more than him. He's solid, Dallas. He's gold. Gotta tell you, I never figured on taking on a rookie, or putting on a trainer's hat, but he's a gift."
     
     
Baxter shook his head as they caught a glide. "Kid loves the job; Hell,; he is the job, like nobody I know except you. He bounces in each shift, raring. I tell you, he makes my fucking day."
     
     
Satisfied, Eve headed down the hall with him. "Speaking of trainees," Baxter continued, "I hear Peabody's going to take the detective's exam in a few days." "Nothing wrong with your hearing."
     
     
"Nervous,- Mom?"
     
     
She shot him a narrow look. "Funny. Why should I be nervous?"
     
     
He- started to grin, then they both turned at the high-pitched howl. A-skinny guy in restraints broke away from the uniform escorting him, sent another to his knees with a well-placed groin kick, then came flying toward the glide, eyes wild;: spittle.' flying:
     
     
Since her Pepsi was in her weapon hand, Eve winged it. It caught him' between the. eyes with an audible thud. It surprised more than hurt him, so that he stumbled, righted himself, then lowered his head and charged her like a battering ram.
     
     
She had just enough time to pivot. She brought her knee up sharply, connecting with his chin. There was a nasty crunching sound that she figured was either his jaw snapping or the cartilage in her knee shifting.
     
     
In either case, he went down hard on his ass, and was immediately tackled by two uniforms and one passing plainclothes cop.
     
     
Baxter rehoistered his weapon, scratched his head at the melee on the floor. "Want another Pepsi, Dallas?" What was left of hers was. making a brown puddle on the floor.
     
     
"Goddamn it,. Who's