In Death 18 - Divided in Death

would be tougher than most.”
    “He’s pissed that’s all. Really pissed.” She had to press a hand to her troubled stomach. “So am I, goddamn it, so am I. But he got under my guard. He’s really good at getting under your guard. The son of a bitch.” Her breath wanted to hitch so she sucked it in, sucked it in hard. “He knows just where to jab.”
    “The more somebody loves you, the better their aim.”
    “Christ, he must really love me. I can’t do this now. He knows I can’t do this now.”
    “Never a convenient time for relationship upheaval.”
    “Who the hell’s side are you on?”
    “Well, since I’m sitting beside you, and you punch really hard, I’m on yours. You bet.”
    “Gotta put it away.” But she was afraid the sickness in her belly was going to plague her throughout the day. Still, she engaged the dash ‘link and took the next step.
    “Nadine Furst.”
    “I can’t make lunch. We’ll have to reschedule. As soon as possible.”
    “All right.” Nadine didn’t bat a carefully groomed lash. “I’ll clear some time and let you know.”
    “Looking forward to it.” Eve signed off.
    “What the hell was that?” Peabody demanded.
    “Spooks aren’t the only ones who can be covert. That was me telling Nadine to break the story that Blair Bissel was HSO, with a few selected details to confirm and expand upon. We’re going to see whose ass is red by the end of the day.”
    “Roarke’s not going to be the only one who’s really pissed.”
    “Thanks.” Eve managed a weak smile. “That makes me feel considerably better.”
    ———«»———«»———«»———
    Morris had done exactly as instructed. Because it took ten full minutes to clear her and Peabody into the morgue, she decided he was more than a little annoyed. He admitted them personally, then led the way through the chilly white tunnel toward the autopsy and viewing rooms.
    “What time did you get here this morning?” Eve asked his rigid back.
    “Around seven. Early, as I was doing a cop a favor, or had intended to do one by coming in ahead of schedule and running tests on Bissel to see if he’d had any recent facial enhancements or sculpting. I got coffee and reviewed my previous notes on the case, then came down here, about seven-fifteen.”
    He used his pass and a voice command to open the secured doors on one of the storage/viewing areas.
    “Was this door locked?”
    “It was.”
    “I’ll have Crime Scene check it for tampering,” Peabody said.
    “Bissel’s slot was empty,” Morris continued, and approached the wall of stainless steel refrigerator drawers. He opened one and it let out a whoosh of air and chilly white vapor. “Initially I was annoyed, assuming he’d been moved or misfiled, so I checked the last log-in, which verified he’d been stored properly. I called the AME, Marlie Drew, who was on the night shift. She was still here as she wouldn’t end shift until eight. She had no record of anyone entering this area, adding or removing anything.”
    “I’ll need to speak with her.”
    “She’s in her office, waiting. We ran a thorough search. His data is still here, his body is not.”
    “How many bodies do you have in at this time?”
    “Twenty-six. Four came in last night. There was a vehicular accident logged in at two-twenty.”
    “You’ve checked all storage areas?”
    Insult flashed over his face. “Dallas, this isn’t my first day on the job. When I tell you a body isn’t here, it isn’t here.”
    “Okay. So you only had twenty-two before the new ones checked in at two-twenty?”
    “No, we had twenty-three. Two were scheduled for disposal—city expense. Two sidewalk sleepers, unclaimed.”
    “Disposal.”
    Now, fresh irritation layered over the insult and made his voice an icy slash. “You know the damn drill. Unclaimed, indigent, the city cremates after forty-eight hours. We deal with them during the night shift, send them out to a crematorium.”
    “Who goes with them?”
    “Driver and orderly.” Because he saw where she was heading, he set his teeth. “They wouldn’t have taken Bissel by mistake, if that’s what you’re thinking. We don’t run a damn comedy hour around here. It’s serious and sensitive work to care for the dead.”
    “I’m perfectly aware of that, Morris.” Her own temper was beginning to fray as she stepped up to and into his face. “But Bissel’s not here, so let’s go through the steps.”
    “Fine. There’s a