In Death 20 - Survivor in Death

can--if you may,” he corrected, “speak with somebody.”
    Now kids were lecturing her on manners. What had happened to her world? “This is Dallas. May I speak with your mother?”
    “Okay.” There was a blur and a jumble on-screen, then a piercing shout. “Mom! Dallas is calling you. Can I have a cookie now?”
    “One cookie, Ben. And don’t shout near the ‘link. It’s rude.” The mother had the son’s curls, but in a deep brunette. Her smile wasn’t as open, but polite, and just a little annoyed around the edges. “Can I help you?”
    “Mrs. Turnbill?”
    “Yes. Look, we’ve blocked solicitations, so I’m sorry, but if you’ve--”
    “I’m Lieutenant Dallas with the New York City Police and Security Department.”
    “Oh.” Even that polite smile faded. “What is it?”
    “I’m calling regarding your former brother-in-law, Roger Kirkendall.”
    “Is he dead?”
    “No, not to my knowledge. I’m trying to locate him for questioning in connection with a case. Do you have any information as to his whereabouts?”
    “No. I can’t help you. I’ve very busy so--”
    “Mrs. Turnbill, it’s very important that I locate Mr. Kirkendall. If you could tell me if you’ve had any contact--”
    “I haven’t, and I don’t want any contact with him.” Her voice was strained, like a wire snapped tight. “How do I know you’re who you say you are?”
    Eve held her badge to the screen. “Can you read my ID and my badge number?”
    “Of course I can, but--”
    “You can verify by contacting Cop Central in Manhattan. I can give you a contact number that won’t cost--”
    “I’ll get the number. You’ll have to hold.”
    “Careful,” Peabody noted when the screen went to holding blue. “And a little pissy.”
    “Not just careful, not just pissy. A little scared on top of it.” As she waited, Eve considered. She began to calculate how long a round trip to Nebraska, including interview time, might take.
    Roxanne came back on screen. “All right, Lieutenant, I’ve verified your information.” Her face was pale now. “You’re with Homicide.”
    “That’s correct.”
    “He’s killed someone. Dian--” She broke off, bit down on her lip as if to block words. “Who has he killed?”
    “He’s wanted for questioning in the murders of at least seven people, including two police officers.”
    “In New York,” she said carefully. “He killed people in New York City?”
    “He’s wanted for questioning for murders that occurred in New York.”
    “I see. I’m sorry. I’m very sorry. I don’t know where he is, I don’t know what he’s doing. Frankly, I don’t want to know. If I did, if I knew anything, I’d tell you. I can’t help you, and this isn’t something I want to discuss. I have to get back to my children.”
    The screen went black.
    “She’s still scared of him,” Peabody commented.
    “Yeah. And her sister’s still alive. That’s what she thought, just for an instant there. Oh God, he finally got to Dian. She may know more than she realizes. She needs a face-to-face.”
    “We’re going to Nebraska?”
    “No, but you are.”
    “Me? Just me? Out there in the wilderness?”
    “Take McNab. Backup and ballast.” And, Eve thought, as someone who’d keep Peabody from overdoing. “I want you there and back tonight. You’ll do better with the mother type, the family type, than I would first shot. She’ll trust you faster.”
    Eve used the house ‘link, interrupted Roarke in the computer lab.
    “I need fast, secure transpo.”
    “Where are we going?”
    “Not we--Peabody. Nebraska. I’m sending McNab with her, so something that’ll hold two. But quick and small. They shouldn’t need to be there more than a couple of hours. I’ve got the exact location.”
    “All right, I’ll arrange it. Give me a minute.”
    “Wow, just like that.” Peabody gave a little sigh. “What’s it like being with a guy who can snap his fingers and get you pretty much whatever you need?”
    “Convenient. Use the sister on her if you have to. Show her the dead kids.”
    “Jesus, Dallas.”
    “She’s got kids. It’ll help crack her if she’s hiding anything. We can’t play nice. Have McNab take the edge if you need one. Can he handle bad cop?”
    “He does it really well during personal role-playing games when I’m the reluctant witness.”
    “Oh crap.” Eve pressed her fingers to her eyes and prayed the image wouldn’t form. “Just work her, Peabody. She must