In Death 20 - Survivor in Death

me the whole family was the problem. That’s one.”
    She stepped back from the board. “Two, they have contact with a number of people during the course of this routine: clients, coworkers, neighbors, merchants, friends, teachers. Where do one or more of them cross with someone who not only wants them dead, but has the means?”
    “Okay, from what we know, no one in the family felt threatened or worried. From that we can deduce, no dangerous type came up to one of them and said: ‘I’m going to kill you and your whole family for that.’ Or words to that effect. From the profile on this family, if they’d been scared, they’d have made a report. They were law abiders. Law abiders generally believe in the system, and that the system will find the way to protect you from harm.”
    “Good. So while there may have been an argument or a disagreement, none of the adults in the household took it seriously enough to take those steps. Or it happened long enough ago they no longer felt threatened.”
    “Oh. There might have been a previous threat, a previous report,” Peabody responded.
    “Start looking.” She turned as Baxter and Trueheart came in.
    Within the hour, she had her team on their respective assignments and was driving out of the gates. “Dysons first,” she told Peabody. “I want to handle that one, then we’ll do formal interviews with the neighbors.”
    “I’m not finding any official complaints filed by any of the Swishers or the domestic. Not in the last two years.”
    “Keep going. Somebody who could do this would have a lot of patience.”
    The Dysons had a two-level apartment in a security-conscious building on the Upper West Side. Even before Eve swung toward the curb, she spotted a pair of media vans.
    “Goddamn leaks,” she muttered, and slammed out, leaving Peabody to flip the on-duty light.
    The doorman had called out reserves--a smart move, Eve thought-- and had two burly types helping him hold off the reporters.
    She flashed her badge, saw the relief on the doorman’s face. Not the usual reaction. “Officer.”
    The minute he said it, the hungry horde swung on her. Questions shot out like laser blasts and were ignored.
    “A media conference will be scheduled later today, at Central. The liaison will give you the details on that. Meanwhile, you will remove yourselves from this entrance or I’ll have the lot of you arrested for creating a public nuisance.”
    “Is it true Linnie Dyson was killed by mistake?”
    Eve reined in her temper. “In my opinion, the murder of a nine-year-old child is always a mistake. My only statement at this time is that all resources of the NYPSD will be utilized to identify those responsible for the death of that child. This case is open and active and we are pursuing any and all possible leads. The next one who asks me a question,” she continued as they were hurled at her, “will be banned from the official media conference. Moreover, you will be cited for obstruction of justice and tossed in the tank if you don’t get the living hell out of my way so I can do my job.”
    She strode forward; they scrambled back. As the doorman pulled open the door for her, he muttered, “Nice work.”
    He came in behind her, leaving the two wide-shoulders to deal with any loitering press.
    “You’ll want to see the Dysons,” he began. “They’ve asked not to be disturbed.”
    “I’m sorry. They’ll have to be.”
    “I understand. I’d appreciate it if you’d let me call up first, let them know you’re down here. Give them a couple of minutes to ... Mother of God.” His eyes filled with tears. “That little girl. I saw her every day. She was a sweetheart. I can’t believe . . . Sorry.”
    Eve waited while he pulled out a cloth, mopped at his face.
    “You knew her, and the Swisher girl. Nixie.”
    “Nixie Pixie.” He balled the cloth in his hand. “I’d call her that sometimes when she came over to visit. Those kids were like sisters. The reports this morning are saying she’s okay. That Nixie, she’s alive.”
    She judged him to be six feet, and in fighting trim. “What’s your name ?”
    “Springer. Kirk Springer.”
    “I can’t give you any information right now, Springer. It’s against procedure. You see a lot of people come in and out of here, a lot of people pass on the street. Have you noticed anybody hanging around, maybe a vehicle that was parked in the vicinity that wasn’t familiar?”
    “No.” He cleared his throat.