In Death 26 - Strangers in Death

the next morning, or the next week and tell her, ‘Deal’s off. No can do.’ She let it ride. Ned Custer was a son of a bitch, and he may have deserved to have his balls kicked black and blue, might’ve deserved some time in a cage for spousal abuse, but he didn’t deserve having his throat slit and his dick sawed off. But the wife who claims she wanted her children to have their father set him up for just that. So I don’t feel for her. I’m damned if I will.”
    Roarke rose, and going to her laid his hands on her shoulders, his lips on her brow. “It’s useless to be angry with yourself because you do feel something. Just that thin edge of pity around the disgust.”
    “She doesn’t deserve my pity.” And Eve sighed. “Or any more of my time slapping at myself for that thin edge of it I do feel. I need to get in the field.”
    He gave her shoulders a brisk rub. “Here I’ve come by as I did my job so well and so quickly; now you’re tossing me aside.”
    “You pinned the remote? Already?”
    “I did, yes. I’ll have some coffee.”
    “How the hell—”
    “Are you going to get me some coffee or not?”
    “Crap.” She programmed it. “Spill.”
    “Assuming you don’t mean the coffee—as what would be the point—I’ve just come from a chat with an old…acquaintance. He happens to specialize in electronics that aren’t legal in the strictest sense of the word.”
    “He sells illegal jammers and bypasses on the black market.”
    “To put a fine point on it, yes. He manufactures them, most usually for specific clients at quite a hefty markup. He’s very good at it. In fact, perhaps the best in New York.” He waited a significant beat. “Now.”
    “Now that you aren’t in the same market.”
    “Aren’t you clever? I started at the top of the chain, as I assume Ava would want someone talented, efficient, and reliable—also with a reputation for being discreet. She went for Charles, after all, who has those qualities in his former profession. I’ll admit I didn’t expect to hit straight off the mark. But that’s precisely what I did.”
    “This guy, this acquaintance designed and sold the remote to Ava.”
    “Three months ago, he received a package at his legitimate place of business.”
    “His front.”
    “You’re so picky. The package contained an order for a very specifically designed device. It contained the specs for the security system the device was to bypass. He tells me he was impressed with the research the potential client had done. And,” Roarke added with a smile, “with the considerable amount of cash as downpayment. Another payment would be made on delivery, and the final sent if and when the client deemed the device satisfactory.”
    “Is that how he usually does business?”
    “That would be telling.” Roarke stroked a finger down the dent in her chin. “But I can say this arrangement was a bit unusual. The offered fee was more than his usual as well. So he took the job.”
    “He never saw her. Never had direct contact with her.”
    “No. He made the device, and as instructed left it in a drop box, which contained the second payment.”
    “A guy could get stung that way,” Eve commented.
    “Not this guy, or not easily. He’s a nose for cops, and the setup. He also believes in knowing who he’s dealing with, so he had an underling stake out the box.”
    Eve’s lips spread in a grin. “I might like this guy.”
    “Actually, I believe you would. In any case, the woman who picked it up didn’t match Ava’s description, but she delivered it, along with some dry cleaning, to the Anderses’ home. The third payment was made, as promised. And my acquaintance thought little of the matter until he heard of Thomas Anders’s murder. This put him in a bit of a sticky situation.”
    “Yeah, accessory before the fact’s pretty sticky. Will he testify?”
    “That would depend on several issues. Immunity, anonymity—the man does have a business to protect—and a reasonable payment.”
    “I’ll set it up. We may not need him, but I’ll put it in play.” Eve took his coffee, drank some herself. “You’re useful.”
    “And always eager to be used.”
    “I’ve got Peabody out on something else. Why don’t you ride over to New Jersey with me?”
    “Being used across state lines. How could I resist?”

22
    “YEAH, WE GET YOUR ILLEGALS DROPS, YOUR vandals, your vehicle boosters, rapists, muggers.” The NJTP security tech, with VINCE embroidered