In Death 29 - Kindred in Death

investigations.”
    “Do you believe these two women were victims of a serial sexual predator?”
    The bomb shot shrapnel throughout the room. Eve shouted over the chaos. “We have drawn no such conclusion. We have drawn no conclusion at this time that these cases are related.”
    “But you don’t discount the possibility of serial. Or copycat.”
    “I will not speculate. I will not feed you—any of you—speculation or conclusions so you can bump your ratings. Two women—one barely old enough to qualify for the term—are dead. That should be enough to spin your current media cycle.”
    She strode away, fury in every step.
    “Lieutenant!” Whitney’s sharp command stopped her. “With me. Now.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    She followed him into the media ready room, where he closed the door.
    “Well. Your performance was exceptional. I hope to God it generates exceptional results.”
    “We couldn’t keep a lid on the Robins homicide for long. Bringing it out like this, it makes it look like we’re caught flat-footed, like we’re still a dozen steps behind. If he thinks we’re looking at serial or copycat, he’ll feel smug. We have a chance at the memorial tomorrow. And we may be able to get a line on him through the connections. One or more members of the connected families may have been approached by him in some way. If he thinks he’s still got room, he may try for the next on his list, and soon.”
    “Work it. Brief your team. And consider yourself thoroughly dressed down for allowing a media leak of this nature to get through.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    She headed straight to her office, putting what she hoped was enough restrained fury on her face, in her stride, to ward off any cops who might approach her to offer support, or to wheedle information.
    Roarke turned from the AutoChef as she slammed her office door to punctuate the moment. He held out a mug of coffee.
    “Victor, spoils,” he said.
    “Huh?”
    “Just a little reward for your part in that well-timed duet. I think it should play very well, and be lapped up by most. On the other hand, I know you, and Nadine. She wouldn’t have ambushed you that way, and you’d have taken her down harder if she had.”
    “Let’s hope the intended audience does some of the lapping. I don’t like using Karlene Robins that way.”
    “It doesn’t diminish the truth, or what you’ll do.”
    “A day late for her, and a hell of a lot more than a dollar short.”
    She would think that way, he knew. It made her what she was. “I hear—as the grapevine climbs quickly—that you were already taking steps to inform and protect those connected to this old MacMasters arrest when you were called to the scene of this second murder.”
    “I knew it was connected to MacMasters, something on the job. I knew it was personal, and I believed it was a mirror of another crime. But it took me two days to find it.”
    “Eve, don’t do this. The data wasn’t there to be found. There was no Irene Schultz to show up on your search of rape-murder victims. The very nature of who these people are—were—may be tomorrow—makes it tricky and time-consuming to find them. Consider the fact you found this connection at all, and will save the lives of other targets.”
    “I know you can’t save them all. I know it. But when you have to swallow that hours would have made the difference, it doesn’t go down easy. She was getting married on Saturday. Robins.”
    “Ah. Well.” Following instinct he put his hands on her shoulders, drew her in.
    “I’m standing in that apartment where she lived with the man she was marrying in a couple days, and I’m seeing all that wedding junk. Like at Louise’s. Goddamn it, Roarke.”
    He said nothing. There was nothing to be said.
    “I know you can’t save them all,” she repeated. “I know you can’t catch them all, and even some you catch will slither through the system. But this one’s not going to. Sick, smug son of a bitch.”
    “All right then. What’s next?”
    She stepped away. “We interview all those involved in the Irene Schultz matter, and we find out if he’s made contact with anyone’s daughter, son, sister, brother, mother, father, second cousin twice removed. We set up for tomorrow’s memorial. We work the case. We push on the electronics. And why aren’t you huddled with your EDD pals?”
    “We’ll discuss that at the briefing.”
    “Then let’s get started.”
     
    In the conference room, Eve gave a brief