In Death 29 - Kindred in Death

helpless girl. He chose the method.”
    “That’s right, that’s exactly right.” Eve narrowed her eyes as she turned it over. “Every detail was planned. Of course he planned the method. Not just because he wanted to see her when he killed her, not just because he wanted to use his hands. Because he had to, to make his point. It’s a good angle. We can narrow it down with that, push on that.”
    She thought it through. “They’re having Deena’s memorial on Thursday.”
    “There can’t be anything more painful. How is MacMasters holding up?”
    “Barely. He’s ready to take the blame, even without knowing about the vid. The killer wasted time there. He asked me how he was supposed to stand it, and I didn’t have an answer. I don’t know what it’s like to have a kid, but I know when the vic’s a kid it’s harder. We all feel that. I don’t know how anyone stands it when it’s their kid.”
    “Most rely on the natural order. Children bury their parents, not the other way around. Those of us who do what we do know murder, even death, has no respect for the natural order. This is a burden MacMasters and his wife will never lay down. In time, they’ll live, work, play, make love, laugh, but they won’t ever lay this down.”
    “Yeah.” She thought of what Summerset had told her. “That’s what I hear. In any case, the memorial. I think he’ll find a way to be there. I think he’ll need to see the results of his work. He’ll need to see MacMasters grieve and suffer. He’d have to be absolutely sure, wouldn’t he, that he’d done the job? However focused he is, he’s still young. What’s the point of screwing with someone if you don’t see them squirm?”
    “I agree. There’s a very high probability that he’ll find a way to attend, or at least find a way to observe MacMasters. The girl was the weapon. MacMasters was the goal.”
    “That’s what I think. Thanks for meeting me.”
    “I only regret I can’t find an excuse to work right here the rest of the day. It’s a lovely campus. I’ve given some lectures here, and attended a couple of performances, but—”
    “Wait. Lectures. Performances—like theater?”
    “Yes, they have an excellent theater.”
    “And the public can attend this stuff?”
    “Of course. They—”
    “Wait.” She snapped it this time, and yanked out her ’link. “Dr. Lapkoff.”
    “That was very quick.”
    “I need a list of every performance, concert, lecture, vid, live, holo—open to the public from April to this past Saturday. Send it to this contact.” She read off the data for her unit at Central.
    “I’ll arrange it.”
    “Thanks.”
    “You know Peach?” Mira asked when Eve clicked off and keyed in another code.
    “Huh? Well, sort of. You know her?”
    “Yes. Dennis and I are patrons of the university. He taught here for years.”
    “He—really? Mr. Mira taught here?”
    “You know he was a professor.”
    Eve thought of Dennis Mira and his comfortable, misbuttoned cardigans, his kind eyes, charmingly vague demeanor. “Yeah, I guess I never . . .”
    “He still gives the occasional course and often lectures. We’re very friendly with Peach and her family.”
    “Small world. Jamie.” She turned back to the ’link. “Have you gone to any of the concerts, plays, lectures, whatever at Columbia since April?”
    “What?” He had the glassy-eyed look of an e-geek deep in chips. “Yeah, I went to a lecture on e-crime.”
    “No, not that. Something Deena would have been into.”
    “You mean like singing and dancing and shit?” He gave her a look that could only come from the young and the pained. “Why would I?”
    “What I thought.” She cut him off, tagged Peabody. “I want you to go to the scene, get any playbills, posters, souvenirs, whatever the hell pertaining to any concert, performance, lecture at Columbia from the time of the meet until the day of the murder. Bring them to Central. Toss in any of the same from anywhere during the same time frame.”
    “Can do. On the shoes? I thought about what you said. Upper East wasn’t his spot. Probably Deena’s area isn’t either if he didn’t want any chance of getting spotted. So I’m focusing on downtown vendors. Just a hunch.”
    “Not bad. We’ll work that first. Get the stuff, head to the house. I’ll be there inside an hour.”
    Eve shoved the ’link away, rose. “Thanks. Good angle. I have to book.”
    “If you’re heading back to Central, maybe I