New York to Dallas

Ricchio has cleared you as well, and to take another investigator at your discretion. If you want Peabody, I’ll have it done.”
    “Peabody’s needed here, Commander. She’s studied the case files, already has the research and data on the partner. As well as a suspect in custody for accessory who may have more information. I want her to continue to work the case from here. To work it as primary.”
    “That’s your call.”
    “I’ll brief her. I’ll take Roarke, as expert consultant, civilian, if he’s available.”
    “Make whatever arrangements you deem best, and contact me when you’re in the air.” He drew a disc from his pocket. “Data on Ricchio, Detective Jones, the other detectives and officers you’ll most likely work with.”
    “Thank you, sir. That’s . . . thorough.”
    “I know my cops,” he said briefly. “It’ll save you from running them. Good hunting, Lieutenant.”

     
    She hurried back to Homicide. She’d have time to think, review, plan on the trip, but for now she had to move fast.
    She spotted Peabody eyeing the dubious choices at Vending outside the bullpen. “Peabody, with me.”
    She went straight through into her office.
    “I’ve got Stibble holding. I was just going to grab some lunch, then—”
    “Grab it later. McQueen’s in Dallas. He grabbed Melinda Jones, one of his former vics, last night.”
    “Is she alive?”
    “Assumed. He left a message for her twin sister. I’ve been invited down there to play with him.”
    “To—” Peabody broke off, shut the door. “Does he know what happened to you there?”
    “Undetermined.” As she spoke, Eve packed a file box. “I’m leaving asap.”
    “You mean we. ”
    “No, I don’t. I need you here. I want you to handle Stibble. Wring him dry. Continue to find out anything you can on this Sister Suzan. She’ll be in Dallas. She’ll have laid the groundwork for McQueen. They’ve got a place, somewhere private enough to hold a hostage. She’ll have a place of her own, close by. Use Baxter and Trueheart. If you need more manpower, let me know and I’ll arrange it.”
    “You’re not going there alone.” Peabody shifted to block the door, and had Eve’s eyebrows lifting.
    “Were your orders unclear, Detective?”
    “Don’t pull that shit on me, Dallas. Just don’t. It’s a trap, and worse, it’s there. It’s where . . . it’s there.”
    “I know where it is, and of course he’s figuring it’s a trap. He’ll want to string it out for a while, have some fun with it. That’s a mistake.”
    Now Peabody folded her arms, planted her feet. “I’m going with you.”
    “Peabody, I know you’ve been working on improving your hand-to-hand, but I can take you down in five seconds flat.” She took a breath as Peabody’s face only tightened into fiercer lines. First Mira, she thought, now this.
    “If I can’t handle myself I don’t have any business with this badge or this office.”
    “That’s not the point. This is different.”
    “Every case is different, and how we deal with every case is different. But what’s the same is we work it, we do the job, and we take the risks the job demands. That’s it.”
    She considered demoralizing her partner by moving her bodily from the door. Not only would it leave a bad taste in her mouth, but she needed Peabody on top, confident, clean-headed.
    And under it, she just didn’t have the heart to slap back the concern of her partner. Her friend.
    “I’m going to talk to Roarke right now, see if he can clear some time to go along as a consultant. The commander cleared it with Dallas PSD. Don’t question me on this, Peabody. I need to go, and I need to go knowing you’re capable of taking charge of the investigation from here.”
    “In charge? Me? But Baxter—”
    “You studied McQueen, and you’re familiar with all stages of the investigation to this point. You’re a goddamn decorated officer of this department. And you will take the lead on the New York end of this investigation as you’ve been trained to do. You will not let me down.”
    “I won’t let you down. Please don’t go alone. If Roarke can’t leave this minute, take one of the other men. Take backup that’s familiar, that you know you can trust. You don’t know the people down there.”
    “I’ve data on all of them. If Roarke’s not available, I’ll consider hooking Feeney into it.”
    “Okay. But if you need me—”
    “I know where you are. Now I’ve got to go. He only