New York to Dallas

around his knee, smiling his smug smile until Melinda wanted to beat his face bloody with her fists.
    “Then, they have to be ended because they’re so unspeakably boring. Which you’re not—yet. You will be, but for now you’ve been very entertaining. You working so hard to make this connection with me, Melinda, has given me a delightful time. So unnecessary, though, as we made a connection so long ago. Erasing the brand doesn’t sever that connection. Nothing can. You’ll never forget what I did to you. Never forget what I taught you.”
    “No, I won’t.”
    “Well now.” He slapped his hands on his thighs before he rose. “Time to move along to the younger generation. I have to thank you, honey. You really did stimulate me. I know I’m going to enjoy giving Darlie her next lesson.”
    Melinda braced. It would be useless, end badly, but she wouldn’t let him take Darlie without a fight. She had her teeth, her nails. At the least she’d give him pain.
    His ’link sounded. He paused to pull it out of his pocket. “The old bad girl checking in,” he said, then frowned at the unfamiliar display.
    “Do you know a Sampson Kinnier? Neither do I,” he said before Melinda could answer. “Crossed transmission, I suppose, but we’ll let it go to v-mail, see what Sampson has to say.”
    When Sylvia’s voice came on, McQueen’s eyes went flat as a snake’s.
    “Isaac, baby, it’s me. Answer the ’link! There was trouble. That fucking bitch Dallas tracked me to the other place. I made the assholes, but she crashed the van. She hurt me, baby—but not like we’re going to hurt her. Come on, answer the goddamn ’link! I got patched up at the hospital. I got out—took a cop down doing it. I’m on my way to you. I need a boost, baby, need one bad. They wouldn’t give me any decent shit at the hospital—had me tied down like a crazy person. I fixed it. Mama needs some candy, baby. Fix me some candy, will ya? I’ll be there soon. And we’ll make her pay. We’ll make her bleed.”
    Isaac studied the ’link, held his silence. Watching him, Melinda thought she saw confusion in his eyes, and felt another blossom of hope.
    Then he sighed. The smile returned; the eyes stayed flat. “We seem to have a change of plans.”
    He pocketed the ’link. And he unsnapped the sheath on his belt, drew out his knife.
     
     
    Eve snatched at the EDD reports the instant they came in. Video was toast, Feeney reported, and audio was fragmented. But they got solid chunks of the transmissions and more would come.
    Eve closed her eyes, played them out.
    McQueen’s voice, smooth as cream, hinting of seduction. And Stella’s—no, Sylvia’s, she reminded herself—excited, flirtatious.
    Don’t know what I’d . . . without you doll. Can’t wait . . . won’t . . . longer.
    . . . come up to see you. Everything’s set . . . could come back with you when . . .
    Be patient . . . need to check security at our place. Don’t want to . . . problems once we get started.
    . . . just there yesterday. Soundproofing’s finished . . . can’t hear that baby crying half the damn night down the . . .
    . . . security cams tested . . . count on you sweetheart.
    You can . . . stalled last week. Tech tested all three . . .
    Good girl. You’ve got your eyes on the prize?
    Check her every day. Miss you, baby.
    Miss you right back.
    Can you send some money? Rent’s . . . on our place in a couple days.
    . . . run through your spending money already? . . . buy yourself something pretty?
    Gotta look pretty for you, baby.
    I’ll take care of it. We don’t want Maxwell’s credit getting any black marks. My time’s up. Just a couple more weeks and . . . with you.
    It’s killing me to wait . . . so close.
    Soon doll.
     
     
    She noted down the date and time of the transmission, and on the text copy highlighted key words and phrases.
    “Copy and send file to Detectives Jones and Walker, to Agents Nikos and Laurence, marked urgent. Orders to narrow search using highlighted text.”
     
    Acknowledged. Working . . . File copied and sent.
    “Begin search for apartments within a twenty-mile radius of listed address. Search for rentals with payment due on the fifteenth of the month. Further narrow to leases under the name of Maxwell—first or last name. Unit will be two or three bedrooms. Building will have direct access to parking garage.”
     
    Acknowledged. Working . . .
     
     
    She e-mailed Roarke the names, the dates. Easier than