Thankless in Death

for three days and nights.”
    “That, and Ms. Farnsworth. She pulled off a hell of a thing.”
    “I admit, I wish I could have met her.”
    “You wish you could’ve hired her,” Eve added, and he laughed. “You know me very well.”
    “Sanchez’s on site, Dallas,” Peabody told her from the back. “Detective Carmichael’s less than a minute out. Uniforms are checking in.”
    “Talking to your security head now, Roarke,” McNab announced. “They’ve cleared the parking space you directed. Have eyes trained on the hallways on Reinhold’s two floors.”
    “Good enough, and here we are.”
    “It’s really pretty.” Peabody craned her head to take in the tower. “Shiny, and all that glass just sparkles.”
    “Head in the game, Peabody,” Eve ordered, and jumped out the minute Roarke pulled to the curb. “Record on. All records on. All teams move into position. I want all elevators but his blocked from his floor the minute Team B reaches his second level.”
    “Sir.” A tall curvy brunette clipped over to Roarke. “We’re in place, awaiting any further instructions.”
    “Lieutenant, this is head of building security, Veronica Benston.”
    “Lieutenant.” Benston nodded at Eve. “There’s been no activity outside of the target area. Two units on the subject’s main level, and one on his secondary level are not occupied today as the tenants are out of town. In-residence tenants, as you instructed, have not been notified, as yet, of any police activity.”
    “Give me the rundown as we go. We’re moving.”
    “We’ve kept this elevator clear for you.” Benston led the way, explained any and all occupants and activities on the target level.
    “You’re backup, Benston, and thanks for the assist and the speed of it.” Eve stepped out on Reinhold’s level. She sent Team B a thumbs-up, moved on as they rode to the next level.
    “Shut down his private elevator, block all access and egress to this level. Roarke, I want him blind. I want his alarms and backups shut down.”
    “Benston, would you mind?”
    “It’s done, sir.” She tapped her earbud. “Blind him,” she ordered. “Kill alarms, both levels of target unit.”
    “At hallway door,” Eve said into her own comm, accessing.
    Since Benston offered it, she used Security’s master, then drawing her weapon, went through the door.
    “Get me eyes and ears, McNab.”
    “All over that deal.” He squatted, went to work on a portable. “Good filters,” he said absently. “Excellent shielding. This would take longer without the specs.” He shot Roarke a grin. “Saves me work. You got two human heat sources, LT, and one robotic charge, all main level. Nothing human or e on second level.”
    Eve crouched, studied the screen. “Right in the main living area.” Seconds later, she heard sobbing, pleading.
    “Got your ears,” McNab murmured.
    Please, God, please, I think I’m dying
.
    “Team B, in position,” Sanchez said in Eve’s ear.
    “Hold there. Subject and victim are both on main living area. Single droid also on main level.”
    I’ve got my uncle Stan’s passcodes, too
.
    Eve held up a fist, signaling, “Wait,” watched as the heat source she identified as Reinhold moved a little farther away from Joe.
    “He’s sitting down—got the droid by him. Put some space between him and the vic. Open it,” she asked Roarke. “Nice and quiet. Move in, Team B. Slow, quiet.”
    Just lie back and enjoy
.
    Eve held up three fingers. “On three,” she murmured.
    She went through the door, fast and low, with Peabody fast and high beside her.
    Reinhold squealed. There was no other word to describe it, Eve thought in disgust. He squealed like a little girl, threw his tray of food in the air, and ran for the stairs.
    “Stop! Freeze! Hands in the air!”
    Instead, as Team B charged down, he veered away, grabbed a vase, threw it. It missed by a mile, shattered on the floor.
    Eve considered stunning him as he ran, basically in circles, throwing whatever came to hand while Joe screamed. God, she wanted to stun him. And because she did, she tackled him instead.
    He went down in a skid, kicking, flailing, adding screams to Joe’s, until Eve pressed her weapon to his cheek.
    “Oh, give me a reason, you fuck.”
    “Get off me, get away from me. Kill her!” he ordered the droid, who just stood looking as distressed as a droid was capable of looking.
    Eve dragged Reinhold’s arms behind his back, cuffed him. “Jerald Reinhold,