Connections in Death (In Death, #48)- J. D. Robb Page 0,114

Bolt’s jaw tighten. “I mean, Jesus, they had one job. You sent three of them—four when you include Duff—to kill one guy. Get in, do it, plant the illegals, get out. But they had to take some shiny things.”

“Actually, Lieutenant, he gave them two jobs that day. After Lyle, he ordered them to kill Dinnie Duff.”

“That’s true. Two jobs in one day. It’s practically asking them to multitask. They screwed that up, too, ripping off her earrings, leaving hair and fiber on her body when they raped her. “Now we get the motive there. A junkie like Duff could blab, and doing her, leaving her in the neutral zone stirs up trouble with the Dragons. But I don’t get the motive on Pickering. Why him, Bolt?”

“My client maintains, and will continue to maintain his innocence in these matters.”

“Then I guess he maintains same for the murder of Barry Aimes, and the subsequent transporting of his body into Chinatown. You know, Bolt, I figured you for the bright one of the group because Washington and Chesterfield barely have half a brain between them, but using your cousin’s van to haul the body to the alley behind Ho’s family restaurant?”

As if in pity, Eve shook her head. “We’re processing it now. Found it exactly where Chesterfield said we would.”

Fury rippled over Bolt’s face, but he again leaned to his attorney. This time it took a little longer.

“My client relates that if his cousin’s vehicle was used in the commission of a crime, numerous people knew where said vehicle was kept.”

“Yeah? How many of them had the access code to the garage where it was kept, or the codes to the van itself? How do you explain your client’s prints on and in the van?”

This time when Bolt leaned toward Quentin, Eve rolled her eyes.

“For Christ’s sake just say it. Do you want to be in the box all day?”

“My client assists his cousin on a part-time basis in his delivery service, therefore his fingerprints could certainly be in and on said vehicle. Lieutenant, you have nothing but circumstantial evidence and supposition in regards to my client. I believe it’s time to conclude this interview.”

“Do you? Well, let’s do one more thing. Peabody, cue it up and roll it out.”

21

Eve just sat back and enjoyed while Peabody ran portions of the interviews. Washington implicating Jorgenson, Chesterfield confirming the implication.

Back and forth, back and forth.

When Quentin tried to interrupt, Eve just pointed at him. “Stop talking.”

She ended the screening after Chesterfield stated Jorgenson brought the van to the lot where they’d lured Aimes with the idea of getting high and shooting baskets.

* * *

Me and Snap can’t drive, don’t know how, so Bolt, he drives, then me and Snapper we carry Fist down the alley and shove him behind the recycler. After Bolt takes the van back so his cousin don’t know nothing, then we go change ’cause we’re bloody. And I traded that bracelet thing to Yolanda, got a BJ.

Then we go get some eats.

Eve signaled Peabody, then turned to Jorgenson. “Yeah, slitting throats and trying to incite gang wars sparks up the appetite. I’ve got cops at the diner now, talking to the staff. We’ll nail you there, with the assholes you enlisted. Oh, and just another small detail. I guess you haven’t helped out in your cousin’s business in the last few weeks. He installed a security cam over the door.”

Eve circled a finger in the air, then pointed it at Jorgenson. “Gotcha.”

“I need to consult with my client.”

“Bet you do. Dallas and Peabody exiting interview. Record off.”

At the door, Eve looked back at Jorgenson with a smile that could have sliced bone.

“Check in with the sweepers,” Eve ordered once outside of the interview room. “I’ll tag Officers Carmichael and Shelby.”

“On it. I’m getting a fizzy—need a boost. Do you want Pepsi?”

Eve only nodded. “Officer Carmichael.”

As she listened to him her smile turned to one of pure satisfaction.

She took it with her into Observation where Reo sat, coffee in hand, watching the screen split into various interviews. She muted the sound.

“You just missed Mira. She’ll be back. We both agree you’ve got Jorgenson on the ropes. And she didn’t see the last few minutes.”

“I got more. I’ve got witnesses at the diner where he had “eats” with Washington and Chesterfield after dumping Aimes and ditching the bloody clothes.”

“You’ve got someone who puts all three of them there, together?”

“Two someones. My cops tracked down the cook and a waitress from the night