Connections in Death (In Death, #48)- J. D. Robb Page 0,93
his feet. The other, like Peabody, might need to be carried.
When she noticed the one now on his feet, hands restrained behind his back, begin to snap his fingers, she smiled.
She signaled a uniform over, gave instructions, then continued to the van just as Roarke stepped out.
“Peabody,” he said.
“Banged up some. She’s with McNab and the MTs. You had some trouble?”
Marley hopped out, held out a fist for Roarke to bump. “We gave the trouble. We are the freaking trouble. Dumb-asses thought they could jack the van? We said, Uh-uh. Dreamcake has a good pow!” Then Marley winced. “Looks like somebody got a couple pows in on you.”
“I got in more. Go ahead and call in the sweepers, and we’re going to need to coordinate confiscation of illegals, weapons, fraud equipment.”
“On top, on bottom. Frosty working with you, Dreamcake.”
“And with you, Detective Adorable.”
As Marley hopped back in, Eve gestured toward the finger-snapper. “Is he one of your pows?”
“He was, actually. McNab and Marley handled the bulk of it—with assistance from Lowenbaum. That one thought he’d bull his way behind the wheel. He went down with one punch. He can’t be more than sixteen.”
“We’ll find out. Look at his hands.” Her smile came back. His fingers continued to snap as the uniform led him away.
“Ah, well now. I suddenly regret only punching him once. You’ve made quite a haul, Lieutenant, and I expect you’ll be at this for a while. I’d like to have a look at Peabody before you start the next phase of this.”
“She got tripped up by one of the bad guys. They both went down the steps the wrong way. She’s lucid,” Eve said as they crossed to the mobile. “I don’t think she broke anything.”
“And you?”
“Most of this is from a female with arms like concrete. They call her Tank for a reason. But she looks worse.” There was, always, satisfaction in that. “Hey, that’s Louise.”
Roarke studied the woman applying ice patches to Peabody’s face. “So it is. We know our Peabody’s in good hands with Dr. Dimatto.”
When he reached her, Roarke laid a gentle kiss on Peabody’s forehead. “How’s our girl?”
“Louise gave me really nice drugs.”
“Yes, I did. And let’s sling that arm until you get another pass with a healing wand. No breaks,” Louise continued. “But a jammed shoulder, and her knee’s going to need more treatment. My clinic’s open.”
She glanced around, studied Eve’s face with cool gray eyes. “You’re next.”
“I’m fine.”
“Which one of us has the medical degree?”
It seemed wise to change the subject. “What are you even doing here?”
“Word went out there were a lot of injuries in this location. Sit down, and I’ll—”
But Eve’s attention moved elsewhere. “Later. McNab get Peabody to the clinic. Go with her.” Eve was already moving.
She grabbed the arm of a woman being loaded into a wagon.
“Where’d you get the bracelet?”
“Fuck you!” The woman bared her teeth. The layers of eye makeup had bled down to smear below her eyes costing the rage glittering in them some points.
“Book this one on accessory to murder, three counts.”
“What?” She tried to break out of the uniform’s hold, jerking one way, the other, and exposing even more of her left breast and its black rose tattoo. “I didn’t do nothing!”
“The bracelet.”
“What the fuck. Asshole wanted a BJ. I got the bracelet.”
“Which asshole is that? Name, or three counts.”
“Ticker. That’s all I know. New guy.”
“Hold on,” Eve told the uniform, and went to get an evidence bag. “You’re wearing stolen property.” Carefully, she unhooked the bracelet with its large colorful stones, slid it into the bag. “When and where did you make the trade?”
“This is bullshit.”
“I can add soliciting without a license.”
“Last night, after I got off work.”
“What time do you get off work?”
“Like three. He’s coming out of the house, and says give him a BJ and I can have the bracelet. So what, he stole it? How’m I supposed to know?”
With a shake of her head, Eve walked back toward Roarke, held up the evidence bag.
“That would be Rochelle’s.”
“Matches her description, and it was on the wrist of some Banger Bitch who got it from a new recruit named Ticker in exchange for a BJ. He’ll be in this sweep. I’ve got them. Just have to nail it down.”
Roarke glanced around. Those in custody were still being loaded, or treated. Cops getting treated or swarming in and out of the building. People from the neighborhood crowded behind the barricades. And if he wasn’t mistaken a media copter hovering