“Yeah, this is like that, only bigger. More rooms, I think. Slick, sophisticated, Mira called it. I’m going to copy you on what I’ve got. Anything pops for you, I’m ready to hear it.”
“You got that. I’ll pull Willowby up here, have her and McNab work in the lab. Let me shut this damn stupid shit down. I’d pass it on, but one of the suckers who tossed in five K is the wife’s grandmother.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“You think she’d know better.” He shook his head in disgust. “Promised Sheila I’d take care of it myself.” He grabbed one of the candied almonds from the rickety bowl—crafted by Sheila—on his desk. Popped it.
“Stun me,” he repeated. “Put me down.”
“Solemn oath. Thanks.”
She headed out and back to Homicide.
Peabody, her eyes horrified, looked up.
“Oh, Jesus, Dallas. They’re like sales kits. Like brochures. It’s…”
“I know. Send them to your unit and get me some printouts. Send them to McNab and to Feeney. I need the desk. Come back in ten.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Take your coffee.”
Peabody just shook her head. “I think I’ll get some water right now.”
Rather than look at Willowby’s data, Eve engaged her ’link.
Moments later, Nadine Furst, not exactly camera ready, Eve noted, but ready for something, came on-screen.
“Dallas. I’m in the last few hours of a thirty-six-hour moratorium on work of any kind. I’m about to have an elaborate breakfast with my moratorium companion.”
Jake Kincade, rock star and Nadine’s lover, angled on-screen. “Hey, Dallas.”
“Hey. Sorry to interrupt. Nadine, why don’t you give me the contact of your top assistant or researcher and I’ll give this to him or her.”
“Give what? Damn it.”
“Go, Lois,” Jake said, and kissed her cheek.
“I haven’t had any media source in my life for twenty-four hours. Twenty-seven,” Nadine corrected. “It’s a record. I bet Jake I could make it thirty-six. I bet extreme sexual favors.”
“Win-win,” Jake said off-screen, and made her laugh.
“What did I miss?”
“Get to Central and I’ll tell you.”
“Off record until?”
“Some of it. Some I’ll want you to break, and fast. Bring a camera.”
“On my way.”
Eve noted the skinny black straps on Nadine’s shoulders and the froth of black lace visible below.
“Maybe change into something less comfortable.”
“To use your term, bite me.”
When Nadine cut her off, Eve rolled her shoulders. She decided Peabody had a point about water, rose to get some.
Then sat and read the brochures.
9
Despite the black lace, Eve knew Nadine would double-time it to Central. She did the same to the bullpen and Peabody’s desk.
“Shake it off,” she ordered. “I need you to do the coffee thing in the conference room. I hooked the same one. I want to set up the electronic board in there, so I can give Nadine some details, then shut it down for her camera.”
“Nadine?”
“I want as many hands and eyes on this as I can manage. She’s coming in cold.” Eve gave Peabody a come-ahead so they could walk and talk. “She had some bet with Jake about her taking a media blackout for thirty-six hours.”
“Nadine?” Peabody repeated, but with a laugh. “What did she bet?”
“She almost made it, and serious sexual favors.”
“With Avenue A’s front man?” Peabody executed a sexy shoulder wiggle. “That’s a no-lose situation.”
“However that goes, she can and will dig in, and maybe do a big deal about child exploitation—including by some bitch-ass rep in CPS.”
“Oooh, an in-depth story on Truman? That would be even better than a punch in the face.”
“Punching her would’ve been—momentarily—a lot more satisfying. A big-ass Nadine story lasts longer. Meanwhile, I’ll give her a one-on-one, get Dorian’s face out there. We’ll set up a tip line, put some experienced drones on that.”
“She could’ve rabbited right out of New York.”
“Could’ve,” Eve agreed as she swung into the conference room. “So I’ve got some uniforms hitting transpo stations, showing her photo. But where’s she going to go? She’s got nobody.”