In Death 07.5 - Midnight in Death by J.D. Robb

paused for a moment, judged that Eve was considering. “I have no argument to having guards here or at my office. In fact, I want them. Very much. I have no intention of taking any unnecessary chances or risks. I’m just asking you to let me do my work.”
    “You can do your work where I put you.”
    “Eve.” Mira drew a breath. “If you put both me and Justine out of his reach, there’s the very real possibility he’ll take someone else.” She nodded. “You’ve considered that already. He won’t come for you until he’s ready. You’re the grand prize. If no one else is accessible, he’ll strike out. He’ll want to keep to his timetable, even if it requires a substitute.”
    “I’ve got some lines on him.”
    “And you’ll find him. But if he believes I’m accessible, if I’m at least visible, he’ll be satisfied to focus his energies on getting through. I expect you to prevent that.” She smiled again, easier now. “And I intend to do everything I can to help you.”
    “I can make you go. All your influence won’t matter if I toss you in restraints and have you hauled out of here. You’ll be pissed off, but you’ll be safe.”
    “I wouldn’t put it past you,” Mira agreed. “But you know I’m right.”
    “I’m doubling your guards. You’re wearing a bracelet. You work here. You’re not to leave the house for any reason.” Her eyes flashed when Mira started to protest. “You push me on this, you’re going to find out what it feels like to wear cuffs.” Eve rose. “Your guards will do hourly check-ins. Your ’link will be monitored.”
    “That hardly makes me appear accessible.”
    “He’ll know you’re here. That’s going to have to be enough. I’ve got work to do.” Eve started for the door, hesitated, then spoke without turning around. “Your family, they matter to you.”
    “Yes, of course.”
    “You matter to me.” She walked away quickly, before Mira could get shakily to her feet.

SIX

    Eve headed to the lab from Mira’s. From there she planned a stop by the morgue and another at Carl Neissan’s before returning to her home office.
    Remembering Mira’s concern about family, Eve called Roarke on her palm-link after she parked and started into the building.
    “Why are you alone?” was the first thing he said to her.
    “Cut it out.” She flashed her badge at security, then headed across the lobby and down toward the labs. “I’m in a secured facility, surrounded by rent-a-cops, monitors, and lab dorks. I’ve got a job to do. Let me do it.”
    “He’s gotten three out of six.”
    She stopped, rolled her eyes. “Oh, I get it. Shows what kind of faith you have in me. I guess being a cop for ten years makes me as easy a fish as a seventy-year-old judge and a couple of soft lawyers.”
    “You annoy me, Eve.”
    “Why? Because I’m right?”
    “Yes. And snotty about it.” But his smile warmed a little. “Why did you call?”
    “So I could be snotty. I’m at the lab, about to tackle Dickhead. I’ve got a few stops to make after this. I’ll check in.”
    It was a casual way to let him know she understood he worried. And he accepted, in the same tone. “I’ve several ’link conferences this afternoon. Call in on the private line. Watch your back, Lieutenant. I’m very fond of it.”
    Satisfied, she swung into the lab. Dickie, the chief tech, was there, looking sleepy-eyed and pale as he stared at the readout on his monitor.
    The last time she’d been in the lab, there’d been a hell of a party going on. Now those who’d bothered to come in worked sluggishly and looked worse.
    “I need reports, Dickie. Wainger and Ring.”
    “Jesus, Dallas.” He looked up mournfully, hunching his shoulders. “Don’t you ever stay home?”
    Since he looked ill, she gave him a little leeway. Silently she opened her jacket, tapped the silver star pinned to her shirt. “I’m the law,” she said soberly. “The law has no home.”
    It made him grin a little, then