homicide, we’ll let your jurisdiction take precedence, and beyond that, we’ll happily share evidence we’ve gathered to support the case, as I’d hope you’d be willing to do the same for us. But if the facts point to something else, we still need to make sure the three servicemen and women in question maintained themselves in a fashion befitting of the army’s code of conduct.”
I glanced further down the wall at the rest of the plaques and awards. They made me want to puke.
“So, Elmo,” I said. “Can I call you Elmo?”
“I’d prefer Elmorodil,” he said. “Or Agent Blue.”
I returned to Shay’s side and took the remaining seat. “Alright. Sure. Let’s talk about my suspects.”
“Persons…of interest,” corrected Agent Blue.
“It doesn’t matter what we call them,” I said. “I want them back.”
“Do you, now?” he said.
“I do.”
Elmorodil’s chair squeaked as he straightened, and I heard a slight puff of air escape his nostrils. “I’m afraid I can’t allow that, Detective.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because privates Chavez and Delvesdeep and Sergeant Holmes are army enlistees,” he said. “All three signed contracts committing them to service in defense of the country. Part of that commitment demands they adhere to the code of conduct to which I already referred, but more importantly, that contract stipulates they must follow our rules, regulations, and commands. Because they’re army, they should be here, under our supervision, and in our care. Unless, of course, you have evidence with which to charge them for a crime.” The man lifted an eyebrow. “Do you?”
“I can hold them in custody for twenty-four hours,” I said. “Breathe on them a little. See what slips.”
“That’s unethical,” said Blue. “And to be quite honest, I highly doubt it would get you anywhere. These aren’t frightened street urchins or doped-up junkies, Detective. These are soldiers. Trained to stay calm under pressure.”
I ground my teeth. Agent Blue knew too much for his own good—or at least for mine. He wasn’t about to bend under the weight of my abrasive personality or official sounding demands. He wouldn’t turn over the three GIs without some serious writs and warrants on my part, and even then he might fight it.
“What if they escape?” I asked.
“Daggers, this is a military base,” said Steele.
Blue extended a couple fingers in Shay’s direction, as if to say she’d made his case for him.
I sighed. “At least let us speak to them.”
“What questions do you wish to ask?” asked Blue.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I tend to work off the cuff in that regard. Let my brain determine what’s pertinent as the situation unfolds.”
Agent Blue clasped his hands together. “As I said, I’ll be happy to accommodate requests of that nature…assuming you can provide more concrete reasons for said requests.”
I grunted, hoping the steam boiling inside me hadn’t yet started to pour from my ears.
Shay cast a downturned lip and glance my way. “Let me again apologize for my partner, Agent Blue. He gets this way when he’s hungry. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, and we’ll be sure to keep the communication routes open between us. Hopefully we’ll be able to piece this thing together in short order.”
“Wait.” I waggled a pinky finger in my ear. “Did I hear that right? We’re collaborating?”
“Yes,” said Steele as she stood. “We are.”
Her tone brooked no rebuke.
“Glad to hear it,” said Agent Blue, standing in response. “I look forward to working with you, Detective Steele.”
The army investigator smiled, and I swear I caught a hint of the same from Shay. I did my best not to growl.
11
We left the army base and headed back toward the precinct, though we took the scenic route by sweeping through Rucker Park on the way there. Many of the trees had already lost their leaves, so the walk wasn’t quite as striking
I glanced further down the wall at the rest of the plaques and awards. They made me want to puke.
“So, Elmo,” I said. “Can I call you Elmo?”
“I’d prefer Elmorodil,” he said. “Or Agent Blue.”
I returned to Shay’s side and took the remaining seat. “Alright. Sure. Let’s talk about my suspects.”
“Persons…of interest,” corrected Agent Blue.
“It doesn’t matter what we call them,” I said. “I want them back.”
“Do you, now?” he said.
“I do.”
Elmorodil’s chair squeaked as he straightened, and I heard a slight puff of air escape his nostrils. “I’m afraid I can’t allow that, Detective.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because privates Chavez and Delvesdeep and Sergeant Holmes are army enlistees,” he said. “All three signed contracts committing them to service in defense of the country. Part of that commitment demands they adhere to the code of conduct to which I already referred, but more importantly, that contract stipulates they must follow our rules, regulations, and commands. Because they’re army, they should be here, under our supervision, and in our care. Unless, of course, you have evidence with which to charge them for a crime.” The man lifted an eyebrow. “Do you?”
“I can hold them in custody for twenty-four hours,” I said. “Breathe on them a little. See what slips.”
“That’s unethical,” said Blue. “And to be quite honest, I highly doubt it would get you anywhere. These aren’t frightened street urchins or doped-up junkies, Detective. These are soldiers. Trained to stay calm under pressure.”
I ground my teeth. Agent Blue knew too much for his own good—or at least for mine. He wasn’t about to bend under the weight of my abrasive personality or official sounding demands. He wouldn’t turn over the three GIs without some serious writs and warrants on my part, and even then he might fight it.
“What if they escape?” I asked.
“Daggers, this is a military base,” said Steele.
Blue extended a couple fingers in Shay’s direction, as if to say she’d made his case for him.
I sighed. “At least let us speak to them.”
“What questions do you wish to ask?” asked Blue.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I tend to work off the cuff in that regard. Let my brain determine what’s pertinent as the situation unfolds.”
Agent Blue clasped his hands together. “As I said, I’ll be happy to accommodate requests of that nature…assuming you can provide more concrete reasons for said requests.”
I grunted, hoping the steam boiling inside me hadn’t yet started to pour from my ears.
Shay cast a downturned lip and glance my way. “Let me again apologize for my partner, Agent Blue. He gets this way when he’s hungry. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, and we’ll be sure to keep the communication routes open between us. Hopefully we’ll be able to piece this thing together in short order.”
“Wait.” I waggled a pinky finger in my ear. “Did I hear that right? We’re collaborating?”
“Yes,” said Steele as she stood. “We are.”
Her tone brooked no rebuke.
“Glad to hear it,” said Agent Blue, standing in response. “I look forward to working with you, Detective Steele.”
The army investigator smiled, and I swear I caught a hint of the same from Shay. I did my best not to growl.
11
We left the army base and headed back toward the precinct, though we took the scenic route by sweeping through Rucker Park on the way there. Many of the trees had already lost their leaves, so the walk wasn’t quite as striking
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