She looked at the photo, and noted she'd been right. Adrianne Jonas had been a very pretty woman in life.

"I feel like I 'm lagging behind in this contest, and because I am two people are dead. But I also know the contest is rigged. I t's set up so I can't know who's a target, and so I have to spend time checking out their dupes and alibis."

"Why spend the time when you know they're dupes, and you know the alibis are b.o.l.l.o.c.ks?"

"Because I can't play by their rules. I have to show a judge, and eventually a judge and jury, that I investigated and verified and eliminated. That I compiled the evidence. Maybe this Darrin Wasinski got a wild hair, was carrying on an affair, or wanted to, with the vic. Maybe he decided to try to do a copycat and killed her because she wouldn't run off to Mozambique, or because she threatened to tell his wife they did the dirty in Mozambique when he was supposed to be in Albuquerque on business."

"None of which you believe for an instant."

"Not a nanosecond, but it has to be checked out, verified, eliminated. When I take the dupe out of the picture, leave no wiggle room there, it goes back to the pattern. I t goes back to establishing enough probable cause and circ.u.mstantial for a search warrant, for me to bring them into the box."

And, G.o.d, she thought, she wanted them there. Wanted those smug, smirking faces in her house.

"These b.a.s.t.a.r.ds think they're so f.u.c.king smart, so G.o.dd.a.m.n clever, and more-they think they're insulated because they're rich and important, and because I have to play by the rules. But it's the rules that'll tie them up and choke them at the end.

"Computer, attempt reply to account on-screen, no message."

One moment please ... the account has been terminated. Do you w ish to use an alternate?

"No. Cancel. First step-the account he set up for this lure is now closed, and you can bet it was closed by remote. We can work with that."

"We can." The steps and time factor of her rules might frustrate him, but he could admit mitering those corners rather than cutting them did the job. "Very good. Anyone in EDD can find you the location of the computer used to set up, then close the account. And they'd certainly know that."

"So they used another dupe's comp, or a public with false ID. But it leaves a trail. So far they're ahead on the trail, but they're leaving a lot of cookie crumbs to follow."

He had to smile as he brushed a hand over her hair. "That's bread crumbs."

"I 'd rather have a cookie. And I pick up enough crumbs I can make a d.a.m.n cookie. But you're right about EDD. I 'll get them in here to deal with this."

"I can get your locations in less time than it would take you to arrange that."

She hesitated. "We have permission. Go ahead. I 'm still getting EDD in. They can do what they do, and I can work my way back to Central via the morgue. They're having a two-for-one sale."

"Sick," he commented.

"Yeah, but it helps keep me from being sick. I f you'll get the locations-and keep the work right down the line, no blurs, I 'm going to get the go- ahead to check out the vic's other s.p.a.ces. You never know."

She found nothing in Adrianne's private s.p.a.ces that applied, but she verified through the files that both Dudley and Moriarity had used her services in the past. With Wallace's permission, she used the vic's office 'link to notify next of kin.

When she was done, Roarke leaned over the chair to kiss the top of her head. "Devastating for them. Painful for you.""I can't think about it now." Couldn't let herself feel it, not now. "He used a remote, likely a disposable 'link, you say, both times. T o set up and to close."

"The same device, both times," Roarke confirmed. "As were the e-mails. We have various locations. I 've listed them for you."

"I 've got to go finish putting this together. You saved me some time, so I won't be punching you."

"My face is relieved, yet strangely disappointed."

"I don't know when I 'll be home."

"Neither do I , as when I 've cleared up some business I need to clear up, I 'll be coming down to Central to see if I can be of use to Feeney."

"I 'd tell you Feeney can handle things, but with nine dead, I 'm not turning down any help. No point, is there, in telling you not to buy a bunch of food for a bunch of cops?"

He sent her a cheerful grin. "None at all if I 'm hungry."

When they were out on the street, he cupped her face in his hands. "No point telling you to catch an hour's sleep, even if it's on the floor of your office."

"Probably not today." Her 'link signaled. "Hold on. Dallas."

"Tell me you love me."

"I can't. My husband's standing right here. He might get suspicious."

"He'll understand," Peabody claimed, "when you both hear what I found. Guess whose mommy had a scorching affair with a dead French chef before he was dead. Like twenty-five years ago."

"Delaflote boned Dudley's mother?"

"That's the word, mostly in French. I t was a BFD in Europe back then. The vic was younger, and she was still married to the father. She left him- the husband-and set up house with Delaflote. Didn't last more than about six months, but it broke the marriage, and, according to the gossip back in the day, caused serious embarra.s.sment for the Dudley family."

"That's worth a 'very fond of.' "

"Aww, I 'm all about the love."

"Find me a connection between Adrianne Jonas and Moriarity, more than he was an occasional client, then we'll talk love. Status with the shoe?"

"I 've been buried in illicit affairs, fashion, marital high jinks, and celebrity scandals. I 'll check."

"I 'm heading to the morgue. When I 'm done, I 'll be in. Polish it up, Peabody."

"I think it's starting to shine. I really do."

Eve clicked off. "I have to go."

"What about the shoe?" he demanded as she jumped in her car.

"The b.a.s.t.a.r.d was wearing the same shoes we caught on security when I interviewed him this morning. Cookie crumbs."

He watched her go, and decided he'd pick up a few dozen cookies before he met her at Central.

Peabody tagged her back as she strode down the white tunnel of the morgue. "I 'm still at 'very fond,' " Eve said.

"You may be ready for 'sweet on,' at least. Unofficially, McNab says if it's not the same d.a.m.n shoe, he'll eat it with barbecue sauce."

"He'll eat anything with barbecue sauce. I need official."

"Feeney just confirmed, officially, that the shoe Dudley was wearing this morning is the same size, the same make, the same color as the shoe on the amus.e.m.e.nt park security."

"Close but not sweet enough."

"He can't state unequivocally it's the same shoe. He can give that an eighty-eight-point-seven probability."

"I want ninety plus. See if he can enhance the images any more, or squeak that out. Ninety's better than eighty-eight."

"I 'll relay."

Eve stuck the 'link in her pocket, and pushed through the autopsy suite's doors.

Morris looked up from his work. "Well, Dallas, we're having a h.e.l.l of a summer."

"I t's going to be h.e.l.l for two smug b.a.s.t.a.r.ds before it's done."

"Before we get into this, I want to thank you for arranging this gathering tomorrow."

"Oh. I think-"

"I find myself pulling back, too often, from friends. I t's easier, and more self-indulgent, to be alone. I need a nudge out of that cycle from time to time."

"Yeah." And there went her very rational, reasonable plan to postpone the whole deal. "Well."

"Can I ask a favor? I 'd like to bring someone."

Her jaw nearly hit the floor. "Ah, sure ... I didn't realize you were ..."

"Not that sort of someone. Chale-Father Lopez. He's a good friend now, and I know you think highly of him. He's fond of you."

A lot of fondness going around, she thought. A priest at a cop party. Mostly cops, she corrected. What the h.e.l.l. "No problem. I t'll be good to see him again."

"Thanks. And now for your doubleheader."

"Ha. I called it a two-for-one sale. We're both sick."

"How else do you get through a h.e.l.l of a summer? Our Frenchman is actually from Topeka, by the way. Born Marvin Clink."

"No s.h.i.t?"

"Peabody did the run, which included the full data, and legal name change. In any case, your supposition on scene was correct. Death by harpoon. I t's been identified as such, and you've had the weapon-the gun, I think it's called-ID'd by the lab."

"That's not your usual line. You verified with d.i.c.khead?"

"We're all pulling a bit more. And I was curious. He's in love, you know."

"Yeah, I heard."

"I t's a bit disturbing."

"Yes!" She gave him a shove of solidarity. "Thank G.o.d. I t gave me the serious creeps."

Humor lit his dark eyes, and gave Eve her first lift of the day. "Which is unkind, but I confess to the same. You have the weapon ID on your office unit by now. This was another heart wound. In simple terms the barb pierced the chest, ripped straight through the heart and out the back. Your spear's been removed, as you see, logged and sent to the lab. There are no other wounds. He had consumed just shy of eight ounces of white wine. I 'm having the type a.n.a.lyzed."

"I have the bottle.""And we'll confirm. He'd eaten a light meal several hours before death. A salad, grilled shrimp, asparagus in wine sauce, and a small amount of vanilla bean creme brulee."

Despite the circ.u.mstances, her stomach yearned. "Sounds pretty good."

"I hope it was. He did have more current stomach contents that from the variety and amount I 'd say came from sampling what he was cooking, along with a little cheese, a couple of crackers. There were no drugs in his system. He was a smoker."

"I t all fits."

"He's had some face and body work," Morris continued. "Minimal. He kept in good shape, his muscles are nicely toned."

"What about her?" Eve moved to Adrianne's body.

"She didn't die as quickly. She'd consumed about sixteen ounces of champagne, and neutralized the effects with Sober-Up. We'll get you the timing on that. Some party food in her stomach. Caviar, toasted bread, some berries, some raw vegetables, and so on-very light amounts- consumed over a period of two to four hours before death. No sign of s.e.xual activity, forced or consensual."

He lifted her hand. "There's some light bruising on the heels of her hands, on her knees, consistent with a fall, these deep sc.r.a.pes on her throat- consistent with the blood and flesh under her own nails. She'd clawed at her throat, and you see she broke three of her nails, snapping two below the quick."

"Dragging at the whip."

"I t circled her neck three times, and with force. Tearing the skin in these patterns here, constricting her airway, bruising her larynx."

"She couldn't have screamed."

"No. And if you look ... Do you want goggles?"

"No, I can see." But she bent down closer. "He jerked her-maybe even pulled her off her feet. Then jerked again, but upward-that would be dragging her up, hoisting her on the branch. Her neck's not broken." She glanced at Morris for confirmation, got a shake of the head. "So it would've been painful and terrifying, and endless. Just a minute, maybe two, but endless."

"Yes, I 'm afraid so." With Eve, he looked down at the body. "She would have suffered."

"Her parents will be contacting you."

"I 'll tell them it was quick, and she didn't feel any pain." He touched a hand to Eve's arm briefly. "They'll want to believe me, so they will."

As she walked back down that white tunnel, she wished she could believe it.

CHAPTER 20