Page 18 of Random in Death

“No, it doesn’t. Nobody’s come through here carrying works. Everyone we’ve interviewed agreed to empty the contents of pockets or purse—and McNab reports the same. The sweepers haven’t found anything yet. Oh, shit—I did. Fresh puke out there, near the alley door.”

“Yeah, I caught the smell.”

“I marked it, and the sweepers took a sample. It might be hers. Probably hers.”

“All right. Take a break. I’ll talk to the rest you’ve got waiting. We need to get them home.”

“I could use a break. I’ll grab a couple minutes, then split the rest with McNab. Some of them want to come in pairs. Most of them didn’t come solo tonight, so they’re in pairs and groups.”

She rose. “We started with the youngest, like twelve to fifteen. We’re on sixteen and up now. Only a handful, compared, over that. McNab got a copy of the security, but we wanted to get the interviews first, so he just glanced.”

“Roarke’s going over it.”

At the next knock, Eve turned, opened the door to one of the sweepers.

“LT, we may have something in the boys’ john.”

“I’ll take my break later,” Peabody said. “I’ve got the next here.”

Eve followed the sweeper out, then into the boys’ john. One that smelled like stale piss and staler farts.

“See the scuff marks under the window there?”

“Yeah, I do.” She crossed over for a closer look. “Fresh marks. Somebody boosted up, climbed out this window.”

“Caught their shirt or pants.” The sweeper held up a small vial. “Left a few threads behind. Window that size? Have to be small or agile enough to get up and out.”

“It would come up close to the mouth of the alley. Away from the door cams.” She studied the scuff marks. “Any way to get a partial on the shoe?”

“We’ll give it a shot. No prints on the wall or window.”

“Smart enough to seal his hands. Didn’t think of the feet. Make sure Harvo gets those threads.”

“Nobody but the Queen of Hair and Fiber on it. Vic was just sixteen, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I hate that shit. We’ll work on the scuffs.”

Eve stepped back.

Jabbed her on the dance floor, then walked away. Headed into the boys’ john, so that meant a male—unless.

She went out, walked to the ladies’. Same setup—though it smelled like cheap perfume and face gunk. Had the window, but…

Maybe someone was in the room, in a stall, by the mirrors. Girls spent more time in johns.

Still, she thought the odds were male. A male who brought the weapon with him and had an escape plan in place.

Jab, walk away, go into the john, climb out the window.

You didn’t need to see her die, Eve thought.

Killing her was enough.

Chapter Three

She went out to hunt down Roarke.

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