Page 116 of Bonded in Death

“I said fucked-up and stupid.”

“All of that. When he fails, when he realizes he’s failed, his next move will be more irrational, and more dangerous.”

“That’s why I want to bag him today. He’ll be there.”

“No question,” Mira agreed. “But irrational, foolish, fucked-up, stupid, doesn’t discount cunning, Eve. And after today, if he slips through, you’ll be on his kill list.”

“I figured I already was, just low on it. I need coffee. Do you want coffee or tea?”

“I’ll take the coffee.”

Mira walked over and sat on the very edge of Eve’s visitor’s chair inher pretty russet-colored sheath. With it she wore a triple strand of pearls, some sort of russet-colored studs with tiny pearl drops, and sky-high heels that swirled russet and pearly white.

“Take the desk,” Eve told her.

“I’m fine. I’m not sure you were on the list before this. Thanks.” She took the coffee. “He had no need to kill you when he believed he’d best you. He’d have enjoyed your failure, and the guilt you’d have felt for the death of Summerset, as well as the others.”

“Roarke?”

“He’d have the satisfaction of Roarke’s guilt and grief. All that power and money, and he’d lose a father figure and, now that you’re on that list, a wife. While he’s incapable of understanding love, he fully understands guilt and grief. Not feeling them, but knowing others do.

“You took a considerable risk last night.”

“Calculated, weighed. Would Roarke have let me hold the light if he couldn’t deactivate the bomb?”

“No. But he’s not infallible.”

“He hasn’t missed yet. We have a good chance of getting Potter today, before anyone else is hurt, because Roarke didn’t miss. And the way Potter’s set this up—”

“Foolishly complicated, easily dismissed. He considers you and the targets the foolish ones. He’ll do at least some recalculation after today.”

“I plan for him to recalculate in a cage.”

“I’d like to sit in when you interview him. You will interview him?”

“He murdered in New York. The Brits will extradite him, but I’ll get my shot.”

“I’ll get out of your way, and come back for the briefing. Again, don’t underestimate him, Eve.”

“I never underestimate a killer.”

She took the next fifteen to organize for the briefing before she heard Peabody’s boots coming.

“Conference room’s booked. I turn my back for a few hours, and you’re defusing a fricking bomb.”

“Roarke deactivated.”

“And still. Feeney tagged McNab as we were coming in. He wants him and Callendar at the briefing. They’ll man an EDD van, help work the comms, and be on scene if you need eyes and ears.”

“Good.” She handed Peabody a disc. “Set this up, and start putting up a board. Updated.”

“On it. You should know Carmine—the lab guy—is working on something with Yancy. He thinks together they can get some sort of idea what was under the mask. Something about face shape, bone structure. Eyes, ears, and whatever.”

“They think they can get a face?”

“Sounds like a long shot, but Carmine’s got his teeth in it, and Feeney’s giving him the go.”

“Can’t hurt. Set us up. I’ll be there in five.”

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