Page 45 of Devil's Due

“Swear to God, if you say you’re fine one more time, I’m going to beat you with a copy ofMartyrdom for Dummies.”

Lucia mutely went over and sat on the couch, glared at Jazz for a second and then let herself go horizontal with a shameful rush of relief. Borden pulled up another chair, and he and Jazz sat; Borden worked on a palmtop computer and Jazz steadfastly stared at the television screen, watching the news scroll.

Lucia was almost asleep when Jazz announced, “Potential mass murder in Kansas City foiled by private citizens, police say.”

“What?”

“It’s on CNN.” Jazz looked around for a remote control, didn’t see one, and got up to change the channel. It didn’t change. Only one station. “Great. Sons of bitches have it locked down.”

“That’s so we don’t have people surfing the porn channels,” said a new voice. “The cops, I mean. We did that after you left the department, Jazz. Hey, I brought in a friend—that all right?”

Lucia opened her eyes and saw that a big, gray-haired plainclothes detective had entered the room. Ben McCarthy was right behind him. McCarthy crossed the room, trailed his fingers over Jazz’s shoulder and exchanged a quick look with her, and then crouched down next to the couch as Lucia struggled to sit up. “No,” he murmured, and those fingers moved lightly over the thick bandages wrapping her arm, then up to skim over her hair. “Stay down, okay? Nothing to get up for right now.”

“Lew,” Jazz said, and stood to shake his hand. “Good to see you, sir.”

“How you been, Jazz?”

“Good, sir. Real good.” Jazz looked like a bashful schoolgirl meeting the principal. “Lieutenant Prince, this is Lucia Garza, my partner. We own—”

“I know all about your new business,” he said. “Ben’s been keeping me up to date. You saw the bit on CNN—it’s playing on the local channels, too. Those men you took down, they left notes. They were on their way to the building across the street to take out their coworkers when you stopped them. Apparently, they figured it would be easier around quitting time—lots of confusion with people coming and going. Their firm works until six.” He gave Lucia a long look, then Jazz. “We’re saying you two were there investigating a separate matter. Now, understand, with you mixed up in a couple of other events the last few months, some people have got their noses in the air. So you need to go low-profile awhile, got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Detectives took your statements?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Confiscated your weapons?”

“Just the one used in the shooting,” Jazz said. “I’ve got another one. Registered.”

He nodded. “Good girl. You’re free to go. I’d avoid the media if I were you. They’re chumming the waters. It’s bound to get worse. Your offices are shut down?”

“Yes.”

“Hope you’ve both got unlisted numbers. You’re free to leave, all of you. Take the back way out of here, and if you want my advice, consider a few days off. We have any questions, we know where to find you.”

McCarthy hadn’t moved. He was still crouched next to Lucia, one hand resting lightly on the arm of the sofa. He wasn’t watching her, but she could somehow feel his attention focused her way. “Thanks, Lieutenant,” he said.

The older man nodded briskly. “It’s Captain now, actually. Keep your ass out of the wringer, Ben. Plenty of people gunning for you out there. Ken Stewart’s one of them.”

“I know, Captain.”

“Then all of you, get the hell out of my house. I have to go give a statement on the front steps, that should give you time to go out the back.”

He turned and walked away, a big man, physically imposing, with a heavily jowled face and lugubrious eyes. The kind of old-school cop who showed up all too rarely these days.

Lucia let Ben help steady her. The world dipped and swirled a little.

“Let me take you home,” he said.

She smiled faintly. “I was hoping you’d ask, actually.”

No media waited at McCarthy’s car, or lurked under the bumpers of Borden’s rental vehicle. Apparently, they were all out front, listening to Captain Prince give his statement. Ben guided Lucia to the passenger side of his car before she had time to contemplate what she was getting into.

Either the car or the situation.

When he entered the driver’s side and slammed the door, she turned her head toward him and said, “You drive a Thunderbird?”

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