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“I bet you’ve been to the opera,” Peabody said as she started the run on her PPC. “Twice. Then I drew the line. I’d go again when they finished building the ice palace in hell.”
“But if they’re doing all that in Italian – I’d want to go to an Italian opera, I think – then it’s romantic.” “I don’t get how dying’s romantic.” “Well, like Romeo and Juliet —” “Double teenage suicide. Yeah, that makes my heart melt.” Sulking a little, Peabody continued the run. “It’s romantic tragedy.” “That’s one of those oxygons.” “Moron.” Eve turned her head, aimed steely eyes. “Repeat that.” “I meant oxymoron. It’s oxymoron not gon. Sir.”
She went to the AutoChef, programmed a vitamin smoothie. And was shocked when that’s exactly what she got. It has worked for Feeney, she thought, bitterly, disguising his real coffee for a spinach smoothie in his office machine. But did she get the candy bar she’d disguised in there? No, she did not. “Goddamn Candy Thief.
“Innate ability and true interest lay a foundation. But it’s practice, isn’t it, that hones a skill.
“Would you kill for me?” “I would, yes, of course.” “Jesus, don’t say it without even a second’s thought.”
“See?” She wrapped her fingers around him. “How do you guys live with this?” “It’s a man’s burden to bear.” “Just a few inches, and it rules the brain, the ego and can obliterate common sense.” “ ‘A few’?” he countered, making her laugh.
“Do you know how many pairs of boots I had before I met you?” He only smiled as she rose, reached for her weapon harness – which told her he undoubtedly did. “Two, and one pair didn’t really count as they were emergency use only because they were trashed. I still caught the bad guys.” “You did. Now you get to catch them with more comfortable and stylish feet.”
“A skeeze (she kind of liked the word), a fuckhead, a dickwad. He’s all of that and a bag of rice cakes.” “Chips. It’s a bag of chips,” Peabody told her. “Chips are good. Rice cakes are crap. He doesn’t get chips.”
“Who are you tagging at this hour?” “Carmichael. She and Santiago can get started.” “Eve, it’s still shy of five in the morning there.” “Why?” “Well, the magic elephant who carries the wide dish of the planet on its massive back moves ponderously on its daily trek around the sun.” “Oh, bite me.”
Peabody shoveled in some eggs. “Bubba’s Body Shop, Towing and Pies.” Eve started to speak, thought again, then shook her head. “You’re making that up.” “Hand to God.”
“Take one for the team, Santiago.” The grin faded fast. “Ah hell, Dallas, Bubba’s got hands like sides of beef. That’s not just a colorful metaphor, it’s next to literal.” “Toughen up. Get him to take a swing at you, in front of witnesses if you can manage it. And have Carmichael stay on this Jumbo.” “Jimbo.” “Whatever. Keep the lawyer and the law centered on Bubba, and I’ll get the son into the box. Holographically speaking.” “I’m going to get punched in the face, and you guys are going to have all the fun.” “Make it look good,” Eve advised, and ended transmission.
Instead of Mira, she woke up APA Cher Reo. “I had ten more minutes coming, damn it.” “I need you to strong-arm whoever you know who can strong-arm somebody in Monroe, Arkansas. I need a search warrant for a place called Bubba’s Body Shop, Towing and Pies.” “Is this just a bad dream?”
“Give me the data again, and give me some probable cause.” “Bubba’s about to assault one of my detectives.” “ ‘About to’?” “Anytime now.
She stepped into Homicide, held a hand up to stop anyone from asking her anything, and tagged Santiago again. “NYPSD West,” he answered. “Ha. Wrap it up there, asap, and head to someplace called Dry Creek.” “Ah, man.”
“Light a candle for me, LT.” “What?” “I lost a bet with Carmichael, and she gets to drive. The speeds you can get up to out here? She’s pretty damn scary.”
She glanced at the main board, shoved her hand through her hair. So many. There were always so many. “I can pull Baxter back.” “Ah hell, Dallas, that man’s like an expectant father with his boy in exam.
“I think it calls for some hearty stew.” “That stuff with the things.” “Of course, I was just thinking the same.”
“The midwife? She says definitely imbibed during pregnancy – but she could never prove it. Caterwauled – that’s a quote – during delivery that, according to the source, was as easy as a cat having kittens. I can’t speak to that, never having had kittens or a baby, for which I remain eternally grateful.”
Carmichael, Santiago, front and center.” She hesitated a moment when she spotted Carmichael’s sapphire-blue cowboy boots with jewel-colored studs running down the sides. “Are you serious?” “Sheepskin lined, Dallas. Warm as it gets. You said soft clothes. Santiago bought a hat.” His lip actually curled. “I’m not wearing it.” “Not on an op, but on the job, five full days. He lost a bet.” He shook his head sadly at Eve. “I didn’t learn from my mistakes, and now have to pay the price.”
“One for the books. Listen, I know you’ve been anxious about Trueheart’s results, but I’ve been kind of tied up with this pair of sadistic spree killers in love.” “I got that. He’s handling it. We’ve been busy, just closed the one we caught yesterday. I tried to find out, but it’s going to take another twenty-four.” “Huh. So you actually think I’d let two of my men sweat it for forty-eight? You figure I can’t juggle in a contact, put a little weight on it?” “You did? Hey, thanks, Dallas. Can I —” He stopped when he caught the look on her face. “Ah, shit.” “Look, Baxter, it’s a tough exam, and
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“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.” “I dropped you in, you made the grade. Congratulations, Detective.” He shook her hand, then wrapped his arms around her. Because he was young, and it was a moment, Eve let him. “Don’t hug your LT,” she advised. “Yes, sir. No, sir.” He broke away, laughing.
