J Robb - Imitation in Death

If he bolted, she’d hunt him down.

With help from EDD, she had a list of residents and a layout of the building whereMitchell had her third-floor loft. She left Feeney in charge of the ongoing search of Renquist’s home, and took Roarke along.

For ballast, she told him.

“You’re too good to me, darling. Really, I’ll get spoiled.”

“Fat chance. Anyway, you’ve got a good touch with women.”

“Now I’m blushing.”

“I’m going to laugh my ass off any minute, then where will I sit? This woman may become hysterical. You’re better with hysterical females than I am.”

“Excuse me, did you say something? I was busy thinking about your ass.”

She whipped her vehicle up a ramp and squeezed it into a second-level spot a half block fromMitchell ’s loft. “I’m sure that’s entertaining-”

“You have no idea.”

“But let’s try to keep to the program. It’s possible if we go in as a couple, straight in, he won’t make me if he’s staking out the building. I don’t think he’s around tonight. I think he’s in some bolt-hole, putting it all together. Odds are we’ve got time, but I can’t be sure. Marsonini always hit his victims between two and three A. M… We’re plenty early if he’s marked her for tonight. But I want us to walk straight to the building, and in. How fast can you get through the security?”

“Time me.”

“Let’s move.”

“I think you should hold my hand,” he said as they started down the ramp. “You’ll look less like a cop.”

“Take the left.” She switched sides with him. “I want my weapon hand free.”

“Naturally.” Even as he gave her arm a playful little swing, he saw her eyes, those cop’s eyes, tracking, scanning, dissecting every shadow. “I’ll need my hands free at the door. You could ease behind me. It wouldn’t hurt to give my butt an affectionate little pat.”

“What for?”

“Because I like it.”

She ignored that, but did move behind him slightly as they climbed the short flight of steps to the building’s entrance.

“It’s cooled off considerably. I think we’re done with the worst of the heat for the year.”

“Hmm. Maybe.”

“Why don’t you lean in a bit, nuzzle my neck?”

“For cover, or because you like it?”

“As a kind of reward,” he said and opened the door.

She hadn’t even seen him finesse the lock. “You’re pretty fucking slick,” she commented and stepped in ahead of him.

She walked straight back to the steps rather than hassle with the elevator’s security system. That would open, once cleared, directly intoMitchell ’s loft. Less traumatizing,Eve hoped, to knock on the hall door on the third level, and gain admittance that way.

“His log shows an appointment with her here, this afternoon,”Eve continued. “That tells me he’s already bunged up her loft security, and plans to move in tonight, tomorrow latest. I need to get her out, but I don’t want cops around yet. We’ll set up a unit in the morning, early.” She knocked on the door, held up her badge, then turned to smile at Roarke.

“So I’m giving her to you. You’ll transport her to Central, and she’ll be transferred to a safe house until this goes down.”

“And you plan to stay here tonight, alone? I don’t think so.”

“I outrank you.”

Eveheard the click of the speaker engage, and the puzzled Yes? that came through it.

“Police,Ms.Mitchell. We need to speak with you.”

“What’s this about?”

“I’d like to come in.”

“It’s nearlymidnight.”Katie opened the door a crack. “Is something wrong? Has there been a break-in?”

“I’d like to discuss this inside.”

She studiedEve ’s badge again, then glanced at Roarke. The double take was almost comical. “I know you.” It was reverent. “Oh my God.”

“Ms.Mitchell.”Eve had to order herself not to act annoyed asKatie brushed at her hair with her hand. “May we come in?”

“Um. Yes. Okay. I was just going to bed,” she said, apology in her voice as she tugged at the belt of a thin pink robe. “I wasn’t expecting… anybody.”

The living area was spacious and simple, with an opening on one side through whichEve could see a small bedroom. And through the opening on the other side was a larger, professional-looking office.

A long, galley-style kitchen was behind a low wall. She imagined the other door, which was discreetly closed, led to the bath.

Good windows, probably let in considerable light during the day, she judged. Two exits, including the elevator.

“Ms.Mitchell, you had an appointment today with this man.”

Evetook a photo of Renquist from her bag.

“No,”Katie said after a quick look. Her gaze went back to, and held on Roarke’s face. “Would you like to sit down?”

“Would you please look at this picture again, more carefully, and tell me if this man was yourthree o’clock appointment this afternoon.”

“Mythree o’clock? No, he was… oh, wait. It isMr.Marsonini. But he had red hair. Long red hair done in a braid. And he wore these little blue sunshades the entire time. A little affected, I thought, but he was Italian.”

“Was he?”

“Yes. He had a really charming accent. He’s relocating here, fromRome, though he’ll still have some business interests inEurope. He’s in oil. Olive oil. He needs a personal accountant to work with his corporate people. Oh my. Has something happened to him? Is that why you’re here?”

“No.” She was measuringKatie as she’d measured the loft. As she’d concluded from the data and ID picture,KatieMitchell was the same general build and coloring asPeabody. That might come in handy.

“Ms.Mitchell, this man’s name isn’t Marsonini. It’s Renquist, and he’s suspected of murdering at least five women.”

“Oh, you must be mistaken.Mr.Marsonini was perfectly charming. I spent nearly two hours with him today.”

“There’s no mistake. Posing as a potential client, Renquist gained entrance to this loft for the purposes of cloning your security, having personal contact with you, and assuring himself that you did, still, live alone. Which I assume you do.”

“Well, yes, but-”

“He has stalked you for some time, as is his pattern with his victims, gathering information on your routines and habits. He intends to enter this residence within the next forty-eight hours, most likely when you’re sleeping. He would then restrain you, rape and torture you before using your own kitchen utensils to mutilate and kill you in the most painful way he could devise.”

Evelistened to the little choked sound that creaked inKatie ’s throat, than watched the brunette’s eyes roll back in her head.

“All yours,” she said as Roarke swore and stepped in to catchKatie before she toppled over.

“You could have done that in a more sensitive and delicate way.”

“Sure. But this was quicker. When she comes to, she can pack what she needs. Then you get her out.”

He heftedKatie, headed with her to a sofa. “You’re not staying here alone and waiting for him to come hunting.”

“That’s my job,” she began. “But I’m calling for backup.”

“Call for it now, and I’ll have her out of your way inside twenty minutes.”

“Deal.”

She pulled out her communicator and prepared to set up the next stage of her operation.

– -«»--«»--«»--

She spent the hours until dawn sitting in the dark, waiting. A surveillance vehicle sat outside, and two armed uniforms were stationed in the living area of theMitchell apartment. But the watch team had its orders. Renquist, when he came, was hers.

– -«»--«»--«»--

And he sat in his quiet room in a small apartment on the edge of the Village. He’d decorated it carefully, selecting each piece so that it would have a European feel, and a rich one, rich and colorful and sexy.