Friday 13th June
Tremont St, Cambridge, MASS
Goren got into bed with a glance around the bedroom.
"Caro? You don't seriously think all of this is going to load into that Mustang do you?"
"May need to put the roof down and hope it doesn't rain"
"Why do you need so much? It's only four weeks or so before we move out of Brooklyn"
"I do have to work in that time and quite a few boxes are full of my files. Now are you going to grouch the rest of the night Rob?"
"Probably" he wriggled comfortable. "And soon as the moving guys get here to take the rest going into store"
"Just as well you were not here all week then"
"Was good of your folks to come help and run the yard sale to get rid of what we won't need"
Caro's arm slid across him and she kissed him softly. "Even better idea to persuade them to leave this afternoon"
"Feels rude to miss them"
"Not your fault the train was so late and that wasn't what I was thinking of"
He had a fairly good idea what she was from the way her hand was playing over his chest and one nipple. Responding traitorously as she chewed his mouth and began to nuzzle his neck.
"Never going to let me live that down are you Caro?" he said softly easing her more into his arms.
"In ten years or so" she replied.
His fingertips trailed gently over the curve of her breast. Recalling his mild concern in January when they visited Boston that the Reece's, in the room next door, might hear them making love. And her giggled promise to bite down. His breath caught slightly, not with Caro's tongue exploring his mouth, but how he was responding to some teasing and tormenting touches lower down. He'd had to do the same thing too.
Saturday 14th June
Surf City Marina, New Jersey
Even though she had arrived as a short skirted red head and was leaving looking as masculine as possible, she waited until it was almost dark to leave the boat. It was not a very large place so she had taken the precaution of leaving the car along the coast and taking a cab the rest of the way. A car that stupid nurse offered to lend her when she sold her some story.
Timing could not be better with Marty getting very anxious to see her. With her promised, large next instalment and Bobby off playing house in Boston. The one person she worried might check whether she had visited the broccoli as usual. He would have other things on his mind this weekend.
As she finished packing the cash, Clarkson made sure was there, she knew he had planned to kill her. One-way or other everyone else had ended up dead, which suited her too. So she had come with a gun that was easy enough to get in New York once you got to know the place. And had the sense to refuse the drink he offered.
Of course Marty was doing coke but was not so bad he would try any she brought. Liberally laced with additives, if they didn't kill him, would slow him down long enough until she secured a way of killing him quietly. For almost an hour they metaphorically circled round each other. Almost as if each knew what was on the other's mind and avoiding any trap.
She spotted her chance in the end though. Seeing one of those bronzes Marty was probably aiming to keep for himself on the side. Off with the panties, hitch the skirt and offer him how he really liked it. Once more for old time sake. But before he could try and strangle her or his pants get below his knees she grabbed it, turned around and hit him hard with it.
Didn't matter which blow killed him in the end and she took her time to make sure she left no prints. And thoroughly search "The Penguin" to remove other cash he had stashed away. Then undressed him and tossed a rubber from the main cabin beside him.
Her last act, sure she was not seen, was just to remove a little of the adhesive lettering at the front of the boat. Enough to reveal the paint job underneath. Just in case with a lot of other things changed someone did not spot what it really was. The picture of "The Pelican" was kind of cute.
Thursday 19th June
Vestry St, Soho
Jack was snoring softly beside her as Eames got near the end of the section she was reading. Goren had "promised" her a quiz tomorrow and he really was a tyrant with the study schedule. He'd damn well ace the test next month. Without even opening any of the books.
The only consolation was he had to be at the Academy to do the second of those talks had him so twitchy last time. Trouble was, even if she passed the written parts, you still had to clear the interview board and everyone said that could be the hardest part. Even Matt Desmond needed two attempts at that and his leaving party tomorrow night should be fun. Help cheer everyone up after they hit a brick wall again.
None of them were exactly heart broken when a marina owner seeking overdue mooring fees on Tuesday found Marty Clarkson's body. He was pretty ripe by then apparently, but whether it was what it looked like who could ever say.
No prints other than his or one of Joe Haslam's and it was as likely to be the Masucci's wanted rid of a liability as it might have been a red headed whore out from Atlantic City. That was all the description anyone had to go on and that was probably a cheap wig going on one fibre they found. Of course that also fit one the Miami people came up with at back of a closet in one room Jenny used down there.
But as her sleeping lover said, it would be like tissue paper to keep out a hurricane in court. And their own CSU people had quickly identified it as a very common artificial fibre likely to be found in dozens of brands available in dozens of stores.
Even Haslam was believed to be in Mexico. A Texas Ranger had pulled over a truck last week whose licence did not match the vehicle. According to the illegal migrants inside, they got it from one abandoned or seemingly so near Monterrey. And that truck tied back to a dealership in Houston where the salesman picked out the rapist of the gang from a photo array as the man he sold it to.
It was even possible Lou LeBeau was accounted for. A small blood trace was found between the boarding of the rear sun deck of the boat. Not possible to DNA type but it came up Group B. He was that group, neither Haslam nor Clarkson were and neither were either of "The Pelican's" legitimate owners. The case that first brought her and Bobby into a scenario a cruel fate seemed to be controlling.
Eames gritted her teeth for ten more minutes on some sterile legal obscurities in the New York code. Then switched off the light and snuggled happily against a really nice and warm manifestation of the law in the city.
Friday 27th June
Office Of The Chief Of Detectives, IPP
"I'm sorry Danny but I think that's the way it has to be" said Dick Nichols.
"I didn't expect a lot different sir"
"Everyone gave it their best shot and speaking of which, it's five on a Friday and I think that's time enough" he stood up. "Straight up?"
"Please"
Nichols went to a neatly disguised drinks cabinet to pour them both a decent scotch adding soda to his own.
"You know the real frustration for me Dick? Not being able to set Bobby and Alex on either Clarkson or that Archer woman"
"I know. Taking out his brother took him out of the frame and I'm not sure, as personally close as they are, even Alex Eames would be at her best in those circumstances"
Ross sipped his drink. "The only thing I can think of now is asking Goren to wear a wire. Tackle her in private"
"Check it out with Teresa by all means Danny but I doubt it would fly as evidence. If he was a mailman maybe. But an Army trained interrogator and a cop with his record? The lawyers will say it's impossible to say where Bobby ended and Detective Goren began"
"I will but I was thinking Fifth and Miranda violations left and right"
"Think too about him. I know he can sometimes annoy the heck out of you and I still have my doubts at times. But Goren's really held it together so far. Let's not push too hard on a guy has a brother who is brain dead the result of all this. No matter how much he thinks Archer is behind that"
"I'll talk to him Monday. Let him know the field is clear. And if she did kill Marty she might well have the Masucci's on her tail very soon. If they are bothered with him"
"Time will tell" Nichols pulled out a desk drawer to rest his feet on. "Better start giving some thought to what you'll do with him if Alex gets her badge and moves on quickly"
"Easy. Put him with Faith Dempsey. Petite women seem to have a better measure of the guy and ability to control him than I ever got" muttered Ross.
"Or not so short, brunette PhD's with a great pair of legs"
"Oh you noticed those at Roark's last week" laughed Ross.
"We owe that lady too I think. And in any event Danny, if Goren gets his Master's finished next spring, who knows what might be in the air by then"
"I hate it when you say things like that boss"
"I know. Let's just say there is real interest in him from elsewhere"
"Oh" said Ross as he realised what Nichols was hinting at. "Though I'm not sure if that prospect doesn't leave me needing another stiff drink"
Nichols laughed. "I'll be retired by the time any Goren protégés would start rolling out of 20th Street. With any luck"
To be continued…