Page 77 of Random in Death
“Reads brown. Can’t get a gauge on the length, ’cept it looks long in the front. This here?”
He froze the screen. “The way the hair falls over his face. Maybe wearing shades from how it falls, but it’s only a partial between the two guys in front of him.
“Can’t get skin color. He’s careful. But we don’t have the baggies, height, hair color, and that front length coming out again, so we may have him.”
McNab did a little dance in his not-cheap canary-yellow baggies. “Got two of them, Dallas. Sending names and contact info to your e’s now. I interviewed these two. They came with a group of five, all guys, between, ah, fifteen and seventeen. Came for the music and the babes.
“Give me a sec.”
He pulled out his portable, checked his notes.
“Yeah, yeah. One of these two, and two others in the group, danced with the vic and her friends. One time. Sort of together but not, but made some conversation.”
“Good. This is good.”
“I want to run all of it, then run it again,” Feeney told her. “Make damn sure.”
“Yeah, but this is good. It’s a strong good. Send me the names, McNab. I’ll contact for follow-up. We know more, so maybe we’ll get more. They’re working on the possible print off the scuff. Harvo said cheap synthetic blend on the fibers. And I’ve got the full formula for the cocktail injected. I’ll copy you on my report.”
“We’ll get the bastard, kid.”
She nodded at Feeney, then headed out.
She believed that. She’d always believed she’d track the bastard down. But would they get him before she stood with Morris over another teenage girl?
She swung into Homicide, and even with her mind elsewhere had to wince at Jenkinson’s tie.
Today’s offering had what she thought might be magic wands scattered all over a bloodred background. Each one shot a different glittery stream of color.
“LT.” He signaled her, forcing her to move closer to the eye burn. “My esteemed partner and I…”
He trailed off as Detective Reineke hiked up his pants leg to show off the white rabbit peeking out of a magic hat.
“Sweet color-blind Jesus.”
“We’re closing one we hit at oh-five hundred this morning.” Jenkinson fluttered his tie. “Investigative magic.”
“So you say.”
“Damn straight. We’re clear if you need any assist on the two girls.”
“Peabody, share the load on the chem lab angle with the two magicians. I need ten minutes—fifteen,” she corrected, “then we’re in the field. Follow-up interviews. We may have him coming in with a group, hiding his sorry ass behind them.”
“That’s big!”
“It’s something. We get more, it’s big. Add in approximately five-six, brown hair. If they get any other details or sightings, we’ll add those.
“Fifteen. Be ready to roll out.”
In her office, she hit coffee, then updated her board and book. She copied Mira, her commander, Feeney, and McNab on everything.
When she contacted the first boy, she found them both together at their summer job. Working at a deli only a few blocks away.
One more good, she thought, and walked back into the bullpen.
“Let’s go, Peabody. Detective Sergeant.”
Jenkinson looked over, sent her a grin. “Lieutenant, sir!”