Page 85 of Random in Death

He’d make more.

“Peabody,” she said when she turned into Homicide.

“I’m looking now.”

“Try venues that sell the baggies and the shoes, T-shirts, too.”

“I’ll add it.”

“Jenkinson?”

“We’re working it, boss. Hell of a lot of labs in high schools and colleges in this fine city. We’ve got you a partial list.”

“Keep going.”

She turned into her office, went for coffee. Took a minute to glug some down.

The bacteria. Medical lab, research lab. Internship.

Poppies. You’d have to have a greenhouse, or some sort of area to grow them. Then somewhere to do all the other steps.

Months of work. Privacy? Maybe you could grow the flowers without anyone thinking why other than flowers. But you’d need a place for the rest.

Privacy.

She took another moment to drink, to organize her thoughts.

She’d update her board, her book, take some thinking time. Just five minutes.

Look over Jenkinson’s list, she decided.

Then she’d make her own. Cross-check, and maybe.

Ten minutes into the work, she heard footsteps—two sets, unfamiliar. Jamie and Quilla stepped into her doorway.

“Really?” was all she could think of.

“Sorry to interrupt, Lieutenant.”

“Then don’t,” she suggested.

“Sir.” Jamie stuck with the formal. “Captain Feeney sent me. I’m actually—was actually—with Roarke today, but my supervisor said if I finished my work in progress I could shift to EDD. So I did, but the captain said I should get your permission to assist on the investigation.”

The kid had skills. She needed skills.

“Then you have it. That doesn’t explain you.” She pointed at Quilla. “You’re not an e-geek.”

“Actually, she’s got—”

Eve cut Jamie off with a look. “Was I addressing you, civilian intern?”

“No, sir.”

“Jeez, harsh. I’m pretty good, he was going to say. But I’m here on a project, just bopped down with Jamie.”

Eve started to say bop out again, but curiosity got her. “What project?”

“I’ve got permission, from the school and Nadine and Feeney, to do a story on EDD. I can do interviews as long as I don’t, um, impede any work. And Feeney has to review and sign off on the final before I turn it in.”