“Not sick cows, boss. Happy cows.”
“Sick.” She held up a hand before Nadine could speak. “Peabody, does your family make cheese?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Do you know anything about Salers cows?”
“No. Why?”
“Later. Nadine, since you’re good at your job, you know I’ve got three bodies. Since I’m good at mine, I don’t have time to talk to you.”
“Then I’ll start the conversation,” she said, and followed Eve into her office. “Plus, I brought you a brownie.”
“I don’t have time for a brownie either.”
“Then save it for later.” Nadine reached into her elephant-sized bag, took out a small pink box that smelled like heaven wrapped in glory.
“I do know you’ve got three bodies. We’ve reported. I’ve hit it pretty hard. I want to hit it harder, and I will.”
Now, very much at home, Nadine eased a hip on Eve’s desk as she had on Jenkinson’s.
“It might help get the word out to street levels. It’s clear they’re being targeted, and you’ve already considered using the media for that.”
On her list, Eve thought, and she could adjust priority rank, since Nadine was currently sitting on her desk anyway.
“If you can give me any details,” Nadine continued, “anything I can air that gets through.” She lifted both hands. “We’re both trying to save lives here, Dallas.”
Eve looked at her board. She’d be putting another victim on it now.
She walked to her AutoChef, programmed coffee for both of them.
“A source from the NYPSD states we believe the suspect is a white male between twenty-five and thirty. We believe he approaches a street-level licensed companion with the offer to hire them for the purpose of posing as a model for a painting. We believe he offers them a substantial amount of cash in order to persuade them to leave with him.”
Nadine sat, absorbed. “That’s it? That’s all you can give me?”
Eve considered. “We believe the suspect is a failed artist whose substandard work has been rejected by multiple galleries in the city.”
Nadine angled her head; her sharp green eyes narrowed. “You want to insult him. I can get behind that.”
“Yeah, I do. Pissed-off psychopaths make more mistakes.”
“Has he made any yet? I can hold it. You know I’ll hold it until you tell me otherwise.”
And since she did, Eve said, “Hold it. His precision and obsessive attention to details are mistakes. They’re adding up. He’s got money. He’s got a place—a home, a studio—that costs money. He’s got what Harvo calls ultra transportation.”
Nadine pursed her perfectly dyed red lips. “I’m seeing a spoiled rich kid who’s re-creating famous portraits, then killing the models because nobody recognizes his genius.”
“Close enough.”
“I have some contacts on the stroll.”
“I’m sending out a memo for patrols to spread the warnings.”
“Good, but some might listen to me before they listen to a cop. If it’s a substantial amount of money, it’s a tough turndown.”
“Talk to them, that’s fine. That’s good. If you go out tonight, don’t go alone. He’s got a pattern, but that doesn’t mean he won’t change it and go after a well-known reporter, especially one who’s reported his work’s crappy.”
“Jake’ll tag along. He’s trying out Mavis’s studio right now. I haven’t had time to go by and see it since they finished. How is it?”
