“Officer Shelby.”
“Sir.”
“I’m going to send you the data on a homicide victim. I need you to search for family members beyond her parents. Whatever you find, send to me and copy Peabody.”
“Yes, sir, Lieutenant. How far out do you want me to go?”
“Up the generational train, and out as far as first cousins. No minors necessary.”
“I’ll get right on it.”
On the way back, Eve stopped at Peabody’s desk. “Culver’s parents aren’t interested. I have Shelby searching for other family. When she has any, she’ll send to you and me.”
“Her parents don’t want to claim her body?”
“No, they don’t. Since neither of them asked how she died, I’d say she was already dead to them.”
“Harsh.”
“It’s all of that.”
She went back to her office, sent the data to Shelby, then began to set up her board.
She put Leesa’s ID shot up first.
“You and the woman who gave birth to you have the same eyes. That may be the only connection between you.”
She added the crime scene shots, including a close-up of the neck bruising. And a photo of the original painting beside one of the victim in the same pose.
When she finished her board, she sat to open her murder book.
Before she’d finished, she heard Peabody coming.
“Beat droids are here.”
“Bring them on back.”
Eve closed the book, turned in her chair as they came in.
“Officer Campbell, Officer Winters,” Peabody said.
Campbell replicated an attractive Black female of about thirty, with a slim build. They’d built Winters as a fortyish white woman with a tougher face and body.
Both stood at attention.
“Relax.” Though droids didn’t, really. She gestured to the board. “Leesa Culver.”
“Leesa Culver,” Campbell began. “Age twenty-two, Caucasian female—”
“We’ve got all that. Who works her block, what other LCs?”
“Dana aka Starlight Chumbly.” Winters took over.
As it recited the data, the eyes flickered. An indication it accessed memory banks.
“Age twenty-six. Mixed-race female, licensed for males. Monique Varr, age twenty-eight, Caucasian female, licensed for male and female and nonbinary.”
“On the east side of the block,” Campbell continued, “Zola Messner, age twenty-three, Black female, licensed for all genders. Diego Quint, age twenty-two, Hispanic male, licensed for all genders.”
