Page 135 of Fury In Death

“Feels like a partial anterior dislocation. Bet it hurts like fuck.”

“You win.”

“Okay. Easy breaths, and maybe look away.”

“It’s my shoulder. I’m going to keep an eye on it.”

“Your choice.” The tech cupped a firm, supporting hand under Eve’s left armpit, gripped Eve’s wrist with her other hand. “On three. One.”

She went on one. Eve figured the bright flash of pain drained every ounce of blood from her body. She yelped, swayed, then the flash went to a faint glow.

“Is that how they teach you to count in MT training?”

The tech grinned. “That’s my personal method.”

“It works. Thanks.” Gently, cautiously, Eve rotated her shoulder. “It’s better.”

“Sling, ice, meds. You could use ice on your face. Fact, you look like you could use ice everywhere. Let’s go, Pete. Last run of the day.”

Eve turned as they wheeled the body out, noted both Peabody and Nadine were sheet white. She imagined she hit the same tone under the blood.

“I’m just going to sit down. Nadine, this is an active crime scene. Beat it.”

“I knew Banner-Wyst had this suite.” Ignoring Eve, Nadine stood her ground as Eve lowered slowly into a chair. “But it’s used generally, primarily, for visiting execs, VIPs, that sort of thing.”

“Data already gathered. Peabody?”

“Search underway. Tell me what happened.”

“Shit, my clutch piece is still in the elevator. Get that.”

Peabody rushed to the elevator. Nadine held up two fingers. “How many fingers?”

“Thirty-six. I can see fine, Nadine. I don’t have a concussion, I know what they feel like. No broken ribs, also know what they feel like. Bruised the living fuck out of them, but no breaks.”

“You’ve got blood all over your face, and plenty on the rest of you. Tell us what happened. It’s off the record.”

“In a minute.” She held her arm close to her body to ease the shoulder, to press against the aching ribs.

“Peabody, we need someone to check security, see how he got into the building, then into the elevator shaft. Sweepers?”

“In the office,” Peabody told her. “You were only gone about ten minutes, fifteen tops. I was about to tag you when Nadine came in.”

“She was kicking me out when the elevator opened.” Nadine opened her enormous bag, pulled out a pack of wipes. “Here, clean your face up a little.”

“Search is underway.” Peabody took a small evidence bag out of her kit, passed it to Eve for disposal of bloody wipes. “Officers are in security checking the feed.”

“It has to be after fifteen hundred because—”

“Dallas.”

“Right, right.” Eve balled up the first wipe, pushed it in the bag. “You already know that, so they already know that.”

“Lieutenant, give me your report.”

Nadine held up a hand. “I’m not leaving. And nothing goes on air without your say-so.”

Eve used up a second wipe, and wished the simple process didn’t make her entire face burn like a rampaging wildfire.