The wounds not deep, but that wont stop the poison from taking effect. Grabbing his jaw, she stared into his eyes. Is your vision clear or cloudy?
Clear. More or less. Its curare, Romana. I know how it works. He shot a dart into the trunk of a Scotch pine
I saw it. I pulled it out. Concern mixed with exasperation to soften her tone. I was behind you, Jacob. You just run faster than I do in the snow.
Jacob spotted the blip of motion as she did. It came from the rear of a freestanding maple. Two guns whipped up. Romana edged sideways into the shadow of a more gnarly specimen.
Breathing had become a definite challenge. Drop the weapon, Jacob called. Romanas got you covered from the side.
The movement stopped. The silhouette quivered, then slowly bent. A thunk on the snow told Jacob the weapon had been tossed as ordered.
Come out and let us see you, Romana instructed.
Jacob watched the shadows. He heard the snow again underfoot. Then suddenly a light flared and a burst of motion transformed the silhouette into a man. In one quick move, he scooped up his weapon and launched it in the direction of Jacobs head.
HE PUFFED AND PANTED all the way back to his vehicle. Between being nicked by Jacob Knights bullet and almost blown off the planet by a crazy woman with a shotgun, it was all he could do to start the engine and swerve onto the road.
His blood boiled. Hot bile rose in his throat. Rage all but blinded him. And he knew why.
Hed failed. Hed failed when, without realizing it, hed wanted to finish it tonight.
Patience had never been his strong suit. Hed learned it over the years, just as hed learned how to calculate, but there were times when it simply dissolved. Right now, he needed to take back control, calm himself and think things through with clear, cold logic. For Belindas sake.
Hed done some part of it right. The dart gun on the passenger seat was proof of that. Why, then, was he still so furious that his hands were plastered to the steering wheel?
It wasnt until he felt the wet trickle on his forearm that he understood. Knight had wounded him. Hed drawn blood. Wounded animals lashed out. Wounded humans with a score to settle did so even more.
He breathed in and out, in and out. Pain was going to mark their deaths. More pain than they could possibly imagine.
To hell with Christmas and all the peripherals. The next chance he got-pow!
CALEBAS CURARE. BRITISH explorers called it gourd curare when they were in South America. The most toxic formulas were found in this particular family, and theres enough of it in your system that Dr. McGee wants to call in a toxicologist to do a full workup on your blood.
Romana did her best to slow Jacob down, but it was a losing battle.
Features set, he simply caught hold of her restraining hand and pulled her along with him through the double Emergency doors.
Jacob, she tried again. My hearts still in my throat from watching that ax fly across the snow at you.
It missed me by three yards, Romana.
She had to trot to keep pace with his long stride. It missed you by half a foot, and only because the man throwing it realized at the last second that you were one of the good guys.
Although Romana still wasnt entirely convinced that the tree farmers middle son-the one who, according to his mother, possessed a hair-trigger temper-had truly intended to miss his target.
The farmers wife saw Critch run through the yard with his dart gun. She grabbed her rifle and went after him. She fired into the air three times, which is incredibly courageous considering shes five years older than your downstairs neighbor. Romana dug her heels into the snowy pavement. Jacob, stop acting like a lone wolf and listen to me. You have little to no sensation in your left arm, and McGee said your lungs have to be constricted.
If Im walking, I must be breathing. Do me a favor, Romana-go back inside and wait for OKeefe.
While you do what? Tear off into the night and possibly straight into another dart?You cant keep presenting yourself as a target. It wont get Fitz back, and it wont help us catch Critch.
Jacob dragged the keys to his borrowed Pathfinder from the pocket of his jeans. He got the curare from somewhere, Romana.
Yes, South America, where he lived for several years as a child.
And where he hasnt been for more than six years.
Youre being heroic, Knight. I hate that quality in a man.
So youd rather what? Sit back, do nothing and let him come to us? Again?
I didnt say that. She struggled for patience. Fitz was right. We should go to the Christmas party tomorrow. Think of the people wholl be there. Cops who were around when Critch was arrested, James Barret, who I still think might have Fitz, people who knew Belinda and several who also knew her husband. Dr. Gormans being honored, so key members of the forensics team will also be coming. We can talk
You talk. Turning, he gripped her arms. Start with OKeefe. If he doesnt get my message, tell him Im meeting an old friend whose name isnt Critch.
The objection on Romanas tongue died. What is his name?
Cupping her face, he gave her a kiss that, under different circumstances, would have made her head spin.
Hes someone Ive known for years. A man with an expensive habit to support, and more than one secret he wants to keep.
THE ALLEY STANK OF URINE, human and animal. Jacobs eyes moved from side to side as he entered the narrow darkness, but nothing stirred except a tabby cat that wound itself around a trash can.
Lights shone from dirty, half-covered windows high above. The snow was coated with city grime, and the only nontraffic sound came from a tinny stereo in one of the upper apartments.
An old woman on eight plays that same song all night long. Same song, same singer. Must be lost in a 1950s time warp.
The rusty voice contrasted with Bings dulcet tone as he crooned about a white Christmas.
Too many cigarettes, too much whiskey and likely too jaded now to care, Gary Canter emerged from the dark, spit into the snow and showed a set of dingy teeth.
Well, well, well, if it isnt my old nemesis, Detective Knight. I hear you wrapped up the Parker case all by your lonesome last night. How does it feel to be top of the heap in Captain Harriss eyes? Hes a hard one to please, old Harris, yet he gives you free reign to investigate your cases while the demoted grinders like me spend the bulk of our time cozying up to street dealers and prostitutes.
Jacob waited, hands in his pockets, watching his counter-parts features curl into their usual disdainful mask. He noted the lines on a face that was too thin to be healthy and wondered about the condition of the body under it.
Your clothes are hanging, Canter. He held the other mans gaze. And the sole of your left boot is coming off.
Observant as always. Canter pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pants, hesitated, then offered Jacob one. When Jacob shook him off, he chuckled. No more vices, huh? You smoked like a chimney at the Academy.
That was eighteen years ago.
And six years ago, I covered your ass.
Did you? I got the impression you wanted me to fry. Funny thing, perception.
Canter inhaled, savored and blew out a stream of smoke.
If Id wanted you charged and/or convicted, Id have made it happen. Stubbs was a useless tit on that investigation. He inhaled again. What is it you want, Knight? You pitched the word, I caught it, Im here. Lets cut the crap and get to the meat.
I need to know who deals in South American poisons.
You want the short list? I can give you fifty names, maybe seventy-five. Most of them are illegal immigrants who go poof at the first sniff of a cop. Next question.
Jacobs laugh contained no humor. He looked away. Why did you stint the Belinda Critch case?
Canter shrugged. Maybe I cut it short, but only a bit and mostly for your sake at first. You know things about me, Knight, about my lifestyle, my habits. Reasons dont matter in our world. You finger me and Im gone, not just transferred from Homicide to Vice, but all the way gone, in disgrace.
Who killed her?
Canter stuck out his face. I dont know. I told you, I thought it was you, thats why I skimped. He broke eye contact, shuffled his feet. Changed my mind later on.
Why?
Canter swung away. He puffed for several seconds, then swung back. Do you know how easy it is to make the slide from prescription to street drugs?
Yeah, I know how easy it is.
A smile crossed Canters lips. My God, is that compassion I hear? Or pity? He kicked one of the trash cans, narrowly missing the tabby. I dont want anyones pity, not yours, or Harriss or your squeaky-clean partners. How is OKeefe, by the way? We dont cross paths too often these days.
Hes OKeefe.
Says it all, doesnt it? Must be hell to be such a drudge, but at least his boats steady. Except for the divorce. And a little thing I heard he had with Belinda Critch.
Jacob stared, and at length Canter deflated. I know, I know, why did I stop thinking youd killed her? I got a call after Christmas. I was hoping itd be a tip, anything so we could put the case to bed and move on. There were other investigations going down, and I wanted in on them. Canter ran his tongue over his teeth, made a face as if he tasted something bad. Probably wouldnt have worked out given that I was high on PKs most days, but a guy can dream, right?
Jacob let his head fall back, and regarded the starless sky barely visible between the two buildings. Who called you, Gary?
Someone who wanted the Critch case closed. If that meant destroying evidence, so be it.
Did you destroy evidence?
Canter took a long drag. Didnt have to. There wasnt any. Killer cleaned up good, Knight. Thats why I thought it might be you. We had zip for clues. The case was going cold before I even got the call. But, hey, a man in need, cop or not, can always use a little extra cash.
You took the payoff.
You dont sound surprised. But then you never were as squeaky clean as your partner. His features hardened. Yes, I took the payoff. Why not? Like I said, the case was going nowhere. There was no evidence to destroy, so technically I didnt do anything wrong. Still, I found the offer rather intriguing. I figured we must have missed something, Stubbsy and me.