“No physical altercation with Bastwick, but one with Ledo,” Peabody suggested. “Maybe an escalation of crimes—in the killer’s view.”
“Maybe. Maybe that’s something to look at. Ledo’s was an accident, so maybe I try to find something deliberate.” She rolled her eyes as she took another drink. “And again, how many people have taken a pop at me in the past couple years? Or, say, said fuck you, bitch cop—verbal disrespect escalating from Bastwick—maybe added a shove? And we won’t find him by trying to forecast his next victim.”
She shook that off. “The words, the pattern—that’s what he leaves behind. And the victims,” she added with another glance at Ledo. “There’s a guy named Carmine Atelli. He’s going to take care of the arrangements for Ledo.”
“A relative?”
“No, in a weird way a good Samaritan. He’ll be in touch.” She polished off the Pepsi, slowly rolled the tube. “What color do you call that suit?”
“Carnelian.”
“Isn’t that the animal who changes colors?”
“That’s a chameleon.”
“Okay. Well, I like the color so it’s good it doesn’t change on you.” She two-pointed the tube into the recycler. “Still got it,” she said, and headed out.
“That you do,” Morris agreed, then turned back to Ledo. “And she’ll use that to find who did this to you. If the killer doesn’t know that, he doesn’t know her as intimately as he believes.”
• • •
She got back into Central for a last quick briefing from Kyung.
“I know the drill,” she told him.
“You do, but if you’re annoyed and snap at me, you’ll get it out of your system before they start annoying you.”
He had a point. “I won’t lose my temper. If I go a round with some idiot reporter I could be putting a target on his back.”
All amusement faded from Kyung’s eyes. “I hadn’t considered that.”
“I had,” Eve said, and walked out into the media briefing room to get it over with.
Cameras and recorders immediately started to hum. Those standing, jumped into chairs. A packed house, Eve noted.
“Leanore Bastwick was murdered in her apartment on the evening of December twenty-seventh. I’m primary on this homicide and am investigating it along with my partner, Detective Peabody. We are pursuing all avenues. Evidence to date shows that an unidentif
ied subject disguised as a delivery person gained access to Ms. Bastwick’s residence, stunning her with a handheld weapon, then strangling her. In her capacity as a criminal defense attorney, Ms. Bastwick received numerous threats over the years. We are looking into those threats.”
She ignored the few shouted questions. She’d damn well finish the statement first.
“In the early hours this morning, Wendall Ledo was murdered, also in his apartment. Mr. Ledo was a known illegals dealer who frequented the underground in the area known as the Square. His building was not secure. Evidence indicates his very simple locks were picked, giving the killer access. He was also stunned, then stabbed. I am also primary on this case, and we are actively pursuing all avenues.
“Evidence further indicates the same unidentified subject murdered both Leanore Bastwick and Wendall Ledo.”
She spotted Nadine in the back of the room, still in her traveling outfit—but she had a camera with her now.
“We connect these homicides through evidence, and due to the fact that messages were left at both crime scenes. All the evidence, including the messages written, will be processed and analyzed, studied, dissected, and used to identify and apprehend the person responsible for the deaths of Leanore Bastwick and Wendall Ledo. I will not discuss specific details of any of that evidence or any specifics of this ongoing and active investigation. You’d save us all time if you remember that before asking your questions.
“Go ahead.”
“Is it true the messages were addressed to you?”
“Not going to save time,” Eve concluded. “I will not discuss specific details.”
“Is it true you had altercations with both victims? There was bad blood between you?”
“No, it’s not. I interviewed Ms. Bastwick after the murder of her law partner, as is routine. Ms. Bastwick subsequently represented Jess Barrow, and I was his arresting officer. Mr. Ledo was an illegals dealer, and had more . . . interactions with the Illegals division of the NYPSD than with me. I interviewed him a few times, as a witness or person of interest on an investigation.”