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A composite raid tea Enforcement Administration SWAT teaet constraints in a ti

Burke and Hare looked like agents The DC policeman, Bolton, looked like a bailiff He was about forty-five, overweight and yeasty

The Mayor of Washington, anxious to appear tough on drugs after his own drug conviction, insisted the DC police share credit for every ton Hence, Bolton

“The Druham said

“Evelda Dru said without enthusiasm

Brigham nodded “She’s opened an ice plant beside the Feliciana Fish Market on the river Our guy says she’s cooking a batch of crystal today And she’s got reservations to Grand Cayht We can’t wait”

Crystal methamphetamine, called “ice” on the street, provides a short powerful high and is murderously addictive

“The dope’s DEA business but we need Evelda on interstate transportation of Class Three weapons Warrant specifies a couple of Beretta subuns and some MAC l0s, and she knohere a bunchYou’ve dealt with her before These guys will back you up”

“We got the easy job,” Officer Bolton said with some satisfaction

“I think you better tell theham said

Starling waited while the van rattled over soht you,” she said “She doesn’t look like it—she was a o’sI arrested her twice on RICO warrants, the first time with Dijon

“This last tiazines and Mace in her purse and she had a balisong knife in her bra I don’t knohat she’s carrying now

“The second arrest, I asked her very politely to give it up and she did Then in DC detention, she killed an inmate named Marsha Valentine with a spoon shank So you don’t know … her face is hard to read Grand jury found self-defense

“She beat the first RICO count and pled the other one down Soes were dropped because she had infant children and her husband had just been killed in the Pleasant Avenue drive-by, maybe by the Spliffs

“I’ll ask her to give it up I hope she e’ll give her a show But—listen to o, I want soht on her Gentle to watch ”

There was a ti would have deferred to these , and she had seen too much to care

“Evelda Druhauy says, and the Crips are distributing on the coast It’s security against the Spliffs, mainly I don’t knohat the Crips will do when they see it’s us They don’t cross the G if they can help it”

“You should know—Evelda’s HIV positive,” Starling said “Dijon gave it to her off a needle She found out in detention and flipped out She killed Marsha Valentine that day and she fought the guards in jail If she’s not aret hit hatever fluid she has to throw She’ll spit and bite, she’ll wet and defecate on you if you try to pat her down, so gloves and masks are SOP If you put her in a patrol car, when you put your hand on her head, watch out for a needle in her hair and secure her feet”

Burke’s and Hare’s faces were growing long Officer Bolton appeared unhappy He pointed with his wattled chin at Starling’s main sidearm, a orn Colt 45 Govern in a Yaqui slide behind her right hip “You go around with that thing cocked all the time?” he wanted to know

“Cocked and locked, everysaid

“Dangerous,” Bolton said