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“Cicely Towe

rs was a personal friend—a close personal friend”

“I see” Eve wondered if she did “I’m sorry, Commander”

“I knew her for years We started out together, a hotdogging cop and an eager-beaver criodparents to her son” He paused a ht for control “I’ve notified her children My wife isthem They’ll stay with us until after the memorial”

He cleared his throat, pressed his lips together “Cicely was one of my oldest friends, and above and beyond my professional respect and admiration for her, I loved her very much My wife is devastated by this; Cicely’s children are shattered All I could tell the in ive her what she worked for most of her life: justice”

Now he did sit, not with authority but eariness “I’ you this, Dallas, so that you know up front I have no objectivity on this case None Because I don’t, I’ on you”

“I appreciate you being frank, Commander” She hesitated only an instant “As a personal friend of the victim’s, it’ll be necessary to interview you as soon as possible” She watched his eyes flicker and harden “Your wife as well, Commander If it’s more comfortable, I can conduct the interviews at your home rather than here”

“I see” He drew another breath “That’s why you’re primary, Dallas There aren’t many cops who’d have the nerve to zero in so directly I’d appreciate it if you’d wait until toer, to see my wife, and if you’d see her at home I’ll set it up”

“Yes, sir”

“What have you got so far?”

“I did a recon on the victim’s residence and her office I have files of the cases she had pending and those that she closed over the last five years I need to cross-check names to see if anyone she sent up has been released recently, their families and associates Particularly the violent offenders Her batting average was very high”

“Cicely was a tiger in the courtroom, and I never knew her to miss a detail Until now”

“Why was she there, Coht? Prelihborhood—shake-downs,center a couple of blocks from where she was found”

“I don’t know She was a careful woant” He so head to head with the worst this city’s got to offer But to put herself in deliberate jeopardyI don’t know”

“She was trying a case, Fluentes,the passion defense, but word is Toas going to send hi it out”