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“Sir” Trueheart stood stiff as a petrified redwood in the entry to Stiles’s dressing roo his cheekbones “I take full responsibility for the failure of the assigniven to me I will accept, without qualification, any reprimand you deem appropriate”

“First, stop talking like that droid Peabody’s reactivating Second, you’re not responsible for the flight of this suspect That’s on me”

“Lieutenant, I appreciate you taking my inexperience into consideration in nment in a satisfactory manner—”

“Shut up, Trueheart” Jesus God, spare her from rookies “Peabody! Come in here”

“I’ve nearly got the droid up and running, Dallas”

“Peabody, tell Officer Trueheart here how I deal with cops who botch assignments or fail to complete same in what I deem a satisfactory manner”

“Sir, you bust their balls,to watch From a discreet and safe distance”

“Thank you, Peabody Youyour balls?”

His flush spread “Ah, no, sir Lieutenant”

“Then it follows that in nment If my opinion was otherwise, you’d be curled on the floor, clutching said balls and begging for mercy, which Officer Peabody has succinctly pointed out I do not have Are we clear?”

He hesitated “Yes, sir?”

“That’s the right answer” She turned away fro area The forest of clothes in different styles and sizes; the long, wide counter covered with bottles and tubes and sprays Cubbyholes loaded with hairpieces, wigs Drawers ruthlessly organized with other tools of the trade

“He can make himself into anyone I should’ve factored that in Tell hteen-thirty and when I arrived on-scene We’ll verify with the security discs froh”

He nodded, and his eyes unfocused with concentration “A couple, man and woman, white and white, thirty-five to forty They hailed a Rapid and headed east A single woman, mixed race, late twenties She left on foot, in a westerly direction Two men, black and white, early thirties They returned within thirtywhat appeared to be a twelve-pack of beer and a large pizza A single man, mixed race, late forties, some facial hair”

He stopped when Eve held up a hand She lifted a s to show him a few strands of hair she’d already sealed for evidence “Is this a color match?”