Apprentice in Death Read Online Free PDF

of the rink and above.”
    â€œAbove.”
    â€œME should confirm that, unless I’m full of shit. Thanks,” he addedto Roarke, took a beer. “I’m going to be surprised if general park security picks up anything. Even in New York, somebody’s going to notice somebody else climbing up a tree with a weapon, and I’m thinking higher anyway. Run it back, watch again.”
    â€œI thought I saw a flash, a red . . . glimmer.”
    â€œThe beam. Sorry,” Roarke added.
    â€œNo, you’re right.” Lowenbaum nodded approval as he continued to watch the screen. “A laser strike emits a beam. Hard to catch it, and it’s fast. You get this to the lab, they can clean it up more, bring it up more. But there.”
    Eve froze the image. “Yeah, I see it. And yeah, I can just make out an angle. East and above.”
    â€œMy guess, even if this fucker climbed the park’s tallest tree, is tactical laser rifle.”
    â€œWhat’s the range on one of those?”
    â€œThat’s going to depend on the weapon, and it’s sure as hell going to depend on the shooter. But if he’s good enough, equipped right? A mile and a half, two. Even more.”
    â€œA weapon like that? Has to be law enforcement or military. You can’t just pick one up at the local 24/7. Black market, maybe, a weapons runner, but that’s going to cost for one that’s not a piece of shit.”
    â€œTwenty large, easy,” Lowenbaum confirmed. “Even a licensed collector’s going to find one hard to come by—through legal means.”
    â€œA complicated process,” Roarke said, “but doable.”
    Eve turned to him. “You have one.”
    â€œActually, three. A Stealth-LZR—”
    â€œYou got an LZR?” Lowenbaum’s eyes shone like Christmas morning. “First man-portable laser rifle—pulse action. 2021 to ’23. Heavy, clunky, but a trained operator could strike a dime credit in just inside a mile.”
    â€œThey’ve improved considerably since then. I have the Tactical-XT, such as your team would use, and a Peregrine-XLR.”
    â€œShut up.” Lowenbaum pointed at Roarke. “You’ve got a Peregrine?”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œThose suckers are accurate for five miles, more in the right hands. They just released for military use last year. How did you . . .” Lowenbaum paused, took a sip of beer. “Don’t ask, don’t tell?”
    â€œAll legal,” Roarke assured him. “Considerable finagling, but I’ve all the proper paperwork.”
    â€œMan. I’d love to see it.”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œWhat are the odds this shooter has something like that?” Eve began.
    â€œIf he does, he could’ve taken the shot from goddamn Queens. I’d really like a look.”
    â€œYou just want to play with the toys, but fine.”
    â€œWe’ll take the elevator.” Roarke gestured.
    â€œYou should have a look yourself,” Lowenbaum told Eve. “Get a gauge.”
    â€œI’ve seen your weapon, Lowenbaum. I’ve used a laser rifle a time or two.”
    â€œIt’s more likely your shooter’s using a tactical—something in that range.” Lowenbaum stepped on the elevator with them. “Three strikes like that, in that time frame? You’ve got someone who’s got possession and training of a long-range laser rifle.”
    â€œLaw enforcement, military—or former in either. I’ll get a list of collectors to add to that.”
    Eve stuck her hands in her pockets as the elevator opened outside the big secured doors of Roarke’s weapons room.
    Roarke laid his hand on the palm plate.
    When the doors opened, Lowenbaum let out a sound a man might make when seeing a naked woman.
    She supposed she couldn’t blame him. Roarke’s collection was ahistory of weaponry.