Sigma Curse - 04 Read Online Free PDF

paused. “Since I’ve been brought in on this, I should talk to the Judge.”
    “A meeting’s already been arranged,” said Teller. “She’s out of state, but will be in New York tomorrow morning. Taking an emergency flight. And yes, Lieutenant, you’ll be in on the interview. With me.”
    Fair enough, thought Venn.
    Rickenbacker spoke up. “For now, I’d suggest you and your partner get to know our team. Familiarize yourselves with the way we work, and with the data we’ve gathered already. There’s probably not a lot else you can contribute tonight.”
    And if that isn’t dismissing us, I don’t know what is, thought Venn.
    He stood up. “No,” he said.
    Harmony rose beside him, an instant later.
    Rickenbacker and Teller stared at them.
    “Excuse me?” said Rickenbacker.
    “These aren’t terms I’m prepared to work under.” He jerked his head at Harmony and they headed for the door.
    “Just a minute,” said Teller. “What do you mean?”
    Venn half turned. “This kind of command approach,” he said. “It isn’t going to fly.”
    Teller regarded him for a moment, then indicated the chair Venn had just vacated. His tone was reasonable. “How about you explain?”
    Venn stayed put, didn’t sit back down. “I’ve – we’ve – been called in because of our special expertise at this kind of thing. Crimes with political connections. We’re also here as the representatives of the New York Police Department, to ensure that this killing remains under the auspices of the local force and doesn’t become exclusively a Federal deal. So, if we’re here, we’re going to have an equal say.”
    Rickenbacker made a sound that was halfway between a sigh and a disbelieving laugh. “You’re kidding,” she said.
    Venn looked straight at her, giving her the thousand-yard stare he’d honed on the streets of Chicago and in the Marines. She didn’t falter.
    Venn said, holding her gaze: “We work with you, but not for you. I have my own offices, and I’ll be based there, together with Detective Jones here and the rest of my team. You carry on here. We’re not part of the task force, we’re allied to you. All information gets shared, both ways. Nothing’s held back.”
    Rickenbacker started to say, “Hold on,” but Teller held up a hand.
    Venn went on, “No command structure. You’re in charge here, Special Agent Teller, and I’m in charge on my side. But we’re both in charge of the investigation. Neither of us pulls rank on the other, because the term doesn’t apply. I don’t care if you’re Feds. I don’t care if God himself has appointed you. This is my city, not yours. My jurisdiction.”
    Was there a trace of amusement in Teller’s eyes? Venn thought he saw it there, fleetingly.
    In Rickenbacker’s, on the other hand, a cold fury burned.
    “All right. All right.” Teller held up his spread hands in a placatory gesture. “You’ve made your point. I can work with that.” He glanced at Rickenbacker. It wasn’t a look that seemed to be seeking her approval. Rather, Venn observed, it was the look of a superior making sure his subordinates understood what was what.
    Rickenbacker didn’t return Teller’s glance. She kept her eyes on Venn, with an occasional flick toward Harmony beside him.
    Teller said, “At least stick around for a while, as we said. Get to know us, and take a look at some of the data we’ve put together so far.”
    Venn nodded. There was a lifting of the atmosphere in the room, an easing of tension that was as palpable as a sigh.
    *
    H e reached home a half hour before midnight, after dropping Harmony back at the morgue to collect her own car.
    Home was a townhouse west of Central Park. It had a complicated history for Venn. He’d bought it a couple of years ago with Beth, and they’d lived there together until late last summer. Then she’d moved out, for complex reasons, and so had Venn, renting an apartment in Brooklyn.
    But now he and Beth were back together