Read Three in Death for Free Online Page B

right.
    His mixed-voice and muddled campaign had gone down in flames. However much he’d rebounded financially via lectures, books, and consults, Eve imagined he still bore the burns of that failure.
    Still, she couldn’t see how Roarke tied into it.
    Rubbing her forehead, she pushed away and got up to work out the kinks. Maybe she was overreacting. Did she want it to be personal for Skinner because he’d made it personal for her? Maybe Roarke was no more than a symbol for Skinner. Someone who had slipped and slid around the system that Skinner himself had dedicated his life to.
    She checked her wrist unit. Maybe she’d catch some sleep, go back to it fresh in the morning. She would juggle the data first, though, so that when she looked at it again it would be in a new pattern. Whatever she was missing—and her gut still told her she was missing something—might float to the top.
    “Computer, extrapolate any and all references to Roarke…” She yawned hugely, shook her head to clear it. “In any and all files, personal and professional, under Skinner, Commander Douglas.”
    Working…
    “List references chronologically, first to last, um…give me official police records first, followed by personal files.”
    Understood. Working…. No reference to Roarke under Skinner, Commander Douglas police records. Reference under Skinner, Captain Douglas only…. Extrapolating personal files…
    “Yeah, well, you keep saying that, but…” Eve whirled around, stared at the monitor. “Computer, stop. List any and all references to Roarke under Skinner, Douglas, any rank.”
    Working…first listed reference in Skinner, Captain Douglas, case file C-439014, to Roarke, Patrick a/k/a O’Hara, Sean, a/k/a MacNeil, Thomas, date stamped March, twelve, twenty-thirty-six. Subject Roarke suspect in illegal weapons running, illegal entry into United States, grand theft auto and conspiracy to murder of police officers. Subject believed to have fled Atlanta area, and subsequently the country. Last known residence, Dublin, Ireland. Case file complete, investigative data available. Do you wish full case file?
    “Yes. In hard copy.”
    Working…
    Eve sat down again, slowly as the computer hummed. 2036, she thought. Twenty-three years ago. Roarke would have been what, twelve, thirteen?
    It wasn’t Roarke who was at the root of Skinner’s obsession.
    It was Roarke’s father.
     
    At his own unit, Roarke ran through layers of Skinner’s financials. Among the most clear-cut motives for murder were greed, revenge, jealousy, sex, fear of disgrace, and profit. So he’d follow the money first.
    There was a possibility, he’d decided, that Skinner had invested in one of his companies—or a competitor’s. Perhaps he’d lost a substantial amount of money. Men had hated men for less.
    And financially Skinner had taken a beating during his run for Congress. It had left him nearly broke as well as humiliated.
    “Roarke.”
    “Hmm.” He held up a finger to hold Eve off as she came into the room. “Communications,” he said. “I have an interest in the Atlanta media sources, and they were very unkind to Skinner during his congressional attempt. This would have weighed heavily against his chances of winning. Media Network Link is mine outright, and they were downright vicious. Accurate, but vicious. Added to that, he’s invested fairly heavily in Corday Electronics, based in Atlanta. My own company has eroded their profits and customer base steadily for the last four years. I really should finish them off with a takeover,” he added as an afterthought.
    “Roarke.”
    “Yes?” He reached around absently to take her hand as he continued to scroll data.
    “It goes deeper than politics and stock options. Twenty-three years ago illegal arms dealers set up a base in Atlanta, and Skinner headed up the special unit formed to take them down. They had a weasel on the inside, and solid information. But when they moved in, it was a trap. Weasels