“I’ve got an idea,” Vail said.
“There are regional task forces—Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, this one, the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Force, and so on. We apprehend the most violent and dangerous fugitives in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Like I said, we work with federal, state, and local law enforcement.”
“Even though you prefer not to,” she said.
“Even though. Yeah.” He gestured to a map mounted on the wall. “Districts can have their own local task forces, too. So the Marshals Service in the District of Arizona has warrant squads in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma that track fugitives in their area.” He turned back to them. “Overall, there are about sixty local fugitive task forces. Most are full-time. Why? Because we’ve got a lot of bandits out there tryin’ to avoid doing their time.”
“You know about the officer’s murder, I take it?” Vail asked.
“What officer?”
“The one who was watching Jasmine Marcks’s house.”
Hurdle ground his jaw. “No.” He checked his watch. “When did this happen? And what—”
“Curtis and I are headed over there now. Want to tag along?”
Hurdle cursed under his breath, turned to a man behind him and issued some orders, then grabbed his coat and followed Vail out the door.
THEY ARRIVED TO FIND CRIME SCENE TAPE encircling the entire block where Jasmine lived. Police cruisers blocked the entrance to the street and personnel milled about, mouth vapor offering proof of the chilly temperature. A police helicopter buzzed by overhead.
Vail and Curtis pulled up seconds before a car driven by Hurdle. They got out and walked along the asphalt to the vacant police department sedan. Its door was open and a crime scene technician was kneeling, dusting for prints.
“I don’t see no blood,” Curtis said.
“That’s ’cause he wasn’t killed here,” the man said. “In a planter, up the block.”
“Karen!”
Vail turned and saw Leslie Johnson—her former partner from when they were rookies with the NYPD. What the—
“You lookin’ good. Robby been treating you well, looks like.” She advanced on Vail and threw her arms around her, dreadlocks swinging into Vail’s face.
“What are you doing here? How come you didn’t call me? We would’ve had you over for dinner.”
Johnson pulled back. “Lots has happened. Shit with the department went down. So I moved here, got a gig with the PD. Yesterday was my first day on the job. Took a big pay cut, busted down to a detective again, but all—”
“Wait,” Vail said. She glanced at Curtis, who was observing this with a modestly open mouth. “You’re Curtis’s new partner?”
“You two know each other?” Curtis asked.
“I knew they gave you that detective’s shield for a reason,” Vail said with a shake of her head. “Must’ve been the hug. Or when I asked why she didn’t call me.” She turned back to Johnson. “Why didn’t you call me?”
Johnson shrugged. “Things didn’t end good in New York. My mom’s out here in Silver Spring, so I put in some applications. Fairfax County had an opening. Only been here a few days. Wasn’t kidding, yesterday was my first day.”
“I wanna hear all about New York,” Vail said.
“Makes two of us. Including what went wrong.” Curtis lifted his brow. When Vail glowered at him, he added, “Hey, that was your idea half an hour ago.”
“Later,” Vail said. “We’ve got a murder that needs our attention. We’ll catch up. Dinner or lunch or something.”
Curtis gazed skyward at a police helicopter that was circling overhead. “So what’s the deal here?”
“What happened to Hurdle?” Vail rotated her neck, scanning the area for the marshal. She did not see him, so she faced Johnson.
Johnson pointed toward the house. “Woman who lives here, Jasmine Marcks, woke up this morning and looked out her window at 7:55 AM and saw the officer out there in his car.”
“Where is Jasmine?” Vail asked.
“Don’t know. Not here. I was able to reach her by phone. She refused to disclose her location. But she gave me an accounting of what happened. Got her number if you want it.”
“We have it.”
“We’re gonna need to meet with her,” Johnson said. “I told her—”
“Got it covered,” Curtis said. “I’m sure it won’t be a problem. Go on.”