Reckless Abandon

52

HOLLY, STONE, AND Dino trooped disconsolately down the stairs and out into the street, still wearing their body armor. As they hit the sidewalk a television van pulled into the block, and a reporter sprinted toward Dino.

“Lieutenant Bacchetti!” she was hollering. “Give us a minute?”

Dino stopped. “What can I do for you?”

“What just went down here?”

“Call information services, they’ll give you a statement.”

“Yeah, sure,” the woman said.

“Why don’t you talk to Chief Holly Barker of the Orchid Beach Police Department?” he suggested, grabbing Holly’s arm and dragging her forward.

“Chief Barker?” the woman said. “Who did you arrest here?”

“I’m afraid we didn’t arrest anybody,” she said. “I’m in New York with a fugitive warrant for one Trini Rodriguez. We entered this building with the help of the NYPD, believing him to be here, but he apparently had a well-planned escape route, and we missed him.”

“Isn’t that the man wanted for killing an FBI agent and wounding another?”

“Yes, it is, but I want him for a dozen murders committed in the state of Florida.”

“We interviewed Special Agent Grant Harrison from the FBI’s Miami office less than an hour ago, and he’s posted a one-hundred-thousand-dollar reward for Rodriguez. If he’s caught, who gets him?”

“I suppose that depends on who catches him,” Holly said.

“If you catch him, are you going to hand him over to the FBI?”

“If I catch him, I’m going to take him back to Florida and see him tried.”

“What about the FBI?”

“What about them?”

“Don’t they have precedence?”

“Says who?”

“Says Agent Harrison.”

“Well, he would, wouldn’t he? Excuse me.” She went to the van where Stone was waiting and stripped off her equipment. “Let’s get out of here.”

When they arrived at Stone’s house, he switched on the TV and saw Holly’s interview on the all-news channel.

“You did very well,” Stone said.

“Hang on,” Holly said, “here comes Grant.”

“In an interview five minutes ago, Special Agent Grant Harrison of the FBI’s Miami office disagreed with Chief Barker,” the anchorman was saying.

“Chief Barker apparently doesn’t understand procedure in this case,” Grant said. “The FBI will take custody of Mr. Rodriguez when he’s caught, and he’ll be tried in federal court for the murder of a federal agent and the attempted murder of another.”

“But the NYPD has an all-points bulletin out for this man right now,” the reporter said. “Do you think they’ll give him up if they capture him?”

“We’ve already seen an example of how the local department works,” Grant said. “They made an attempt to arrest Mr. Rodriguez today. They failed, and now he’s at large again. They should have left this to us.”

“We understand that it was Chief Barker and the NYPD who tracked Mr. Rodriguez to the East Side address,” the reporter said. “Did the FBI know his whereabouts?”

“That’s all I have to say at this time,” Grant said. “We’re offering a one-hundred-thousand-dollar reward for information leading to the arrest of Trini Rodriguez.”

The anchorman came on-screen again with a photograph of Trini.

“The reward is going to do it,” Holly said. “Somebody will turn him in to the FBI for the money, and I’ll be back where I started when I came to New York.”

“They seem to have overlooked the fact that the NYPD arrested half a dozen terrorist suspects and killed one in the raid,” Stone said. “That must have pissed off Grant.”

“I want a nap,” Holly said.

“We’re having dinner with Dino,” Stone said. “I’ll wake you in time.”

They arrived at Elaine’s to find Dino already sitting with Lance Cabot.

“Good evening,” Lance said.

“Hi,” Holly managed.

Stone and Lance shook hands.

“I was just congratulating Dino on bagging four men who are at the top of our most-wanted list,” Lance said, “and two others who would have been, eventually.”

“Yeah, a lot of good it did us with the press,” Dino said.

“Dino,” Stone said, “you had an opportunity to tell the TV people about the arrests today. Why didn’t you?”

“I hate talking to those people,” Dino said.

“That’s why you’re not the chief of detectives,” Stone replied.

“I wouldn’t have the job. I’d never see my wife and kid.”

“You never see them now,” Stone pointed out.

“What do you mean? I’m home for dinner almost every night.”

“You’re in here almost every night,” Stone said.

“Hey, fellas,” Holly interjected, “can we have a drink in peace?”

“Don’t worry,” Lance said. “You’ll bag Trini. He’s running out of places to hide, and his picture is all over TV.”

“Can you help?” Holly asked.

“I’ve got a few ears to the ground.”

They ordered drinks, and they had hardly arrived when Herbie Fisher appeared at their table, like an imp from a magic lantern.

“Hey, everybody,” Herbie said brightly. “Hey, Stone, Holly, Lance, Dino.”

“It’s Lieutenant Bacchetti to you,” Dino said.

“Can I have a drink?”

“No,” Stone said. “Go away.”

“But I’ve got some information for you,” Herbie said, sounding hurt.

“Shoot him, Dino,” Stone said.

“I want the reward,” Herbie protested.

“Then go see the FBI,” Dino said. “It’s their reward.”

“But don’t you want Trini Rodriguez?”

“Herbie,” Dino said, “if you don’t get out of here, I’m going to call a patrol car and have you arrested.”

“For what?”

“For annoying the police.”

“Then maybe you better take a look at this,” Herbie said. He tossed a five-by-seven photograph on the table.

Lance picked it up. “Where did you get this?”

“I processed it.”

Holly looked at the photograph. “It’s Trini.”

“Where did this come from?” Stone asked, looking at the picture.

“A guy brought two rolls of film into the store this afternoon. This negative was on one of them.”

“Who was the guy?”

“I have his name and address,” Herbie said slyly, rubbing his fingers together in a fashion indicating he wanted money.

“You still want me to shoot him, Stone?”

“Not until he gives us the name and address,” Stone replied.

“So, do I get the reward?”

Stone clapped him on the back. “Sit down, Herbie, and have a drink. Good to see you.”