Second Honeymoon

Chapter 102

“DON’T DO IT,” said Harris. “Don’t go inside. That’s a terrible idea.” He pointed to the two alleyways on either side of Saint Alexander’s, which separated it from the adjoining brownstones. “There’s got to be a couple of other ways to get in there without her knowing. We can have a SWAT team here in less than ten minutes.”

“What if we don’t have ten minutes?” said Sarah. “I don’t think we do.”

“She’s already murdered over a dozen people and is now wearing a wedding dress, waving a gun around,” I said.

That all but put an end to Harris trying to talk me out of it. “What about you?” I asked Sarah. “Are you in?”

She removed her Glock from her holster and wedged it into her slacks behind her back.

“At least let’s check the perimeter for other ways in,” said Harris, resigned. “Just in case.”

Two teams of four dispersed right and left around the church. In less than a minute we heard back from both.

“Side door, unlocked,” whispered one cop through Harris’s radio.

“Basement door, down a set of stairs,” whispered another. “Also unlocked.”

Harris looked at me again. “Change your mind?”

“Sorry.”

Harris radioed back to both teams. I couldn’t help noticing that his whisper was one part quiet and three parts pissed off.

“Stay put,” he told them. “Go in when you hear shots.”

He turned around, barking at the remaining cops to push the crowd of onlookers farther back. Down the block I could see the first news van arrive. Within minutes there’d be a lot more.

“You ready?” asked Sarah.

I nodded.

“For the record, the two of you are nuts,” said Harris.

“Hey, it could be worse,” I said.

“How so?” he asked.

“She could’ve asked for all three of us.”

I gave him a slap on the arm and climbed the last remaining steps up to the church with Sarah. We stopped in front of the doors.

“Are you religious?” I asked.

“Lutheran,” she answered. “What about you?”

“Lapsed Catholic. I was an altar boy growing up, though,” I said. “That’s got to count for something, right?”

We both drew our guns.

“Let’s go find out,” she said.