Play To Kill

Chapter Thirty-six

The media ranks had swelled in the past few hours, vans filling the streets, photogs and reporters milling on the sidewalks and front steps of City Hall. They were all hooked into Dispatch, Magozzi knew, and all had heard that the possible perpetrators of the box fiasco were being brought in. That had been the plan.

Gino looked up at the windows and saw faces at almost every one, watching what was going down. 'This is about as big as it gets, Leo,' he said. We're going to be all over the news.'

'Let's hope it works.'

'It's not going to work. We'll haul these kids off to Federal prison in front of the cameras and a million idiots out there will still think they could do what they did and not get caught. We'll be chasing this tail for years to come. What a rush, closing down a city and getting the attention of the world. Look at this. In less than a week we've got murders on film and a fake terrorist attack, and maybe neither one of those things would have happened without the Internet. Goddamn Web is escalating everything, just like Chelsea said. Somebody's gotta get a handle on this, 'cause there's no going back.'

Officer Haig led Clark up the stairs to City Hall, pausing every few steps, supposedly to look for the men behind him, but actually giving prime shots to all the cameras flashing behind him.

Gino and Magozzi, flanking Kyle on their way up the steps, were forced to stop whenever Officer Haig stopped, and the media cashed in on film of the terrified boys that the satellites sent around the county and the world.

'Jeez, Leo,' Gino said when the hard lights hit his face, 'what happened to Haig's hair?'

Magozzi was trying to look professional and a little mean. A really good-looking woman with BBC all over her microphone was in his face, asking if these were the two perpetrators who had engineered and planted the boxes that had had the world holding its breath all day. 'No comment,' he said, pushing past her gently while dozens of other voices yelled out questions. He leaned toward Gino and whispered, 'I told him to comb his hair, and believe it or not, he pulled a comb out of his back pocket. Looked like Fonzie next to the jukebox, sweeping back the strands, getting ready for the girls.'

'He's pushing sixty, Leo. He's no Fonzie.'

John was trailing behind a few steps. Even in this media age, the Bureau still clutched at the threads of dignity from times past, avoiding the limelight. Hungry reporters and camera operators looked at him curiously, wondering if he was a person of importance, then turned away as if he were an unknown escort on the red carpet, not worth the film.

City Hall was blessedly quiet when they finally managed to get their prisoners inside, but behind closed doors, you could hear the muffled sounds of celebration. A lot of off-duty cops had stuck around after their shifts to revel in the happy ending to a nightmare day, clap each others' backs like the warriors they were, and get the latest gossip.

'We're going to have to give the Chief a couple minutes, John,' Magozzi said. 'Will you and Haig take the prisoners down to a holding cell?'

'My pleasure.'

McLaren ran into them in the hallway on the way to the Chief's office. 'Swe-eet,' he greeted them. 'Well done, guys.'

Gino always tried hard to play the curmudgeon, but nobody could ever accuse him of being unfair or ungracious. He reliably gave credit where credit was due, and today was no exception. 'Are you kidding me, McLaren? We were just your delivery boys. You had the sharp eye, Monkeewrench had the brains, and we had the courage to go bust a couple Clearasil geniuses who puked the minute they saw a cop. Kind of like The Wizard of Oz.'

'Man, I wish I'd been there. Did they really puke?'

Gino smiled. Yes, they did puke, and oh, it was pretty, my friend. A sight to behold. Normally, you don't want to see recycled candy bars and nachos, but this was very satisfying'

McLaren gave them both high fives. 'Cool. Well, I'm outta here. Just wanted to stick around long enough to give you props.'

'Likewise,' Magozzi said. You want to catch a beer with us later?'

His pale face turned slightly pink, and then he grinned. 'Sorry, guys, but I've got a real cutie lined up for dinner.'

Gino nodded his approval. 'No shit? Way to go, dude.'

Johnny's grin got bigger. 'JDate rocks.'

'I hope like hell you told her you were a Belfast Catholic before you agreed to meet her.'

'I know her story, she knows mine. Everything's kosher.'

'Hey, at least you're working your way into the lingo. Best of luck, friend,' Gino said, meaning it.

'Thanks. And hey, speaking of cuties… there's a profiler from the FBI somewhere around here waiting for you. That's some hot property.'

'Chelsea Thomas,' Magozzi informed him.

McLaren's red brows lifted. 'Ah, so you know her. Lucky you. She's way outta my league.'

Gino shrugged. 'Oh, I don't know, McLaren. She might be the kind of woman who picks the ugliest Christmas tree on the lot or adopts the blind, one-legged puppy at the pound.'

'Rolseth, you are such an asshole. Anyhow, have a good night, guys, and wish me luck.'

Chelsea Thomas was waiting for them outside the Chief's office, and she did look hot… and different. She was dressed in a suit, but it wasn't a Fed suit. Magozzi was no fashionisto, but he knew really great, expensive clothes when he saw them - Annie Belinsky had schooled him in that.

'Detectives. Excellent work today.'

Her smile was infectious, and Magozzi and Gino both succumbed. 'Yep. Everybody did their part, and it turned out great.'

Yes, it did. You can't imagine how important this is as a deterrent. What kind of impression did you get from talking to them?'

Magozzi thought about that for a minute. 'Actually, they weren't the monsters I was expecting.'

'New kind of monster,' Gino said. 'Stupid little bastards with too much alone time and no sense of consequence who think they can get away with anything'

Chelsea nodded. 'Their brains aren't fully developed at that age. Actually, they're boys, so their brains never fully develop.' Her smile flashed again.

Magozzi's brows lifted. 'Wow. You're in a great mood.'

'Aren't you?'

'Absolutely. Want to grab a beer with us later?'

'I'd love to, but I have to get to the airport. The Director wants me on the morning talk-show circuit tomorrow to get as much publicity on this as possible. Save the interview tapes for me, will you? And congratulations again.'

Gino looked over at Magozzi. 'We're zero for two on the happy-hour buddies. I think we're stuck with each other.'

'I think we're going to be stuck here all night, anyway.'