Page 44 of Paranoia

As Rob stepped into the dining room with me, I said, “Anything new?”

“There was a double homicide in East Harlem last night. A drug dealer and his girlfriend. I talked to Terri, who said she was monitoring it but thought it was probably a domestic or some kind of love triangle because of the woman. She’s letting the local precinct detectives handle it. I told her I’d pass the info on to you.”

“I’ll look into it at the office in the morning.” I glanced into the living room, where Mariah was chatting with Seamus. She had a little crowd around her like she was a celebrity.

I said, “Where did you meet Mariah? At a photo shoot?”

“Ha. Is that your way of saying you think she’s out of my league?”

To be honest, that wasexactlywhat I was thinking.

CHAPTER 64

KEVIN DOYLE SAT in the dark. He could hear all kinds of sounds in the empty apartment. People talking in the hallway. Kids running in the apartment upstairs. A rat or something in the wall. He thought of it as a tiny little universe of its own. That was just one of the games he played to keep his mind alert and stay engaged.

He had slipped into Oscar Tass’s apartment just after dark. He knew the drug dealer was out, a few blocks away with his gang. They were probably discussing what had happened to Carlos Rios the night before. Doyle had decided to come deal with Tass in his apartment. He tried to clear his head as he waited for Tass to return.

Doyle carried his Beretta as well as a garrote with strong nylon rope and a folding knife with a half-serrated four-inch blade. He was prepared for hiccups in his plan. That’s why heeven carried an extra magazine of 9mm bullets. But his preference was to do this silently.

Doyle had never dreamed he’d be waiting so long. It had been hours and was now full-on evening. The hallway noises had calmed down and he figured most of the residents were eating dinner. Something he missed from his childhood: Sunday dinners with the whole family. Sometimes even his cousins would come over to their house in Brooklyn. His sisters would try to be included in the older boys’ games. Good times. At least a lot better than sitting in a dark apartment that stunk of marijuana.

He leaned forward in the chair he was lounging on when he heard a noise. A heavy footstep on the stairwell two doors down. Then he heard a man’s voice. This was it. Doyle quietly stood up from the chair and retrieved his garrote from his jacket pocket. He went over his plan in his head. As soon as Oscar Tass stepped into the apartment and shut the door, Doyle would step from the shadows and loop the garrote over his head, then pull him to the floor as he choked him.

Doyle had loosened the light bulb that came on with the switch next to the door. They’d be in complete darkness. It would take under two minutes. No one would notice anything for a day or two. Then Tass would start to stink. Someone would call the cops. By then it’d be a stale homicide.

Doyle flexed his hands and gripped the handles of his garrote. A key slipped into the door. Then there was a pause. Doyle heard Tass say something.

Then a woman’s voice answered with a laugh.

Shit.

The target was not alone.

CHAPTER 65

THE KIDS GAVE Mariah a little space. My grandfather was almost as taken with the striking paramedic as my boys were. Why not? She was engaging and bright. Mary Catherine got her introduction over FaceTime, via an iPad linked to Mary Catherine’s phone in the master bedroom. Mary Catherine held off on her usual grilling of a visitor. The FaceTime showed only her face. Earlier, she had seemed touchy about having a guest come see her in the bedroom. I understood. Everyone wants to be seen at their best.

Fiona stepped into the living room and announced that dinner was served. I smiled at her attempt to lower the pitch of her voice and sound formal. When I looked toward the dining table, I was shocked. Somehow, while we chatted only a room away, Bridget, Fiona, and Trent had managed to set a beautiful table. There were plates, two glasses, and the correct silverware at eachseat except two. The iPad sat on the table so Mary Catherine and Juliana could eat with us. Juliana had insisted that Mary Catherine not be left alone for a family dinner.

Rob Trilling sat to my right with Mariah next to him. I leaned in close and asked, “Does Mariah know about your roommates?”

He turned to me and whispered, “No.”

“She going to find out anytime soon?”

He just shrugged.

Then Ricky stepped out of the kitchen dressed in a chef’s uniform, including hat and white jacket.

I blurted out, “Where’d you get that outfit?”

Ricky said, “Juliana got it from the prop department of the playhouse where she’s working. She has to get it back tomorrow.” He motioned toward the kitchen. Trent and the twins marched out with serving bowls, set them on the table, and all three stayed in line as they went back for more.

Ricky made a show of uncovering each dish. The manicotti smelled divine. I realized he was mimicking what they did onRising Chefs. He was practicing.

Mariah asked him, “Did you make this all yourself?”

Ricky beamed. “Everything.”

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