Page 35 of NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority

“Shelley told us he was sitting in the park, smoking a cigar—”

“Oh, yeah, sure. Now I remember. It wasn’t even a pitch. He asked me what I was up to, and the real answer was not much, but when you get an audience with Shelley, you grab it. Theo and I had just been kicking around thishit-manconcept, so I threw it out there.”

“How did you come up with the idea?”

“I didn’t. It was all Theo’s. Five guys, ablack-opsteam doing wet work for the government right afterNine-Eleven. Uncle Sam pulls the plug on the unit, so these dudes set up shop on their own. The idea was stillhalf-bakedwhen I told it to Shelley, so I wasn’t surprised when he gave me a quick pass.”

“Who else did you pitch it to?” I asked.

“Nobody. I told Theo about my conversation with Shelley. I also told him that I doubt if any studio is going to put up money for a series about a bunch of old farts on Medicare, and you know what he says? ‘I’ve got two words for you, Dad.Downton Abbey.’”

“One more question,” Kylie said, easing into rougher waters. “Do you know if Theo’s idea ever worked its way to the Hellman brothers?”

“The Hellman brothers?” Travis said, putting it all together. “Oh my God. Is that what this is about? Do you think my son had anything to do with those murders?”

“Don’t freak out, Papa Bear,” Kylie said. “Zach and I are working the case. We’re interviewing anybody and everybody who came into contact with those two. If they bought coffee at a Starbucks, we’re going to question the baristas. This is not like an episode ofK-Macwhere she solves a double homicide inforty-threeminutes. In real life, we spend sixteen hours a day looking under every rock. It’s boring, it’s tedious, and usually, it’s unproductive.”

“And am I under one of your rocks because I pitched Shelley an idea about a gang of geriatric hired killers?”

“No. But he told us he suggested you take it to the Hellmans. Did you pitch it to them or anyone in their organization?”

“Me? Absolutely not. I have no idea if Theo did. He’s a pretty resourceful kid. Is he in any trouble if he did?”

“Travis,” I said. “You’re about to go to the other side of the world. If we thought your son needed you here, we would tell you not to get on the plane.”

Travis’s face softened. “You’re not just saying that, are you?”

“My partner might,” I said. “But I’m the true paragon of virtue in this relationship.”

He let out an audible sigh. “Thanks.”

“Now, how do we get ahold of Theo?” I said.

“He’s off in Jersey shooting a little indie production, which is being funded by his biggest fan—his grandpa Claude. Let me give Theo a call and get the exact location. I’m sure he’ll be psyched to talk to you. He loves crime shit.”

“Well, then, we won’t disappoint him,” I said. “We’re up to our necks in crime shit.”

“I can’t believe little Theo is eighteen,” Kylie said. “The last time I saw him, he was what—ten?”

Travis laughed. “Then you definitely won’t recognize him.LittleTheo is now six foot two, rides around on an old Triumph Bonneville motorcycle, and is totally his own man, which is why I didn’t think twice about taking a job ten thousand miles away from home. Let me show you a picture.”

He tapped the photo app on his phone. “This is one of the two of us. We took it last night,” he said, handing it to me.

Theo had expressive blue eyes, thick tousled brown hair, and a mischievous smile. It was a sweet picture of agood-lookingyoung man and his proud pop. But one thing stood out. Theo was white. Travis was Black.

“Spitting image of his dad,” I said, holding the photo up to Kylie so she could take a quick look as she navigated the traffic on Eleventh Avenue.

Travis laughed. “I guess you figured out that I’m not Theo’s biological father.”

“I’m a cop,” I said. “You can’t slip these things past me.”

Another laugh. “His mom was pregnant when I met her. We fell in love and got married when Theo was two months old, and I’ve raised him like he was my own. I’m not his birth father, but I’m the only dad he’s ever known.”

“Do you happen to know if he told his mom anything about the story idea?”

Travis shook his head. “She died when he was six years old. It’s just been me and him ever since. I didn’t even start dating till Theo was fifteen. That’s when I met Brianna. The two of them get along great. Last night, I told him that one day she might become his stepmother, and he said, ‘What’s taking you so long?’”

“He sounds like a terrific kid,” I said.

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