Page 62 of NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority

The video froze just as Winstanley lifted his head to the sky.

“I will spare you the poor man’s horrifying final moments,” Megan said as the camera judiciously cut back to her. “But I will not spare you my frustration as a journalist. I have done my best to get more information from the police. I’m not asking them for critical details, which I understand should be kept under wraps. All I want from the NYPD is a progress report—something that will reassure my viewers that this investigation is in capable hands. But I have been stonewalled at every turn.

“Not only are the police refusing to give me any answers, they have made it clear that they don’t even want me asking anyquestions.”

A picture of Kylie appeared on the screen behind Megan.

“Oh, fuck,” Kylie breathed over the phone.

“This is NYPD Red Detective Kylie MacDonald,” Megan said. “What you are about to hear is an audio clip of Detective MacDonald doing her best to stop me in my quest for the truth.”

Kylie’s voice came on the air. As she spoke, her words were superimposed across the screen. “Megan, the best place for you to go is home.”

Megan looked thunderstruck, as if she were just hearing it for the first time. And just in case once wasn’t damning enough, Kylie’s voice came back again, this time on a loop.

Megan, the best place for you to go is home. Megan, the best place for you to go is home. Megan, the best place for you to go ishome.

Megan pointed an accusatory finger at the camera. “I willnotgo home, Detective MacDonald. You will not suppress the First Amendment. You can try to shut me up, but you can’t silence our viewers.”

“I don’t believe this,” Kylie said in my ear.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I need your support,” Megan said, leaning in. “If you’ve been living in fear these past two days because you have no idea where these serial assassins will strike next, I want you to reach out to the mayor and the police commissioner. Their emails and phone numbers are on the screen. Let them know that Megan Rollins has questions. And the people want answers. Thank you, be safe, and have a good night.”

She stared defiantly into the camera. Her audience would see her as the resolute reporter determined to bring them the news. But I knew better. That look was meant for Kylie and me, and the message was loud and clear.

This is what you get when you fuck with Megan Rollins.

CHAPTER 41

Less than three minutesafter Megan went off the air, Kylie, Cates, and I got a text from the police commissioner.

Nothing changes. You’re my team. Rollins has a job to do, and she’s doing it with a vengeance. Don’t let her get in your face. And don’t waste your time getting in hers.

“I guess that last part was directed at me,” Kylie said.

“Don’t think about it,” I said. “Just focus on the first part. The PC trusts us, and he has our backs.”

“So then all we have to do now is track down a couple of professional killers.”

“But we have a better shot now than we did ten minutes ago,” I said. “Rich called. He may have struck gold.” I filled her in on my conversation with Koprowski.

“What do you think is in the envelope Sheffield left Theo?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but whatever it is, it was too sensitive to leave in his room where anyone could find it, so he turned it over to his lawyer. We can’t get to it for another day and a half, but I’m hoping the pictures and papers he kept in the ammo box will help us track down Barbara and Carol.”

“Barbara and Carol,” she repeated. “It’s a little weird using theirblack-opsnames, but I guess it’s better than ‘the knife guy and the sniper.’”

“How’s Shane?” I asked.

“Like a caged leopard. He says he’s happy to see me, but I think he’d be happier if I were aneight-burnergas range. He’s running a fever, and Dr. Lu won’t release him from the hospital till his temperature goes down. And even then, she said the restaurant is off limits for two weeks to give the wound time to heal.”

“And he’s okay with that?”

“No. He cut a deal with her. He’ll stay out of the restaurant, but he’s cooking dinner for the four of us the first night he’s back at his apartment.”

“That’s a deal I can live with,” I said. “But make it dinner for five. I want to keep Theo on a short leash.”

“Absolutely. How’s he doing?”

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