Page 52 of Crosshairs

“Are you judging that from range scores on his training sheets?”

“No. He showed me at a range in West Point.” I told him the story.

Wu said, “You went on a tourist trip to West Point during work hours? Why would you waste time like that during a serial killer investigation?”

“I wanted to see what went into setting up a long-distance shot. Trilling knew someone at the academy. We had access to a convenient long-distance range. I didn’t consider it a waste of time. I consider talking toyoua waste of time.”

Wu smiled. “That statement makes me question your judgment about what is, or is not, pertinent to this investigation. Do we need to replace you with a competent detective?”

Harry Grissom stepped in at that point. “I make those decisions, Sergeant. Don’t make threats to officers under my command. Not now and not in the future. Especially to a senior detective who’s done more in the last year then you’ve done in your whole career.”

All Wu said was “Duly noted, Lieutenant.”

Dennis Wu made a few notes in a leather-bound pad. Hegathered his thoughts and basically acted like Harry and I weren’t in the cramped office with him. Then he looked directly at me and said, “I’m going to need you in the interview for your knowledge of the sniper case. Will you be able to help or is this too personal?”

That stung a little bit. It sounded a lot like what I’d said to Trilling after Gus Querva was shot. Then I thought of Juliana. What was her relationship with Trilling? I looked at Wu and nodded. I didn’t trust myself to speak.

Wu said, “Command staff wants this done today. No delays, no excuses. We’re not NASA. We go on time.” He looked at Harry.

Harry knew what the look meant and said, “I texted Trilling to come back to the office. He should be here any minute.”

I was still standing by the door inside Harry’s office. Wu sat in the spare chair. We just stared at each other for a moment. Then I gave the IA sergeant a little smile. There’s nothing more insulting than a smile during a disrespect contest.

Harry didn’t even know he was breaking up anything when he said, “Trilling just walked in.”

Wu asked Harry if we could use his office for the interview.

Harry said, “I think I should be here.”

Wu shook his head. “We might need you to take action if things go bad. It’s best if you wait in the squad bay.”

I thought it was best if Harry was in the other room to block inquiries from command staff. My stomach tightened when I saw Trilling walk toward Harry. Trilling was actually smiling for a change. That made it worse.

Harry said, “This is Sergeant Wu from Internal Affairs.”

The smile dropped off Trilling’s face. He looked over at me like a kid who’d just gotten dress shoes for Christmas. He suddenly realized that I really did suspect he was the sniper.

CHAPTER 63

I WATCHED ROB TRILLING’S every movement. It was the first time I’d seen him unnerved in any way. Who wouldn’t be? Even a relative newcomer like Trilling had heard of Dennis Wu. He realized this was serious and didn’t know what to do. I’d be in the same boat.

The Internal Affairs sergeant was polite and offered Trilling a hard wooden chair in front of the desk. Wu grabbed a plastic chair from just outside Harry’s office and sat across from Trilling. That left me with the chair behind the desk. It was Wu’s way of telling me I was only there to provide information, not to participate in the interview.

As soon as he closed the door, Wu turned to Trilling and said, “You have the right to remain silent.”

Trilling stiffened in the chair and blurted out, “Am I under arrest?”

Wu didn’t change his polite demeanor. He said, “No, you are not. I just like to be thorough and careful.”

I knew that was bullshit. It was an old IA tactic to read Miranda rights at the beginning of an interview. Even if no one was in custody. It tended to scare people and knock them off balance.

When Wu was done reading the Miranda rights, Trilling said, “What’s this about?”

Trilling looked at me, but Wu answered. “What do youthinkit’s about?”

Trilling didn’t say a word. I was used to the new partner’s silence, but I wondered how Wu would react. He waited it out a lot longer than I thought he would. Finally Wu said, “The sniper investigation. I’d say you have some explaining to do.”

Trilling turned again to face me. He still didn’t say a word. His expression said it all.

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