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“There’s some scrapes near the keyhole,” Arturo said, nodding. “Someone was definitely messing with it.”
“Then I saw the knob turn,” Holly said, “and I knew it was Roger. That’s when I ran into the bedroom and called you. I can’t take this anymore. I’m going to my sister’s in Maryland for a few days—maybe longer, who knows? My nerves are shot.”
“You see anyone?” I said to Arturo and Brooklyn.
“We just missed him,” Brooklyn said. “We were the first ones here, and when we were coming up the stairs, we heard running footsteps and then the alarm on the roof door went off. I went up there and looked around, but all the roofs on this entire block are connected, with plenty of fire escapes to get down to the street.”
“See, he’s still out there,” Holly said. “I need to get out of here before this man kills me.”
“We’re going to find him, Holly, OK?” I said. “We’re getting closer. We just missed him this time.”
“And he just missed me, too. I need to get to the train station. Please, someone help me catch my train.”
CHAPTER 51
BACK DOWNSTAIRS ON THE sidewalk, we watched Holly drive off in a cruiser with a couple of uniforms for Penn Station. I was glad to see her go. She was smart to get out of town for a while. This nut, Roger, who was stalking her wasn’t just slippery, I thought, scanning the benches and trees of Morningside Park across the street. He truly seemed quite determined to do her some harm.
“So, Mike, you want to tell them the big news or shall I?” Doyle said glumly.
“What news?” said Arturo.
“Well, it seems like the powers that be are transferring me to a different squad,” I said sheepishly.
“What?” said Arturo in dismay. “But you just got here! And we’re actually starting to make this team work for once, really starting to help the people in this community.”
“Where are you going?” Brooklyn said.
“Back down to One Police Plaza. My old squad. Major Crimes,” I said.
“They want him on that diamond heist that happened out in Brooklyn,” Doyle said.
“Oh, I see,” Brooklyn said. “The real powers that be in the city, i.e., the rich and fabulous, need the department’s top DT to watch their family jewels. Meanwhile, the Hollys of the world are off fending for themselves, running for their lives.”
As with Doyle, I couldn’t blame Arturo and Brooklyn for being pissed. In the brief time I’d spent with these misfit young cops, we’d already developed some pretty special chemistry, become a pretty effective, tight-knit team.
“And what about Chast’s murder?” Arturo said. “You said we’re the ones who need to find her killer, that she was one of ours. You think
some new guy coming in is going to let us continue her investigation?”
“Well, being back to Major Crimes is actually good news on that front,” I argued. “I’ll be able to facilitate any new information or leads between you guys and the Major Crimes Division detectives who caught the case.”
They didn’t seem like they were buying it. They stood there staring at me, sour and upset. I stared back, not knowing what to say. Though I wanted my desk back at Major Crimes more than anything, in the end my Catholic guilt got the best of me. What else was new?
“Fine, you win. OK. Let me make a phone call,” I said as I headed for my cruiser.
“To who?” Brooklyn said.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “Just keep your eyes peeled for Roger Dodger, you pains-in-my-butt.”
Miriam answered the phone as I sat down behind the wheel.
“Hey, Miriam. It’s Mike. Quick question. Is there any way you can delay the new ombudsman unit supervisor, say, a week?”
“Why? What’s up?”
“I still have a couple of cases outstanding up here that I’d like to get a crack at closing before I leave.”
“Does this mean you want off the diamond heist?”
