Page 24 of Crosshairs

CHAPTER 30

TRILLING AND I turned the prisoner and the pistol over to detectives from the local precinct. The Narcotics guys couldn’t believe they had just made a seizure of sixteen kilograms of heroin right at the edge of the Bronx.

For as much noise and damage as we’d caused inside the warehouse, it had had no effect whatsoever outside the four walls. No one had heard the gunshots or the deafening sound of the shelves crashing, or had seen anything unusual.

That was exactly why William Hackford had rented this place. There was no one around to see or hear anything. God knows how much heroin had run through it in the eight months Hackford had leased it.

I looked over at Trilling, who was trying to comfort the five women who’d been working with the heroin. They were all Pakistani and had been smuggled into the US by associates ofHackford. The women looked amazed that a police officer could be so friendly.

I’d learned that three of them spoke broken English and two could understand basic phrases. They all seemed to be in their twenties. I noticed they all had pronounced forearms, which I assumed had something to do with the work they had been completing every day for the last eight months.

Our suspect was already off the premises. When Trilling brought him out of the rubble of the shelves, I handcuffed the man. Then I said, “NYPD, you’re under arrest.” I read him his rights immediately and then told him, “You get extra credit if you cooperate with us right now.”

The smirk he gave was all I needed. I’d never talk to this asshole again. I didn’t care if he had evidence that would bring down the Gambino crime family. That one look told me he assumed he’d be getting out quickly. That someone was going to come up with a boatload of money to get him out on bond, then out of the country. At least that’s how I took it.

Some Homeland Security agents showed up for the women. Trilling intercepted them and said, “None of these women are under arrest. They were here under duress.”

A tall Black agent, about forty, nodded and said, “That’s how I understood it when we got the call.”

“So you won’t treat them like prisoners?”

“Technically, they’re not free to go, so theyareprisoners.”

That seemed to get to Trilling. He looked at me and wiped his face with his bare hand.

Trilling said, “Where will you house them?”

“What are you, writing a book?” The agent turned to his partner and said, “How long till the van gets here?”

Trilling looked like he was getting desperate. “Do they get to see a judge?”

“They sure do. Depends on the roster, but probably not tomorrow—maybe the next morning, first thing, at the annex near the federal building where they hold immigration hearings. The hearings are open to the public.”

Trilling rushed back to the women and explained what was going on and that everything would be okay.

Not only did I appreciate that my new partner had saved my life but I also appreciated how he was dealing with these poor women.

Maybe it was time toshowmy appreciation for his talents and attitude.

CHAPTER 31

IT TOOK SOME effort to convince Rob Trilling to come to my apartment for dinner. I had to assure him several times that it would be no bother for anyone in the family. He still seemed unsure, so I told him to do it as a favor to me. Not that he owed me any favors. In fact, he had just kept me from catching a 9mm slug in the head. If anyone owed favors, it was me.

We had a brief conversation before reaching the apartment. I told him, “I’ve got sort of a big family. Just to let you know.”

“Walter said you had a lot of kids.”

I smiled. “No specific number?”

“Nope.”

“Good. Care to make a guess?”

As always, Rob Trilling looked thoughtful before he answered. Then he said, “Six?”

“Not a bad guess.” I didn’t commit to anything besides that. Idon’t often get the chance, but I love to surprise people with the sheer size of my immediate family.

On the way to the apartment, Trilling insisted we stop so he could buy flowers for Mary Catherine and a bottle of wine. He took my suggestion and picked up a bottle of Wirra Wirra Catapult shiraz. Seamus loved the Australian wine, and it wouldn’t break Trilling financially.