Page 25 of Crosshairs

Once in the elevator to our apartment, Trilling turned to me with a very serious look on his face. “I’m sorry, I have to ask.”

“Ask what?”

“How do you live in a building like this? Does your family come from a lot of money?”

I laughed out loud at that. “The quick story is that my first wife, who died of cancer, inherited the apartment from an elderly man she used to take care of who had no other family. He loved her like she was a daughter. He even set up a trust to pay the taxes. Trust me, that’s crucial—my entire NYPD salary might not cover the taxes on this place.” Obviously the answer satisfied Trilling’s curiosity. I had to add, “Why, were you worried I was on the take?”

Trilling shook his head. “That never crossed my mind. Too many people have told me what a great cop you are. You don’t get a reputation like that if there was ever any suspicion about your honesty.”

It was the closest he’d ever come to giving me a compliment, so I took it with a satisfied smile.

When I finally opened the door to our apartment, the shock on Trilling’s face was priceless. Mary Catherine stood with nine of the kids, looking like they were in a receiving line for a wedding. Only Jane was missing, I assumed off working on her secretproject. My grandfather, wearing his tab-collar priest shirt, stood next to Mary Catherine, grinning.

Trilling introduced himself first to the crowd, then more formally to Mary Catherine. He just stared at everyone for a moment, trying to take it all in.

For her part, Mary Catherine almost swooned at the beautiful flowers and wine that my handsome young partner presented to her.

Trilling made it a point to shake hands with each of the children. I noticed Juliana lingered and chatted for a moment. She clearly approved of my new partner. Maybe I hadn’t realized Trilling wasn’t that much older than her.

It’s tough to think of your kids becoming adults right before your eyes. Juliana had been doing an internship at Holy Name for a sociology class she was taking at City College. It just felt like she was still at the family school.

Then Trilling found himself face-to-face with my grandfather. Seamus made a show out of sizing up Trilling. The young officer fixed his gaze on my grandfather’s collar.

Seamus grinned at the attention. He said, “Are you a man of faith, Rob?”

“Yes, sir. I even attended the first Methodist grade school in Bozeman.”

“So you’re not a Catholic?”

“No, sir.” Trilling paused and finally worked up the nerve to say, “I’m a little confused. If you’re Detec … I mean Mike’s grandfather, how can you be a Catholic priest?”

I waited for the answer, hoping Seamus didn’t lay it on too thick. I was still cultivating this shy young man. Maybe bringing him here to the entire brood was a mistake. My family is a lot to take in.

My grandfather smiled, clapped Trilling on the shoulder, and said, “I entered the priesthood quite late in life.”

“May I ask what you did first?”

“I owned a bar.”

“Really?”

Seamus put on a serious face, placed his right hand in the air, and said, “Swear to God.”

Both men started to laugh at that.

CHAPTER 32

WE WAITED FOR Jane, who burst through the door just as Ricky’s pot roast was ready to come out of the oven. Ricky has a talent for mixing cheap red wine, onion soup mix, and Campbell’s mushroom soup in a way that would make even vegans want to dig into the meat. It’s phenomenal.

Rob Trilling seemed comfortable at the table, though that might’ve been because Juliana made it a point to sit right next to him. I noticed them speaking quietly whenever they had a chance.

My grandfather opened with a prayer, as usual. “Dear God in heaven, thank you for the many blessings you’ve given us and for our special guest tonight. Although not a Catholic, he assures me he is a man of faith.” The old priest had an impish grin.

Trilling smiled at the comment as well. Maybe he wasn’t as stiff-necked as I’d thought.

Mary Catherine asked him a series of casual questions that any CIA interrogator would have envied. I think as soon as she saw Juliana sitting next to him, she wanted to find out everything she could about Rob Trilling.

Mary Catherine was a master. She kept it flowing and never got him overwhelmed. I learned more about the young man in three minutes than I had in the days we’d been working together.