Page 32 of Crosshairs
I tried to put her at ease by introducing myself, then said, “I guess my first question isn’t necessarily official. How did you get the black eye?”
A smile spread across her face. “You don’t work out at a boxing gym without taking a few knocks once in a while.” She looked at Trilling and said, “Why does it look likeyouhave a black eye?”
“Nothing interesting. Just clumsy.”
“Why on earth do you want to talk about my rifle skills? Is the NYPD that desperate? I have an arrest for disorderly conduct and feel like I’ve already performed my public service.”
I appreciated the way Trilling took over the interview, sensing a connection with Robinson. He put her at ease by chatting with her about their shared military service in the Army. Not only did I learn some of Wendy Robinson’s interesting background but I also saw a different side of Trilling. He was relaxed and friendly. They made inside jokes that both of them laughed at.
Finally Trilling asked her how she became sniper certified in the Army.
It seemed like the question energized Robinson. Now she pulled me into the conversation. She had an expressive face and talkedwith her hands as well. “I applied for every interesting school that came available. It turned out they had a special program where they were testing out female snipers.” Now she looked directly at me and said, “There’s a big precedent in history for female snipers. Especially during World War II with the Russians.”
Robinson explained to us how she passed every test they threw at her, physical and mental. “It felt like every sergeant along the way assumed I was going to fail. Everyone thought I would be on a bus back to Fort Belvoir or some other base to wait out my time. But I fooled them all. And along the way I became addicted to serious exercise.” She looked back at me and repeated, “Now will you tell me why you’re interested in my rifle skills?”
I respected her frankness. I decided to match it. “Will you tell me why you were going to run when you realized we were the cops?”
There was a slight hesitation. Just enough for me to notice and leave a little spark in my brain. “Isn’t everyone nervous around the police? You’ve got a good eye to pick up on the fact that I thought about running. Just an instinct.”
I nodded and said, “Fair enough. And we’re interested in your rifle skills as part of our investigation into the series of murders by a sniper.” I purposely decided to leave out the part where someone she apparently knew had phoned in a tip about her.
Robinson’s eyes got wide and she said, “You think I might be the Longshot Killer? That is so cool.”
“I’m assuming you wouldn’t think it was cool if you were really the killer.”
She cocked her head, a lock of blue hair tumbling into her face. “I don’t know how to answer that because I’mnotthe Longshot Killer. I suspect that if I was the Longshot Killer, I’d still find it kinda cool youthoughtit was me.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re telling me you’re not the sniper who’s murdered three people here in the city.”
She gave us another big smile. “I like the way you frame questions. You’re correct. I am saying I amnotthe Longshot Killer.”
I opened my notebook and showed her a single-sheet printed calendar, each day in the last two months clearly laid out in its own individual square. It was an old trick I’d learned before there were calendars on phones and tablets. I had circled the night Adam Glossner had been shot on the balcony of his Upper West Side apartment.
I said, “Can you tell me where you were this night?” I tapped the circled date with my finger.
Robinson studied the calendar carefully, then looked up and said, “I was in a study group. I’m enrolled at City College. Math is giving me some problems.”
“Can you give me some names and phone numbers of the people in your study group?”
She shrugged. “Truthfully, they’re all so much younger than me that I haven’t bothered to get to know any of them. I know a few first names, but that’s it.”
I went through the same exercise with the other two dates. As I suspected, they were too far in the past for her to remember where she was.
We all chatted for a few more minutes. We made sure we got her current address and cell phone number.
Wendy Robinson looked at me and said, “You must have a lot of experience. And you seem like the kind of guy who has fun in life.” Then she looked directly at Trilling and said, “You don’t need to call me just for questions. You can call me anytime.”
I enjoyed seeing Trilling blush.
CHAPTER 40
NOT LONG AFTER our interview with the interesting female sniper, I pulled into the parking lot of One Police Plaza. Surprisingly, there was someone else at headquarters we could interview about our sniper case.
As we climbed the steps toward a side entrance, Rob Trilling smoothed out his hair and flattened his windbreaker against his shoulders. He said, “I’m uncomfortable here.”
“Join the club.”
“Shouldn’t we be wearing ties?”