Page 10 of NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority

“Thank you,”I said as soon as we were back in the car.

I’m pretty sure Kylie knew what I was talking about, but she gave me a vacant look. “For what?”

“For not getting in her face. You didn’t say a single word the entire time.”

“We were there to notify her that her husband was murdered, Zach. I know I can be aggressive, but getting in her face would be a new low even for me.”

Kylie turned onto West End Avenue and headed south. “Do you believe her?” she asked.

“She was believable,” I said. “We’ve seen a lot of people get hit with devastating news. Her reaction felt genuine. I mean, she took it hard. She seemed shocked.”

“You’re right,” Kylie said, not taking her eyes off the road. “Sheseemedshocked.”

“You think she had something to do with it?”

“I’m just playing out a scenario in my head.”

“Pretend we’re partners and play it out loud,” I said.

“Warren Hellman isn’t married.”

“So?”

“Who do you think inherits his share of the company when he dies?”

“I don’t know. Wild guess, I’d say hisbrother-slash-businesspartner, Curtis.”

“And who gets it when Curtis dies?” Kylie said.

“So you think Brooke Hellman hired a couple of hit men to whack her husband and his brother?”

“It makes sense. If we’re right and she does inherit the company, then she has a motive. And even though two hit men can be pricey, we know she has the means. So yeah. I underestimated her once. I’m not going to do it again. She’s officially a suspect in my book.”

My phone rang. “Hold that thought,” I said. “It’s Selma Kaplan.” I took the call and put it on speaker. “Hey, Selma, you’ve got both of us. How are you doing?”

“I just lost a case that I should have won in my sleep, and I’m up to my ass in dead Hellmans. That’s how I’m doing.” Selma is not only the smartest ADA in New York County, she’s also the most caustic. Which is probably why we like her so much.

“We feel your pain, but we’re on it,” I said. “The homicides were so close together that we’re looking for two killers, most likely professionals funded by one person. Top of our list is Curtis’s widow.”

“Oh, Jesus. Brooke Hellman is a champion of women’s rights, and she puts her money where her mouth is. She was one of Mayor Sykes’s biggest supporters. Don’t even suggest to Her Honor that Brooke is a suspect unless you find her holding a receipt that says, ‘Thank you for using our services. Please call again if there’s anyone else you want dead.’”

“Thanks for theheads-up. Anything else?”

“Yes. Detective MacDonald has a friend at the Tombs. His name is Elroy Lafontant. He says he saw the shooter and he’s happy to make a deal, but he wants the blond lady cop from the roof to be there.”

“Where and when?” Kylie asked.

“He’ll be in theseventh-floorconference room with his attorney in thirty minutes.”

“Zach and I were pulled away from the crime scene at the courthouse. We’re going to make a quick stop there. Then we’ll walk over to your office.”

Selma hung up, and Kylie grinned at me. “I knew Elroy and I connected. I could feel the vibe. Do me a favor—don’t tell Chuck Dryden. You know how jealous he can get.”

Chuck’s face lit up as soon as we arrived. “Detectives,” he said, looking at only one of us. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“What have you got for us, Chuck?” Kylie said.

“The bullet was a .50-caliberBMG,” Dryden said. “The gun was probably a Barrett sniper rifle.”