Page 28 of NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority

Kylie shrugged. “Never married. So noex-wife, no kids.”

“What aboutex-girlfriends?” McDaniel said.

“Oh, God, I know these fucking questions, because I’ve asked them a thousand times,” Kylie said. “In fact, they’re the same questions I asked myself on the ride over.”

“They suck,” McDaniel said, “but we appreciate that you understand why we’ve got to ask.”

“Shane is a sweet guy from a nice family. As far as I know, there are no acrimonious girlfriends, no jealous husbands, no disgruntled employees. The biggest drama in his life is when a soufflé falls.”

“When did you last speak with him?” Edlund said.

“We spent the night together at my place. He was in a great mood. He got up at four thirty this morning and drove to the market.”

“Is that his normal routine?”

“Not every day. Maybe three or four times a week. He loves that place. He could probably have one of his people do it for him, but it’s his restaurant, his signature, so he handpicks all the produce that goes into his kitchen.”

So far, Kylie hadn’t given anything to go on, and the four of us knew it.

“Look, we’re still trying to put the pieces together,” Edlund said, “but the one thing we do know is that this wasn’t random. Mr. Talbot was singled out. We’ve got to find the connection between him and the shooter.”

“What about his business?” McDaniel said. “Opening a new restaurant in this city is a major crapshoot. Was he having any problems in that area?”

“Shane’s biggest problem right now is that everybody loves what he puts on the table,” Kylie said. “The place is booked. There’s a waiting list to get a reservation. And it’s not just the business that’s doing well. People love the man. Shane is not one of those arrogant, narcissistic, micromanaging chef bullies. His staff loves working with him, he takes the time to circulate and chat with his customers, the critics rave about him—”

“But one man tried to kill him,” Edlund said. “I’m sorry for your pain, Detective MacDonald, but we know who you are, and we will do everything we can to find the person who—”

“Steve,” McDaniel said, gesturing to the black SUV that just pulled up onto the sidewalk. “Captain’s here.”

Kylie is not a big fan of authority. She turned to Edlund. “Do we like him?”

“Captain Graham?” Edlund said. “Everybody likes him. He was onlythirty-twowhen they put him in charge of the detective squads in three precincts in the South Bronx. Couldn’t ask for a better boss.”

Graham looked like a young Kevin Bacon. He extended his hand and introduced himself by name. Tony Graham. No mention of rank.

“Sorry to meet you under these circumstances,” he said. “But we’ll be all over this case. I’m glad these guys caught it. They’re mygo-toteam in theFour-One. I promise you, the two of them will crack this.”

“Thefourof us will crack it,” Kylie said.

Edlund and McDaniel were new to Kylie’sin-your-facestyle, and I could sense them cringe imperceptibly.

“I appreciate the offer, Kylie,” Graham said, “but I’m going to have to give you a hard no on that one.”

“It wasn’t an offer,” Kylie said. “I want in.”

“Listen, I know how you feel—”

“With all due respect, sir,” Kylie snapped, her tone dripping with disrespect, “someone I care deeply about is on the operating table with a bullet in his chest. You haveno ideawhat I’m feeling right now.”

“Step over here, Detective,” Graham said.

She followed him to a spot about forty feet away.

“I guess heisa decent guy,” I said. “Most captains would tear her a new one in front of the entire squad.”

“Oh, he’s not going to dress her down,” Edlund said. “Not even in private. He’s going to tell her a little story, and she’s going to apologize and back off.”

I grinned. “You don’t know my partner.”