Page 57 of NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority

“I can’t,” Isaid.

“You can’t, you won’t, you’re not at liberty...You know what I think? You haven’t given me shit, because you don’thaveshit. You’re up to your precious Red asses in homicides, and you haven’t cracked one of them. Not only do you two suck at your job, you’ve gone out of your way to keep me from doingmine.”

She stormed off.

Kylie shrugged. “I guess we’ll be getting a call from DCPI telling us we need a refresher course in media relations?” she said. “Let’s go talk toTheo.”

Officers DeStefano and Maguire were parked outside Theo’sroom.

“How’s he doing?” Iasked.

“The kid is funny,” DeStefano said. “He says to us, ‘I’m lawyering up.’ I say, ‘You’re not under arrest. You don’t need a lawyer.’ He goes, ‘I need one who can get me the fuck out of here.’”

I opened Theo’s door. He sat up in bed as soon as we entered.

“It’s about time,” he said. “Did you catch Barbara?”

“Not yet,” Kyliesaid.

“What about Carol?”

“What are you talking about?”

He held up his phone. “Guys, it’s all over the news. You arrested the old man who owns the funeral home. A sniper took him out. I told you, Denise was poison, Barbara stabs people, Carol is the shooter. Why did he kill Winstanley?”

“It looks like he was part of the Sorority,” I said.

“Holy fuck!” Theo said, swinging his feet over the side of the bed. “Everyone who knows about the Sorority is getting killed. The Hellmans, Mr. Sheffield, and now the guy from the funeral home. Plus, Barbara got away. Who do you think he’s coming for next? Me.”

“Nowyou realize he’s a trained killer?” Kylie said. “I tried to get you to back off when you were chasing him like some adolescent superhero.”

“Okay, so I fucked up. But you can’t leave me here. In the movies, the bad guy always shows up in the hospital wearing scrubs and kills the dumbass who can ID them. I’m that dumbass.”

“For once, you and I are in violent agreement,” Kylie said.

“Not funny,K-Mac. I don’t care how many cops you have outside my door. If the Sorority comes after me here, I’m a dead man. Don’t you get it? I know too much. That’s why that reporter tried to interview me.” He stood up. “It’s too dicey to go back to my apartment, but I can go to Carly’s house. I’ll be a lot safer there.”

“No, you won’t,” Kylie said. “If you’re at risk and you stay with her, the only thing you’ll be doing is putting her at risk, too.”

“Well, then I need police protection.”

Kylie looked at me. We both knew he was right. We could post guards outside his door, but there was no way to keep a determined hit man out of the hospital.

“We’ll talk about it after you get dressed,” she said.

Theo grabbed his clothes and stepped into the bathroom.

“His mother is dead, and his father is on the other side of the world,” Kylie said. “I guess he can stay at my place.”

“And whattestosterone-chargedteenage boy would turn down an offer like that?” I said. “Shane, on the other hand, might take issue with it.”

“Then where?” Kylie said.

Theo threw open the bathroom door. “I’m ready to blow this joint,” he said. “Where are we going?”

“My apartment,” I said. “But there are ground rules.”

“Like what?”