Page 58 of NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority

“Turn off your phone and shut down all your social media.”

“Are you crazy?”

“No, I’m a cop. I’ll take you to your place, you’ll pack whatever you need, and once you move in with me, you don’t leave unless Kylie or I are with you.”

“How do I call my friends?”

“You don’t. I’ll buy you a burner phone. Kylie and I will have the number. She’ll call your father, tell him what’s going on, and give it to him.”

“Andnosocial media? Nothing at all? How will I know what’s happening in the world?”

“You can watch CNN.”

“You want me to just sit around your house with nothing to do and no contact to the outside world. That’s cruel and unusual punishment, Zach.”

“I know, kid,” I said. “But it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

CHAPTER 39

“We should split up,”Kylie said. “One of us can hitch a ride to Lincoln Hospital with the precinct guys and comfort Shane in his hour of need. The other gets to take the car and set the kid up in his new home.”

“Do you have a preference?” I asked innocently.

Her eyes smoldered, and she let out a long, low, lustful growl. “I’m more of a nurse than a babysitter.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said. “Just don’t kill the patient, Nurse MacDonald.”

Fifteen minutes later, Theo and I were on the road. “Who is this Shane guy?” he asked.

He caught me by surprise. “Shane? Um... he’s a crime victim. Someone shot him.”

“And you two are looking for the shooter?”

“We were, but it was assigned to another squad.”

“And yet Kylie wants to visit the poor man in his hospital bed,” he said with a lecherous laugh. “The plot thickens. Tell me more.”

I gave him the highlights. Kylie and Spence parted ways; Kylie met Shane; Shane got shot.

“You think Spence tried to kill Shane?” he asked.

“Jesus, Theo! No. And don’t even think of suggesting it to Kylie,” I said. “No more cop shit. Let’s talk about something else.”

“How about this. What would you do if you were locked up in a house for a year and you could only watch three films?” he said. “Which ones would you pick? You go first.”

I offered upDie Hard,Lethal Weapon, andBullitt. The kid came back withHiroshima Mon Amour,Rashomon, andThe Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.

“I think we live in alternate realities,” Theo said. “And for the record, all yourfilms—and I use the term loosely—sounded like we’re still talking cop shit.”

“Give me another topic.”

“Sure. How about ‘greatest rock bands ever’?”

Not my category, but I dug into my nineties memory bank and gave it my best shot.

“Who the hell are Hootie and the Blowfish?” he asked.

I gave him a blank stare.