Page 29 of Return of the Spider

“One more thing,” I said. “The Forty-Four-Caliber Killer targeted victims in lovers’ lanes. Exactly what that pullout on the Potomac could be considered.”

Pittman sat there a few moments chewing on the evidence to support my theory, but even I could see the flaws. There were a lot ofprobablys in my argument.

“Still thin, Cross,” the chief said at last. “And I don’t want to set the public off by saying we’re investigating a Berkowitz wannabe in the killing of Conrad Talbot without concrete proof.”

“I don’t think we should tell the public anything at this point,” I said. “We keep it in the backs of our minds. If I’m right, there’ll be more evidence surfacing. If I’m not, nothing else will come up and I’m just an overeager rookie.”

“Smells like that flip side,” Diehl said, and she left.

Kurtz looked at me, said, “Dr.Cross,” with an ironic emphasis on theDr.,and followed Diehl out.

Sampson and I started to leave too.

“Cross,” Chief Pittman said. “Stay, please.”

When Sampson was gone and the door was shut, the chief said, “I took a huge risk, bringing you in the way I did, Cross.”

“Yes, sir, I know that, and I deeply appreciate it.”

“I felt, and feel, that this department—every big-city police department, for that matter—should have someone with your background. Someone who knows how criminals think.”

“I agree.”

“Then why is the first thing you bring me a theory with rickety support about a copycat of a guy who’s been incarcerated forover a decade? If this gets out, it’s going to spread like wildfire in the department, and there’s already enough bad will toward you among the rank and file. You don’t want to throw gas on the fire.”

I blinked several times. “I didn’t know anyone had bad will toward me.”

“It’s because you didn’t come up through the ranks, and they resent that, evidently.”

I didn’t know what to say. “I promise you it won’t happen again. Next time I come to you with a theory, it will be bombproof.”

“See that it is, Detective Cross,” Pittman said. “Dismissed.”

CHAPTER

19

I returned to mydesk in the squad room. Detectives Corina Diehl and Edgar Kurtz glanced at me as I passed them, then went back to their work. Sampson, who sat across from me, noticed I looked shaken.

“It’s past five o’clock,” John said. “Want a beer?”

“More likeneeda beer,” I said. I picked up my bag and coat and followed him to the elevators, which were crowded. We didn’t have another chance to talk alone until we were outside, trying to hail a cab.

“What was that all about with the chief?” Sampson asked.

“He sounded like he had a bad case of buyer’s remorse, and I felt like I’d been called into the principal’s office,” I said quietly. “Did you know there’s resentment against me among the rank-and-file officers?”

He nodded. “Because you leapfrogged into the elite unit.”

“I get it,” I said. “But Pittman and Chief Williams approachedme. I didn’t ask for this position. It was offered.”

John shrugged. “That distinction might be lost on some of the guys. But so what? And everyone gets carried away when they come up with a theory like that.”

“You think I got carried away?”

“Maybe a little. I wouldn’t have said anything to anyone until I had it nailed.”

“Anyone except me.”