Flawless (New York Confidential #1)(37)

“She looks miserable, doesn’t she? The good thing is her fame is about to dim. Eagan’s revelation that we haven’t caught the killers after all will take precedence.”

“Yeah, that’s a good thing.” Craig knew he didn’t sound convincing.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know, Mike. Did you watch the subway footage?”

“I did. With you, remember? And, yes, we all wonder about the guy in the hoodie.”

“But was he intending to push Kieran Finnegan?”

“Why would he have wanted to do that?”

“Maybe he thinks she knows something.”

“Like what? Sure, she was there when we caught the thieves, but what would that have to do with the killers who are still out there?”

Craig shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“Think maybe the killers are mad because they know it’s partly down to her that we know they’re still out there? Eagan said in his press conference that our computer techs acted on a tip from a witness when they proved that the men we have in custody didn’t murder anyone. It’s pretty obvious that she’s the witness he meant. Still, I don’t see why anyone would be after her for that.”

“I just have a hunch, you know?”

Mike shrugged and then smiled. “A hunch? Or more?”

“What do you mean?”

Mike laughed. “Hey, the freakin’ air sizzles when the two of you so much as look at each other.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Craig said, immediately defensive.

“She saved your life.”

“It was a water pistol.”

“Might not have been.” Mike smiled. “Hey, what’s not to like? The woman’s gorgeous and smart, and she’s given the whole city a motto to live by.”

“She’s a victim and a witness,” Craig said.

“And you’re worried about her. Not a bad thing. And we’re investigating, though I’m not sure how we can stretch our investigation to include Finnegan’s on Broadway.”

“There’s something, Mike. Something she’s hiding. Hell, maybe it’s something to do with that pub.”

“You’re suspicious of her?”

“Not suspicious, exactly,” Craig said. “There’s just...something.”

“Then go get her, dude.” Mike looked at his watch. “Quitting time—and tomorrow’s going to be a long one.”

In the morning they would be going back to Rikers and interviewing the four thieves again. They’d try to discern if one of them might know who had gotten wind of them, and how, and decided to imitate them, with lethal consequences.

“Yeah,” Craig said, rising. “I’ll do that. I’ll go get her. She may need rescuing again.”

“From evil forces.”

“I don’t think the press likes to be referred to as an ‘evil force,’” Craig said. “But, yes, I’m going to go and rescue her from the press.”

*

In her quest to fulfill her life’s dream, Shirley Martin was thrilled with her moment of fame.

In her quest to fulfill her life’s dream, Kieran was plagued by it.

Officers escorted Tanya Lee Hampton to Kieran’s office exactly on time. Kieran introduced herself and welcomed the woman, ready to let her talk, but also ready to ask questions that might uncover any underlying truth Tanya was unwilling to reveal.

Things didn’t start off well.

Tanya was dark haired, young and pretty—and voluptuous. She eyed Kieran curiously as she sat down. “You’re her!” she said.

“Her?”

“The ‘Subway Savior.’”

“Yes, I’m afraid so,” Kieran said ruefully. “Are you uncomfortable speaking with me?”

“Hell, no—it’s exciting.” Tanya’s eyes widened. “Did you leap right down onto the tracks? Could you hear the train coming? Did you, like, throw her over your shoulder or something?”

“I gave her my hand, just like any decent person would have done.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Tanya said, sighing and sinking back into her chair. “I guess a decent person wouldn’t have hacked off her husband’s tallywhacker, huh?”

“Why did you do it, Tanya?”

Kieran was surprised when the woman’s demeanor changed. She’d been almost nonchalant, even rebellious, at first. Suddenly something was different.

“Tanya?” she asked softly.

Tanya just shook her head. “I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“Take what? My report says that he was seeing other women. Do you mean you couldn’t take the fact that he cheated on you?”

“Whatever,” Tanya said, looking away.

“So that wasn’t it?”

The woman winced, looking down. Then she met Kieran’s eyes again. “It was big, you know. Like...huge. He loved to brag about it.”

“I see,” Kieran said.

“No, no, you don’t,” Tanya said, and of course she was right.

And then Kieran suddenly knew. “He hurt you with it, didn’t he? With sex. Did he force you?”

Tanya looked startled. “Yeah, and I know it’s rape if a guy forces his wife. But...”