Blindside (Michael Bennett 12)

She made a calculation quickly in her head, whether she had enough money in the bank to take care of her grandmother for the rest of her life. Not that there was anything Alice could do about it now.

She made up her mind.

She lunged out from behind the tables and grabbed Janos’s pistol with her right hand. As she was slipping back behind cover, both of the Dutchmen opened fire again, splintering the tables easily.

A sharp pain radiated up her arm. It was what she imagined someone having a heart attack might feel. She looked down at her left forearm. Blood leaked out of a wound almost at her elbow. Her first bullet wound. Now she was pissed.

She spun to the opposite end of the tables. The movement surprised the Dutch killers. They had been expecting her to pop out from the side closest to them. She could see the surprise on their faces as she fired three quick shots.

Both men started to dive out of the line of fire. She lost sight of them completely.

Then she saw something else. Jennifer Chang was up and running for the other door. It was too perfect. Everything lined up. Her bright blouse was like a target with her purple-streaked ponytail swaying against it.

She knew she didn’t have much time. Alice lined up the shot carefully. Then fired one time. She felt a wave of satisfaction as the computer programmer flew off her feet and slid into a wall.

Alice moved away from the tables with the pistol up. Now she was looking for Christoph and Ollie.

A shadow from outside fell across her face. She risked a quick peek over her shoulder. It was the last clear view she would ever have.

Ollie had slipped out the door and had his machine pistol pointed at her from outside.

He showed no emotion as he squeezed the trigger.

Alice heard the first few shots, then everything went black.

CHAPTER 47

HARRY GRISSOM MET me at the Columbia University Medical Center. Jennifer Chang was in surgery. I didn’t know what else to do but wait right here.

Harry was wearing a suit and looked like a lawyer from Wyoming. He shook his head as he approached me in the back of the waiting room. There was no one else in the dull, clean room. I sat at the edge of the only couch. I’d been staring at the seven empty metal chairs spaced along the opposite wall. A TV, hung high on the wall, played CNN, but I hadn’t been listening.

Harry shook his head and said, “Jesus, what happened?”

I shrugged. Just like I’d told an investigating detective, “I have no idea what happened. I didn’t recognize any of the shooters. I didn’t see where anyone went. And the one person I was trying to keep safe ended up shot in the back.” I looked up at my lieutenant and said, “What’s it like at the coffeehouse?”

Harry said, “We’ve got the dead couple who were part of the shoot-out and two dead civilians. We have four more with serious wounds.”

I cringed. People buying coffee shouldn’t have to worry about being blasted by a gun. This was crazy. I looked at Harry and said, “It has to be related to the mayor’s daughter. The woman aimed at Jennifer as she ran away.”

Harry said, “And she had a homemade garrote in her purse.”

“Like the one used to kill Tommy Payne near Penn Station?”

“I’ve already called Ed Arris. We think it’s the murder weapon.”

“Harry, this shit has gone from doing a favor for the mayor to a full-blown conspiracy. We have to do something. We have to find Natalie Lunden. She’s in real danger.”

Harry put his hand on my shoulder. “You need to get some rest. That’s all you need to worry about right now. Spend a little time with that beautiful family. Someone will call you as soon as there’s news on Jennifer Chang.”

Reluctantly I agreed with my friend. I waited until Harry left, then I waited a while longer. I checked with the nurse one more time.

I had to fight the feeling that Harry had lost faith in me. I felt like I’d let people down. Especially Jennifer Chang. I wondered if anyone would even keep me up-to-date on the shooting. Technically I wasn’t suspended. But cops rarely like to be seen talking to a detective sent home for any reason.

I was sure rumors about me would spread quickly. They’d revolve around some imagined confrontation I had with management. No one would believe that my friend of almost twenty years had suggested I go home and see my family. Instead, I would go home after I was sure Jennifer Chang was out of danger.

CHAPTER 48

I WALKED THROUGH the front door of my apartment completely drained. It’s easy to imagine that a homicide detective always feels drained when arriving home. That’s not accurate. I usually get a bolt of energy anticipating seeing my kids and Mary Catherine. I love coming home to my family.