The October List

was worried about Charles. I just wanted to ask her if she’d heard from him, how he’s doing.’
    ‘Again, I ask: through the window?’ Kepler offered, and ignored her bitter glare. He added, ‘They make these things called telephones, you know. But we’ll have time to talk about it in detention.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘We searched your boss’s office again. We checked the inventory and found some things missing. Gabriela McKenzie, you’re under arrest for obstruction of justice.’ He sounded as if he’d been looking forward to saying those words for some time.
    She blurted, ‘No!’
    As if he couldn’t resist himself, Kepler added, ‘And we’ll throw in an attempted burglary count just for the hell of it.’ A glance into the alley. ‘A Dumpster? Really.’
    ‘You don’t understand. My …’ Her voice trailed off.
    ‘Your what?’ Surani asked.
    ‘Please. I can’t afford to go to jail right now.’
    Kepler laughed. ‘Sorry if it’s inconvenient.’ He turned away to jot some entries in a notebook and gestured to the uniformed officer. His name badge said Patrolman Chapman.
    He stepped up to her. ‘Set your bag down and turn around, put your hands behind your back.’
    ‘Please!’
    ‘Now. Turn around.’ The officer reached for his cuffs, looking down to locate them. When he did, Gabriela lunged forward and ripped his automatic pistol from his holster.
    The crowd gasped and scattered.
    ‘Gabriela!’ Kepler shouted. He moved in fast and gripped her arm. They grappled and Gabriela went down hard on her side, crying out in pain. But she broke free and swung the gun toward his face. He winced and ducked, waving his hand, as if to ward off the bullets.
    ‘Now back off!’ she screamed and aimed at the detectives. ‘You two! Throw your guns away! Now! Under those cars!’
    Surani called desperately, ‘Don’t do this! You—’
    But she regarded them with a cold look. And they tossed their weapons where she’d indicated.
    As her gaze was momentarily drawn by the tumbling guns, wincing as if afraid one would fire, the uniformed officer surged forward, trying to tackle her. Gabriela broke away and she stumbled. As she tried to right herself the gun discharged.
    The young cop blinked, grabbed his chest and dropped to the pavement. ‘Oh, fuck. Oh.’
    Gabriela gasped.
    Surani ignored both her and the pistol, which she still held, and ran to the fallen officer, whose arms were flailing, feet kicking. The detective bent over him and shouted over his shoulder, ‘Call it in!’
    Kepler said in a raspy growl, ‘You fucking bitch! Shoot me if you want but I’m getting him help!’ He pulled out his radio.
    Sobbing, Gabriela backed away. Then turned and ran. At the corner she tossed the gun into a sewer grating. She joined Daniel, who was looking equally shocked. She started to sprint again. But he stopped her. ‘Just walk. Look down and walk.’
    ‘I—’
    ‘Just walk. Slow. Walk.’
    Gabriela nodded, inhaled deeply several times and took his arm.
    They headed east.
    Soon, only seconds later, the banshee call of sirens cut through the chill afternoon air from a dozen directions at once.

CHAPTER
23
     

9:45 a.m., Sunday
15 minutes earlier
     

 

 
     
    ‘Okay,’ Kepler said, looking up from his phone. ‘The address is Madison at Eighty-Eight.’
    ‘And what’s that supposed to be?’ Surani asked.
    ‘Charles Prescott’s girlfriend.’ He looked down at a sheet of paper. ‘Sonia Dietrich.’
    ‘This is all very fucking complicated,’ Surani griped.
    ‘You’ve been cussing a lot lately,’ Kepler said. ‘Not like you.’
    ‘Not like me? Because people of South Asian heritage – that’s Indian to you, but not your kind of Indian – don’t swear? People who work in call centers don’t swear?’
    ‘ That’s racist,’ Kepler said indignantly. ‘What do you mean, “ my kind of Indian”? I don’t go to the casinos.’
    ‘ Casinos? ’ Surani riposted. ‘My point exactly. There you go.’ His gray-complexioned face turned to his partner with a look of smug triumph. He took off his suit jacket and hung it over a chair.
    Kepler was continually surprised at how his partner could be so slim, yet so muscular. The man played soccer most weekends. Cricket sometimes, a game Kepler simply couldn’t get his head around.
    Thinking he really should get serious about the golf, Kepler waved his hand, which meant the argument was over.
    A figure appeared in the doorway of the