The October List

fake name tag and have a phony press release ready. Tell the head of the Patrolman’s union it’s part of a set.’
    She fixed Captain Barkley with a sniper rifle gaze. And she kept mum. He said reluctantly, ‘I guess it’ll work.’
    ‘I’ve got the whole set orchestrated.’ Gabby dug through her purse. Kepler noticed a roll of yarn, blue and green. He remembered she relaxed by knitting. It seemed strange at first but he wasted time on Angry Birds and Sudoku and, yes, watching golf. She extracted a single sheet of paper and put it on the table in front of them. ‘This’s the script, day by day, starting this afternoon. Memorize it now. It gets shredded before I leave. There’ll be variations and improvisations but I’ll text you as plans change.’
    The three men eased forward and read.
     
----
Undercover Operation 2340-42 (Code Name: ‘Charles Prescott Op’)
     
Friday
– Det. McNamara, AKA Gabriela McKenzie, makes contact with Subject Daniel Reardon.
     
Saturday
– Dets. Kepler and Surani contact Det. McNamara and Subject Reardon re: Charles Prescott fleeing city.
– Confidential Informant Joseph contacts Det. McNamara and Subject Reardon about kidnapping of daughter (Sarah), extorting Det. McNamara to provide ‘October List’ and $.
– McNamara and Reardon attempt to find October List and $.
– With assistance of Det. Elena Rodriguez, Det. McNamara and Subject Reardon obtain access to Manhattan set location, ‘Prescott Investments.’ Locate October List.
– At said location, Det. McNamara and Subject Reardon are confronted by Dets. Kepler and Surani but manage to smuggle October List out of Prescott Investments. Adds to credibility of its importance. Clues given to Subject Reardon about possible financial scam.
– Det. McNamara and Subject Reardon remain undercover, attempting to find $, while appearing to negotiate with C.I. Joseph, as the ‘kidnapper.’
     
Sunday
– Det. McNamara and Subject Reardon attempt to find money at townhouse of Charles Prescott’s lover, Upper East Side. Intercepted by Dets. Kepler and Surani and Patrol Officer using fictional name Fred Stanford Chapman. Stage shooting of Chapman. Det. McNamara and Subject Reardon flee. Det. McNamara feigns injury in escape.
– If he hasn’t done so already, Subject Reardon will probably contact partners, Andrew and Sam, under guise of helping Det. McNamara secure release of daughter.
– Subject Reardon and either/or Andrew and Sam meet with CI Joseph, with intent to engage in conspiracy to defraud and murder Detective McNamara. CI or site of meeting will be wired. CI will relay location information to Det. McNamara.
– Tactical takedown of Reardon, Andrew and Sam by Emergency Service.
----
     
    Barkley was obviously impressed, though he tried not to show it. ‘Man. It is a script.’
    She said matter-of-factly, ‘With people like Reardon, you don’t improvise.’
    He kills families …
    Kepler asked, ‘You’re sure Reardon’ll run with you?’
    ‘He’ll come along. I’ll make sure of it.’
    ‘How’re you going to snag him?’
    ‘Every Friday afternoon he swims at Battery Park Health Club—’
    ‘Or plays racquetball or tennis,’ Kepler pointed out fast.
    She swiveled toward him. ‘The only reason to join that particular club is for tennis or the pool. My datamining shows he’s never paid for court time or bought balls. Ergo , he swims.’
    I stand corrected. And she speaks Greek. Or was it Latin? What a woman. The other team was looking more and more interesting.
    ‘After that he goes to Limoncello’s for drinks.’
    ‘What’s Limoncello’s?’
    ‘Restaurant on the harbor.’ Gabby was getting pretty proficient at talking to Kepler while not looking at him. She continued to Barkley, ‘He generally has scotch or red wine. I’ll have some small bottles of each with me. I’ll see what he’s drinking and go to the ladies’ room, spill some on my sleeve. Make him think he’s stained my blouse. I’ll take it from there.’
    On reflection, Kepler was thinking, Gabby might not be the best woman in the world to date.
    ‘What do you mean that you “feign injury”?’ Surani asked, tapping the script.
    ‘I’ll have to seem vulnerable. To make Reardon believe I’m no threat. I’ll probably fall then bite the inside of my cheek – to make it look like I’m bleeding from a broken rib and ruptured lung. Also, it seems Reardon’s a bit of a sadist. My being in pain’ll be a