Page 92 of At Midnight Comes the Cry
By the time they had all pulled into the parking lot of the Albany PD’s main precinct, MacAuley had reached out to his considerable network, and they had an appointment with Commander Vince Patten—who also happened to be Lyle’s partner from what he always referred to as “the good old days.” Despite his Dutch surname, in looks and manners Patten was 100 percent Italian, and greeted them in the lobby as if they were all long-lost friends. Which, in Knox and Kevin’s case, had some truth to it.
“Officer Flynn! It’s so good to see you again, kiddo!” Patten threw his arms around Kevin, which gave the effect of a raisin bun attacking a carrot. “And Hadley Knox! You’re more beautiful than ever. Still ready to run down the bad guys?”
“Always.” Knox deftly sidestepped the incoming hug by pulling Russ forward. “This is Chief Van Alstyne.”
Russ shook Patten’s hand. “Not the chief anymore.”
“I know, I know, Lyle’s got your job. I’m never going to lure him back down to the city now.”
Russ introduced Clare, who wasn’t able to avoid an all-encompassing embrace, and Paul, who got a vigorous hand-pump while Patten joked, “So you’re the guy I should see if I want to catch more than one buck next year!”
He stepped back and clapped his hands. “Okay. Down to work. The state police have the Amber Alert up, and we’ve sent out a BOLO with the description and picture of the husband and baby.”
“What about the terror threat?” Russ looked around the group. “Did Lyle catch you up on that?”
“Yeah, but…” Patten gave awhadda ya do?shrug. “Nobody’s gotten any threats. Not us, not the troopers, not the sheriff’s department. We called up to Essex County, like Lyle suggested, and they said members of the militia—that’s what they are, right?—they said they’re persons of interest in a suspicious death and, ah, unlawful restraint, which I guess would be you, Russ. Me, I think anybody ballsy enough to hold you at gunpoint is bad news. So I’m having my people check the churches Lyle suggested. They’re also going to do a visual for any activity around our synagogues, the migrant legal aid, and places like food banks that might serve illegals. Problem with that last, of course, is those places also serve homeless guys and people on the down and out, so it’s hard to tell who’s suspicious and who’s not.”
“What about the federal building? Or the courthouse?” Kevin asked. “They really hate the feds. And they’re not too big on the state government, either.”
“Closed and locked up tight on Sunday. Although we oughta give them a heads-up just in case.” Patten looked at Russ. “You got any evidence one way or another it’s going to happen tonight?”
“Kevin’s the man to ask. Kevin?”
“I don’t know for sure. But there was definitely a lot of energy and excitement building in the group. I’m pretty sure they’re going to set those IEDs today. Or tonight. When they go off…” He spread his hands. “That, I can’t say.”
Patten nodded. “Which means they’re looking for someplace that’s open today or tomorrow. I think we—”
He was cut off by a loudbuzz-click,as a young officer burst through the door leading to the restricted area. “Commander! They’ve spotted the ten-forty-seven at the Colonie Center Mall! Units on route!”
5.
“Yes!” Patten made a fist. “That’s the news I wanna hear! What about the troopers?”
“They’re establishing a perimeter and calling up the UEX guys.” The officer skidded to a stop in front of Patten and handed him the parka she was carrying. “Thought you’d want your gear, sir.”
“Excellent! Good job, kid!” He pulled a hat out of one sleeve and shrugged on the coat. “Let’s go, boys and girls. You wanna be in on it, don’tcha?”
“UEX?” Knox asked.
Russ was already heading for the door. “Unexploded ordnance.”
Clare jogged to catch up to him. “You think this might be it?”
“The staties do, and that’s good enough for me.” He caught the door swinging shut behind Patten and held it wide. Clare stepped out of the way of their own three young officers. “Patten’s right;we’rethe only ones who’ve heard the threats. At this point, I’m just grateful somebody’s taking them seriously.”
They crossed to the parking lot together. A dull-colored unmarked was pulling out—Patten, he assumed—and the three young officers were scrambling into Terrance’s truck. “Looks like it’s you and me, darlin’—” His stride broke and he almost stumbled. “You and me and Yíxin Zhào?” The attorney was standing next to her car, waving excitedly at them. “What the hell?”
“It’s her case, too, Russ. More than yours, really. Hadley and I thought she deserved to be in on it. And she wants to help.”
“Oh, great. Perfect if I need to make an emergency deposition.”
Clare elbowed him. “Be nice.” She raised her voice. “Right on time!”
“What’s happening? I was about to come in, and then everyone ran outside like an American fire drill.”
“Hop in my car.” Clare opened the driver’s side door before Russ could reach it. “Russ’ll fill you in on the way.”
Miraculously, they didn’t crash en route, although there were a few times when Russ had to close his eyes as Clare aggressively wove through heavy traffic on the interstate.
