Jack the Reaper by Diane Capri

Author:Diane Capri [Capri, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AugustBooks
Published: 2017-09-26T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Thursday, January 13

11:20 p.m.

New York City

She called Gaspar’s phone, but he didn’t pick up. She left a quick, “Call me,” voice mail, and then made her way to the pretty Latino NYPD officer blocking pedestrians from using the sidewalk to reach the hotel entrance.

“I’m staying at this hotel. Is there another entrance I can use, Officer—” She peered at the name plate, “Cruz?”

Officer Cruz had her arms at her sides, within easy reach of the equipment on her duty belt. “The other entrance is also closed at the moment, ma’am.”

“What’s going on here?”

“We were told the building is being evacuated. That’s all the information I have.” Officer Cruz sounded genuinely sympathetic, and maybe she was. She might have noticed Otto’s shivering, too. “You can wait at the coffee shop in the next block until we get the all clear. It’ll be warmer inside.”

Otto pulled her ID from her pocket. She opened the bi-fold wallet and showed Officer Cruz her credentials.

Cruz examined the ID. She nodded once and pointed to another officer standing halfway down the block. “Agent Otto, that’s the captain. He should know more.”

Otto looked ahead, toward the hotel entrance. From her vantage point, she could see nothing but a lot of broad backs and emergency flashers in several colors. People were filing out of the hotel doors in quick but orderly fashion. She didn’t see anyone with obvious injuries.

“Thank you, Officer Cruz.” She approached the captain, but only walked about ten feet before her phone vibrated. “Gaspar. I’m out front. Can’t get in. Where are you?”

“Headed your way. Five minutes out.” His tone was serious and official. “Stay there. I’ll find you.”

Otto walked another few yards toward the Captain when she heard quick footsteps coming up behind her. She turned fast, ready to deflect until she recognized Detective Brewer. Out of shape and out of breath, he slowed and waved her toward him.

She reversed course. Brewer had backed into a wide doorway, protected from the biting wind. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into the alcove, out of sight.

She jerked her arm from his grasp. “Brewer, what the hell?”

“Where’s Gaspar?” he said, furtively.

“On his way. We’ve been trying to reach you all day.”

“I want to show you something. And then you need to go.”

“Show me what? Go where?”

Brewer stuck his head beyond the alcove and ducked back. “Wait until he gets here.”

“What’s going on?” She frowned. “And who are you hiding from?”

“Just about every cop out there knows me. I don’t want to get pulled into what’s going on out there.” He spoke quietly as if he might actually be overheard amid the cacophony.

Pedestrians were steadily passing the alcove moving in both directions. Reporters with cameras and microphones, guests in their pajamas, emergency personnel, sirens headed toward the hotel. The chaotic scene bordered on pandemonium as more seconds passed.

“What is going on out there?” She jerked her thumb to point over her shoulder. “I was on my way to find out when you grabbed me.”

“Look, it’s complicated.

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