“He wants to be the governor of law and order. He’ll use me to look good and steal the thunder of the present governor, who doesn’t have a fabulous record in this area.”
“How convenient for him to have a serial killer rise up right now, and a daughter who caught the last one.”
“Stopped him, not caught him,” I say, cognizant of the fact that Roger is dead, but no one knows. And he’s right. How very convenient, in a stinky fish kind of way, but I have to be careful about attributing all crimes to Pocher and his ploys. “And yes. He’s all too mightily aware of his good fortune, but I assure you, he will make you feel he cares deeply.”
“Does he?”
“I don’t know what’s real and what’s not with my father. I’m not his biggest fan and I don’t appreciate being his biggest asset at this point. Bottom line though, he’s going to use me.”
“Then why not just do the press conference with me?”
“It’s going to seem like I’m political. I can’t be that and good at my job.”
He studies me a moment, and then says, “I respect the hell out of that.”
“Well, you need to know what you’re dealing with. He wants me in the meeting. I told him it was your call. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. It looks like I’m only supporting him if I go to his meeting and not the governor’s. It looks like I’m being political if I go to both like I’m a stand-in for my father.”
“Then go to none.”
“Good answer. You need to know that when I told them to back off—paraphrasing, but that’s the general gist of it all—my father’s advisor said my father would be governor soon, and we’d all be kissing his ass. I told him, in no uncertain terms, that he knows little about law enforcement if he thinks that’s the case.”
“Your father was in law enforcement. He has to know that.”
“He knows, but he feels he can charm you all into being his lap dogs.”
“Okay,” he says. “I’m not a rookie. I can handle this shit.”
“I haven’t talked to Chief Houston. Is he going to be involved?” I ask this because not only do I know the chief, from back in my days at the NYPD, I worked with him on the Umbrella Man case. The idea that this case is under the press spotlight, and he’s not involved, doesn’t fit his personality.
“There’s some major terrorist threat happening, and a labor union beef he’s dealing with. He’s sitting this out for now, but I suspect not for long. The prior victim’s father is a powerhouse real estate agent here in the city. When he hears the buzz about a serial killer, it won’t take long for him to call Houston.”
“Kellerman?”
“Right.”
“I’ll contact him. As for the press conference, are you sure you don’t need me? Because if you say one thing wrong, the press will run with it. If you say everything right, they’ll find something wrong and run with it.”
“I’m aware, so let’s talk about what we want to tell them. Houston wants me to keep it sweet and simple.”
“I agree. The attacks are not random. They’re targeted and specific. There’s no general public threat. Of course, we encourage everyone to stay alert, lock their doors, be aware of their surroundings, and use general safety practices. The press will hit you hard and I’d just say that’s all for now and walk away.”
“The mayor and governor will be there. Convincing them and your father to say that’s all for now, and nothing more is going to be a problem, considering they will milk this politically.”
“I suspect my father will move his meeting until after his competitor speaks, but as for what they will say, convince them that assuring the public they are safe is what matters most. My father will understand that because of his background, but he also wants to be a calming force in the city and state. The problem you have is that the current team may think that panic will help them stay in place. People don’t like change during a crisis. If you don’t manage them, this will be a disaster. Insist the only updates on the case come from you. Have Chief Houston do the same.”
“Your badge will make them listen. Damn it to hell.” He scrubs his jaw. “You need to take jurisdiction. That’d control them all. That makes this about you, Lilah.”
“I don’t have grounds. It hasn’t crossed state lines.”
“There’s a federal risk to political candidates if there’s a serial killer in the city, and the fact that that killer may be targeting the offspring of wealthy citizens indicates those candidates could be at risk. And you don’t have to have grounds if we hand it over to you anyway. I need Chief Houston’s approval on this, but this needs to happen.” He doesn’t wait for my reply. He drags his phone from somewhere under the table. “I’m going to call him.” He eyes my coffee. “Get me one of those, but tell her to leave off the damn pink sprinkles.” He walks away.