Читаем White River Burning полностью

Kline’s reaction was a pained smile. “That sounds like a simple question, Rory, but the reality isn’t simple at all. You have to remember that the earlier case hypothesis that zeroed in on Cory Payne for the sniper shootings and the Gort twins for the playground murders was a willful deception created by our current suspect. From the very beginning there was a concerted effort by WRPD leadership to mislead my office. This is not a matter of our misreading the case. What we’re dealing with is a vicious and devious betrayal of the public trust by a man whose sworn duty it was to treat that trust as sacred.”

“You make it sound like an act of real treachery.”

“I see it as a form of moral decay.”

“How deep in the department might that decay go?”

“That’s something we’re actively looking into.”

“Your resources must be stretched pretty thin. With so many unanswered questions about these terrible crimes, and who’s trustworthy and who’s not, not to mention the ongoing racial unrest in parts of White River, where’s the necessary manpower coming from?”

Kline moved uncomfortably in his chair. “The situation is actually well in hand.”

“Are there any plans to bring in the state police? Or the FBI, considering the possible hate-crime angle?”

“Not at this time.”

“So you’re saying you have all the resources you need?”

“I’m not just saying it, Rory, I know it for a fact.”

“You sound amazingly confident, considering what you’re facing. Four sensational murders—five now, counting the deputy chief. Wouldn’t it make sense to bring in the kind of expertise that the state police could offer? With all due respect, sir, yours is a rural county in which the typical crimes are drunk driving, minor drug offenses, and disturbing the peace. What you’re facing now is infinitely more complicated. Doesn’t that worry you?”

Kline took a deep breath. “Normally we don’t reveal staffing details, Rory, but for the sake of public confidence I want to put this expertise issue to rest. The fact is, our level of investigatory sophistication right now is unsurpassed. A key member of my current team happens to be Dave Gurney, the highly decorated detective who holds the record for the largest number of cleared homicide cases in the history of the New York City Police Department. I’m talking about close to a hundred homicides solved personally by this man—including famous serial murder cases. It’s through his relentless questioning and his insights that we’ve arrived at our current understanding of the situation in White River. You asked why I wasn’t bringing in state police investigators. The fact is, Dave Gurney has given advanced seminars on homicide investigation at the state police academy. So in the matter of expertise, we take a back seat to no one. We have the best there is.”

“That’s fascinating news. I’m impressed.”

Kline said nothing.

“I appreciate that your time is limited, sir, and I know you have a final message you want to leave with our viewers.”

“Yes, I do.” He gazed sternly into the camera. “Our top priority right now is locating Dell Beckert.”

A phone number appeared at the bottom of the screen.

Kline continued, “If you know anything about his whereabouts, or if you know anyone who does, please call this number. He may be driving a black Dodge Durango, New York plate number CBIIWRPD.”

The screen displayed the plate number, a photograph of Beckert in his police uniform, and the phone number.

Kline concluded, “If you have any information that might help us find this man, please call this number now. You don’t need to identify yourself unless you wish to. We just want whatever information you can provide. Thank you.”

The screen was filled briefly with just the phone number, which was then replaced by a live shot of Stacey Kilbrick and Rory Kronck at their news desk.

“Wow,” said Kilbrick. “The DA has some big-city talent in his little upstate department.”

“So it seems,” said Kronck.

“Hmm. How much do we know about this Dave Gurney?”

“We know that New York magazine ran a front-page profile on him a few years ago. The article title was ‘Supercop’—which I guess says it all.”

“So there’s no end to the surprises in this story. Great job, Rory.”

He produced a self-satisfied smirk.

“I’m Stacey Kilbrick for NewsBreakers. After these important messages I’ll be back with the latest battle over transgender troops serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.”

Gurney closed the “Live Stream” page and left the RAM website.

Madeleine was watching him. “Are you concerned about Kline going public with your involvement?”

He turned up his palms in a gesture of resignation. “I’d rather he hadn’t. But I don’t think he’s any happier about it than I am.”

“What do you mean?”