Silent Night - By Tom Barber Page 0,71

him. I wasn’t even in this part of the city. I only just got down here. Then you guys sprang these cuffs on me like a goddamn bear-trap.’

‘Where were you?’ Jorgensen asked.

‘At a coffee place uptown.’

‘You’re going to have to be more specific than that.’

‘Shit, it was the green one. Starbucks.’

‘What time?’

‘I don’t know exactly. But I was there around 10. Go ask the people who work there. They saw me.’

‘Which Starbucks was it?’

‘The one by Port Authority. That big-ass bus terminal.’

‘Corner of 39 and 8,’ Josh confirmed.

‘So if you weren’t the shooter what are you doing in this part of town?’ Archer asked.

‘Taking a look around, man. Is that against the law?’

‘Why are you in New York?’

‘Visiting. I’ve never been here before. After all this shit, I’m never coming back. I’m not lying. Go ask the people at that coffee place. Hell, they must have cameras. Check them.’

Marquez looked at Sway, then walked away to one side with Archer, Josh and Jorgensen. Beside them, the gurney carrying the black body-bag with Jacobs inside rattled as it was pushed off the sidewalk and onto the street, rolling towards the back of a waiting ambulance. Beside it, Shepherd finished talking with a CSU investigator then walked over to his team.

‘From the trajectory, the team upstairs think the shot came from that building there,’ he said, pointing at what looked like an apartment building about a hundred and fifty yards from the club. ‘CSU and detectives are already over there clearing the place.’

‘Any sign of a rifle, sir?’ Marquez asked.

Shepherd shook his head. ‘Nothing.’ He looked over at Sway, who was glowering in the back of the Ford. ‘Has he talked?’

‘Yeah. He’s claiming that he was uptown at the time of the shooting.’

‘Whereabouts?’

‘A Starbucks.’

‘You got the specific one?’

‘Yes, sir,’ Josh said. ‘It’s opposite Port Authority.’

‘Anything in his pockets?’

‘No vial if that’s what you mean.’

‘OK. You and Arch head up there. Ask the serving staff. If they have CCTV, check it. We’ll know within twenty minutes if he’s lying or not.’

The two men nodded and walked off. Heading towards their car, Josh turned to Archer.

‘I’m driving.’

*

Parking around Midtown New York was always a nightmare and never more so than at Christmas. However, being NYPD had certain advantages and that night it meant that Josh and Archer could pull up to the kerb right outside the coffee shop. Archer felt the icy wind the moment he got out of the car and was glad that he’d grabbed his coat before they headed off. This was three or four layer weather and he’d lost his hoodie using it as a tourniquet on the girl’s arm. He headed straight for the entrance with Josh.

Given that they were in plainclothes and their side-arms were mostly concealed, the barista behind the counter didn’t immediately realise they were NYPD. It was much warmer in here and the two detectives relished the change in temperature as they stepped up to the counter. A young blond girl dressed in the standard green apron and black hat was waiting for them by the till.

‘Good evening. What can I get you?’ she asked with a smile.

It faded slightly when she saw Archer’s busted nose.

Josh showed his badge. ‘We’re with the NYPD. We have some questions.’

Further along the counter, a woman in a white shirt had seen them arrive. She overheard Josh and walked over to join them.

‘What’s going on, Kelly?’ she asked.

‘You the manager?’ Archer asked.

She nodded cautiously.

‘Relax,’ he said. ‘You’re not in any trouble. We’re here about a customer who claimed he was here earlier.’

‘A customer? What did he do?’

‘Can’t tell you that. But he’s saying he was in here at 10pm. Were you on duty then?’

The woman nodded. ‘I wasn’t on counter though. That was Jay. You just caught him. He’s out back getting changed.’

She turned to the barista.

‘Go grab him, Kelly.’

Kelly nodded and walked down the counter, disappearing out of sight.

‘What does this guy look like?’ the manager asked.

Josh pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. On the page were four prison mug shots of Sway, Rourke, Wicks and Drexler. Each member of the team had taken a printout of the four suspects before they left the Bureau earlier. Josh folded it so only Sway’s shot was visible, then passed it over. The woman took it in her hands and examined it closely.

‘Recognise him?’

She frowned, then shook her head.

‘Afraid not. He’s definitely not a regular. Jay’ll be the one who can help you.’

Down the counter the guy called Jay