As Frank left the interrogation room, he noticed that the Chief's attention was fixed on the big screen. Words across a red banner at the bottom read BREAKING NEWS — ATTEMPTED SCHOOL SHOOTING. A caption at top left read CICERO, NY and the one at top right read LIVE.
But Chief McGrath was focused on the uniformed man who was speaking outside a building on which the words LAKESHORE ELEMENTARY were visible. Several other uniformed men and women were standing with him. His bushy dark eyebrows were in striking contrast to his silvery gray full crown, and though he looked well past sixty he seemed to be fit. He would, thought Frank, be perfect for the role of a mature playboy.
Especially with his rich baritone: " . . . the bravery of School Resource Officer Gary Larese, the suspect dropped his gun and fled without firing a shot."
Frank was reminded of an Adam Schiff news conference from his college days in 1990 or '91, after Sinn Fein member Ian O'Connor — no, O'Connell — was convicted of murder. The man now high up in Cicero PD might well have been one of the arresting cops . . . and sure looked like an older version of the detective who slugged Councilman Crossley in 1995. Frank remembered that COP POPS POL headline in the New York Ledger from his rookie year.
And he nodded when the title CHIEF MICHAEL LOGAN appeared.
Friend of yours, Chief?"
"I've known Mike for 34 years. He was one of the arresting detectives in that Lowenstein affair." He turned elsewhere. "Captain, Galindez, back you go to Cloutier. Find out how he knows about Jacob Lowenstein. Might be nothing, but still . . . " Looking back at Frank, he said, "You're chasing Darren Troy. Shoo."