“Or the traffic. So he sticks on the Henry Hudson Parkway, going north. My God, he can’t be far along right now. He may be across this bridge here and into Spuyten Duyvil. Or maybe he’s in Yonkers, still heading north.”
“What’s the next crossing?”
“The Tappan Zee Bridge. Here. Tarrytown to South Nyack.”
“What if we closed that off?”
“And he kept going north, trying to get across? Bear Mountain Bridge is next. He’s still south of Chilton.”
“And if we blocked the Bear Mountain Bridge?”
“Then he’s got to go up to the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Now he’s north of Chilton.”
Delaney took a deep breath, put his hands on his waist. He began to pace about the study.
“We could block every goddamned bridge up to Albany,” he said, speaking to himself as much as to Blankenship. “Keep him on the east side of the river. What the hell for? I want him to go to his hole. He’s heading for Chilton. He feels safe there. He’s alone there. If we block him, he’ll just keep running, and God only knows what he’ll do.”
Blankenship said, almost timidly, “There’s always the possibility he might have made it across the George Washington Bridge, sir. Shouldn’t we alert Jersey? Just in case.”
“The hell with them.”
“And the FBI?”
“Fuck ’em.”
“And the New York State cops?”
“Those shitheads? With their sombreros. You think I’m going to let those apple-knockers waltz in and grab the headlines? Fat chance! This boy is mine. You got your pad?”
“Yes, sir. Right here.”
“Take some notes. No…wait a minute.”
Captain Delaney strode to the door of the radio room, yanked it open. There were more men; the recalls were coming in. Delaney pointed at the first man he saw. “You. Come here.”
“Me, sir?”
The Captain grabbed him by the arm, pulled him inside the study, slammed the door behind him.
“What’s your name?”
“Javis, John J. Detective second grade.”
“Detective Javis, I am about to give orders to Detective first grade Ronald Blankenship. I want you to do nothing but listen and, in case of a Departmental hearing, testify honestly as to what you heard.”
Javis’ face went white.
“It’s not necessary, sir,” Blankenship said.
Delaney gave him a particularly sweet smile. “I know it isn’t,” he said softly. “But I’m cutting corners. If it works, fine. If not, it’s my ass. It’s been in a sling before. All right, let’s go. Take notes on this. You listen carefully, Javis.
“Do all this through Communications. To New Jersey State Police, to the FBI, to New York State Police, a fugitive alert on Danny Boy. Complete description of him and car. Photos to follow. Apprehend and hold for questioning. Exercise extreme caution. Wanted for multiple homicide. Armed and dangerous. Got that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“A general alert. The fugitive can be anywhere. You understand?”
“Yes, sir. I understand.”
“Phone calls from here to police in Tarrytown, Bear Mountain, Beacon. Same alert. But tell them, do not stop or interfere with suspect. Let him run. If he crosses their bridge, call us. Let him get across the river but inform us immediately. Tell them he’s a cop-killer. Got that?”
“Yes, sir,” Blankenship nodded, writing busily. “If he tries to cross at the Tappan Zee, Bear Mountain, or Newburgh-Beacon Bridges, they are to let him cross but observe and call us. Correct?”
“Correct,” Delaney said definitely. He looked at Javis. “You heard all that?”
“Yes, sir,” the man faltered.
“Good,” Delaney nodded. “Outside and stand by.”
When the door closed behind the detective, Blankenship repeated, “You didn’t have to do that, Captain.”
“Screw it.”
“You’re going after him?”
“Yes.”
“Can I come?”
“No. I need you here. Get those alerts off. I’ll take the three cars from Special Operations and more men. I don’t know the range of the radios. If they fade, I’ll check by phone. I’ll call on my private line here.” He put his hand on his desk phone. “Put a man in here. No out-going calls. Keep it clear. I’ll keep calling. You keep checking with Tarrytown, Bear Mountain and Beacon, to see where he goes across. You got all this?”
“Yes,” Blankenship said, still jotting notes. “I’m caught up.”
“Bring MacDonald back to Barbara. The two of you start on the paperwork. You handle the relief end: schedules, manpower, cars, and so forth. MacDonald is to get the statements, the questioning of everyone we took in. Clean up all the crap. He’ll know what to do.”
“Yes, sir.”
“If Deputy Inspector Thorsen calls, just tell him I’m following and will contact him as soon as possible.”
Blankenship looked up. “Should I call the hospital, sir?” he asked. “About your wife?”
Delaney looked at him, shocked. How long had it been? “Yes,” he said softly. “Thank you. And about Fernandez, Tiger One, and Bulldog Three. I’d appreciate that. I’ll check with you when I call in. Let’s see…Is there anything else? Any questions?”
“Can I come with you, sir?”
“Next time,” Captain Edward X. Delaney said. “Get on those alerts right now.”
The moment the door closed behind Blankenship, Delaney was on the phone. He got information, asking for police headquarters in Chilton, N. Y. It took time for the call to go through, but he wasn’t impatient. If he was right, time didn’t matter. And if he was wrong, time didn’t matter.
Finally, he heard the clicks, the pauses, the buzzing, then the final regular ring.
“Chilton Police Department. Help you?”
“Could I speak to the commanding officer, please?”
A throaty chuckle. “Commanding Officer? Guess that’s me. Chief Forrest. What can I do for you for?”
“Chief, this is Captain Edward X. Delaney, New York Police Department. New York City. I’ve got-”
“Well!” the Chief said. “This is nice. How’s the weather down there?”
“Fine,” Delaney said. “No complaints. A little nippy, but the sun’s out and the sky’s blue.”
“Same here,” the voice rumbled, “and the radio feller says it’s going to stay just like this for another week. Hope he’s right.”
“Chief,” Delaney said, “I’ve got a favor I’d like to ask of you.”
“Why, yes,” Forrest said. “Thought you might.”
Delaney was caught up short. This was no country bumpkin. “Got a man on the run,” he said rapidly. “Five homicides known, including a cop. Ice ax. In a Chevy Corvette. Heading-”
“Whoa, whoa,” the Chief said. “You city fellers talk so fast I can’t hardly make sense. Just slow down a mite and spell it out.”
“I’ve got a fugitive on the run,” Delaney said slowly, obediently. “He’s killed five people, including a New York City detective. He crushed their skulls with an ice ax.”
“Mountain climber?”
“Yes,” the Captain said, beginning to appreciate Chief Forrest. “It’s just a slim chance, but I think he may be heading for the Chilton State Park. That’s near you, isn’t it?”
“Was, the last time I looked. About two miles out of town. What makes you think he’s heading there?”
“Well…it’s a long story. But he’s been up there to climb. There’s some rock-I forget the name-but apparently he-”
“Devil’s Needle,” Forrest said.
“Yes, that’s it. He’s been up there before, and I figured-”
“Park closed for the winter.”
“If he wanted to get in, how would he do it, Chief?”
“It’s a small park. Not like the Adirondacks. Nothing like that. Chain-link fence all around. One gate with a padlock. I reckon he could smash the gate or climb the fence. No big problem. This fugitive of yours-he a crazy?”
“Yes.”
“Probably smash the gate. Well, Captain, what can I do you for?”
“Chief, I was wondering if you could send one of your men out there. Just to watch. You understand? If this nut shows up, I just want him observed. What he does. Where he goes. I don’t want anyone trying to take him. I’m on my way with ten men. All I want is him holed up.”