NYPD Red

Chapter 37



GABE WAS NERVOUS. The director always refers to a big important scene as the money shot. But this one really was the money shot. He couldn’t afford to get it wrong—the ending of the movie was hanging on it.

The good news was that the production trailer was on a relatively quiet street, and it was only 6:00 in the morning, a solid hour before the foot traffic picked up.

The bad news was that he was right smack between Columbus Circle and Lincoln Center, an obvious target for terrorists. That meant there would be eyes—both human and electronic—all over the place. Add to that the fact that his getaway car was the D train, and his accomplice was a rank amateur, and he came to the conclusion that a guy would have to be crazy to pull a stunt like this.

Fortunately for me, he reminded himself, I am crazy.

There was no time for an elaborate disguise, so they decided to go commando. Ski masks.

The train stopped at Columbus Circle and they went upstairs and headed uptown on Broadway. When they got to 62nd, they walked west. They crossed Columbus Avenue, and there were the trailers—three of them—parked in a No Parking zone, blue film commission permits taped to their doors.

“Keep walking,” Gabe said.

Jimmy’s bike wasn’t there yet.

They walked to the corner of Amsterdam and waited.

They didn’t have to wait long. Jimmy Fitzhugh’s Suzuki came up Amsterdam, turned right on 62nd, and stopped at the first trailer half a block away.

“Walk fast,” Gabe said.

Jimmy chained his bike to the trailer hitch and headed for the steps.

“Masks,” Gabe said.

The masks went on and they got to the trailer just as Fitzhugh was unlocking the door.

Gabe followed him up the three steps and shoved him inside. Lexi followed and slammed the door behind them.

They were in. He couldn’t believe it, but they were in.

Gabe pointed the gun in Jimmy’s face, and, as expected, there was zero resistance.

“I got about five hundred bucks in my pocket,” Jimmy said. “It’s all yours. No problem.”

Silence.

Gabe kept the gun pointed at Jimmy, then reached around with his other hand and poked Lexi.

Even with her mask on, she appeared to be petrified. Frozen. This was her big scene, and she forgot to say her lines.