The Frenzy Way Read Online Free PDF Page A

visit Rome. Are you hungry?”
    “No, just anxious to carry out my mission. Did you confirm my appointment?”
    Father Hagen lowered his voice. “Yes, I spoke to your contact lastnight. He’s expecting you for lunch. I have responsibilities here, but Miguel will be glad to drive you.”
    Pedro cast an uncertain glance at Miguel. “He doesn’t know anything, does he?”
    Father Hagen shook his head. “Of course not. I understand the need for discretion.”
    “Good. I don’t like him.”
    “Miguel? I know he’s a little rough around the edges, but he’s basically a good man.”
    “No. You shouldn’t trust him, either, Father.”
    Miguel joined them.
    “Miguel, show our guest to his room. You need to drive him into the city shortly.”
    “Sure, Father.” Miguel gestured for Pedro to follow him. “This way, bro.”
    Pedro looked at the priest.
    “I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
    Pedro followed Miguel around the church to the rectory, shaded by a tall tree. Miguel opened a side door, and Pedro entered a large bedroom with a kitchenette and a private bathroom. An area rug covered much of the hardwood floor, and the bed had been made. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and a small refrigerator hummed in the corner.
    Miguel said, “You’ve got cable. I stocked the fridge myself. You think of anything else you need, let me know. I’ll wait for you at the car.” Stepping outside, he left the door open.
    Pedro set his bag on the bed and opened the refrigerator door, glad to see bottled water and fruit mixed in with the beer and junk food. He used the restroom, and when he opened the door, Father Hagen stood waiting for him.
    “Here’s the name of your contact,” the priest said, holding out a Post-it.
    Pedro took the powder blue paper square and studied the handwriting on it.
    “Miguel knows the way.”
    Father Hagen exited the room, and Pedro kneeled at the bed and prayed. He made the sign of the cross, then rubbed the opal ring on his right hand.

CHAPTER THREE
    Seated at the desk in his Manhattan Homicide South office, located on the fourth floor of Detective Bureau Manhattan on East Twenty-first Street, Mace scrolled through the crime scene photos he had uploaded to his computer. Landry, who had replaced him as the unit’s lieutenant and who now served as his right hand, blanched at the sight of the images.
    “The media will have a field day when this breaks,” Mace said. “Hector Rodriguez had to order scaffolding for the bedroom so his people wouldn’t disturb the evidence on the floor. We canvassed the entire building and turned up zilch.”
    Landry double blinked. “Any press yet?”
    Mace shook his head, but they both knew it was only a matter of time before a case this sensational exploded all over the airwaves and the Internet. “This was no crackhead home invasion. It was an act of rage, of total contempt. I can’t believe Glenzer was chosen at random. He was deliberately targeted.”
    “How soon can we expect a confirmation on the ID?”
    Mace shrugged. “Midafternoon, if we’re lucky.”
    “Lane’s never handled such a high-profile case.”
    “She’s as good as anyone else on the squad, and I don’t see any reason to replace her.”
    “But we have to stay on top of this. I don’t care how badly that bends her out of shape.”
    “Understood.”
    Mace’s cell phone rang, and he checked the display. “That’s Willy,” he said, taking the call.
    “Hector’s team is almost finished, and the EMTs are standing by to remove the body parts,” Willy said, his excitement unmistakable. “We found a safe in the closet. I’m talking old school, five hundred pounds of iron.”
    Mace felt his eyebrows coming together. “Locked?”
    “You could say that. Looks like whoever did the professor also tried to break into the safe. The handle and combination dial are both on the floor. This sucker’s sealed tighter than a virgin in a convent.”
    “I’ll have Robbery send over a