The Red Queen Dies
Read The Red Queen Dies Online
Authors: Frankie Y. Bailey
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To my family, who always believe in my dreams
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Contents
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Acknowledgments
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Let me begin by thanking and apologizing to anyone that I forget to acknowledge here. So many people contributed to the process of transforming an idea that occurred to me on a train bound for Albany into the book that you are about to read that I fear I am bound to forget to mention someone.
Thank you to the faculty and staff of the English Department at Virginia Tech. It has been my honor and privilege to serve on the Distinguished Alumni Advisory Board and to have the opportunity to come home to Tech for those board meetings. Thank you to the members of the advisory board, who have given me support and encouragement. A special thank-you to Ed Weathers for introducing me to Kathryn (Kaye) Graham, and to Kaye for answering my Lewis Carroll question with a suggestion about the Salvador Dalà edition of
Alice in Wonderland.
My thanks also to my professors in the English Department when I was a student. Let's hear it for Shakespeare and children's literature!
Thank you to my friends and first readers, Joanne, Angie, and Caroline. Your comments and suggestions were invaluable. I hope you enjoy your characters.
Thank you Rob Edelman and Audrey Kupferberg for inviting me to dinner. Rob, as you will notice, your collection inspired me.
Thank you to the members of the Great Dane rescue group with whom I chatted during the UAlbany Fall Festival and Book Fair.
Thank you to my friend Joy Pollock, who was not called on to read this one, but who should know she'll be hearing from me on the next one.
Thank you to my late parents and my brother for sharing hours of television watching and discussion. Those hours in front of the television set were not wasted. Not only did they prove useful in my future career, but, as you will notice, Wayne, discussions about giant insects and aliens are an excellent springboard for literary endeavors.
To my fabulous aunt Kitty, who is always there to laugh with and to provide support and encouragement.
Thank you to Dr. Doug Lyle, who answered my medical questions. Any mistake in the translation of your information, Doug, is solely my own.
Thank you to James Miller, former public information officer for the Albany Public Department. Although I ended up operating in a parallel universe in the near future, it was helpful to talk with a PIO about responses to crime scenes.
Thank you to the members of the Sisters in CrimeâUpper Hudson Chapter (the Mavens of Mayhem) and the Capital Region Romance Writers of America. The support for writing that happens in both groups has made me a better writer.
Thank you to the faculty, staff, and students in the School of Criminal Justice for putting up with a sometimes eccentric mystery writer in your midst. A shout-out to fellow mystery readers Han Toch and David Bayley.
Thank you to Marcia Markland, my editor at St. Martin's, who could see the potential for a book in an e-mail. You don't know how much I appreciate your willingness to say, “Go for it, and let me know when you have something.” My thanks, too, to Kat Brzozowski, associate editor. I appreciate not only your hard work on my behalf, but your enthusiasm about my book. Thank you to Lauren Hesse digital marketing; and Hector DeJean, publicity, for tips over lunch about how to plunge into social media. And, thank you to Helen Werner Cox, illustrator; John Hamilton Design; and David Rotstein for giving me a cover to die for. Thank you Carol Edwards and Amelie Littell for their copyediting expertise, and the other members of the production staff.
My thanks to Jonathan Lyons, who walked me through my contract for this book.
Finally, my special thanks to Josh Getzler, who is my first agent and with whom I am already thrilled to be working.
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1
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DATE
: Thursday, 24 October 2019
TIME
: 0700 hours
WEATHER TODAY
: Mid 90s. Air quality poor. Evening storms.
DISPLAY ON WALL
:
Wake-up News
“Good morning, everyone. I'm Suzanne Price.
“First, the news from the nation. The federal government says, âNo hoax, no conspiracy, but still no definitive answers.'
“The administration denies suppressing portions of the commission report on the November 2012 close encounter between NORAD fighter jets and the black boomerang-shaped UFO that appeared over the Mojave Desert, creating worldwide awe and panic before disappearing in a blinding flash of light.
“In Las Vegas, preparations are under way for the now-annual spectacular celebration of that close encounter.
“However, a warning from alien invasion survivalists, who say this seventh anniversary will be the year the spacecraft returns leading an armada. Survivalists plan to retreat to their bunkers on November 2. Gun shop owners report sales of firearms are up, as they are every year as the anniversary approaches.
“Meanwhile, the National Weather Service says another eruption of solar flares could cause more communication and power disruptions early next week.
“Forest fires in both Canada and breakaway nation New France continue to burn out of control, sending smoke southward.
“Scientists taking part in a climate change conference in Philadelphia disagree about the explanation for the significant improvement in the acidity levels of the world's oceans. âIt shouldn't be happening,' an MIT oceanographer said. âNothing in anyone's data predicted this turnaround. But I think we can safely rule out divine intervention and UFO babies.'
“Out on the presidential campaign trail, a political firestorm erupts as Republican front-runner Janet Cortez accuses independent candidate Howard Miller of ârallying angry, frightened people to commit hate crimes.' During an arena speech yesterday, Miller called on several thousand supporters to âreclaim America for Americans' and ârestore our way of life.' Cortez says Miller is âmorally responsible' for the attacks that have been escalating since he announced his third-party candidacy.
“Now, here at home ⦠a chilling scenario posed by a local crime beat threader. Is there an âAlbany Ripper' in our midst?”
“Dammit!” Hannah McCabe jumped back as the grapefruit juice from her overturned glass splashed across the countertop, covering the still-visible display of the nutrition content of her father's breakfast.
“Bring up the sound,” he said. “I want to hear this.”
“Half a second, Pop. Hands full.” McCabe shoved her holster out of the way and touched
CLEAN UP
before the stream of juice could run off the counter and onto the tile floor.
“⦠Following last night's Common Council meeting, threader Clarence Redfield interrupted a statement by Detective Wayne Jacoby, the Albany Police Department spokesperson⦔
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
In the chief of police's office, Jacoby struggled to keep his expression neutral as the footage of the press conference and his exchange with Redfield began to roll.
“The Albany Police Department remains hopeful that the Common Council will approve both funding requests. The first to expand GRTYL, our Gang Reduction Through Youth Leadership program, and the second to enhance the surveillanceâ”
“
Detective Jacoby, isn't it true that the Albany PD is engaged in a cover-up? Isn't it true that the Albany PD has failed to inform the citizens of this city of what they have a right to know?”
“I know you want to offer your usual observations, Mr. Redfield. But if you will hold your questions until I finishâ”
“Isn't it true that we have a serial killer at work here in Albany, Detective? Isn't it true that a secret police task force has been created to try to track down a killer who has been preying on women here in this city?”
“That is ⦠no, that is not true, Mr. Redfield. There is no secret task force, nor is there any cover-up. We ⦠the Albany PD does not engage in⦔
From his position by the window, Chief Egan said, “Stammering like a frigging schoolgirl makes it hard to believe you're telling the truth, Wayne.”
“The little bastard caught me off guard,” Jacoby said, his annoyance getting the better of him.
The others at the table avoided his glance, their gazes focused on the wall where his confrontation with Redfield was continuing.
“So, Detective, you're telling us that there aren't two dead women whoâ”
“I'm telling you, Mr. Redfield, that we have ongoing investigations into two cases involving female victims whoâ”
“Who were the victims of a serial killer?”
“We have two female homicide victims. Both deaths were drug-induced and both occurred within the past six weeks. On each occasion, we made available to the media, including yourself, information aboutâ”
“But you didn't release the details that link the two cases. You didn't tell the media or the citizens of this city that both women wereâ”
“We do not release the details of ongoing homicide investigations, Mr. Redfield. And you are not aiding these investigations with your grandstanding.”
“My grandstanding? Don't you think it's time someone told the women of Albany that the police can't protect them? That they should stay off the streets after dark, get inside when the fog rolls in, and lock their doors? Shouldn't someone tell the taxpaying citizens of this city that in spite of all the hype about your Big Brother surveillance system, a killer is still moving like a phantom through theâ”
“What the citizens of Albany should know is that the Albany PD is bringing all its resources and those of other law-enforcement agencies to bear to solve these two cases. Veteran detectives are following every lead. And the citywide surveillance system the department has implementedâ”
“When it's working, Detective Jacoby. Isn't it true that the solar flares have been giving your system problems?”
One of the captains sitting at the conference table in Chief Egan's office groaned. “Is he just guessing?”