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P. 101
READING
meantime, McKenna should get dressed,
Activity 1 Short Story Reading drink some coffee, and wait for him. And
the
before
protest,
McKenna
could
detective hung up with a click. Twenty
minutes later, there were three loud raps
Read one of the following short stories
on McKenna’s hotel room door. He opened
according to your preference.
it cautiously and stared for a moment.
The handsome, Middle Eastern man in the
The Last Justice sharp navy suit and white open-collared
Anthony J Franze dress shirt was not what he had expected
to find standing in the doorway. Nor was
Jefferson McKenna reached for his cell the attractive woman with large caramel
phone vibrating on the nightstand in his eyes that stood next to him.
suite at the W Hotel. Head still pressed to “Mr. McKenna,” the man said, giving his
the pillow, he squinted at the alarm clock hand a firm shake, “Detective Chase
near the bed, its green glow the only light Assad. Sorry to bother you at this hour.”
in the room: 2:32 a.m. The phone vibrated McKenna nodded as he looked intently at
again crawling toward the edge of the Assad. Tall, with a square jaw and a day’s
nightstand. Snatching it before it got worth of stubble over olive skin, the guy
away, he pressed the answer button. looked more like a cocky investment
banker than a New York City detective.
“Hello?” “My partner, Detective Emma Milstein,”
“This is Detective Assad with the NYPD. Assad said. Milstein’s dark hair was
With whom am I speaking?” the voice said pulled back into a ponytail, which drew
in too demanding a tone for the hour. attention to her elegant angular face.
McKenna sat up and switched on the Those caramel eyes peered directly into
bedside lamp. McKenna’s as they shook hands. He
“This is Solicitor General Jefferson judged her to be about five, though she
McKenna,” he said, matching the carried herself taller. He invited the
detective’s tone and waiting for the name detectives in, determined to be cordial
to register. It didn’t seem to. A year ago despite Assad’s curt manner on the
this would have been no surprise—few phone. The two detectives sat on the
outside the Beltway had even known there velvet couch in the sitting room of the
was a solicitor general’s office, much less master suite. McKenna sat in the
the name of its holder. But that was armchair facing them. Looking down at
before Black Wednesday; before the vigils, his frayed running shorts and bare legs,
the flags at half-staff, and the media McKenna suddenly felt self-conscious.
frenzy over the bloodbath at the high Other than his suit and tie, all he had in
court. Now, to the mild amusement of his the hotel were his workout clothes. Eyeing
staff, McKenna appeared in People Milstein, he immediately decided that he
magazine’s most eligible bachelors list for should have gone with the suit.
his “brooding, darkly handsome appeal,” “You’ll have to forgive me,” he said,
and weekly his office received letters from gesturing feebly at his attire. “My street
female admirers wanting to meet the clothes disappeared from the hotel gym
striking thirty-eight-year-old widower the locker room. They think housekeeping
media had anointed a national hero. may have accidentally picked them up.”
“Where are you right now?” the detective His voice trailed off. He rarely got
asked. “I need to speak with you.” flustered, but right now, barely awake and
“The W Hotel, Lex and East Fiftieth. But thrown off by the surprise visit from the
right now? It’s nearly three in the detectives, he exuded all the timidity of
morning. What’s this about?” one of his junior staffers. Milstein gave a
Detective Assad declined to explain. He fleeting smile, pulled a digital camera from
was on his way, he said, and in the her handbag, and directed his attention to
Extensive Listening & Reading | 97
