Devlin’s photographer snorted as the reporter squirmed and shot him a look.

“You look so familiar,” Zoe continued. “I can’t seem to place you but I’m sure I’ve seen you—”

“We’ve never met,” said Devlin without emotion.

“People say I have a photographic memory. I never forget a face,” said Zoe as she scrutinized him further. Devlin looked away at the police activity going on across the street.

“Wait a minute,” said Zoe, a smile spreading across her face. “I know who you are. You’re that CNN reporter from Alaska who was chased into a lake by a moose.”

Devlin’s cameraman doubled over with laughter as Tommy gritted his teeth.

“Am I right?” said Zoe, smiling, oblivious that Devlin was not enjoying the conversation. “That video of you went totally viral. It was on TikTok and Instagram and YouTube. They played it on the morning TV shows and all the late-night shows for weeks, maybe months. You’re totally famous.”

“See, Devlin, isn’t that nice? You’re a regular celebrity,” said the photographer, smothering his laughter as Devlin glared.

“You’re not with CNN anymore?” said Zoe.

“I did the Alaska gig for a year but I wanted to come back to my roots. I’m a New York City boy,” said Tommy. “Talked it over with my buddy Anderson Cooper. We’re really tight and Anderson told me I should go for The Echo job. CNN offered me an anchor spot in Atlanta but New York is where it’s all happening so I turned it down. I already did the CNN thing. Been there, done that. The Echo was begging me to take the position here, so it was a no-brainer.”

“Did you get hurt by that moose? Because it looked like it mauled you a few times before you ran away and jumped into the lake,” said Zoe. “The expression on your face was priceless. You looked terrified. When you let out that high-pitched scream after you went into the icy water—that was social-media gold. Twitter totally lit up.”

The photographer stifled another snort that was met by a death stare from Devlin.

“It’s a little-known fact, but moose are extremely dangerous animals,” said Tommy. “They’re brutal killers. Speaking of, can we get back to the murder? You hear anything from any of your neighbors?”

“Well,” said Zoe, moving closer but not too close and speaking in a half-whisper, “I’m a bit of a sleuth hobbyist myself and as it turns out, I happen to be working on a murder investigation with the NYPD right now.”

“You’re working on the Strangler case?” said Tommy, a surprised look in his eyes.

“Not that case, a different murder,” said Zoe, “but it’s a real case too.”

“No kidding?” said Tommy Devlin, writing in his notebook. “What’s it all about? Why are the police working with you?”