Introduction

In March of 1975, as New York City hurtles toward bankruptcy and the Bronx burns, newsman Coleridge Taylor roams police precincts and ERs. He is looking for the story that will deliver him from obits, his place of exile at the Messenger-Telegram. Ever since he was demoted from the police beat for inventing sources, the 34-year-old has been a lost soul. A break comes at Bellevue, where Taylor views the body of a homeless teen picked up in the Meatpacking District. Taylor smells a rat: the dead boy looks too clean, and he’s wearing a distinctive Army field jacket. A little digging reveals that the jacket belonged to a hobo named Mark Voichek and that the teen was a spoiled society kid up to no good, the son of a city official. Taylor’s efforts to protect Voichek put him on the hit list of three goons who are willing to kill any number of street people to cover tracks that just might lead to City Hall. Taylor has only one ally in the newsroom, young and lovely reporter Laura Wheeler. Time is not on his side. If he doesn’t wrap this story up soon, he’ll be back on the obits page—as a headline, not a byline. Last Words is the first book in the Coleridge Taylor mystery series.

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Excerpt

"You're the best goddamned reporter in the place."

The passion in her voice forced Taylor to raise his eyes from his plate. Laura's porcelain white skin reddened delightfully at any sort of emotion--anger, embarrassment, happiness.

He didn't have a good answer. "I don't need your pity."

"No, you don't. You're wallowing in it fine all on your own. I stopped by again this morning. How can an obit writer be out of the office so much?"

"I was over in the South Bronx."

"South Bronx?"

"I've got a lead on a good story, believe it or not." He couldn't help it. He needed to talk to someone. He told her about the search for Joshua Harper and Mark Voichek, all to ID a dead kid at Bellevue. He threw in the Street Sweepers for good measure.

"Man, Taylor, I'd hate to see what you'd do if they put you on the society desk."

In spite of himself, Taylor chuckled and shook his head. "What do you want from me, Laura?"

"I'm worried about you. You're one of the smart ones in that place."

"That's not saying much."

"And to be honest," she sipped her coffee, "I need your help."

"Help?" It surprised him. He was having a hard enough time helping himself.

"They're sticking me with all the nickel-and-dime stories. Two alarms, B&Es. Half don't even make the Metro Briefs. Worse, they've got me doing research for other reporters. You know why? Because I'm a woman. Merton is covering a multiple on the Upper West Side. He just got out of grad school. Even I've been there longer."

"He doesn't know what he's doing."

"He's a man. That's all he needs. I talked with Kathy Loring on the political desk. Unless I want to work the society beat, girls end up doing research at the mighty MT, beacon of reform and liberality."

Grandpop set Laura's plate and coffee down. She took a bite and smiled. "Mmm, that's so good, Stamitos. Your food is amazing." Her cheeks tinged pink. "My plan is to uncover my own leads. I want your help."

"Welcome to the find-your-own-story club."

Grandpop topped off their coffee cups. He was visiting the table at least twice as often as necessary. He squeezed Taylor's shoulder as he went back to the counter.

"I like your grandfather."

"Such an old dear."

"I don't mean it that way. He cares about you. It's obvious."

"He's the best my family has. Left, that is."

"Your family did pretty well by you."

He stabbed a couple of fries and a piece of his omelet. He so missed talking to Laura. Was she interested in him or his story ideas? He had never been sure. Christ, trying to figure out what a woman wanted turned him into a complete idiot. Everyone seemed to be playing by a different rulebook. The younger women, certainly. The sexual revolution and all that. The ones in their thirties, like him? They'd settled down long ago. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

1. Is Taylor correct in his view of obituaries, that they are dull lists of relatives and club memberships that don’t really reflect a person’s life? Discuss how they could be improved.

2. Taylor views his role as collecting all the facts on a crime and reporting them. He doesn’t think he should get emotionally involved in the story. Does he hold to his ideal? Should he?

3. New York City is almost an alien landscape in 1975 compared to today. What about the city during those dark days surprised you most? Is most frightening or shocking?

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