CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

 

 

Henry walked into the DA's office. The secretary asked for his name and quickly popped her head into the boss's office to announce Henry's arrival. She told Henry he could go right in. District Attorney Mark McKinley had been in his job for longer than most. He didn't seem to have the political aspirations that many of his predecessors possessed. Smiling broadly, he stood and shook Henry's hand. They had met before, but this was the first time Henry had been in his office. Mark offered Henry a seat and sat back down behind his desk.

Mark McKinley was popular around town. He could trace his lineage directly to the 25th President of the United States, William McKinley. Mark had graduated at the top of his class from Michigan Law and had been a young star in NY from the day he wandered into his first courtroom; combining handsome and charming with brains made him unstoppable. Few were surprised when he became the youngest DA the city had ever seen. He settled into a comfortable life.

"It is good to see you, Henry. Frankly, I have been expecting you. Mike said you had some proof, a journal or something, which is going to put Tommy 'The Knife' behind bars for a good long time."

"I don't have it with me. But I can get it," Henry said.

"Why didn't you bring it with you? I need that journal. I can't convene a grand jury without it, and things are getting pretty bad around here," Mark said. His voice struck Henry as less than calm.

"I am playing this one close to the vest. There is too much at stake. When I am ready, I will bring the journal to you."

"Listen here, Henry, if you are withholding evidence, I will throw you in the can, and you can rot there," Mark said, standing and pounding his fist on his desk.

Henry didn't move nor was he moved by the threat. "Who knows about the journal other than the three of us?"

"I haven't told anyone. I only found out a couple of days ago myself. Now are you going to give it over or what?" Mark said. An awkward silence hung in the room. He sat back down, realizing that Henry wasn't going to be intimidated.

"You know what happened to Mike, I assume," Henry said, leaning forward and lowering his voice.

"Of course," Mark whispered back.

"I am not anxious to get found by Tommy, and I don't know who to trust. Are you sure you can keep the journal safe?"

"I guarantee it. Now when do I get it?" Mark said hurriedly.

"I have a couple of things to work out..." Henry paused, then continued," I don't think it is safe for me to be wandering around your office. Can you meet me tomorrow night?"

"Yes, sure, where and when?" Mark said. He seemed suddenly at ease.

Henry grabbed the yellow pad and wrote down the address of his new office and 11 PM on the pad. He slid it across the desk, then said, "Come alone. As I said, I don't trust anyone."

Henry got up and left without another word. The secretary was filing her nails as he walked out and didn't bother to look up. Forty minutes later, Henry sat down across from Luna and a piping hot pizza.

"What did he say?" Luna asked

"About what I would expect. He wants the journal," Henry said, grabbing a slice of pie."Did you get a hold of Sylvia and Winston?"

"Yes. They are being careful and will meet us at your office," Luna said.

Henry noted the change of tone in her voice. "Is something wrong?"

"No."

Henry let it go, and they ate in silence. A lot of things remained to be done and not much time, and he knew the odds were stacked against them. Henry had made a list when he got up in the morning. Visit the DA was at the top. Quite a few more items still needed to be crossed off, and they would need to get started after the pizza was gone.