CHAPTER FORTY SIX

 

 

The street was packed with parked cars and there were two people standing outside smoking and talking. A car was just leaving, so Henry took the spot. "Luna, I need to talk to Mike. I am going to ask him to keep an eye on you..."

Luna immediately flashed a look at Henry and objected, "I am coming with you!"

"No, you aren't! You are going to stay here and stay out of it. I am going to get Sylvia and put an end to this once and for all," Henry said in a calm measured tone that was laced with a cold forcefulness. It left no question as to whom was in charge. Luna affixed a look of anger to her face, but her eyes revealed relief. She did, however, make Henry walk around and open the door for her, and she walked with heavy, pouting steps on their way to Mike's front door.

In Luna's mind, she could see that she was behaving like a small child. She didn't like it, but her emotions were so mixed up that she didn't know what to do. She knew that Henry was about to risk his life for Sylvia and for her father. Sitting in the car sobbing seemed ungrateful. In truth, all she really wanted was to hide, to go back to the way life was, to forget that all of this ever happened.

Henry knocked on the door. Sally Mae opened it and said in a grown-up voice, "Hello, Henry, good to see you." Her eyes were bright, and she wore a little pink dress and had bows in her hair. She had worried and cared for Mike as much as any doctor or nurse at the hospital. Now it appeared she was helping with the welcome home party.

"Hello, Sally Mae. You look quite lovely in your pink dress today," Henry said with a smile.

She beamed. She was a kid again and quickly replied, "It's new, just for today. I helped make the cake, too!" She stepped back and pointed to the table in front of a big sign that read, 'We Love You, Big Mike.' People were everywhere. They had plates of food and were talking and laughing. Sally Mae, back in her grown-up voice, said, "There is food and punch and, of course, cake. May I take your hat and your coats?"

Luna couldn't help herself; a smile snuck onto her face, and a little bit of joy found its way into her weary heart. "Thank you, Sally Mae." She took off her coat and handed it to her. Henry did the same, then plopped his hat on top of her head. She giggled and ran off to the back bedroom. Henry noticed Mike was across the room. He was talking with Francis.

Mike saw Henry and gave a nod. He made his way through the people, shook Henry's hand with his left hand, and gave a smile to Luna. She smiled back, feeling suddenly shy. Henry lowered his voice, "Is there someplace we can talk?"

Mike continued to thank people for the party as he and Henry made their way to his little office in the back of the house. It was cluttered with lots of books, newspapers, magazines, and general guy chaos. Mike leaned against his desk and asked, "What's going on, Henry?"

Henry closed the door, took a moment to think about what he was going to ask, then started to catch Mike up on what had happened since his beating.

"It's a mess, Mike. They took Sylvia and gave Winston the same treatment they gave you, but he won't be getting any welcome home parties."

Mike's face turned to stone. "Go on."

Henry went back to the day Mike had been beaten up. He went over every detail and explained how they had made a copy of the journal that they gave to the DA, how the DA was in it up to his eyes, and how Henry thought everything would have to play out. Mike listened, getting angrier as each revelation was made.

Once Henry laid out every detail, he let Mike digest them. He was overwhelmed. He paced back and forth, talking to himself and Henry. "I didn't want to believe that someone on the force could be in cahoots with Tommy 'The Knife,' but if the DA is crooked, we can't trust anybody." Henry had reached the same conclusion and could see the moment of realization in Mike's eyes. There was silence for a long while as they both let the truth of the situation sink in.

Mike agreed to make a few calls and to watch over Luna while Henry went after Sylvia. A little knock at the door followed by a tiny, 'grown-up' voice let them know the meeting was over. Sally Mae asked if Big Mike was getting tired and if he wanted to lie down for a bit of a rest. Mike chuckled and told her he was fine. They were coming back to the party right away.

Henry talked with Francis for a bit, shook a few hands, and said goodbye to Luna. He found his coat and hat and headed out. He bummed a cigarette from one of the guys smoking outside and slowly walked back to his car. He knew the next call would be the when and the where. There was nothing to do but wait.