CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

 

 

Sylvia was homeless, overwrought over the loss of Winston, and more exhausted than she had ever been. Henry put her up in the hotel next to his office. He promised her he would come back and watch over her, but he had to let Mike and Luna know they were all right. He left her crying into a pillow.

Though he, too, was beat, he was anxious to get Mike on the phone. Henry briskly walked up the stairs, and, when he entered the hallway, Bobby was standing there. "Is Sylvia ok?" he asked.

Henry didn't know how Bobby knew what was going on, but he was too tired to inquire, so he just said, "Yes, she is fine. Thanks." Henry noticed that Bobby looked really tired, too. Had he been worrying? "How are you holding up, buddy?"

Bobby's eyes flashed when he heard the word 'buddy.' He was so touched that Henry had shown concern that he was momentarily at a loss. It was a brief moment. "I am great now! I was worried about how things were going. Too bad about Winston; he was a great guy. But it looks like the good guys came out on top in this one."

Henry smiled, "Yep, I guess you are right. Now, if da bums could just beat the Yankees this year."

Bobby shook his head, "I think they got a good chance this year." Then he winked.

Henry couldn't help but chuckle at this strange, little man. He patted him on the shoulder and wandered down the hall to his office. He heard Bobby go back into his office.

Henry picked up the phone and dialed Mike. It rang just once. "Hey, Henry, that you?"

"Yep, it's me." Henry heard Luna in the background. "Tell Luna we are fine."

After Mike relayed the message, he said, "So how did it go down?"

"It worked just like you thought. Your old pal Frankie showed up with an army. All the bosses were there, and Tommy nearly wet himself."

"Did McKinley show?"

"Yeah, he was there. Didn't look so good when I left, though. A small man with thick glasses showed him some piece of paper. I didn't know what it was about but figured it was something you and Frankie cooked up."

"When I talked with Frankie, I mentioned the problem and told him the whole story, but I didn't 'cook' anything up. I am a cop you know. I can't be a party to anything Frankie might decide to do."

Mike continued, "That being said, I think I know who the guy was. It sounds like Mikeyangelo; sort of a play on his middle name, Michael and Michelangelo. I think his first name is Joseph. He is a forger, probably the best forger this side of Sicily."

"So what was on the paper?" Henry asked.

"I have no idea, but I would bet it will show up as evidence. Again, I 'officially' know nothing. But I do know how Frankie's mind works. If I had one guess, it is probably some sort of suicide note or something about Tommy, a 'Should I Show Up Dead' sort of letter."

They talked for a few more minutes. Henry gave an account of what he imagined was happening to Tommy. They finished the conversation with Mike agreeing to make sure Luna got down to Henry's office in the morning. He hadn't been there yet, but she knew where it was, so he would have her drive.

Henry went back to the hotel room and sacked out in the chair. Sylvia was fast asleep.