The sidewalk in front of the courthouse was getting busy. It was nearly lunchtime on Monday, and a dozen food carts offering a diverse selection of affordable culinary treats stood in a row on Centre Street waiting for the noon rush. Aromas mixed and mingled together, tempting to the choosiest palette. A few early birds came by and were rewarded with quick service, insuring a relatively leisurely meal. It was still ten minutes before noon, when the crowds would emerge from the buildings and swoop down on these portable restaurants like crows in a field of sweet corn. These vendors made the vast majority of their income each day in that one hour between noon and one. A few rainy weeks could ruin them. Today it was sunny, and they were happy.
A blond man in a long overcoat was leaning against a tree in the park across the street, watching the courthouse. He held a newspaper, occasionally turning the page. But his eyes never left the building. He glanced at his watch and shifted to the other side of the tree.
At noon the courthouse doors opened, and throngs of people exited, the food trucks suddenly surrounded by the hungry.
Johnny and Melinda came out about ten after twelve. They were met by Andy, and the three walked across Centre Street to the park.
Three children were playing tag around a giant tree. Melinda watched them. This was not a residential neighborhood and she absently wondered whose children they were. No parental figure was near by.
“Everything okay?” asked Andy, as they sat on a bench.
“Fine,” said Melinda. “It’s just some paper work we have to take care of. We’ll finish up after lunch. It shouldn’t take much longer.”
Johnny looked miserable.
“Are you hungry?” asked Melinda.
Johnny sighed. “Not really, but I guess I should eat something.”
“What would you like?”
“I don’t care much. Any kind of sandwich would do.”
Melinda took out some money and handed it to Andy. “Would you mind getting us all something for lunch? Just get a variety.”
“Sure. But it might take a few minutes for this crowd to thin out.”
He got up and walked over to the row of trucks and stood on the shortest line.
“How do you think it’s going?” asked Johnny.
“I think everything is going fine.”
Johnny kept rubbing her hands together nervously. She watched the children for a few moments. The little boy had a ball, which he repeatedly offered to the little girl only to pull it back again and again. The girl started crying, and then the boy gave her the ball. She stopped crying and smiled.
“I haven’t seen your father all day.”
“He had some research to do. But he’ll be at the townhouse later.”
Johnny smiled. “Good.”
Melinda turned away so Johnny couldn’t see her joker’s grin. “You like my father, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. He’s a very smart man, and you’ve both been so wonderful to me I don’t know how I can ever repay you. It’s just so unusual to me. Everyone I meet wants something, usually money or sex. But you guys don’t seem to be looking for anything. What is it you get out of helping people?”
“Well, it’s just the right thing to do, that’s all.”
“I’m sorry,” said Johnny, “I just don’t understand.”
“I think you do. Why did you risk your life to save your comrades?”
“But that’s different. They were people I knew. And it was my job.”
“Well, sometimes life puts us in each other’s path and we are forced to act how our conscience dictates. Now we know you. And this is our job.”
Johnny thought about that for a moment and then nodded.
Andy returned with three sandwiches and sodas.
“I got tuna, chicken salad, and turkey. I’ll eat any of them, so you two decide.”
“I’d like the tuna, if that’s okay,” said Johnny.
“Give me the turkey,” said Melinda.
They ate their meal in silence for a few moments.
When they’d finished their meal Johnny wanted to walk around a bit, but Andy said no, so they returned to the courthouse.
The blond man watched them leave, and then turned and began walking uptown on Centre Street. After a few blocks he pulled out his cell phone and made a call. “Yeah, it’s me. I got them marked, all except that Lowell guy. I can take them out anytime. You just let me know.”
He hung up and walked up Lafayette Street through Chinatown, Little Italy and into Soho. At Spring Street he went into the subway and took the 6 train uptown to 42nd Street. He got off, walked down Lexington to 38th Street, and stopped in front of a small building on the side street midway between Lex and Park.
He carried himself with an air of self-assurance, never once looking over his shoulder or he might have noticed that Sarah had followed his every step.
The man took out a key, opened the door, and entered the building.
Shortly thereafter, Lowell, who’d been Sarah’s back-up, but too recognizable to take a chance tailing the man directly, picked her up in a cab and they headed uptown.