Epilogue
October 18th, 2020
8:23am
No Russian gangsters had died for over twenty-four hours. So Bridgette was finally allowed to take a day off. As a result, she had also become less jumpy. It was as good a time as any for Max to check on Janice.
He left Smitty a message, explaining that he was going to take a cab to Queens and she should pick him up there.
Janice let Max in the apartment slowly. For a moment, they stood in front of each other, looking much guiltier than they actually were.
“You going to tell your wife?” Janice finally asked.
“Eventually,” Max answered. “It’s better than letting her hear about it from someone else.”
“True,” Janice added. “Even though, I’d be mad as fuck if I were her, no matter how I found out.”
“She loves me and she already knows about what Kendra did to me. So, I don’t think I’ll get kicked out.” He chuckled nervously.
“She must really admire you.” Janice said after another awkward pause.
“I suppose.”
“You know she said she’ll send me money,” Janice added. “So, if you don’t want to tell the wife, or come back here again, I think I’ll be okay.”
Max turned towards the door. “I’ll be back. I want to meet my kid.”
“What if she makes a thousand Max babies?” Janice asked, prompting Max to turn back around. “What are you going to do then?”
“Buy a bigger house,” He said as he walked out.
Smitty had pulled up in the black SUV just as Max walked out of the building.
“Did you guys have a productive talk?” Smitty asked the second he got in the car. Max put on his seatbelt before he spoke.
“Yes. She’s nice. Smart. Good head on her shoulders. Not caught up in any nonsense. She’ll make a great mom. Kendra picked wisely.”
“You talk to Pedro recently?” Smitty asked.
“No,” Max said. “Someone told me he went on vacation.”
“Someone told you? You mean he didn’t tell you?”
“That he was going on vacation?” Max seemed annoyed at the question. “I’m not his girlfriend. He doesn’t have to tell me everything.”
“Well, you’re not my girlfriend, but I’ve told you about every vacation I’ve taken for the past twelve years.”
“Women talk more,” Max dismissed.
Smitty rolled her eyes. “It’s not like him is all I’m saying. Speaking of talking, when are you going to tell Bridgette about this?”
Smitty stopped the car at a red light as Max took a deep breath and answered. “Eventually. When the time is right.”
“You want me to help you break it to her?”
He shook his head. “No, Smitty. It’s not your responsibility to referee my marriage. Besides, it’s not like I did anything wrong.”
“I know. But we are partners. Ride or die, right?” She scrutinized his face. “Are you okay?”
“How are things with you and Greg?”
“Things are fine. Stop changing the subject.”
“You think you guys are going the distance?”
“Anything is possible. I think he loves me. I think I can trust him.”
“Good. Maybe after you retire, you guys can leave town. Live someplace nice and quiet. Maybe buy a house in Florida?”
“And leave all this? Hardly.” Her eyes narrowed. “Okay, I’m only going to keep asking again and again until you answer me. What is wrong with you?”
“Nothing really. I just hate being dishonest.”
“Well, you’re a good man. Comes with the territory. I’m sure Bridgette will be okay, either way.
“I’m not talking about Bridgette, I’m talking about the girl.”
“Janice?” Smitty scoffed. “You just finished saying what a great mom she’s going to be.”
“That’s not the problem,” he finally admitted. “Turn off your phone.”
Smitty knew what this meant. He was going to say something he didn’t want her to hear. “Then what is the problem?” Smitty asked after the cellphone winked off.
“The issue is, I don’t know how this ends for any of us. I don’t know what Kendra’s plan is, but it feels bigger than just replacing racists and criminals with smart, brown people.”
“What are you saying?” An uneasiness crept into Smitty’s belly. “I mean, she’s quite formidable, but she can’t take over the world all by herself.”
“Maybe that’s the point. In any case, that’s what I think I was being dishonest about,”
“About Kendra’s agenda?”
“About the fact that she may kill us all after we’re done raising these children.” After a pregnant pause, he added. “Worst of all, even with our cellphones turned off, she’s probably able to listen to this conversation.”
“Well then, if she’s all seeing, all knowing and all killing, going to Florida isn’t going to save me, is it?”
“A valid point,” he conceded.
A clear blue sky filled the horizon just as the car cleared the onramp and leveled onto the BQE. They were silent for the rest of the drive back to the station and whatever new cases awaited them. Thankfully, it would be some time before either of them would have to bring up the topic of the subterranean-dwelling killer genius again.