The phone rang in another galaxy. Eric Murphy had taken his usual sleeping pills the night before and it took him a while to wake up. In the meantime the device had been ringing and Tony, the fox terrier that was the only company the sergeant had at home was standing beside the bed looking at him expectantly.
“Damn, what the hell ... What time is it? ... Three twenty.” Blasphemed Eric as he took the call.
Walt Kolski was on the other side of the line. Eric automatically guessed that it was a serious problem because Walt was a prudent guy.
“Tell me Walt.”
“O'Halloran was found dead in his cell.” Said bluntly the cop.
“What? What do you say?”
“The wardens found him dead as well as a man named Ray Smith, a gay black. Both in the same cell.”
“I remember Ray.” Reflected Eric. “He was involved in an issue of human trafficking. But how come he and Paddy were in the same cell?”
“I don´t know. It is extremely rare. But still you do not know the worst part.”
“Well, let me hear it.”
“The official story is that Paddy and Ray killed each other with prison made blades, both identical.”
“Absolutely clumsy!”
“They alleged Paddy´s irascible character and his hatred of homosexuals.”
“Thank Goodness they did not invent a hatred for blacks.”
“It would be too unbelievable. But there's more.”
“I´m listening.” Said resignedly Murphy.
“The Coroner found semen in Ray´s mouth and anus.”
“That sounds more like Paddy.”
“But this discovery has been deleted from the report of the autopsy. I learned firsthand from the coroner.”
“ I cannot believe that these things happen in New York City.”
“Do you understand what that means?”
“Yes, that they shut up O'Halloran to protect someone very high up.”
“Well, you have not heard this from me. You´ll know what to do with it. I let you sleep.”
“You damn bastard ... But thanks anyway.”
The next step was to wake up Vince. Loretta answered the call. Murphy passed the message without any introduction or apology.
“I'll put you with Vince.”Loretta's tone changed as she was talking to someone beside her.
“It´s Eric, they´ve killed O'Halloran in prison.”
Vince heard the lengthy report of his protector, then he returned the device to Loretta.
“He wants to talk to you.”
“Loretta. You must seek contact with that Sudanese woman, such Nubia or Amilah. Prepare another meeting with her but this time I need to be present. The girl is at serious risk.”
Loretta and Vince found Nubia at seven pm at the same place where they had interviewed her before. She was accompanied by a young man whom she introduced as her boyfriend Marcos. With no introduction Vince said.
“We must walk a couple of blocks to a deserted place. Trust us.”
“Let me introduce you to Eric, he is an honest police officer. Just hear what he has to say.”
Murphy reported the information to the girl, who looked nervously at her boyfriend.
“Do you understand what that means?” Asked Eric.
“That there is somebody above O'Halloran who got rid of him.”
“Exactly, that someone is probably the other man you saw in the alley on that bloody night.”
“He'll be following my steps too.” Concluded the girl showing her quick thinking processes.
“It's very possible, because you can recognize him.”
Nubia broke into tears, rested her face on Marcos´ shoulder and cried.
“This is a never ending story. I thought we were safe. I will end up killed.”
“No, if we can prevent it.” Expressed Murphy.
“Any idea who might be the second man?” Inquired Marcos.
“We have no clue, nor do we know where they get his influence.” Then he added addressing Nubia.
“You must leave the country. Do you have some sort of papers, I mean documents?”
“No. They brought me kidnapped.”
“We cannot go down the usual lanes.” Pondered the sergeant. “I'll go to speak with friends I have in the FBI, and see if they can solve your papers problem. Where were you born?”
“In Sudan, but I spent most of my life in Ethiopia.” “Repeat your complete name.” Said police opening an annotations book.
“Amilah Koumi.”
“Tell me exactly the place and date you were born, and the places you´ve been living in Sudan and in Ethiopia.”
The conversation lasted fifteen minutes while the girl was trying to remember all details of her sad life. At the end Eric said.
“We'll see what documents can we get for you and how you can get out of the US. The FBI will need to question you. Do you agree with that? This goes for you as well.” Added Eric addressing Marcos. Both youngsters agreed with a resigned gesture.
Ten days later Eric Murphy phoned Loretta.
“Hey Loretta how are you. I´d like to invite you and Vince to dinner at home this coming Saturday.”
“I didn´t known about your culinary skills. Will it be Irish or American food?”
“I'm afraid all I can offer is either Chinese or Kosher food. On my block I have a delivery store of each.”
“ Vince likes Chinese food.”
“Fine. Tony also likes Chinese food.”
“Who is Tony?”
“My dog.”
Despite his being a regular customer of the Chinese food restaurant Eric was waiting them wearing a kitchen apron.
“I prepare the salads myself. Also the drinks. That is my true Irish specialty.”
The shipment arrived about twenty minutes later and all proceeded to eat, including Tony. The conversation inevitably turned on the events of the past days.
“Well, what do you know about Nubia and her boyfriend?
“They were set to leave the country from San Francisco on a trip to Mexico City and then to Buenos Aires.”
“ Cold she get documents to prove her nationality?”
“I understand that they obtained a passport in an Ethiopian consulate but not in New York. They have not trusted me any more details.”
“Then they are safe.”
“Fortunately yes. Theirs is a story that ends up well, in the middle of so much misfortune.”
“ I wonder if she knows she owes her life to you?”
“Actually to a chain whose first link was Walt Kolski and that includes you two.”
Eric prepared and brought some drinks.
“This is the only thing that Tony does not participate. Tell me, do you already have the date for your marriage?”
“We are preparing the invitations. Yours will be the first to be sent.”
“So you have finally been able to arrange your papers and leave?” Said Uncle Charley making an effort not to show his broken voice when speaking.
“We have no choice.” Replied Marcos. “I´m worried because we are leaving you here and about what will you do with your life, old friend.”
“Oh! I'll be fine, do not worry about me.”
“But you'll be all alone in this house and in this workshop.”
Charley lowered his head and said somewhat sadly
“No way! After staying with you two I would never get used to loneliness again. No, my New York stage is finished after twenty years in this city. But, although I do not recall having told you about them I have my relatives in Mississippi. One brother and three sisters and a total of twelve nephews as far as I know. I own an old wooden house where I can move immediately, and take my workshop and my craft along with me. Lately my sisters are insisting in my return to the family, and your stay was the only thing that kept me here. I'm not getting any younger and I look forward to be surrounded by my own people.”
The day of the departure Nubia and Marcos entered the car of an agency that took them to some unknown destination and Charley entered immediately home not to see a part of his life going away.