Page 27 of King

"It is wrong," he says, and looks self-satisfied like he's taught me something that I didn't already know.“I told you that just to make you feel better.Maybe make you cooperate a little more with the operation.You'll get your justice.We'll all get our justice in the end."

I wonder if he means that I will also meet with justice.Harrison, too.Perhaps, in Fogerty's mind, both of us should be in jail along with the Marino family, Giordano and all the rest.After all, Harrison did take part in the robbery, even though he was attempting to get back something that was stolen from his family and to prevent any deaths.The only death he couldn't prevent was that of his own brother.

We finish up our meals,and Fogerty pays the bill despite my protests.

"No, no," he says, holding up his hand in protest.“I have the budget for this.I can pay for us both.You go back to work and pretend that we never met.We'll keep in touch and let you know how the operation is going when we have information that I can share.I'm sure you understand the necessity of keeping private information private.We appreciate your cooperation.Believe me."

We leave the restaurant and part company, with him going south and me going north back to the hospital.When I arrive, I try to get right back into my routine, reviewing case files and preparing notes for my meetings with patients, but it's hard.All I can think of is the fact that my parents, my mother and my stepfather, were murdered by someone in the Marino family.I hope Fogerty is right that Giordano and the Marinos will eventually face the consequences of their actions.

I spend the rest of the afternoon focused on my patients, hoping that will keep my mind off my own personal problems.While I'm waiting for the subway car, I call Carla.

"What's up?"She asks, her voice surprised to hear me."I don't want to have to use this phone very often."

"Do you know the name of the technician who tampered with the brakes on my stepfather's vehicle?"

There's a pause, and I get the sense that Carla does know, but doesn't wanna say.

"You can tell me,” I say, my voice soft.“I know about secrecy.I'll protect you."

Carla sighs audibly.“All I know is that it was a mechanic at the FBI's headquarters.Someone that Giordano knew.I don't have a name.But I imagine the FBI are looking for links between Giordano and some of those people working at the mechanic shop."

"OK, I say.“I understand.Thanks for your help.I won't call you again, I promise."

"No, she says quickly.“Call me if you really need to.This is a burner phone, and that's why I have it.I don't want to get more involved than I am.You can understand that."

"I promise," I say.“Thanks again for your help."

We say goodbye, and I end the call.The subway train comes, and I get inside and take a seat, closing my eyes for a moment in the hopes that I can forget all this for a few moments at least.

When I open my eyes, I glance around the subway car, and there, sitting a few seats away on the other side of the subway car, is a man in a suit, with a red pin on his lapel.

Dammit!

I realize then that I will never be free until this whole operation is over.

ChapterThirteen

Harrison

When I get home, I'm earlier than normal, and Natalia isn't here.I could go for a run and work off some of my stress, but instead, I look through the refrigerator and try to think of what to cook for supper.Natalia has a very stressful job as a resident, and the last thing she needs is to come home and cook supper for me.I make it a point to cook as often as I can, so she can come home and let her hair down both proverbially and for real.

The only thing I see is some chicken breasts, so I decide to make Greek chicken.It's a meal we both love with Greek rice and vegetables.While I'm working away, I hear the front door unlock and open, and I know she's home.I put down what I'm working on, give my hands a quick rinse, dry off, and then I go to see her at the door.She's taking off her rain jacket and slipping off her boots.She sees me and smiles.

"You're home, “I say and open my arms.I take her into my embrace, and we kiss warmly.She exhales heavily, and I know she's had a rough day.She lays her head on my shoulder for a moment, and we just stand there enjoying each other's warmth and the comfort of each other's embrace.

"Bad day?“I ask.

She says nothing for a moment and then looks up in my eyes.“Just the usual.How about you?"

"The same.Let's go into the kitchen.I'm cooking Greek chicken and rice.Are you hungry?"

"Is that a rhetorical question?"Natalia cracks a smile.

I laugh.“Glass of white wine?"I hold the bottle of white wine that I took out of the fridge and gesture to the glasses in the cupboard.

"I thought you'd never ask.”

While I finish preparing the chicken breasts and then add the herbs and spices to the rice, she tells me about her day.It's the usual mix of patients with all their concerns.I personally can't imagine dealing with psych patients.You have to have an awful lot of understanding, empathy and patience to deal with psychiatric patients.I'm lucky to have her as my wife.