I INTRODUCED Lily and Elvira. Watched for the hundredth time as waves came off Lily, enveloping the kid, excluding me. "She has a calm center," Immaculata explained it to me once. "Like Max." They walked down the hall together.
Max was probably in the gym, wrestling with the kids. That wasn't for me. I had some time to kill, so I found an empty office, put my feet on the desk, closed my eyes. I had things to think about.
When I opened my eyes, Immaculata was sitting on the desk, her hand on my ankle.
"You're awake?"
"Sure."
"Burke, I don't have much time to talk. You must let Max help you. It is very important."
"Help me what?"
"Whatever it is you're doing. It doesn't matter."
"Yeah, big fucking help he is. You know what he did yesterday?"
"He told me."
"He tell you he almost turned a lousy roust into a Class A felony?"
"Max is your brother. He is in great pain. Men don't know how to take some things. Some gifts. He cannot forget what you did. To save our baby. What it cost you. He must believe he is helping you or he cannot feel whole."
"Mac, you know what Max does?"
"I am his wife. He is the father of our child. You remember when we met?"
I remembered. A night subway run. Me carrying the goods, dressed like a bum. The Mole at the other end of the train, a satchel full of explosives. And Max the Silent sitting across from me, looking like a tired, drained old man. Three punks got on the train. Looked me over.
Wouldn't bother with a wino. Started on Max. Asking him for ten bucks for a cup of coffee, shoving him around. No big deal- we only had a couple of more express stops to go. It was going okay until Immaculata saw the action. Dressed like a Vietnamese bar girl, as out of place on that subway as a clock in a casino. She charged the punks, telling them to leave the old man alone. One pulled out a pair of brass knuckles, giggling at the new prey. Max took them all out quicksilver-fast- just flashes and sounds. He shed his filthy raincoat and the tired old man became the Mongol warrior. Bowed deeply to the woman who had come to save him. He signed, I interpreted. She saw past his strength, he past her beauty. They've been together since.
"I don't care what it takes." Her voice soft and relentless. "Is that clear enough for you? I want my husband back. His daughter needs him back. You know what he is. If you tell a true warrior he cannot make things right, his duty is to die trying."
I lit a smoke, playing for time. Her eyes stabbed. "Don't try and trick me. I know you could do it. For now. Max even said so- how you can lie so smoothly."
"How can I…?"
"There is a man you went to see. Your enemy. Max has no fear of him, this little killer with his guns."
"Mac, I'm telling you the truth. Believe it or don't, it's still the truth. The man you're talking about…he's not my enemy. I don't know how I know…I'm not even sure I knew until I just said it. But I'm not gaming to protect Max."
"You must let him help you." Intractable. No slack in the rope.
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Let him help you find what you're looking for."
"What I lost."
"No. What you seek. Please."
She bent forward, kissed me lightly on the cheek. Her perfume stayed after her.