The wind kicked a heavy boot against my windows. It was coming up on 7:00 a.m., and I hadn’t been to bed. I sipped some coffee and looked outside. A sparrow stared back, black eyes flicking over mine, feathers ruffling against the elements. I moved my eyes down to the folder on my desk. Inside it was everything I’d need for the day’s business. On top of the file was my gun. I slipped the gun into its holster and looked through the file one more time.
I’d given Homeland Security its black case and whatever tale it told. Then I went to work, scraping together what I needed from the files I had, the Internet, and a few phone cal s. The mayor had cal ed around eleven, and again at midnight. He’d given me the bits and pieces I’d asked for. Hadn’t asked too many questions. Hadn’t had anyone else sit in on our conversations. The mayor was too smart for that. I flipped the folder shut and looked back out the window. The sparrow was stil there, stil clinging to its perch. I took another sip of coffee. The bird lifted its wings and was gone, leaving nothing behind but a bare branch, shivering in the wind. My phone rang. Rodriguez’s cel number flashed up on cal er ID. It was the third time he’d cal ed that morning. I ignored it and walked into my bedroom, Maggie close on my heels. Her crate was sitting beside the bed, along with a bag of food and her toys. I sat down, the pup in my lap. She immediately rol ed over for a bel y rub. I obliged.
“You be a good girl,” I said and picked her up. She licked my face. I held her for a moment. Then I put her into her crate and slid the latch over. I loaded the pup, her food, and the toys into my car and headed south on Lake Shore Drive. The hospital had cal ed, asking for anything from home that might make Rachel feel more secure, more relaxed. It was a short list, one that didn’t include me. I pul ed up to Northwestern Memorial. Hazel Wisdom was waiting in the lobby.
“I could use a smoke,” she said. I nodded and we stepped outside.
“It’s just for a couple of days, Michael.”
“It’s okay,” I said.
Maggie scratched at the bars. She didn’t like the crate. I couldn’t blame her.
“She’s a cute dog,” Hazel said.
“Yeah, she’s pretty easy. Just feed her when she’s hungry, walk her when she has to go, and let her do whatever she wants the rest of the time, and you should have no problems.”
“Sounds like a few doctors I know.”
“I bet.”
“Rachel’s getting better, Michael.”
“Like you said, there’s nothing I can do but wait.” I finished my cigarette and flipped the butt into the wind. “So that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Hazel gave me a hug and I handed the crate over. The pup stared at me as she disappeared into the hospital. I wanted to wave, but felt like an idiot. Instead, I got back in my car, the file folder on the front seat beside me.