Page 52 of Fallen Rook

For all my big plans to extract information out of him, so far I hadn’t asked him one measly question about the Camorra operation. I needed to get serious about this case.

I closed my eyes and shook my head.

My whole life, I’d endured. Perfected the art of detachment and impartiality.

I could endure locking up Enzo Ferrante, as well.

This man’s hands did terrible things.

Too bad I still wanted them all over me.

I spent the tail end of the week throwing myself into work.

The chaos teeming in my head took my thoughts in a million different directions. I no longer needed to meet Enzo under the guise of wanting to harvest intel on him. I now had a much better source, and one that was cooperative. I brushed this inconvenient fact under the rug. No such thing as too many leads. I’d still meet with him on Monday, and this time, I’d make headway with the investigation.

I hadn’t made the call to the DA to start the process of recruiting Sully’s informant. Instead, I’d told Sully I needed to do some research, make sure our turncoat wasn’t a double agent.

This was my usual protocol; it also bought me a few weeks to contemplate my next move.

I was neck-deep in paperwork when Iris’s name flashed on my phone screen, and my heart missed a beat. I didn’t know why I expected Enzo to call me. In fact, I was unreasonably concerned that he hadn’t called or texted since our showdown in his apartment two days ago, aside from the brief text conversation I’d initiated. I pushed it to the periphery of my mind as I answered the call.

“Hey, sweetheart.” I put on a soft tone.

“Tom,” she purred.

A vision of her floated to the forefront of my brain. Her pale flaxen hair, soft brown eyes, and tiny frame. I hadn’t seen her in two weeks. And though I knew she understood, it didn’t rid me of my guilt.

Iris didn’t call often. She didn’t want to bother me. Always said she understood I was very busy with work.

“You and Silas okay?” I cleared my throat.

“Yes, yes, both of us are fine. Sorry, didn’t mean to alarm you…” She trailed off, inhaling a deep breath. “You’re still coming this weekend, right?”

“Of course,” I said. “I promised Silas we’d throw ball together. He mentioned something about trying out for the softball team?”

“Yeah. The coach thinks he has a fair shot. The team could use a good pitcher, and Silas is athletic…like his dad.” The nerves in her voice loosened somewhat. My stomach knotted at her words. “Anyway…it’s almost the anniversary, and I was wondering if you’d be up for dinner to mark the occasion?”

So this was why she’d called.

“Sure.” My throat caught a little. “Need me to book a place?”

“No. Silas has been wanting to try the new Mexican place on Main, if that’s okay with you.”

“Great,” I said. “I’ll be there at around noon. We can catch up, spend some time together, then grab food.”

“Perfect, thank you.”

I was about to hang up when I realized she’d forgotten to ask me the question she always delivered. It was our routine. “Oh, and Tom?”

“Yes?”

“Are you…happy?”

“Not yet,” I said quietly, the same answer I’d been giving her for eight years now. She’d been asking every single phone call. “You?”

“I think I’m finally getting there.”

“I’m glad to hear, sweetheart.”