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Chapter 104
After the Departmentof Justice plane landed at JFK Airport, I grabbed a cab and held up a fifty to the glass partition. “Get me to City Hall by 6:30 and this is yours on top of the fare.” I looked at the license and the smiling face of the young Israeli driver. “Does that sound like a deal, Yossi?”
The young man with a mop of dark hair smiled. “That’s easy. I feel bad taking your money.”
I liked that kind of confidence. I wished my nerves were as steady as Yossi’s confidence. The terror I felt on the ride would be worth it if we made it to City Hall alive. Yossi squeezed between a step van and a giant old-school Cadillac. I tried not to make a sound, but a yelp slipped out of me.
Yossi just chuckled. He skidded to a stop outside City Hall right on time. I’d have to run like Usain Bolt to make the ceremony. I gave Yossi an additional fifty to drop my bag at my apartment building. I had a feel for the young man and thought he was trustworthy enough. Just in case, I wrote my address on the back of one of my business cards. He glanced at the card, then looked up at me. “I guessed you were a newscaster, not a cop. I guarantee your bag will be there.”
I dashed past some tourists taking photographs in front of City Hall. I was moving so fast I had to grab the gatepost to make my turn toward the front door. I checked my watch. I hoped the ceremony ran on the usual city schedule: about ten minutes late.
I was six minutes past the start time—yikes. I could feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I knew it had to be Mary Catherine. I don’t know if it was the ride or being late, but my stomach gurgled. This was more nerve-racking than most police work I did.
I burst through the front door of City Hall. The security guard’s head popped up. Probably the first action he’d seen in months.
I said, “Ceremony with the mayor?”
The older African American man recognized a fellow father doing what he could to make a kid’s event. He smiled and pointed down the hallway to the left. I nodded my thanks and raced away.
I could see the open doors to the reception room. I slipped inside, wondering how I’d find Mary Catherine and the gang. I don’t know why I thought that would be a problem. They literally made up a quarter of the audience.
The younger kids gave me a hug as a mob. I kissed Mary Catherine, then focused on the podium. Eight kids stood in line with the mayor to one side. Trent was second from the right. He was dressed in his blue suit with a new, yellow tie. He looked remarkably snazzy.
I actually listened to the mayor for a change. He talked about kids from all over the city writing essays and these were the best. I snuck a glance at Jane. I was worried she still might be a little jealous of her brother. But when I looked over, she seemed okay.
Then the mayor said Trent’s name. I was so thrilled, I felt a little dizzy. Trent beamed. I again looked over to Jane, and she was smiling and applauding like everyone else.
Life did have a way of working out. I realized my stomach issue had resolved itself.
This was going to be a night to remember.
