“There’re
almost two hundred unsolved murders in New York City every year.” Paula
mentioned.
Bran started with Officer Carver in
the front of the squad car. Officer Carver looked at him like oh boy! Bran turned around to look Paula
in the eye. “I don’t want you thinking about things like that.”
“Kinda hard not to.” Paula stared
back at him, arms wrapped tight around herself, even with her jean jacket on.
Bran had made her bring a book, but it was doubtful she’d start reading it now.
Nor was her phone distracting her. He was meeting Magnus in twenty minutes, a
listening device pinned in the shoulder seam of his shirt. He’d been given a
crash course on sting operation protocol, and a ‘go word’ he was to utter when
he was ready for Sam and the others to move in. Was he really doing this? What
had been his motivation in doing this again?
Paula’s hand came up, getting Bran
to look at her again. “I… I need you to not become one of those murders, Uncle
Bran.”
Yeah, that was why. For a girl who
was shy, but eager to complete her first full year of school and make her first
real friendships. Because he wanted to set the right example for this pre-teen
who was cynical, yet hopeful. Paula deserved the chance to become the person
God meant for her to be. If Bran could help her have that chance, then
everything he was about to do would be worth it.
Bran fully turned in the front seat
to get Paula’s full attention. “Who do we trust?”
Paula’s eyes fought tears, but Bran
didn’t waver. “Who, Paula?”
“God.” She said robotically. Bran
nodded. “Why?”
“You’re going to need to get going.”
Officer Carver said.
Paula wiped her tears away and
forced a steady breath. “We trust Him because He never leaves and always
loves.”
Bran pulled her in and kissed her
forehead. “I know you don’t believe it yet. Still, I don’t want you to forget
it. Okay?”
Paula wrapped her arms around his
neck. “Okay.”
Bran breathed deep, taking in the
young scent of her. “I’ll be back soon.”
He got out of the car and closed the
door swiftly, walking up the avenue before he could change his mind. He had
three blocks to clear before he reached the edge of Times Square. Bran had had
to haggle with Magnus, who had wanted the meeting at his apartment. Out of the
question. So was any place that was isolated. A more common occurrence then
people thought in the city that never sleeps.
Magnus, however, was too smart to
stroll out onto the most recorded block in the New York. But if the device
hidden on Bran’s shirt worked, then it wouldn’t matter.
“I will praise your name Lord, for
it is good,” Bran recited the verses that Dad had given him as he closed the
gap between him and the square. At some point, he thought about Kate and what
she might be doing; how he wanted her to be there with them at the end. A
comfort to him, an extra lend of strength… he felt like a failure to Paula,
unable to secure a mother figure for her.
That, and he struggled to hold down the fear of what he was
walking into tonight. He hadn’t lied to Sam; he was ready to end this. But he
wasn’t ready to stop being a father to Paula, or a son to his parents. Bran was
running with the strange calm that he wasn’t done living tonight. It didn’t
snuff out the fear. But it helped Bran move forward, even as he spotted Magnus
and three others waiting for him. They lingered on a sparse spot on the
sidewalk near a deli. Between the streetlamps and well in the shadows of the
night.
“It’s gotta come from them.” Sam
had coached him while they picked a shirt that’d hide the wire. “It’s too easy
nowadays for a lawyer to cry ‘leading the witness’ or entrapment’. The less
talking you do, the better.”
He worked in insurance; he knew about turning a conversation
to his advantage.
“There’s the man of the hour.” Magnus spread his arms as
though welcoming a long-lost family member. Bran shoved him back with one hand,
bulking himself up another inch. “What’s it gonna take, huh?”
Magnus smoothed out invisible wrinkles on his coat. “For
what?”
“I’m not in the mood for dumbs, Magnus.” Bran moved toward
him again. Only to have the cronies descend and knock him into the wall. The
streetlight kept many things in shadow, but the glow off of Times Square helped
Bran to recognize Lance and Shrimpy as the third patted him down for weapons.
Magnus watched, cool as a cucumber. He felt in control, safe. That was where
people usually started talking too much.
“He’s clean.” The third guy said and they backed off; except
for Lance who kept a hand on Bran’s wired shoulder.
“Course he is.” Magnus smiled. “He’s one of the smart ones.”
Oh Lord. Was all Bran could think. Magnus
walked up to him, popping a piece of gum in his cheek. “To answer your question
Bran, don’t think I’d let a restraining order get in the way of my
investments.”
Bran knocked Lance’s hand off. “You call stalking an
investment? Or just another hobby; among your many others.”
“Boy, you’re brazen tonight.” Shrimp whistled.
“I’m tired.” Bran spat at him, making him flinch. “Sue me.”
“Moving on,” Magnus sighed, a hand in his pocket. “You call
it stalking Bran, we call it protection.” He shared a smirk with Lance.
“Something Simon was good at. You knew that, right? He knew what kind of people
he was dealing with, and didn’t operate on your normal level of stupid.”
“Cept for when he needed a fix.” Lance snorted. Bran just
prayed his mother would never have to hear this.
“He was flawed.” Magnus agreed, tsking. “He got greedy. Took
me eleven months to figure out he was skimming.”
Aw, Simon. Bran closed his eyes, the dark being
an ironic steadying point. What retreated
to the darkness will be brought to the light, Lord. Let it be.
“We settled this in court.” Bran steered himself back into
the conversation. “So why are you still bothering us?”
“Notice how he won’t say his niece’s name.” Magnus ribbed
Shrimpy. “Like she’s not a part of this. That’s how you find their weaknesses,
in what they don’t say.”
Bran clenched his fist. Paula was in a squad car, three
blocks away, with a police officer. With God. She was safe.
“What do you have to gain?” Bran pushed Magnus’ attention
back on him. “Wasting men and gang money to follow us around?”
Magnus grinned. “You never asked how much was in the duffel.”
Again with the duffel!
“My parents took your settlement.” Bran stressed at Magnus.
“And I’m not interested in anymore of your blood money.”
“Now there’s an
ironic statement,” Magnus laughed, getting chuckles out of Lance and the
others. “When your little girl’s sitting on a mountain of it.”
“What?”
More chuckles. Bran moved off the wall, only to be pushed
back by Lance.
“I’m talking about every last dollar that your brother
cheated me out of.” Magnus’ face showed the first lines of agitation. “See, real crimes- for those who wish to
commit them- are the ones the cops don’t know a thing about.”
He got up close to Bran’s face, gum popping again. “Detective
Lument and all those boys in blue think this is about keeping you and Paula
quiet. If that were the case, you’d already be buried.”
His throat was so close… Bran thought of the little effort needed
to squeeze it.
“I thought maybe Paula might know about it, but she hasn’t
given any signs.” Magnus shrugged. “Either way, I’m gonna need my money back.”
Simon’s bootlegged drug money? Bran’s brain was racing to
transmit the thoughts that he wasn’t comprehending. Did Paula know? Would any of this be useful to a judge? Bran
swallowed. “And if I don’t know where it is?”
Magnus’ sucker punch to his gut answered him. Bran doubled
over, seething. Magnus bent down close to his ear. “Think really hard about who
you’re talking to, Bran. You called me so we could fix this little problem.
Killing your brother was effortless- you won’t be much harder.”
There is was!
Bran knocked his head into Magnus’ chin, giving him enough
room to throw Lance back into the pole. Shrimpy shrank back as Bran then
grabbed Magnus by the collar. “Darkest before dawn, Magnus. Remember that.”
Magnus looked at him like he was crazy, throwing him back
into the wall. Bran stopped the mobster’s fist, gutting him with his knee as
sirens scared off the shadows and brought their figures to light. Bran
sidestepped as Sam and several others ordered Magnus and his company against
the brick.
“What is this?” Magnus chuckled. “It against the law to talk
now?”
“Magnus Healy.” Sam ignored him, snapping Magnus’ wrists into
cuffs. “You’re under arrest for violating your restraining order-“
“He invited me here.” Magnus looked back at Bran, eyes
uncertain.
“And the murder of Simon Robins-“
“That again?”
Sam jerked him off the wall and started toward one of the
flashing squad cars. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say-“
Bran stepped off the sidewalk, holding his stomach, watching
his brother’s killer finally in handcuffs. His chest heaved, catching tears on
his breath. Is it ending? God, please
tell me it’s ending.
Would he start sleeping through the night now? Would he be
able to go an hour without praying for Paula’s safety? Paula!
“Mr. Robins.” An officer laid a hand on his shoulder, but
Bran waved it off. “I need to see my niece.”
He started walking back the way he’d come, the drone of Times
Square behind him. He’d forgotten it existed.
“I can call the car to bring her over.” The officer was
saying.
No need. The car was already parking at the corner across the
street. Bran darted over as Paula flew out of the back seat. He caught her and
held her tight, relief and thanksgiving shaking him- physically and
emotionally. It took a minute before he could form words, speaking into Paula’s
hair. “Who do we trust?”
Paula looked up to show they were both crying. “God.”
‘Though you have
made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my
life again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up.
You will increase
my honor and comfort me once again.’
~Psalm 71:20-21~
THE END
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