Henry Wood Detective Agency: Ch 27
The street was packed with parked cars, there were two people standing outside smoking and talking. There was a car just leaving, so Henry took the spot. ”Luna, I need to talk to Mike. I am going to ask him to keep an eye on you…”
Luna immediately flashed a look at Henry and objected, “I am coming with you!”
“No you aren’t! You are going to stay here, and stay out of it. I am going to get Sylvia and put an end to this, once and for all.” Henry said in a calm measured tone, with a cold forcefulness which left no question as to who was in charge. Luna affixed a look of anger to her face, but her eyes revealed relief. She did make Henry walk around and open the door for her however and she walked with heavy pouting steps, on their way to Mike’s front door.
In Luna’s mind, she could see herself behaving like a small child, and she didn’t like it, but her emotions were so mixed up, she didn’t know what to do. She knew that Henry was about to risk his life, for Sylvia, and for her father, and sitting in the car sobbing, seemed ungrateful. Though in truth, she really wanted to to hide, to go back to they way life was, to forget that all of this ever happened.
Henry knocked on the door, Sally Mae opened up and said “Hello Henry, good to see you.” Her eyes were bright, she wore a little pink dress and had bows in her hair. She had worried and cared for Mike, as much as any doctor or nurse at the hospital. Now it appeared she was helping with the welcome home party.
“Hello Sally Mae. You look quite lovely in your pink dress today.” Henry said with a smile.
She beamed and quickly replied, “It’s new, just for today. I helped make the cake too!” She stepped back and pointed to the table in front of a big sign which read, ‘We Love You Big Mike’. There were people everywhere, with plates of food, talking and laughing. Sally Mae said in a very grown up voice, “There is food, and punch, and of course cake. May I take your hat and your coats?”
Luna couldn’t help herself, a smile snuck onto her face, and a little bit of joy found its way into her soul. ”Thank-you Sally Mae.” She took off her coat and handed it to her. Henry did the same and then plopped his hat on top of her head. She giggled and ran off to the back bedroom. Henry noticed Mike talking with Francis across the room.
Mike saw Henry and gave a nod. He made his way through the people and shook Henry’s hand with his left hand, and gave a smile to Luna. She smiled back, feeling suddenly shy. Henry lowered his voice, “Is there someplace we can talk.”
Mike continued to thank people for the party as he and Henry made their way to his little office in the back of the house. It was cluttered, with lots of books, newspapers, magazines, and general guy clutter. Mike lead up against his desk, “What’s going on Henry?” Henry closed the door, took a moment to think about what he was going to ask, then started to catch Mike up.
“It is a mess Mike. They took Sylvia, and gave Winston the same treatment they gave you, but he won’t be getting any welcome home parties.”was
Mike’s face turned to stone. ”Go on.”
Henry went back to the day Mike beaten to a pulp. He went over every detail, explaining how they had made a copy, which they had given to the DA, how the DA was in it up to his eyes, and how Henry thought it had to play out. Mike listened, getting angrier as each new revelation was made.
Henry laid out every detail, then he let Mike digest it. Mike paced back and forth, talking to himself and Henry. ”I didn’t want to believe that anyone on the force could be in cahoots with Tommy ‘The Knife’, but if the DA is crooked, then we can’t trust anyone.” Then he paused. He had reached the same conclusion which had occurred to Henry. Henry could see the moment of realization in his eyes. There was silence for a long while, as they both let the truth of the situation sink in.
Mike agreed to make a few calls, and to watch over Luna while Henry went after Luna. A little knock at the door and a tiny voice let them know the meeting was over. Sally Mae asked if Big Mike was getting tired and should maybe lay down for a bit of a rest. Mike chuckled and told her he was fine and that they were coming back to the party right away.
Henry talked with Francis for a bit, shook a few hands, then said good-bye to Luna. He found his coat and hat and then headed out. He bummed a cigarette from one of the guys smoking outside, and slowly walked back to his car. He knew that the next call he would get, would be the when and where. There was nothing to do but wait.
