Maria leaned back in her chair. “Want to face him again in court?”
Hayley stilled. She could tell Maria no. She and Paul had gotten together or give another excuse that was vague. But something stopped her. The same feeling that descended on her Saturday night returned. She’d better keep the relationship to herself until they were on solid ground.
“You told me we weren’t allowed to argue cases against each other.”
“That’s another reason why Velasquez called. Covington’s cases against us will be high profile for a while. Our best ADA would give us more exposure, and you’re one of the few who’s beaten him.”
“I’d rather not. Can you let someone else take him on?”
Maria cocked her head. “Is something wrong with all this?”
“For the reasons you and his boss already cited after the contempt charge.”
Her gaze narrowed. “How do you know his boss and I talked?”
“I bumped into Paul in the elevator of the courthouse.”
Thoughtful, Maria watched her. Finally, she said, “I’m sure Cook, Cramer and Cromwell are giving him carte blanche now.”
Hayley didn’t know how to get out of this. Pleading too much would be suspicious. “I’ll do whatever DA Velasquez says, of course. But I still don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Well, it’s out of my hands.” She stood. “Meanwhile, I’m glad you’re safe. It you get some flashbacks or have bad dreams about what happened, let me know and I’ll arrange for some time off.”
“Thanks, Maria.”
Hayley left the office feeling like everything was spinning out of control. Probably because it was.
* * *
“Ready, Paul?” Mayor Michaels asked as they headed to the steps of City Hall in lower Manhattan. He’d never met the mayor before but now, the man acted like a friend.
“As much as I’ll ever be. This really isn’t nec—”
“None of that.” Michaels increased his speed. “You saved the lives of some very important people.” The underside of what he said was that because Paul prevented mass murder of the elite in New York City, what he’d done was more important than saving the common folk. Since Paul had been the common folk, the notion didn’t sit right with him.
In any case, they reached the steps and he followed the mayor to the podium. Press gathered in front of him. As of today, Friday, he hadn’t talked to anyone in the media. His body men prevented it. But this morning, he had to come out of hiding.
They stepped into the bright sunshine and faced the crowd. Paul slipped on the sunglasses that he’d propped up on is head. Hundreds of people showed up. Hard to believe that. He wondered if Hayley was here. She said on the phone she’d come if she could get away from work.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, members of the press. I’m here today to present The Bronze Medal, the highest civilian award in New York City, to Paul Covington. The medal is given for exceptional citizenship and outstanding achievement.
“Paul’s citizenship surfaced a week ago today, when he threw himself at a gunman who’d entered the Central Park Ballroom. He successfully disarmed the attacker.” The mayor scanned the crowd. “I can see several faces of those whose lives he saved. Two hundred people attended the gala and staff provided service. For their safety, and his, we’re very grateful.”
An aide held out a small square velvet blue box and opened the lid. The mayor took the box and held it up. Cameras clicked and whirred. Then he handed it to Paul, who read the inscription. With the CITY OF NEW YORK engraved on the perimeter, inside the medal read, To Paul Covington, for uncommon valor in preventing a tragedy of epic proportions.
When Paul had been alerted to this award, he went online to see what other people had gotten. He’d been surprised to find not only politicians and civil rights activists as recipients, but also sports heroes, singers, community education reformers and 9/11 heroes.
“Now, we’ll let Mr. Covington answer some questions. He relinquished the podium to Paul. He removed his sunglasses.
“Thank you, Mayor. And thank you to the city of New York.”
The same aide picked up another microphone. “Mr. Caruso, from CNN.”
“Mr. Covington, thank you for your valor. How does it feel to have prevented a slaughter?”
He winced at the word. But his voice stayed even. “It feels great. I’m humbled by what I was able to do. Anyone in my place would have.”
Another reporter from the New York Times was called on. “Were you scared?”
“Only afterward.” He smiled. “I didn’t think about what was happening. I just did it. When the whole thing was over, I practically collapsed when I realized what I’d done.”
A barrage of questions followed. Finally, the mayor took back the mic. “We’ll adjourn now to a small reception so the people who were at the gala can thank Paul personally.”
He didn’t know about the reception, didn’t want it, but he followed the mayor up the steps to City Hall. Paul hoped that Hayley would come to the reception. They’d just reached the door when someone walked out from behind a pillar next to him.
“Witja, syn.”
Paul stopped short. His head snapped to the left. Dear Lord in heaven. Dear God. As if in slow motion, he made his way over to the woman who’d somehow gotten this close to him. She’d changed. Her gray hair was in a bun. Her face was lined. But her eyes were exactly the same, except they were filled with tears. His clouded, too.
“Hello, Matka.”
* * *
Among the invited guests to the reception, Hayley climbed up the steps to the entrance where she caught sight of Paul, off to the side of the doors with an older woman. He hugged her. Tightly. When he stepped back, he kissed both cheeks then took her hand and entered the building.
Shocked at his display of affection, at delaying the mayor’s agenda so abruptly, Hayley wondered who the woman was. She followed the crowd inside, but
