‘Yes, I’ll hold,’ he said. He sighed and rubbed his good hand over his face.
People got lost in the system all the time. He would talk to a guy for an hour, and send them off to an office or an agency with detailed instructions. And that would be the last he knew of them. Sometimes it felt like herding cats.
Dominga Flores came to the door of the group meeting room. ‘Sarge?’ she said.
Frank lowered the receiver and looked at Dominga. ‘Did you go over to the Whitmans’?’ he asked.
Dominga nodded. ‘Yup.’
‘Did you tell her that I sent you?’
‘I think she guessed,’ said Dominga.
‘Well, how did it go?’
‘She said I could move in tomorrow.’
‘Tomorrow?’ Frank frowned. ‘Not today?’
Dominga grimaced. She felt as if the sergeant was displeased with her. ‘She said tomorrow. I didn’t want to . . . you know, be too pushy.’
‘Right,’ said Frank. ‘That’s all right. I guess it will be all right.’ Then he spoke into the phone. ‘Yes. I’m still holding.’
‘Why are you so keen on me moving in there anyway?’
‘Well, you know what happened to her in the subway.’
Dominga nodded.
‘After that it just seemed wise to me to have a someone living with her. Someone who could manage . . . trouble if it arose.’
‘But that subway business was just kind of random, wasn’t it? Life in the city and all?’
Frank hesitated. ‘I’m . . . not sure,’ he said. He studied the tough-looking young woman standing in the doorway. It wasn’t fair to send her to Anna’s, perhaps to put her in harm’s way without admitting the risk. She had a right to know. A right to refuse. ‘They haven’t caught the person who pushed her. But Anna could probably identify them if an arrest was made. There’s always the possibility that she could be targeted again, to prevent that from happening.’
‘So she needs . . . like a bodyguard,’ said Dominga.
‘I’m hoping it won’t come to that,’ said Frank. ‘But it could be dangerous.’
Dominga extended her hands and flexed her fingers toward her palms. ‘Bring it on, baby. I’m ready. They better not mess with me. I’ll tear ’em a new one.’
Frank laughed, relieved. ‘Besides, you needed a place to stay. I thought it might be a good fit,’ he said.
‘Oh, I think it will be,’ said Dominga. ‘She’s a good person.’ Then she frowned. ‘Who would want to do that? Push someone under a train?’
Frank shook his head. ‘A very disturbed individual.’
Dominga dangled the keychain. ‘You’re not kidding. Well, it’s official anyway. She gave me a key.’
Frank nodded. ‘Good,’ he said.
‘I gotta go,’ said Dominga. ‘I signed up for an auto mechanics class.’
‘Great,’ said Frank. ‘That’s thinking positive!’
Dominga shrugged. ‘I gotta get on with my life.’
‘Yes, you do,’ said Frank. The music at the other end of the phone continued to play. ‘And thanks, Dominga, for doing this. I’ll feel a lot better when you get moved in there.’
Dominga gave him a semi-salute and went on her way. Frank exhaled, and continued to wait for someone to answer his call. Finally a nurse who had seen Titus explained that he was currently in physical therapy.
‘Good. That’s a relief,’ said Frank. ‘Can you let him know that I called, and have him call me. You can tell him that I want him back in the group.’
The nurse assured Frank that she would relay the message. He hung up feeling somewhat better. He started to go back to his paperwork but it was difficult to concentrate. He thought again about Anna, refusing to take his gun. He wished he could have convinced her but she was adamant. There was no guarantee she would be safe, even with Dominga living in her apartment. After all, Dominga had her own life to lead. She couldn’t watch over Anna twenty-four seven. Just to reassure himself, he decided to call. The phone rang and rang, and finally went to voicemail.
Frank hesitated. ‘Anna, it’s Frank,’ he said. ‘Call me back.’
Just then Kiyanna appeared in the doorway, holding her phone. ‘Frank. You better take this.’
Frank set down his phone and took Kiyanna’s from her elegant hand. ‘Frank Petrusa.’
‘Frank,’ said a panicky voice. ‘This is Ha— Anna’s husband, Alan.’
‘Hey, Alan. I just tried to call Anna but there was no answer. Where are you? Anna told Father Luke that you were headed out west.’
‘She wanted me to take Cindy far away. Somewhere safe. But I didn’t go. I couldn’t. I couldn’t leave her alone like that. She thinks we’re on our way to Chicago. But we never left Philly. We’ve just been lying low. Listen, Frank, I just got a call. She called me.’
‘Who? Anna?’
Adam hesitated. Then he spoke in a low voice. ‘No. Not Anna. Our daughter.’
‘Your daughter? Is there something wrong with Cindy?’
‘Not Cindy.’ Adam sighed and was silent for a moment. ‘Frank, Cindy is not our daughter. Cindy is our granddaughter. Our daughter’s name is Lisa. And she is . . . mentally ill. She’s with Anna. I’m on my way there right now but I called you because you’re right around the corner from our apartment. I’m terrified of what she might do. She’s very . . . unstable.’
Frank hesitated a moment. ‘Anna said she knew the person who pushed her in the subway. I offered her a gun for protection but she said she could never shoot this person. Is that . . .’
Adam sighed. ‘Yes. I think so. Anna recognized Lisa when the police showed her the surveillance tape.’
‘Oh my God.’
‘Frank, I hate to even ask you this . . .’
‘Hold on a second,’ said Frank. He put the phone to his chest and spoke to Kiyanna. ‘Go stop Dominga before she leaves the building. We need those keys. Anna’s keys. She has
